Amazon has been leading the retail game throughout the coronavirus pandemic thanks to its easy online store and express shipping. But now the company has upped the ante even further by introducing a high-tech new gadget in its brick-and-mortar Amazon Go stores. To get into the store and pay for your items, all you have to do is wave your hand. No, this isn't a Jetsonian joke. Using revolutionary biometric technology, the Amazon One device provides a quick, contactless way to shop in-person—something that is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic. To get it to work, you have to insert your credit card into the machine and hover the palm of your hand over the sensor. (You can choose to connect both of your hands to your account, too.) Then, the next time you visit an Amazon Go store, just flash your hand over the scanner to unlock the door to the retail kingdom.
But that's not all: There are many other innovative ways the e-commerce empire could use this technology in the future. "We believe Amazon One has broad applicability beyond our retail stores, so we also plan to offer the service to third parties like retailers, stadiums, and office buildings so that more people can benefit from this ease and convenience in more places," the company said in a statement.
For more stores that are testing out contactless customer service, read on. And if you're looking for some sweet early-bird specials, There's a Secret Store on Amazon With Tons of Popular Items on Sale.
Walmart
As part of a major redesign, Walmart is completely overhauling its look and shopping experience. Besides spreading out each department to encourage social distancing, the retailer will feature an "omni-shopping" experience, directing customers to download the digital app to make their in-store browsing easier. But the most impressive integration is a safe self-checkout kiosk that accepts contactless payment, such as Walmart Pay. You can also verbally purchase Walmart products by ordering them through your Amazon Alexa at home. And if you're visiting this massive retailer soon, it's important to know The Best Time of Month to Score Walmart Deals.
CVS
CVS recently debuted another genius touchless method. The pharmacy and convenience store has placed Venmo and PayPal QR codes at registers across 8,200 locations nationwide. (No receipt needed.) Plus, in June, the drugstore teamed up with robotics startup Nuro to test self-driving vehicles that would deliver prescriptions to your doorstep, so you wouldn't need to go to CVS in the first place.
Sam's Club
Costco's competitor is making strides to help customers through a voice-activated assistant. This touchless tech allows you to easily contact a store associate for help about pricing, sales, and general product inquiries. It can also help answer questions about COVID-19 safety guidelines and store changes. And for more things to watch out for, these are The 20 Worst Things to Buy at Costco.
Publix
The Southern grocery chain added contactless payment options to all of its 1,200 stores as well as its GreenWise Markets. This is in addition to the pre-existing digital check-out using the Publix mobile app. And for more useful information delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
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