There is no better way to social distance than to remove people from the equation. That’s a growing view in a retail industry that is struggling more than most through this extended global crisis, where we have seen a surge of activity in the cashierless or automated retail space. Cashierless retail is not a new idea, but prolonged social distancing policies have shone the spotlight on this and other solutions that will provide public health benefits during the new normal. It’s almost four years since Amazon launched its cashierless retail program with the opening of its first Amazon Go convenience store near its headquarters in Seattle, and has gone on to open a further 26 automated stores in the US since. In February 2020, the company opened its first full-size Amazon Go grocery store in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. At 10,400 square feet, the store is significantly smaller than the average US grocery […]