Amazon One is a new technology that scans a customer’s palm to identify them and complete the checkout process. Customers use Amazon One on their way out of participating stores. To sign up, Amazon customers download the Amazon One app, log into their Amazon account, and take a photo of their palm. When visiting a participating Amazon One store, the customer finishes the sign-up process by scanning their palm over an Amazon One device. This process is only required once to complete the sign-up. 

The Amazon One device uses infrared scanning technology to match the scanned palm with the photo from the app. In addition to payments, Amazon One can be used for identification and entering venues.

Starting in 2016, Amazon Grocery stores used Just Walk Out technology. This allowed customers to choose all of their items and simply walk out. No checkout was required since cameras in the ceiling could determine what the customer was choosing. Items would be rung up as the customer walked out. Amazon has since discounted its Grocery stores and scaled back the original Just Walk Out technology.

Amazon One seems to have taken the place of Just Walk Out technology. It also isn’t limited to Amazon Grocery stores. Participating locations include 500 Whole Foods Markets, several Amazon stores and third-party locations like stadiums, airports, gyms and convenience stores.

Another difference between Amazon One and Just Walk Out technology is that Amazon One processes payments but doesn’t track the items a customer has picked up to purchase. Self-checkout or a cashier is still needed to ring up items. Instead of reaching for a credit card or mobile wallet, customers can simply scan their palm.

Amazon One accepts all major credit cards and a large number of bank cards. The full list can be found here: https://one.amazon.com/cards. PIN-less debit cards are also accepted.