Amazon has announced that it will discontinue its Amazon One palm payment system, removing all palm readers from physical stores by June 3. This announcement coincides with the company’s decision to close Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores. Amazon confirmed that users of the Amazon One palm payment service were notified about the shutdown on Tuesday. The company will close all Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores by February 1, except for some locations in California.
What Are Amazon Palm Payments?
Amazon One allows customers to pay and check in at Amazon stores by scanning their palm. To use the system, customers register their palm print and input their payment details. Introduced in 2020 at Amazon Go stores in Seattle, Amazon One expanded to other locations, including Whole Foods.
This technology provided a fast, touchless way to complete transactions, eliminating the need for credit cards or mobile payments.
Why Is Amazon Ending Palm Payments?
Amazon hasn’t provided a full explanation for the closure of Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores. However, the company confirmed it would convert some of these locations into Whole Foods stores. This shift represents a change in Amazon’s retail strategy to adjust to customer needs and the evolving retail landscape.
In 2024, Amazon also decided to drop its “Just Walk Out” cashierless checkout technology from its grocery stores, although the technology remains in use at some third-party stores.
The Future of Cashierless Checkout
Despite setbacks, many believe that cashierless checkout technology holds promise. The closure of Grabango, a company providing cashierless systems, in 2024 posed a setback. However, analysts expect the technology to succeed as it matures and becomes more widespread in retail.
Amazon continues investing in retail technology, showing its commitment to transforming the shopping experience, even if some aspects of cashierless models are being redefined.
What Happens to Palm Payment Data?
Amazon confirmed that it will delete all data linked to the palm payment system after the service ends. The company will remove the data once all pending transactions are processed, ensuring user privacy is protected.
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Amazon’s decision to end palm payments marks another change in its retail strategy. The company is adapting to customer needs while exploring new ways to improve the shopping experience.
