While the concept of checkout free technology may seem to be a game changer to some, two recent occurrences in the industry suggest the novel checkout-less concept may still be more of a work in progress.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In October 2024 we learned that Grabango<\/a>, a venture-backed startup specializing in checkout free technology, would be shutting down<\/a> after it was unable to raise enough funding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The startup, which launched in 2016, was positioning itself to take on Amazon in the race for a cashierless checkout technology, using computer vision and machine learning to track and tally up items as shoppers grab them from store shelves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the announcement, Grabango reportedly had deals with grocers including Aldi and Giant Eagle, along with convenience store chains 7-Eleven and Circle K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shortly after Grabango announced it was closing up shop, the person responsible for bringing the cashierless checkout technology to Amazon’s grocery division shared he was leaving after three years in the omnichannel grocery business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tony Hoggett, who was serving at Amazon as senior VP of worldwide grocery stores, announced his departure in a LinkedIn post<\/a> \u2014 saying he was “optimistic about the work Amazon is doing to improve the grocery shopping experience for customers.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Berkeley-based Grabango, a leader in checkout-free technology once considered a rival to Amazon, has closed due to insufficient funding.https:\/\/t.co\/WWH9loO6B3<\/a><\/p>— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) October 14, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>