At its core, unattended retail refers to a shopping environment where consumers can browse and purchase goods without the need for face-to-face interaction. Once associated with low-ticket purchases of goods, such as snacks or soda at vending machines, unattended retail has expanded to higher-value products due to technological advances and shifting consumer preferences.
Further, emerging formats, such as micro markets and smart stores, are quickly taking share from the vending machine market and are further expanding unattended retail into higher-value items. Micro markets offer self-service access to a variety of goods, while smart stores use cashierless checkouts to automate processes entirely, allowing customers to walk out of the store with their purchases.
In a recent report, Cristopher Kennedy, CFA, analyst in William Blair’s financial services and technology sector, examines unattended retail and highlights key beneficiaries of this growing market.
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