<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        SuperSmart, an Israel-based checkout-free technology solutions provider, has raised USD 10 million in funding, which includes USD 5 million from Millennium Food tech and the rest with participation from private investors and other funds. This brings its total funding to USD 20 million.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        The company expects to use the proceeds to develop new products, expand its global customer base, further develop existing technology, and grow its workforce (currently has 40 employees).
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        SuperSmart&rsquo;s technology is currently deployed by German supermarket chains Metro, Edeka, and Selgros. The company has also begun installations at leading retail chains and has signed agreements with retailers across the US.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/banking-and-finance/article-692677">
      jpost
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-millennium-leads-10m-investment-in-checkout-scan-co-supersmart-1001398697">
      Globes
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Automated Stores

SuperSmart raises USD 10 million in recent funding

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

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<div>
 <p>Amazon has teamed up with the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland to introduce its "Just Walk Out" checkout-free technology in a concession store called "PAY &amp; AWAY."</p>
 <p>This technology makes SSE Arena the first Indoor Arena in Europe to have this feature.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Amazon recently announced plans to remove its Just Walk Out checkout-free technology at its <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/28116"> Amazon Fresh </a> grocery store locations. However, Amazon continues to steadily roll out the technology in partnership with third parties with a special focus on sports and entertainment venues such as <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/22196"> hockey arenas </a> , <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/10080"> baseball stadiums </a> , <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/12656"> football stadiums, </a> <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/18930"> amusement parks </a> , and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/22425"> casinos </a> .</p>

Amazon partners with SSE Arena to introduce Just Walk Out-powered store in Ireland

<div>
 <p>Walmart is discontinuing self-checkout lanes at its Steelyard Commons center in Cleveland, Ohio, due to customer and associate feedback, shopping trends, and business needs. However, the service will be maintained at other Ohio stores.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The closure follows the retailer’s removal of self-checkout lanes at a <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/27212"> Los Angeles </a> store and <a href="https:<br>
//www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/walmart-eliminates-self-checkout-three-nm-locations"> New Mexico </a> locations and follows a recent shift of focus from self-checkout offerings by retailers, including retailers such as <a href="https:<br>
//www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/grocery-store-chain-ditches-self-checkout-after-shopper-backlash"> Booths </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//medium.com/@christinamoonhoward/giant-retailer-decides-to-remove-self-checkouts-my-thoughts-on-this-move-85e485cf76aa#"> Dollar General </a> .&nbsp;</p>

Walmart to remove self-checkout lanes at Cleveland shopping center

<div>
 <p>Amazon has disclosed its intentions to upgrade its Amazon Fresh grocery stores by substituting its Just Walk Out checkout-free technology with smart carts. The company decided to make this change based on customer feedback that showed shoppers preferred to view their receipts while shopping, a feature provided by Amazon's smart cart solutions.</p>
 <p>The Just Walk Out technology will still be provided at Amazon Go convenience stores and select Amazon Fresh stores in the UK. Amazon also plans to continue offering the technology to third-party retailers.&nbsp;</p>
 <p><b>Analyst Quick Take: </b> In <b> </b> <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16173"> February 2023 </a> , Amazon declared that it would reduce the expansion of its Just Walk Out and Amazon One-powered brick-and-mortar stores and plans to close some stores with low growth potential. This announcement was followed by  <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20424"> the closures </a> of Amazon Fresh and additional  <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23483"> Amazon Go-powered </a> retail locations.&nbsp;</p>
</div>

Amazon to replace 'Just Walk Out' checkout options with smart carts at Fresh stores

<div>

 <p>Amazon's palm payment technology, Amazon One, now enables users to register from the comfort of their homes through its new AI-based app, which is available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. To use the app, users need to log in to their Amazon account, upload a photo of their palm, and add a payment method. The app can match the uploaded photo with near-infrared imagery from the Amazon One device. Built using GenAI, the app uses synthetic palm images to train its machine-learning models.&nbsp;</p>
 
 <p>Importantly, Amazon ensures that the palm images submitted via the app are safe and encrypted. These images cannot be downloaded or saved on the user's phone. As of now, Amazon One can be used in over 500 Whole Foods Markets in the US, numerous Amazon stores, and more than 150 third-party locations. Reportedly, the service has been used more than 8 million times, with over 80% of users choosing to use it again.&nbsp;</p>

</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Amazon took several steps last year to expand its Amazon One launch. This includes launching its solutions <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/23485"> into all Whole Foods locations in Massachusetts </a> (November), integrating its payment system in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/22175"> FreedomPay's commerce technology platform </a> (September), and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/17273"> partnering with Panera Bread </a> (March).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Amazon upgrades Amazon One, enabling at-home sign-up

<div>
 <p>A2Z Smart Technologies Corp, an Israeli technology solutions provider, has started processing orders for its newest smart cart invention, Cust2Mate 3.0. The first deployment of these smart carts will start in April at Yochananof, an Israeli supermarket chain, with plans to expand to other retailers like Morton Williams and Monoprix afterwards. </p>

<p><b>Analyst Quick Take:</b> The latest generation of A2Z’s smart carts were launched in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/25533"> January 2024</a>. Yochananof, a loyal customer of A2Z, has ordered more than 3,000 smart carts since May 2023, consisting of an initial order of <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10364"> 1,000</a> in May 2022, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15289"> 300</a> in December 2022, and an additional <a href="https://retailtechinnovationhub.com/home/2023/5/10/israeli-grocery-retailer-yochananof-places-order-for-more-a2z-cust2mate-smart-carts"> 1,700</a> in May 2023. In the past, <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19127">Morton Williams</a> and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23218">Monoprix</a> have also collaborated with A2Z and ordered 100 (in May 2023) and 250 (in October 2023) smart carts respectively.</p> 
</div>

A2Z Smart Technologies deploys Cust2Mate 3.0 smart carts

<div>
 <p>Amazon has formed a partnership with Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform, to introduce the "Just Walk Out" technology, a checkout-free retail solution, in Australia and Canada. This technology helps modernize shopping experiences by increasing convenience and efficiency.</p>
 <p>As part of the partnership, stores will use Stripe Terminal's WisePad 3S card readers and the Stripe Connect payment integration platform to manage transactions. These readers will be installed at the entrances of the checkout-free stores. Shoppers can enter by scanning their credit or debit cards, and the system will automatically process the payment once they leave the store. The Stripe Connect platform will handle the direct routing of these payments to the businesses using the Just Walk Out technology.</p>
 <p>This development follows a previous agreement between Amazon and Stripe in 2023, aimed at extending the use of each other's services.&nbsp;</p> 
</div>

Amazon integrates Stripe's technology for Just Walk Out in Australia and Canada

<div>
 <p>The computer vision-powered self-checkout solutions developer, Autonomo, based in Germany, has successfully raised GBP 2 million (Essentially USD 2.6 million) in its seed funding round. This funding was led by Potter Ventures, and River Capital participated as well. The current funds managed to broaden Autonomo's total funding to approximately GBP 3.8 million, or USD 4.8 million.</p>
 <p>Autonomo's plans for these funds are centred around introducing their cashierless solutions to the United Kingdom.</p>
 <p>The specialized technology employed by Autonomo liberates customers to enter a store by interacting with a mobile app, gather their purchases, and exit the store to finalize the purchase. The system employs cameras and AI to automatically monitor items picked up by customers. As of now, Autonomo's technology is implemented in Germany across diverse retail spaces such as convenience stores and fuel stations.</p>  
</div>

Autonomo raises GBP 2 million in seed funding to expand into UK

<div>
 <p>Discount retailer Target has revealed plans to change its self-checkout policy with the aim of speeding up the process and reducing consumer wait times. This policy will limit the use of self-checkout to customers buying 10 items or less.</p>
 <p>The “Express Self-Checkout” lanes were tested at approximately 200 Target stores, redirecting customers with more than 10 items to traditional checkout lanes. Given the success of the trial, Target intends to implement this new process in the majority of its 2,000 stores nationwide.</p> 
</div>

Target rolls out express self-checkout at nearly 2,000 stores nationwide

<div>
 <p>Walmart has reportedly shut down self-checkout lanes at its West Hills, Los Angeles, store, however, the company has not yet disclosed the specific reasons for this action.</p>
 <p>In a recent and related move, the retailer eliminated self-checkout lanes in its New Mexico stores, as it plans to introduce a self-checkout process that involves more worker participation.&nbsp;</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 The news reflects a recent trend of retailers reevaluating their self-checkout strategies. Recently, British retailer <a href="https:<br>
//www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/grocery-store-chain-ditches-self-checkout-after-shopper-backlash"> Booths </a> removed nearly all self-checkout stations as a response to customer feedback. Dollar General announced plans to shift away from self-checkout systems and reassign staff to traditional cashier roles.</p>

Walmart closes self-checkout lanes in Los Angeles

<div>
 <p>Mashgin, a firm specializing in AI-based self-checkout kiosks, has implemented its self-checkout solutions at Dartmouth Tuck School of Business's dining and catering facilities in Hanover, New Hampshire. The tech enables seamless checkout for packaged goods, produce, and open-plated food products.</p>
 <p>The deployment happened after a successful trial of Mashgin’s technology at a 24/7 unmanned convenience store within the University.&nbsp;</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Mashgin has recently enhanced its focus on growing its presence across higher educational institutions. The company’s self-checkout solutions are currently present at over 30 universities and colleges, including Texas A&amp;M and Western Colorado.</p>

All Updates