Amazon's new portable Just Walk Out lanes bring checkout-free shopping to pop-up venues

Amazon has introduced a new, portable version of its Just Walk Out checkout technology that uses RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags to eliminate lines at events, temporary stores, and other pop-up venues. These lanes can now be set up in hours instead of weeks, making them much easier to deploy in places like festivals, concerts, or special retail sites.  

Each item is equipped with a unique RFID tag that the system reads as you walk through a lane. In-lane screens show what’s in your cart and the total cost while you go. Motorized gates open and close automatically to keep traffic flowing smoothly. The lanes also use dynamic pre-authorization, so you can see your charges before checkout.

Just Walk Out technology—whether using RFID or computer vision—is now active in over 360 locations across five countries. This includes stadiums, hospitals, and other high-traffic venues. Amazon says the system processed millions of transactions and shopping sessions in the past year alone.