Verizon said the stores opened at Lincoln Financial Field use its network and AI-powered computer vision technology
Verizon Business and the Philadelphia Eagles announced the opening of two express shops at Lincoln Financial Field that use Verizon 5G.
In a release, the U.S. carrier said the stores use Verizon’s network and AI-powered computer vision technology to provide fans with a cashierless way to quickly and seamlessly purchase food and drinks onsite.
“When it comes to the customer journey, just like with sports, every second counts,” said Jonathan Nikols, senior vice president of global enterprise for the Americas region at Verizon Business. “Connectivity is key to ensuring fans are able to get the most out of every encounter. With the launch of these automated checkouts, the Philadelphia Eagles are demonstrating the true power of Verizon 5G and edge computing, by creating smarter spaces that reduce transaction times and streamline the shopping experience,” the executive added.
With the “On the Fly” express shops, customers walk into the store, “checking in” with their app or credit card, grab their items and head back to their destination—receiving a receipt on their app or email after leaving the store, Verizon said.
The carrier explained that these new contactless, autonomous shops combine off-the-shelf cameras, computer vision and artificial intelligence to provide a convenient and secure shopping experience. The 5G-enabled, cashierless check-out retail environment provides useful insights into shopper behavior and supply chain management to benefit shoppers and store operators alike, the telco added.
“These solutions are part of the broader Verizon Business Connected Venue approach, which is rooted in its 5G investment in more than 75 large public venues in the United States, including some of the most iconic major sports and music venues,” said the carrier.
In October, Verizon said it already provided its 5G Ultra Wideband service — the brand name for its C-band and Millimeter Wave (mmWave) network — in all 30 NFL stadiums.
Verizon has been working with the NFL for a long time, developing use cases like coach-to-coach communications with a managed private wireless solution in all stadiums, and various the fan-oriented experiences like low-latency video — productized as Verizon 5G Multi-View — which enables fans to view up to seven simultaneous camera angles, allowing them watch a game on their phone from different angles and go back and review moments from the game. At some stadiums, Verizon deployed a technology that divides crowds into sectors “like slices of a pie,” allowing engineers to adjust each slice individually to curate the network performance based on where stadium attendees move and how they use data. Additionally, Verizon said that its 5G network allows stadium operators to enabling autonomous or cashierless retail, accelerated access and crowd analytics, all of which further improve the fan in-stadium experience.
