At the upcoming London Gatwick Electric Forecourt®, a groundbreaking EV charging destination by GRIDSERVE, customers will experience a swift and seamless shopping experience while charging their electric vehicles, thanks to the incorporation of Amazon's Just Walk Out technology in a Little Fresh-branded convenience store.
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GLOAt the upcoming London Gatwick Electric Forecourt®, a groundbreaking EV charging destination by GRIDSERVE, customers will experience a swift and seamless shopping experience while charging their electric vehicles, thanks to the incorporation of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology in a Little Fresh-branded convenience store.
This unique Electric Forecourt®, the first of its kind at any of Europe’s international airports, will feature 35 EV charging bays. Additionally, it will house a dedicated facility with spaces for work, relaxation, and shopping at the Little Fresh convenience store, Simply Fresh’s compact store format. The implementation of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology at this particular Little Fresh store marks a pioneering move, expediting the customer journey and allowing patrons more time to recharge their vehicles.
Customers at the Little Fresh store in the London Gatwick Electric Forecourt® can simply tap their payment card or mobile wallet upon entering the store and pick up the items they need. The technology in place identifies what the shopper takes from or returns to the store shelves, generating a virtual shopping cart. Upon completing their shopping, customers can leave the store without waiting in line, with their chosen payment method being charged for the items.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology relies on artificial intelligence, including computer vision and deep-learning techniques such as generative AI, to accurately track and identify items taken by shoppers in any retail setting. Amazon created synthetic datasets that replicate millions of realistic shopping scenarios, accounting for variations in store layout, lighting conditions, and even the presence of crowds, ensuring accuracy in diverse environments.
Paul Brant, GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt® Director, emphasized, “Our Electric Forecourts® are designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve and deliver an experience that is fundamentally better than filling a car with petrol or diesel.” This collaboration with Simply Fresh and Amazon, featuring the incorporation of Just Walk Out technology, underscores GRIDSERVE’s commitment to pioneering top-notch customer experiences.
Kash Khera, Simply Fresh COO, stated, “Simply Fresh is always seeking innovative ways to enhance shopping experiences for consumers.” He highlighted the Little Fresh concept, which offers the best of Simply Fresh convenience stores in a smaller footprint with a heightened focus on immediate food needs. The latest location at the London Gatwick Electric Forecourt®, leveraging Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, provides an ideal solution for EV drivers who want to recharge swiftly and resume their journey.
The London Gatwick Electric Forecourt® is scheduled to open in December 2023.
Source: Gatwick
