US retail specialist Hudson, which has more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North America, has concluded an agreement to use Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology in selected travel convenience stores.
Hudson Nonstop – the first Hudson store to implement Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology – will open in Texas in the first quarter of 2021 at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), with additional roll-outs planned for 2021.
“Today’s traveler is progressively more connected, mobile and time-sensitive – and they have higher expectations for convenience, safety and speed during their shopping experiences,” said Brian Quinn, EVP and chief operating officer of Hudson. “The addition of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology perfectly complements our current digital footprint, providing travelers with yet another quick, secure and contactless shopping experience that meets their needs.”
Just Walk Out enables shoppers to enter a store using their credit card, take the products they’re looking for, then leave. The technology detects which products shoppers take from or return to the shelves and keeps track of them in a virtual cart. When they’ve finished their shopping, they can just walk out and their credit card will be charged for the items.
“We’re excited to work with Hudson as they innovate in the travel industry and bring convenient, efficient experiences to travelers,” said Cameron Janes, VP of physical retail at Amazon. “While people are already accustomed to getting what they need on the go at a Hudson store, the addition of Just Walk Out technology will help busy travelers at Dallas Love Field Airport avoid waiting in line to check out so they can grab what they need and make their flight faster. We hope customers enjoy how much more convenient this makes shopping at the airport and look forward to introducing our technology to additional Hudson locations.”
Hudson notes that the selection of Dallas Love Field as its first location highlights the airport’s strong connectivity and passenger flow. Following implementation at Dallas Love Field, Hudson plans to work with Amazon to expand its use of Just Walk Out technology across additional stores in North America.