Adam Alalouf

I have a strong feeling that we will start to see retailers like this pop up in the US. The cashiers at grocery stores add very little value, especially as our society moves away from person-to-person interaction and towards self-checkout. Pair this with the increasing minimum wage, and it seems like a no-brainer to add these smart stores. I am interested to see how these places deal with security though. For stores offering more valuable items than food and drink, these could be a target for theft. But, if it makes my life easier and makes my trips to the store quicker, I’m all for it!

I agree with Drew, I do see the future of retailing as fully embracing this current trend. I think it would be super useful for everyone who carries a smartphone and can participate in these stores. What does concern me is that these stores rely so heavily on technology that there seems to be no backup. For example, Amazon Go stores do not accept cash for payment and in emergency situations that could cause a major problem for customers. As this segment of industry matures, I’m positive the companies will figure out all the kinks, and when this reaches mass adoptions it will be close to “perfect”. I am absolutely looking forward to seeing which company perfects the experience and ends up as a leader in this new segment offering.

I really like your post about the disruptive of innovation of e-commerce. I agree with what drew said. I believe that cashiers clerks will become irrelevant in the near future. A good example would be the amazon grocery store, where check out will be automated once you take that one step out of the store. Very well written post Zois.

I believe that the reemergence of traditional retail with an e-commerce twist is an exciting turn in retails. It can make customers’ shopping experience a lot more convenient and easy. Many businesses now are trying to enhance customer experiences by providing a sense of conveniency by utilizing technology. This trend is ongoing and I believe more and more of these stores will be opening in the near future. However, as mentioned above, I do think with stores like Amazon GO, which rely heavily on technology, should implement a cash payment in situations of emergency. I am also excited to see an Amazon Go, or a grocery store similar to Hema, start operations here in Philadelphia as well. Technology makes life easy!

I agree that smart technology is better for the progress of society than it is bad. With products like the Apple Watch that can track heart rates and detect if a user has fallen can be great for the user. Although we do need to be very careful about how much access we give these companies. I think what Google did with the Google Nest is completely wrong. Why would a smart thermostat need a microphone inside and why wouldn’t they even disclose that they put one in? Especially if it didn’t offer some sort of feature that would need a microphone. As a huge advocate and fan of technology, there is always a lingering thought about “big brother” watching.