Hyundai’s Version Of Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ Stores Is A Retro, Cashless Outlet
Image via Uncommon Store
In the financial hub of Yeouido, Seoul, a futuristic, cashier-less store was launched this March. The grand opening of the Hyundai Seoul, a department store no longer affiliated with the automotive brand, introduced a barrage of new stores, many of them boasting new concepts in a bid to stand out among the competition in the South Korean capital.
Concepted by Hyundai IT&E and designed by local architecture/design studio Atelier Archi@Mosphere, the store offers a sneak peek into what the fully automated future could be like. A QR code linking to an app is displayed prominently at the entrance, and shoppers will need to download the app and register or log in before entering the store.
Once inside, they can browse freely and grab whatever they like, which will be charged to the card they used to sign up with. This way, no card or cash transaction is required.
Amazon Web Service (AWS) was also involved in this project, which provided the cashier-free technology utilized in the store. Its cloud system, AI complex sensors, ICT, and machine learning also used in Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ Go stores were all integrated into the design of the Uncommon Store. Additionally, the Internet of Things (IoT) allows for two-way communication between the retailer and its patrons, storing and learning the consumer’s buying habits; therefore, everyone gets a unique experience despite visiting the same store.
Uncommon Store was designed with the ‘Retro Futuristic’ aesthetic in mind, a style currently trending among its target market, millennials and Gen Z, and, alternatively, those who will find it easiest to adapt to a computerized payment system in years to come. These shoppers are also most likely to share their experience online, bolstering the store’s marketing.
The most notable feature of the retro aesthetic is the neon straps wrapped around the store’s elements, reminiscent of theaters in the 1960s. Of course, the futuristic element comes through in their payment system, but also in the use of metal and acrylic throughout the space.
On sale in the space are goods usually found in a convenience store, like snacks, toothpaste, and soft drinks. But some not-so-common items pepper the shelves as well, like Kodak instant cameras, and select offerings by local convenience store Nice Weather.
[via Input, images via Uncommon Store]
Also check out these recent news
