Juxta, a venture of Gilbarco Veeder Root and Vontier Corp., has launched Nomad, a portable, autonomous, micro-retail store designed to help retailers take their brand beyond the confines of traditional convenience-store locations.
The first Nomad store is open to the public, and the Nomad solution is available for purchase in the United States, the venture said. Four additional stores are in production to fulfill Juxta’s first batch of orders for four retailers in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Georgia, it said.
The Nomad shopping journey is “refreshingly straightforward,” Juxta said. While other autonomous solutions use mandatory and proprietary apps and memberships that create barriers to customer acceptance, Juxta uses card-based access because “consumers seek interaction, validation and a touch of familiarity even in unstaffed environments,” the venture said.
Juxta’s technology brings a normal shopping experience to autonomous retail, it said.
Upon arriving at a Nomad store, consumers can tap, insert or swipe their debit or credit card or use a mobile wallet like Apple Pay for store access. After authorization, they are granted entry with a “Thank you” and a large green LED indicator. Inside, a fusion of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computer vision and advanced shelf sensors monitor product choices, building a digital basket in real-time. When ready, customers have the option to confirm their purchase on an intuitive proximity-based checkout screen at the exit displaying their basket only when they approach. They can confirm their purchase and request a digital receipt. For consumers in a hurry, they always have the option to exit without confirming their purchase, and their card is automatically charged for what they have taken.
“This harmony of technology and user experience at every step is a deliberate design meant to bring warmth, familiarity and assurance to the autonomous experience,” the venture said. “Nomad’s deliberate design minimizes friction and confusion at every touchpoint and avoids simply shifting friction from the checkout to entry.”
Vontier is a global leader in mobility technologies and retail payments. Its largest operating company, Greensboro, North Carolina-based Gilbarco Veeder Root, is a major player in U.S. fueling and point-of-sale (POS) systems. Gilbarco’s connection and support amplified Juxta’s speed to market. Gilbarco’s Passport POS software is at the heart of a Nomad store, but is not physically present, while an integration layer built on industry standards has enabled Juxta to integrate with all of the major backoffice and loyalty companies in the industry.
Nomads are being deployed to mixed-use commercial-residential developments, college campuses, music festivals and electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations distanced from traditional retail amenities. Other possible deployments include the traditional gas station format and unattended car washes. Nomad is an adaptable solution for modern retailers to grow their footprint and take their brand to new spaces.
“Today marks not just a product launch, but the inauguration of a new chapter in retail technology,” said Om Shankar, co-founder and CEO of Raleigh, North Carolina-based Juxta. “We’re thrilled to unveil a solution that we believe will reshape the future of convenience shopping. We’ve been listening, iterating and perfecting because the future of retail is not just about technology. It’s about the seamless integration of technology with the human experience. Our vision has always been to simplify and innovate so that retailers can deliver convenience wherever consumers are in a highly profitable way, not just at the highway exit or the perfect street corner. With today’s announcement, I believe we are doing exactly that.”
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