Mindful Marketing
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Mindful Meter & Matrix
    • Leadership
  • Mindful Matters Blog
  • Engage Your Mind
    • Mindful Ads? Vote Your Mind!
  • Expand Your Mind
  • Contact

Does 'Amazon Go' Mean Goodbye to Jobs?

1/27/2018

74 Comments

 
Picture

by David Hagenbuch, founder of Mindful Marketing & author of Honorable Influence

Imagine walking into a store, taking whatever you want, and walking out.  What sounds like a shoplifter’s fantasy, Amazon has made a reality, of sorts, in its one-of-a-kind Seattle store.  Customers still need to pay, but the entire process is automated electronically, which may lead some to ask, ‘Is Amazon’s cashier-less concept endangering employment?’
 
It may seem strange that the king of ecommerce is bothering at all with old-school, brick-and-mortar retail, let alone a self-checkout store.  Many online retailers, however, have found that the secret to long-term success involves a combination of “bricks and clicks,” i.e., both a traditional and a virtual market presence.

Of course, this is not Amazon’s first foray into physical retail.  The company already has a handful of retail stores.  A main reason for these tangible outlets is that, as convenient as ecommerce may be, there are certain things that people want NOW, and they’re not willing to wait overnight or even a few hours, if same-day delivery happens to be possible.  In sum, Amazon doesn’t want to miss out on the market for immediacy.

With its new “Amazon Go” store the company has taken ‘fast’ a big step further by eliminating the checkout line.  Here’s how the “Just Walk Out Technology” works.  Amazon account holders download the free Amazon Go app and scan their smartphones when entering the store.  Every item they choose from store shelves, then, is automatically placed in their virtual shopping cart by means of “the same types of technologies used in self-driving cars: computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning.”  When customers exit the store, the system charges their Amazon accounts and sends them receipts for their purchases, all without them ever entering a checkout line.

What can people buy at this one-of-a-kind store that claims “The world’s most advanced shopping technology”?  At this point, the options are mainly grocery items, including Amazon Meal Kits.  It makes sense for Amazon Go to focus on food because edibles are what people most often want to get quickly; they certainly don’t want to wait the days or weeks it takes to receive some goods from Amazon.com. 
 
But, a cashier-less store is a potential cause for concern, for at least a few reasons.  First and foremost, it seems like the technology could be taking workers’ jobs.  People get paid to run cash registers and otherwise help check others out of stores.  Granted, Amazon isn’t a big brick-and-mortar retailer now, but that seems to be changing.  After opening its first Amazon Books store in Seattle in November 2015, the company now operates in a dozen more locations scattered throughout the U.S., with plans to open several more soon.

Even if Amazon doesn’t implement cashier-less checkout in its Books stores, or it fails to make its Go stores as ubiquitous as McDonald’s restaurants, the employment impact of the technology will still spread.  It’s likely that other retailers and technology companies are already working on their own versions of Just Walk Out Technology that one or more of them will pilot in the near future.  Then, after fixing the flaws, the technology will likely penetrate more and more retail sectors, just like self-checkout spread from grocery stores to big box retailers and beyond.

So, there’s potential that not just a few dozen, but thousands, tens of thousands, or more cashiers could be displaced.  For instance, there are over 154,000 convenience stores in the United States.  If just 10% of those stores adopted something akin to Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology, and each store employed four cashiers, there would be over 61,000 people out of work.
 
Such projections make cashier-less shopping or any technology that replaces human labor sound bad, but is it really?  Just a century or so ago, many people were employed in basic manual tasks, like digging holes, ditches, etc.  If you’ve ever dug a hole of a significant size in solid ground, you know it’s a very strenuous task.

Thankfully, ingenious individuals invented machines like the bulldozer and backhoe that dig far more effectively than even a hoard of humans with shovels.  Did that technology take jobs away from people who could dig?  Yes.  But that displacement was ultimately for their own good, as well as the good of society.  Few people want to make a living digging holes by hand.  It’s much less strenuous and more stimulating to operate the machinery that does the digging, or to plan where the digging should be done, or to build the homes, highways, etc. that use the holes and help drive the economy.
 
Of course, being a cashier demands a broader range of skills than digging a hole; yet, most cashiers probably would welcome the opportunity to do work with more variety or challenge, maybe after receiving some additional training or education.  Regardless, we all must recognize that technological advancements have changed the way people have worked for millennia, and they will continue to do so.  What’s more, that rate of change may be increasing when one considers recent innovations in areas such as robotics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.
 
Someone who knows something about technology and job creation is Microsoft founder and philanthropist, Bill Gates.  The software that Gates developed decades ago and the advancements it supported, inevitably led to the displacement of workers whose job skills were passé. 
 
However, that technology also created thousands upon thousands of new and more engaging employment opportunities for individuals who learned to leverage that technology.  In an interview with Fox Business, Gates suggested that the same cycle of economic growth and job reassignment will continue in the wake of the latest applications of new tech.

Amazon Go is a ‘prime’ example of technological advance sparking job skill evolution and likely economic growth.  Although the store doesn’t have cashiers, it employs a variety of other individuals in meaningful work that includes making the retailer’s ready-to-eat food and offering customers product recommendations.  What's more, people are needed to build, install, and maintain the Just Walk Out systems.

Amazon isn’t guilty of eliminating jobs; rather it’s created new and more interesting opportunities for individuals, particularly for ones who embrace technology and invest in their own professional development.  In sum, Amazon Go checks out as “Mindful Marketing.” 


Picture
Picture
Subscribe to Mindful Matters blog.
Learn more about the Mindful Matrix and Mindful Meter.
Check out Mindful Marketing Ads
 and Vote your Mind!
74 Comments
Michael Bowlin
1/29/2018 07:38:22 pm

I agree that this is Mindful Marketing due to the fact that jobs come and go every day. If a cashier job will slowly go away, more bottom level job opportunities will come to take its place. Will the switch be instantaneous? No, but it will come in due time just like all advances.

Reply
Alexandra Chea
1/29/2018 09:21:11 pm

I believe that if Amazon Go is a success that yes this will lead to the loss of jobs not only for amazon but for many organizations in the years to come. Sometimes i wish companies would worry about how society is effected as a whole rather than what the benefits of not having to hire workers would mean to their company. Although this plan looks like it will proceed, hopefully amazon will figure out other ways of hiring more employees for future ideas and not influence other organizations to get rid of employees as well.

Reply
Logan Zahora
1/29/2018 10:23:38 pm

While I do think that Amazon Go is extremely innovative, it will certainly result is fewer jobs. This invention makes cashiers obsolete which has been a common entry level job in the retail industry. If this type of technology is adopted by other companies will will increase the number of people that lose their jobs to it. However, I also doubt that this problem will ever really amount to much as theft will most likely skyrocket after shoplifters figure out a way to get past the system.

Reply
Roman Wagner
1/29/2018 11:40:55 pm

I agree that this mindful marketing despite the loss of jobs. It was a good point about the bulldozer and the backhoe and how now today we never question if that was a good decision to make them even though they took away peoples jobs. I believe that Amazon go will be a product/service that will be appreciated in the future in the way that the bulldozer was. Right now it is hard to look at the jobs being lost, but technology is constantly allowing us to try to improve our lives and have more time. Overall I think this is a good move by Amazon.

Reply
Haven Shaffer
1/30/2018 01:06:11 am

I can completely understand and appreciate innovation, and as great as Amazon Go is and is continuing to become, I still can't find myself to be completely on board with it. The loss of jobs is a big negative, and would affect so, so many people. I don't think it's very fair to take so many jobs away, so quickly, from so many people. There are tons of people who rely on jobs like that as one of their main sources of income, and to be out of a job could be very dangerous. I completely understand the mindfulness of the idea and the way Amazon is pursuing it, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that people will be negatively affected by it.

Reply
Kat Wentling
1/30/2018 05:10:32 pm

Just as we discussed in class, here it is again. Amazon Go doesn't take jobs, it transforms them. I believe that a cashier-less future is inevitable as technology improves and new ideas are explored. However, as this article says, the former cashiers will be changed to a new position. Amazon Go will likely want to employ someone to watch customers as they leave, a possible greeter, and a few associates to enhance customer experience. It is not at all a bad thing to innovate new technologies.

Reply
Sarah Eby
1/30/2018 06:55:32 pm

Amazon Go seems like an innovative and fresh idea, but I do not appreciate how it will affect employment. It may be mindful marketing, but I am starting to get concerned with how much companies are trying to advance technologically these days. I think that in the moment it seems like a good idea, but in the future there will be serious consequences. The possible loss of employment for retailers across America due to Amazon Go is already a red flag, and I think people need to start being aware of how improving technology isn't always as beneficial as it seems.

Reply
Daniel Goonewardene
1/30/2018 07:52:14 pm

Amazon has been changing the way shopping is done for a while now and this looks as if it might very well be the next big thing for them. I would consider this mindful marketing for the following reasons. I believe that it creates stakeholder value because people value time efficiency. This concept of a store without checkout lines looks as if it will be successful in the future. I believe this marketing upholds societal values because it is allowing people to save precious time. People are concerned about retailers losing their jobs but, they should be more concerned about how the skills required in retail will change and be affected by technology. Only time will tell, but I believe that for now there will not be an huge increase in unemployment within retail, but rather a change in the tasks which the employees are required to complete.

Reply
Corinne Mahoney
1/30/2018 09:51:47 pm

I think Amazon Go's new "brick-and-mortar" store is a very interesting idea. What was once thought of as shoplifting is now the norm! Who would have ever thought that it would be possible to just walk out of a store without having to physically pay? This is definitely an innovative new concept, that will likely be picked up by other retailers. However, I don't really see the immediate need for Amazon to have a physical store. They are a global leader in online retail, and make plenty of money doing just that- shipping products to customers all around the globe. Physical stores are not their specialty, and so they should leave the physical shopping to those who have been doing it best for centuries. In addition, these new stores of Amazon's will be putting many Americans out of a job, as there is no longer the need for cashiers to check out groceries. Instead of producing "cashier less" stores, Amazon should focus more on expanding its online presence, and in doing so, adding more warehouses and expanding employment opportunities.

Reply
Mary Solomin
1/30/2018 10:32:25 pm

Although it seems as though Amazon Go will create many problems for the workforce of stores, such as the jobs of cashiers, I believe that with every new invention comes adjustment to that invention. For example, when the incandescent light bulb was invented, many people who were working to make oil or kerosene for the lamps lost their jobs because people wanted an innovative way for using light. However, the workers who lost their jobs could now get hired at a factory making light bulbs or light fixtures for people's houses. In the end, when innovations in technology or inventions will happen, society will change.

Reply
Ruthie
1/30/2018 10:45:31 pm

I do not believe that Amazon Go will begin to cut back on jobs- it is the face of the future. Regardless of how technologically advanced it is, it will still need humans to stock the shelves and play a role in the security of the store. Sure, there may not be any cashiers needed in the store, but the job pool will adjust in order to cater to these new arrangements. Therefore, I believe this to be mindful marketing because it helps to save the consumer's time which is upholding societal values and it helps that the companies do not have to spend so much money on equipment used to check people out.

Reply
Nicole Ulmer
1/30/2018 11:40:11 pm

I agree that this is mindful marketing. Whether it is Amazon or some other big corporation, someone is going to find a new way to innovate and change shopping eventually. Amazon just happens to be the first company to innovate this particular thing, but will not be the last. There is no way to stop innovation in a technology based world, as it is just a part of the world changing and growing. While it may be taking away jobs of cashiers, it is creating more advanced jobs, such as people who have to create and update the products in the store, and the scanners that check the food out. This is actually creating more jobs in the innovation sector, and creates a new need for people who can update and maintain the technology in the store. While at the moment it may seem like a bad idea and a cause of job loss, it is paving the way for the future and is the next step when it comes to technology in a changing world.

Reply
Daniel Logan
1/31/2018 12:00:17 am

I would certainly agree with Dr. Hagenbuch’s claim that Amazon’s new way to check out is an example of Mindful Marketing. I believe this because it will not only save time for consumers, but encourage people to pursue careers in mechanical engineering so that Amazon will have enough employees to perform maintenance and develop new technologies to enhance the new machines.
There will probably be people who believe that this is not necessary, and that this will not save more time than a self-service checkout would. However, I have seen firsthand how long normal checkout lines or self-service checkout lines can take. The process of waiting to even get to the cashier can vary greatly depending on the time of day and what season it is. After waiting 5-10 minutes in line and scanning the items, you may spend another 5 minutes paying and waiting for your items to be bagged. Finally, after you leave the store, you realize you just spent 15 minutes of your time doing something that could have taken seconds to do in the Amazon Go Store.
I believe Amazon has created a ground-breaking service that currently, is unparalleled and will change the way people spend time running to the grocery store. This service could potentially save lives as well. Many car accidents are caused by reckless drivers who exceed the speed limit because they are in too much of a hurry. With customers spending very little time in Amazon Go Stores, this may encourage people to drive slower.
I am very interested to see how other companies adjust to Amazon’s attempt at entering the Grocery Industry as well as how Amazon will continue to innovate and grow.

Reply
Ethan Rohrer
1/31/2018 12:24:14 am

I believe that this is mindful marketing because in theory it is a more efficient store overall. It may not take off right away but that can be a good thing the slow implementation of stores like this one would be a welcome one.

Reply
Joe Naguski
1/31/2018 02:44:15 am

I agree that this is mindful marketing. This innovation by Amazon will make things easier and more efficient. It takes away from the need for a person, who can make errors and may not be pleasant to interact with. I already like to just use the self-checkout at stores over going to a cashier anyway so this new type of automation is fine by me. It may take away from some jobs but it will create others and is a step into the technological future ahead of us.

Reply
Kevin Cook
1/31/2018 11:34:32 am

The route that Amazon GO is 'going' is very innovative and can be a great provision for some of it's customers, but thinking in the long term, it could be damaging. If other organizations take their example of a cashier-less checkout, then a vast majority of workers from different companies will lose those entry-level jobs. Many grocery stores, as well as other types of similar stores, hire staff members who have disabilities and difficulties learning the ins and outs of other aspects of the store, but they're great with the people, therefore they bag the goods. The job opportunities for the disabled in the long-term could go away if larger competition arises from this scenario, as they won't really be able to easily learn those new and possibly more enticing opportunities in the store. Because of that, to me, the societal values are no longer upheld, making this Single-Minded marketing.

Reply
Jason Kreske
1/31/2018 12:17:31 pm

This is a fascinating innovation that amazon has taken on. This kind of shopping hasn't ever been seen any store and this definitely gives Amazon an even bigger leg up on the their competitors. With Amazon's latest breakthrough, I do believe it is single-minded. This technology is definitely investment worthy and will generate a lot of revenue if this idea takes off. However, it takes away job opportunities from citizens, making it that much harder for the unemployed to find a job.

Reply
Donovan Varney
1/31/2018 01:17:04 pm

I believe the notion that when one job is "destroyed," other jobs can be created. For example, when robots started showing up in factories, they took factory jobs away from the old factory workers. However, with the addition of robots, people are needed to code the software for the robots, design the hardware of the robot, upkeep and repair robots when they malfunction, and to tell the robot what to do. It's taking the slightly less desirable jobs and creating more "advanced" ones.

Reply
Malik Downey
1/31/2018 06:42:27 pm

This does meet the criteria for mindful marketing, but I believe it is too early to tell the direction Amazon Go service will advance in the future. There have already been "hackers" showing that it's possible to steal items without paying, so the system will have to make many changes until perfected. This will definitely boost job creation allowing cashiers to train for other positions.

Reply
Haripriya Gopal
1/31/2018 09:01:43 pm

Amazon Go seems like a great idea. People today are so busy and especially when they're in a rush, they're not going to want to wait in line. Even thougth there will be a loss of cashiers, I feel that there are going to be more innovative jobs within Amazon. It wil take getting used to for a while but Amazon is technologically advancing and thinking about the overall picture.

Reply
mansour
2/1/2018 01:20:48 am

I defiantly encourage "Amazons Go" The new system of checking out. This innovation is leading towards the future Because the new system of walking in and getting what you want without waiting in line will fast paste people's time and nowadays time is limited. If Amazon Go succeed it will expand more, not only with grocery stores but with clothing, Electronics, medicine etc.. I agree that the new system will require fewer employees but it will create more jobs for others. This will thrive people to start learning about mechanics and computers more. So, the positivity in the new system overcomes the negativity.

Reply
Kayla Vergara
2/1/2018 03:26:40 am

I really like how this article focuses on both the pros and cons of “Amazon Go.” Many people who are new and unfamiliar with the concept of cashier-less shopping are quick to judge a new type of system like this because they are fearful of its new applications. While it is clear that cameras and scanners will replace the role of cashiers, the article mentions that employees are still needed to maintain these cameras and other equipment. Rather than taking away jobs, Amazon is creating a demand for people with more human capital that have obtained higher levels of education in order to meet the needs of maintaining an “Amazon Go” store. Also, “Amazon Go” is not necessarily the first of its kind. Self checkout stands are used in many stores such as Target, Walmart, etc. Self checkout does not require a cashier yet there are still employees who are knowledgeable about the systems and are there to assist customers when needed. Rather than eliminating jobs, Amazon’s new way of shopping aims to create new ones.

Reply
Noah Peters
2/1/2018 01:04:52 pm

I like the compare and contrast aspect of this article. While I do think cashier-less checkouts may harm job opportunities in the 'cashier industry,' I believe it will allow companies to reallocate their workers in ways that can further benefit customer experience. Personally, I love using the self-checkout options at Target and Safeway, for example. However, I don't believe a store will be able to go entirely cashier-less when we take into account the generational differences. Older generations may have trouble comprehending and using these systems. I think self-checkout options improve customer experience as well as it may cut down lines and congestion when it comes time to checkout.

Reply
Raymart Tolentino
2/1/2018 02:14:23 pm

I support the innovative works of Amazon and its new way of grocery shopping. It poses a change in the technological advances. Having the power to just go, grab and leave is such a convenience. However, it does scare the employment of cashiers because of this conveniency. If this system succeeds it may truly affect the employment rate for cashiers but it can give them an opportunity to pursue for something else. Amazon is expanding their company and it is trying to be physically present as possible. They still uphold their company's image by being accessible, easy and convenient.

Reply
Qian Yin
2/1/2018 04:58:31 pm

I agree that it is a mindful marketing. I really believe that the new technology could help people creating new values and jobs instead of saying the auto pay could make cashier disappear. The trend of the new era is innovation and Amazon Go is just a great example of it. If Amazon Go becomes popular, it must be a great marketing strategy because people nowadays are too busy and most of them do not like waiting in a line. I do agree that the jobs will be lost if the Amazon Go system become popular, but they will create other different jobs for people.

Reply
Sarah Davidson
2/1/2018 06:18:56 pm

I agree that 'Amazon Go' is a great example of mindful marketing. I can see how the elimination of jobs would be discouraging to society, but I don't believe that they are ill intentionally doing so. I think that with the elimination of cashier jobs, they will be able to focus on creating new jobs for their company that will improve not only diligence and efficiency, but also customer satisfaction. They are moving towards reaching their customers in new ways and in order for that to happen, Amazon is in search of new employees with more technology based skills rather than cashiers.

Reply
Saijun Lai
2/1/2018 06:48:41 pm

I agree 'Amazon Go' is a mindful marketing. The concept of walking into a store and out again without any interaction with employees or payments might sound unfamiliar, but it's designed to make shopping easier as possible. This kind of store may attracts lots of workers and students, because it helps to save time. However, I believe it also affects the employment rate of cashiers because of its conveniency.

Reply
Grace Hatakeyama
2/1/2018 07:08:32 pm

I believe that the "Amazon Go" stores will be successful. Consumers love the idea of Amazon because everything is readily available to purchase at the click of a button. Furthermore, Amazon uses Prime to encourage consumers to pay an annual rate to get perks such as streamed shows, fast 2 day shipping, and same day pickup options. Since the 2 day shipping option has made Amazon Prime very popular among online shopping, retail stores may even be more successful as they are available instantly as long as you go to the store. The limits to an "amazon store" are that not everything will be available at the store. Amazon.com is too vast to capture the convenience and inventory in a retail store.

I agree that it will initially decrease jobs while it is developing, but as technology increases day by day, more jobs are being created to fill those gaps. Certain jobs become unnecessary due to just being out of trend or because the time of that job has passed. Slowly, as our world is relying more heavily on technology, jobs through technology will become the norm.

Reply
Sheila
2/1/2018 07:52:41 pm

Reading about technology enhancing is amazing and very interesting, but sometime I miss just writing on a piece of paper with a pencil. Amazon Go is very creative. I think it is great that this will not affect people and their jobs because there will be other areas of work needed within the store. The only thing that worries me is communication. Eventually there will be no one to talk to in stores. When I go to stores, I love talking to the cashers, but in this situation there will be a loss of person to person communication.

Reply
Jetse De Haas
2/1/2018 08:08:52 pm

Amazon's cashier-less stores are a great example of why they are and will be the retail kings of the future. Their branding is well known for reliability, and quality which has made them leaders in the e-commerce business. Furthermore, their new Amazon Go project will help them penetrate in retail and and satisfy the demand for immediate products such as food. Although, their cashier-less system may prompt a loss a jobs in the future, I believe it will provide more jobs for technical management of the stores and more jobs overall at Amazon inc.

Reply
Yanling
2/1/2018 08:42:12 pm

I think it is a mindful marketing. Although it eliminates cashiers, it definitely creates other job opportunities. Also, Amazon brings a technology progress to the society (i.e. save more customers' time and make their life become more convenient.) For the company, it definitely brings more profits and makes the company itself more influential.

Reply
Richard S.
2/1/2018 08:51:53 pm

Unfortunately, I find that the ramifications of future ‘Amazon’s Go’ stores will be in line with the same outcome that will be faced by those in the “Fight for $15” crowd. McDonald’s is already testing automated cashiers (step 1 to the plan of full automation) which would displace most of the cashiers at its 14,146 franchises in the US alone. I hope these workers will eventually be able to find better, higher paying jobs, but find it unlikely if there is a massive exodus in an industry in short period of time. Thankfully, I do not think Amazon Go will catch on very quickly due to the costs of implementing this technology which may release store workers over time allowing them more opportunity and time to find new career. Realistically, I do not expect most of the displaced workers to become technicians of the machines that replace them, unless there is a pathway set by their employers.

Reply
Jonathan Drory
2/1/2018 08:57:13 pm


I am very pro technology and innovation. However, I prefer to check out with cashier who can immediate assist me for help rather do everything automatically. I think the world is going too crazy sometimes. Moreover, it is already causing severe unemployment and I am against machines replacing humans. There are so many people who need jobs especially students like me and my classmates.

Reply
Price Keogh
2/1/2018 09:01:47 pm

Personally, I do agree that this type of marketing is mindful as it upholds both societal values as well as stakeholders value. As a society, we are interested in immediate availability for products. With the new Amazon Go Store, customers are able to purchase items without the inconvenience of waiting in line. Although it will cut jobs from those who previously worked as cashiers, it will bring new opportunities such as creating the food made in the store, putting together the products, and restocking inventory. Therefore, the old job will be replaced by a new one.

Reply
Yacoub Atshan
2/1/2018 10:41:57 pm

I think Amazon Go is going to put a lot of people out of work in the united states if this becomes a successful widespread operation. There should definitely be limits to how much technology should be implemented in the world. Amazon is already responsible for around 40% of all internet transactions, so them attempting to further automate the real world would take away jobs and more importantly, human interaction. It is very single minded because although some jobs lost could become some created, there is a clear demand for less humans to run this. Considering the demand for employment is decreasing quickly in department stores already, competing with supermarkets will take away even more jobs in the coming years. When the older generations die and almost everything becomes electronic, there will eventually be little need for shopping malls; which accounts for a lot of employment throughout the country, so taking away a lot of demand for supermarkets will create even more impact regarding demand for employment.

Reply
Yang Wen
2/1/2018 11:05:08 pm

I agree with the point towards Amazon Go would replace numerous people working as cashier, this happens the same in China also. When Alipay started to established their first pure technology cashier supermarket in Guangzhou. However, it is inevitably an evolution of of society, more and more strenuous job will be replaced by technology, and maybe in the not far future, we might not even have to make money by going to the office.

Reply
Hailey Reyno
2/1/2018 11:06:36 pm

I think the idea of "Just Walk Out Technology" is very innovative and is appealing to grocery shoppers, making the task less of a chore. I do think that it is important to recognize the significant amount of people that are going to be unemployed, but the technological world is constantly evolving and advancements are inevitable. The comparison of diggers leading to the invention of the bulldozer was a great example. I think Amazon Go is an efficient way of improving the grocery shopping experience.












Reply
Xilin Luo
2/1/2018 11:33:08 pm

I support this AMAZON Go is a mindful market because it is could meet a large amount of customers require. In busy city like Seattle and New York city. The peace of life is really busy and they do not want to cook at home so they can go to the Amazon store to buy the food without long line. People don't need to waste time to wait the long line eat outside. Technology help us create value for a lot of person. I think Amazon Go do have influenced on some people who lost their job, nut it also could be more efficient and Amazon could provide more work opportunities for other job. It is the inevitable trend of this technology world.

Reply
Alfred
2/1/2018 11:51:03 pm

Amazon Go is a mindful type of marketing because it is catering towards the target audience and is a great way to help everything flow and become more efficient. I also believe that when the cashier's jobs start to disappear there will be new jobs or other roles to be filled.

Reply
James Fang
2/1/2018 11:51:43 pm

I think that Amazon Go is the next new thing when it comes to grocery stores. Many other chain's will more than likely try to implement one or more aspect of Amazon's technology. I think that other competitors will try to follow the path that Amazon is creating. Although some see this new technology as creating a solution to which there is no problem. I think that this is the right step in improving how we spend our time since we won't have to be waiting in line next time we want to buy something and grocery stores!

Reply
Bonnie S.
2/2/2018 12:14:16 am

I think this new idea of a grab and go shopping is very innovative and efficient. With the world being so busy and impatient hopefully this new idea will help shoppers get what they need and get out quickly. Because Amazon Go is the new way of shopping other retail stores will start following along with the idea and bringing it into their stores. This is a great start to changing they way we shop and use our time.

Reply
Nika Green
2/2/2018 12:15:35 am

I feel as though Amazon, being the large and very influential company that it is, almost has a responsibility to set the standard for other companies. Amazon is a company that many keep their eyes on because it consistently sets the boundaries for the business world. I believe this new concept for a store without cashiers is the obvious direction of the future. I think that with this business model we can capitalize on time and money value for consumers by speeding up the process of "convenience" shopping. I am excited by this new notion for the way stores are run. Of course, this business model may not work in all markets such as fashion but for necessary home items such as paper towels, tissues, water, snacks, I think it is a very beneficial idea and the direction we should encourage businesses to move towards.

Reply
Jovi Lin link
2/2/2018 12:43:16 am

Even most of the people agree that Amazon Go is a mindful marketing. However, I have a different aspect. As the blog mentioned, it created a new retail model. No one needs to being cashier anymore. This kind of job occupation will be eliminated in the future and release a lot of labor force to the market. In general concept, machines and new technologies are able to liberate human from repetitive tasks. With the maturity of artificial intelligence technology, a lot of repetitive labor, like many parts of manufacturing, also include things like driving and cooking, can be done by machines. From the historical experience, after the industrial revolution reduced the work of agriculture, created new workers' jobs are obvious, BUT, BUT we don't see the development of artificial intelligence can bring what a lot of direct a new job. (data can be searched in Google, not gonna mention here). Meanwhile, in the era of artificial intelligence, the gap between the rich and the poor will worsen. If a person has a technology, which means that he (she) will have a lot of wealth from the patent, the other person may be because they have no control of technology patents and poorer, this is clearly a bad result. Furthermore, if the work of a large number of people is replaced by machines, the social environment may change dramatically. We can deal with retail shop assistant before, but the future store like Amazon the Go without the assistant, the future may be directly dealing with machines, dealing with teacher/lawyer/doctor/colleagues time may also be reduced. In many cases, learning to deal with people may not be important (and perhaps more important), and social life can change dramatically. Therefore, it seems this might not uphold societal value.

Reply
Jiawen Wang
2/2/2018 12:46:36 am

For me, I agree that "Amazon Go" is a great example for mindful marketing. Just walking in, take whatever I want and walking out, it seems like much more convenient than waiting in line for check out.
Even though it will cause many cashiers lose their job, but I believe more job opportunities are created because this Amazon Go store system. And almost everything will replaced by the new technology in the future, Amazon is the company who did it first.

Reply
Yunnung Chou
2/2/2018 01:38:37 am

I agree that "Amazon Go" is a very progressive and innovated idea for utilizing technology and makes our lives more convenient and sufficient, but it does not mean that this strategy does eliminate cashier's job. On the opposite side, it create more jobs for people to maintain the whole network system that operates the store, meanwhile preventing hackers from hacking it. Although, there are still some job lost due to this advantage, but as long it does not effect the whole society in a whole, and those cashier do train new skills to adopt the change in this new era, it is not a threat to them but an useful way to improve themselves.

Reply
Aini Song
2/2/2018 02:05:27 am

I agree the “Amazon Go” is a wonderful example of the mindful marketing. “Amazon Go” is defiantly leader of the future life. In this speedy lifestyle, it helps people to save the time which means people will not standing in line for a long time to wait, but there is a disadvantage to operate “Amazon Go” which is the employment rate of cashiers. It might bring some employment pressure for the whole society. However, each of the new marketing strategies should take some time to integrate into society. Anyway, if it can offer people a new style to shop daily supplies, why do not we give it a try?

Reply
Matt Campos
2/2/2018 02:12:21 am

I think something to take away from this is that Amazon Go is going to take away the low level education jobs like cashiers, but create more jobs for people with a higher education. The people with higher education will be hired to maintain, repair, install, and all those types of software things. This shows that the value of education is going to increase in order to get jobs because the low education jobs will be outdated.

Reply
Yvonne Chen
2/2/2018 02:43:49 am

Happy to finally see an example of mindful marketing. In my opinion, technology would only become more and more advanced. Therefore, many jobs that require human labor would be easily replaced. Amazon Go's example reminds me of Taiwan's toll gates on the high ways. In 2013, the government tear down all the toll gates and stop collecting tolls manually. Instead, they required every driver to install a small device on their car for the electronic toll collection when they pass the sensors on the road. In the beginning, the toll collectors were very angry because they had lost their job and the majority of the public had sympathy for them and believed that the government should not do this. However, after a period of time of adjusting, the electronic toll collection solved the traffic problems and saved the car drivers some time during commuting because they do not need to wait in line to pay. On the other hand, the government trained the toll collectors who lost their job to get a new job without dismissing the problem. For Amazon Go, if the company could have solutions for creating other job opportunities, the idea of giving the customers the most convenient way of shopping with advanced technology would be beneficial!

Reply
Hannah
2/2/2018 02:54:15 am

I do believe that Amazon Go is mindful marketing because ultimately it does create stakeholder value while at the same time still keeps in mind the ethical standpoint of providing new jobs for those who would normally be cashiers. Amazon Go did not intentionally opt for fewer cashiers so that they may put more people out of work. They did it because they thought the outcome would outweigh the negative factors.

Reply
Vianey Jimenez
2/2/2018 06:45:56 pm

Amazon Go sounds like out of this world, especially for the high technology that is needed to carry out a no-line grocery store they've created. Even though many people might want a faster shopping experience, I think society is not 100% ready to make a switch to this concept. It can present dangers to the the business if the technology stops working or gets hacked. Sitations like these make me doubt the success of this achievement, but it is still exciting to know Amazon is striving to improve the customers experience.

Reply
Gabriela Gupta
2/3/2018 05:28:46 pm

Amazon Go seems to be a company that will succeed later in the future but I believe that they want this to change fast and it does help for a certain market segment of younger people who enjoy shopping online but for those who enjoy talking to someone about their day or why they like a certain product don't get to have that same experience. The switch to a fully electronic lifestyle is one that many companies want to implement just like self driving cars but for this to happen it needs to come in slowly not all at once.

Reply
Garrett F
2/8/2018 07:10:47 pm

The creation of the Amazon Go store is a great step for technological advancement. It benefits anyone who is in a rush to grab a quick bite to eat or someone in a rush who doesn't have the time to wait in line to buy their groceries. While I agree that these types of stores would put a number of potential cashiers out of business, I believe some of these former cashiers could be reassigned to other positions in the store. Currently, I'd argue that cashiers are the most important person at a grocery store because they're the ones holding you back from checking out. In these new Amazon stores, I'd argue that the most important worker would then become a greeter/helper or stocker, as people need ample amounts of food on the shelves to choose from and purchase. For greeters/helpers, customers might need someone to quickly direct them to the correct shelf or aisle to get the desired food and run out the door. Even if these alternative jobs or ideas don't pan out, not all stores possess the technology or the funds to run businesses like this, so hopefully, by the time Amazon Go stores do take over the grocery industry, the workforce will have slowly moved away cashiers in a smooth and easy transition.

Reply
Cary Tai
2/10/2018 12:19:28 am

Amazon Go is a great way to get whatever you need and get out. It saves you so much time and not only that, it also limits your human interactions (if you're into that). Unfortunately, with every purchase and utilization of its service, Amazon is able to expand, ultimately taking jobs away from other companies or even its own if it chooses to go self sufficient by using electronics for labor. It is still hard to tell now, but I personally foresee jobs being cut.

Reply
Suji Kolli
2/22/2018 03:45:38 pm

While I do believe that Amazon Go is a complete success and that it's very innovative and time efficient, it will definitely cause loss of jobs. We might not be able to see it in the present but it will make a great impact in the future. But I also believe that by the time it actually starts to show an impact, we will have created more jobs.

Reply
Gabriela Gupta
2/23/2018 05:29:46 pm

Just as we talked about in class, Amazon Go is a new and amazing opportunity. It is making those who still enjoy going to a supermarket to choose their items have that liberty and it is making life fast and effective. It is a system that brings cooler jobs into our world and it keeps us on our toes. Although ordering from your bed seems like a great idea sometimes getting up and actively going to the store makes you see people and talk to people. Removing cashiers is sad because it is a way to converse but fastness is a stronger part of most peoples every day lives.

Reply
Caleb Kneale
3/7/2018 12:30:24 am

Dear David Hagenbuch,
I agree with you that I think Amazon Go's new Just Walk out technology will help to employ people in more meaningful work. The loss of jobs will cause more people to get a higher education so they can have the more meaningful careers. I do see one problem with this the lack of jobs. If this technology leads to more job loss then it will be harder for college students, like myself, to find an entry level job so that they can pay for college and there future more meaningful job. My friends and I are already struggling to find work and I can’t imagine how much harder it would be if more jobs were lost to the retail companies not needing cashiers.

Reply
Zachary Smith
3/7/2018 04:51:58 pm

The concept of the Amazon Go stores both excites and saddens me at the same time. The millennial in me always wants what is most convenient and most readily available. This grab and go system sits near the top of the convenience scale. On the other hand, the old soul in me longs for human interaction inside these brick-and-mortar stores. I long for the experience of shopping at mom-and-pop shops where one can have genuine conversations with the staff. With that being said, I do not think the cashier-less concept of these new stores truly poses a threat to traditional employment. Businesses are profit-driven and will always seek to find the most cost-effective strategies to solve problems. If having an electronic cashier saves the business money, then that is the what the business will pursue. I think it is unfortunate that people may lose their jobs to technology but understand that innovation necessitates changes such as these. I will be interested to see how Amazon reinvests the savings accrued by going cashier-less. I agree with the assessment of Amazon Go being mindful as it generates more profit for the shareholders while also not violating any societal standards.

Reply
Desmond Simmons
3/7/2018 06:32:30 pm

I had never heard of this Amazon Go Brick-and-mortar store before today and find it to be a very interesting and innovative idea. I think the response to it is the way all responses have been for the past 50 years regarding technological advancements. There is a side that is too scared and (more than often) stubborn to accept that we as a society will be continually moving forward in efficiency and grudgingly holds onto the past while the other side welcomes and accepts these changes with open arms. There is so much 'doomsday' mentality that we miss the idea of this actually being a good thing. Could this idea force employers to further educate their employees and therefore drive up the education level in the United States? Could it also lead to simpler ways of providing food quickly and efficiently? The answer to those in my opinion would be yes! I can't wait to see the ways this invention can positively impact the human race.

Reply
Nathan
3/9/2018 01:49:28 pm

As with many advances in technology, the fear of people being displaced by the technology follows. In the past, this fear has been disproven. Yes, new technology displaces workers, but the new technology also creates the need for new jobs that have never existed before. Therefore, jobs are not lost, but responsibilities are changed. The problem that develops, however, is whether or not the people performing the jobs prior to the technology are equipped to perform the new responsibilities that come with the new technology. Most of the time employees are not trained enough to be able to perform the new responsibilities. Instead of fighting the new technology, should people use their time to learn the technology being implemented? Should companies feel obligated to train their employees on the new technology or do they hire people who already know the technology? These are tough questions that management must answer.

Reply
Michael Ramirez
3/10/2018 08:01:52 pm

I find this extremely fascinating and would really enjoy to see how this systems plays out. At first the idea can seem very dangerous, in terms of the jobs that would be replaced; however, this could also be an opportunity for cashiers to be equipped with skills for more impacting jobs. The example of the bulldozer is a great one. People had to dig holes before bulldozers, few probably enjoyed it, but the work was too much. One could say the same for cashiering. At the moment, people have to do it, and clearly, very few enjoy it; but this innovation could hopefully create jobs that aren't even imagined yet!

Reply
Kyle Nunes
3/11/2018 08:05:23 pm

I thought this was a well written article discussing the positive and negative aspects of Amazon Go. I think it is important to have these discussions, but I also don't think anything should be done about it. Yes, people may be replaced by technology. What is worse than that is telling people to stop being innovative, or making their ideas become a reality. Jobs will always be created when knew things are invented, they will just look different than before.

Reply
Tori Roeske
3/11/2018 08:10:51 pm

This article was intriguing to read because it explored a current event that I have been very curious about! It explored different effects that Amazon Go stores will have on employment in the future, in addition to explaining how the store really works. I think that Amazon Go is a great idea as it targets customers who are looking for quick buys (especially for fresh food and produce), and it’s exciting to see how all of today’s modern technology has led us to the innovation of a cashier-free store! I appreciate that the article explained, however, that if even 10% of convenience stores in America made the switch to implement walk-in, walk-out technology, 61,000 people would be out of work due to a loss of their current cashier position. Of course, this is important to note, but I don’t believe that many convenient stores will be making this kind of major change any time soon, and even if some do, it will be a slow and long process that allows for current cashiers to look for other kinds or places of employment. And like the bulldozer example, this kind of invention has the potential to really better society in the long run, and citizens will adjust as it the prominence of this technology increases.

Reply
Joseph Chen
3/12/2018 12:12:02 am

Amazon GO does not mean the elimination of jobs for humans. Rather, for the more autonomous and labor-type positions, these can be relegated to robots. This leaves humans the ability to seek training and roles in higher-skilled positions, which in turn means higher-paying jobs. Often many would complain with regards to jobs being taken by robots or even immigrants; if one were to actually set aside certain thoughts and look more into detail, these actually help our economy, and in fact, give people the freedom to do other sorts of jobs that are more towards white-collar or that of minimum wage.

Reply
Olivia Sapp
3/12/2018 05:58:11 pm

I thought this article was really interesting and it brought to my attention how Amazon Go is affecting jobs. I had not previously thought about how Amazon Go could be providing different jobs rather than just taking away cashier jobs. Having places that operate like Amazon Go can reduce if not take away the purpose of a cashier, however I agree that it creates different jobs that still need to be filled. Overall, I think this article has helped me really think through that our society is constantly changing, and when we get rid of some jobs it can create the opportunity for new jobs to come about.

Reply
Chris Ray
3/12/2018 06:40:07 pm

In my opinion, I think Amazon Go is a very neat concept. It is futuristic, and nobody has done something like this before. Although it would eliminate the need of human cashiers, I do not think it is a bad idea. Instead, it would allow people who used to be cashiers to try a different role in the company. Technology plays a huge role in our society and things are changing constantly whether we like it or not. I thought this was a great read and mindful marketing.

Reply
Angel Escobar
3/12/2018 11:31:23 pm

This is another really interesting read. I love Amazon as much as anyone. They offer everything a store does, they sometimes offer good deals, and you can buy something without even going to a store. I think Amazon Go is a very interesting idea. Even though I like the idea, if I really think about it, this isn't really a good idea that will benefit people. It will cause so many people to go unemployed. It basically eliminates cashiers. I also found it interesting that you brought up people were digging holes a century ago. This is just another example of technological advancements taking away jobs. I'm worried about some people's jobs in the future because of all the advances in technology.

Reply
Melissa
3/13/2018 01:35:23 am

Amazon Go is a great concept because it really was created to give consumers an optimal shopping experience at the grocery store, especially by avoiding lines. As you mentioned, when jobs are taken away by means of a new invention, someone else is getting a job setting this up, or building necessary things and it is good to know that jobs are still being generated somehow by Amazon. I do have to disagree with the statement that this is mindful marketing because I believe that it does not represent mindful marketing. Mindful marketing requires for societal values to be upheld, and I think that these stores are eliminating social interactions, and being part of a culture based on communication and conversations, forcing people to think only of themselves and their own personal needs.

Reply
Mason Van Aken
3/13/2018 01:38:07 am

While it does initially sound concerning that this type of technology would mean the phasing out of cashier jobs, etc., I do no think it is as great a worry as it is made out to be. While there may be a decrease in cashier positions, all the other workers in the store who stock shelves will still be necessary. Also, more jobs will be created in the technological sector in order to keep the system up to date. Ultimately, I think more jobs will be created because of it.

Reply
Cheston
3/13/2018 04:50:04 am

Amazon Go looks like it is a great example of futuristic marketing. However, it might not be a type of marketing that will help society in the long run. Sure, it may be more convenient for people to just grab and go. But marketing still has a social aspect to it. Transactions should not be the sole focus of any time of marketing campaign. It needs to more than that.

Reply
Daniel Pattison
11/6/2018 02:14:16 am

Amazon is expanding and so is their consumers. If we are already this advanced in technology and turning shopping into a click of a button, imagine where we will be in a few years from now. It is unpredictable to determin if there will be a major impact in job loss. Our economy will focus on creating new jobs and new jobs will naturally arise when others are eliminated from the equation. It seems like amazon has the potential to make us say goodbye to jobs but in my opinion, we will not be harmed from it. Like I said, I believe there will be other jobs to take place.

Reply
Jingwen Duan
9/25/2019 10:23:14 pm

I agree with "Amazon Go" is a mindful marking. It can make our life much easier, saves us a lot time by not need to be waiting in line for the cashier to scan every item. At the same time, for sure some people will lose their job, because the store does not need cashiers anymore. But the store still needs people to put items on the shelfs, and keep the store organized, and their will need more people to work with technologies and electronics. So, when people are losing jobs, there are people getting jobs as well, I believe this is balanced. "Amazon Go" will defiantly be a great marketing in the future, especially people who live in the cites have fast-paced lifestyle, Amazon Go will be a great place to go.

Reply
mobile phone repair novi link
7/6/2020 02:58:13 am

vary good post.

Reply
Donna link
9/10/2020 11:02:05 pm

Success in business depends on a variety of factors, including skill level, effort, market factors, and much more. Thus everyone’s results in an Amazon business will differ. So no promises or claims are made as to your income potential or lack thereof. And, of course every business has some risk involved. That said, Amazon is an huge opportunity and has helped my family and I have the lifestyle and freedom we want. Maybe it can do the same for you, if you apply some effort and energy to it.

Reply
MckimmeCue link
4/21/2022 03:22:04 pm

What an exquisite article! Your post is very helpful right now. Thank you for sharing this informative one.
If you are looking for coupon codes and deals just visit coupon plus deals dot com

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to receive this blog by email

    Editor

    David Hagenbuch,
    founder of
    Mindful Marketing    & author of Honorable Influence

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    + Decency
    + Fairness
    Honesty7883a9b09e
    * Mindful
    Mindless33703c5669
    > Place
    Price5d70aa2269
    > Product
    Promotion37eb4ea826
    Respect170bbeec51
    Simple Minded
    Single Minded2c3169a786
    + Stewardship

    RSS Feed

    Share this blog:

    Subscribe to
    Mindful Matters
    blog by email


    Illuminating
    ​Marketing Ethics ​

    Encouraging
    ​Ethical Marketing  ​


    Copyright 2020
    David Hagenbuch

Proudly powered by Weebly