The future of retail: cashierless stores and the spread of automation

Cashier-free stores: Convenient shopping or the trend of the future?

The essence of the technology is that it completely replaces traditional cashiers. In stores, a central system monitors what products are added to the cart and automatically deducts the amount to be paid from the customer’s bank account. Cashier-free stores do not mean that there will be no human workforce in stores at all – ordering goods, restocking shelves and customer service still require a human presence.

The trend started in 2018, when Amazon opened its first cashier-free store in the United States. According to forecasts, more than 12 thousand such stores will operate worldwide by 2027. In Hungary, we are still in the early stages, but retail market players are already testing new technologies.

Cashless technology and the domestic market

In Hungary, Kende Retail and its partners are experimenting with new solutions. They are optimizing the system for smaller stores, as this is where it works most effectively: a quick shopping experience without queuing, with a simple and fast payment system. Amazon has also recognized this and has focused on smaller units instead of larger stores.

The adaptation of domestic stores is ongoing, especially in fast food chains and smaller retail units. Kende Retail is also working with Coca-Cola and Auchan on the development of automated store solutions.