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<ul><li>Earlier this week, India’s very first <keyword id="6856318" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Autonomous-Retail">autonomous retail</keyword> store was opened in <keyword id="30469" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kochi">Kochi</keyword>. </li><li>The 24x7 convenience store, which is named <keyword id="6856317" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Watasale">Watasale</keyword>, does not have salespeople or cash registers. </li><li>The technologies used in the store - machine learning, computer vision and artificial intelligence- are similar to the ones used in Amazon’s check-out free grocery store in Seattle - <keyword id="3922715" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Go">Amazon Go</keyword>. </li></ul> The concept of checkout lines, cashiers and even shoplifting could soon be a distant memory. Earlier this week, India’s very first autonomous retail store was opened in Kochi. The 24x7 convenience store, which is appropriately named <a href="http://www.watasale.com/">Watasale</a>, does not have salespeople or cash registers and allows shoppers to pick up whatever they want and leave. All they need to do is download the Watasale app and scan a <keyword id="1011037" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="QR-code">QR code</keyword> in order to get past the store’s turnstiles. While in the store, they can choose from two rows of goods, which include food and beverage items as well as toiletries. A number of sensors automatically take note of the products that are picked up. Once the customers leave the store, they are presented with a bill on their phone which they can pay online. In the future, the company will require customers to have a pre-loaded wallet before entering the store which will automatically get deducted once they leave. The technologies used in the store - machine learning, computer vision and artificial intelligence- are similar to the ones used in Amazon’s check-out free grocery store in Seattle - Amazon Go- which was opened to the public in January 2018. 
 
 
 
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 The AI-driven store is a brainchild of five engineers from Kochi who have been working on the concept since 2015, conducting research and experimenting with different models. Watasale’s CEO and CTO, Subash S, was formerly the founder of Oranz Technology Solutions, a Kochi-based IT security solutions firm. India’s supermarket chains should take note. While the team launched the store without any external funding, it is looking for investments in order to add new outlets in Tier-1 cities like New Delhi and Bengaluru. In fact, following its launch, Watasale has reportedly received an investment offer from Mitsui &amp; Co, a Japanese trading conglomerate. The next phase of the company’s strategy also involves the launch of micro-grocery stores in residential complexes, metro stations and offices.

Lo and behold, India now has a retail store that allows customers to pick up items and leave

<ul><li>In Chennai, <keyword id="4899766" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="SunnyBee">Sunnybee</keyword> retail chain has opened a contactless check-out service at a grocery store.</li><li>Major retail outlets like Adidas, Puma, Decathlon too are encouraging contactless payments at their stores.</li><li>With the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of <keyword id="9188349" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="contactless-shopping">contactless shopping</keyword>, dining and payments has taken over. </li></ul>With the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of contactless shopping, dining and payments has taken over. Startups and businesses are bringing out new products that promise low or no contact for a safe experience. Chennai’s Sunnybee retail chain has opened contactless check-out service at a grocery store. Sunnybee has made a name for itself for its farm to store produce. Two years ago, in Kerala’s Kochi, a retail store Watasale had introduced the cashier-less shopping service. And in the times of the coronavirus pandemic, this seems to be the future of Indian retail. According to an EY report, <keyword id="6513856" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kirana-stores">kirana stores</keyword> are now more inclined than ever to adapt technology. At Sunnybee’s store in Besant Nagar, Chennai, consumers at the shop can just scan and pay themselves instead of paying by cash or even interacting with a cashier at the counter. The <keyword id="6621728" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Self-Checkout">self checkout</keyword> counter has a touchscreen panel and a billing printer too.The solution was put in place as consumers remain wary about multiple interactions at a store. “The self-checkout solution was designed, developed, and implemented in 15 days despite the lockdown. The initial response from customers is very positive and this is evident from their excitement to use the self-checkout counter every time they walk into the store,” said Sriram Sridharan, Business Head, SunnyBee Market. The hardware and software solution was built by WayCool Labs – the technology arm of the agritech startup WayCool Foods &amp; Products. But grocery is not the only sector adapting to technology. As malls open up across cities, <keyword id="395327" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-stores">retail stores</keyword> too are opting for similar products. Decathlon has also introduced a <keyword id="9577236" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="scan-and-go">Scan and Go</keyword> option for consumers in many of its stores in India. As a part of its newly launched experiential retail stores, Puma in India too is offering an ‘all digital experience’. In Bengaluru, Adidas has installed a self checkout counter where customers can scan the barcode to pay. “We are planning to expand it to more stores. This technology can be extended to small cities because consumers are actively using digital wallets and UPI platforms which have democratised contactless payment in all parts of the country," Manish Sapra, senior marketing director, Adidas India <a href="https://www.livemint.com/industry/retail/covid-19-impact-seasoned-sport-brands-turn-to-contactless-shopping-11592991043239.html">told Mint.</a> Mandar Agashe, MD of Sarvatra Technologies (a banking technology provider) believes that this digital transformation and self checkout stores will see more rapid adoption. “Building proper awareness and education around contactless payment besides undertaking other preventive measures can help us collectively combat the risks involved. This will also encourage India to bring a shift in their everyday habits, facilitating financial inclusion at a macro level,” said Agashe. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/walmart-powers-flipkart-with-more-capital-to-battle-google-facebook-and-amazon/articleshow/76960607.cms">Walmart powers Flipkart with an additional $1.2 billion⁠ to help e-tailer battle Google, Facebook, and Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/mukesh-ambani-next-goal-seems-to-be-the-retail-king-of-india/articleshow/76953716.cms">Mukesh Ambani’s next goal seems to be the ‘retail king of India’</a>

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Lo and behold, India now has a retail store that allows customers to pick up items and leave

Dilsher Dhillon

Scan and go stores crop up in India as contactless becomes key to shopping

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