Bowling Green State University announces new store powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology

Jan. 19, 2024
The Just Walk Out technology-powered unattended store is a collaboration among BGSU, Chartwell's Higher Education and Amazon.

Bowling Green State University in Ohio announced a new store powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. Opened January 8, the Market at Carillon Place eliminates checkout lines, getting students back to classes and campus life.

The Just Walk Out technology-powered store at BGSU is a collaboration among BGSU, Chartwell's Higher Education, Amazon and Transact Campus.

With a variety of craveable options along with campus-life staples, the store will be filled with snacks, ice creams, gluten free-friendly options and more.

Shopping at a location powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology is designed to be an effortless experience. Guests enter the store by using their credit card at the entry gate. The technology detects what shoppers take from or return to the shelves and creates a virtual shopping session. When guests have completed their shopping experience, they are able to leave the store without having to wait in line, and their choice of payment method is charged for the items they took with them.

Just Walk Out technology is made possible by artificial intelligence like computer vision and deep learning techniques, including generative AI, to accurately determine who took what. Amazon built synthetic datasets to mimic millions of realistic shopping scenarios – including variations in store format, lighting conditions and even crowds of shoppers – to ensure accuracy in virtually any retail environment.

“At Bowling Green State University, we are committed to enhancing our learning community’s experience through innovation and cutting-edge technology,” Jon Zachrich, director of marketing, communication and technology at BGSU Dining, said in the announcement. “The Amazon Just Walk Out technology-powered store provides students, faculty and staff with a convenient and efficient shopping experience. We are excited to be at the forefront of this transformative retail technology.”