From corporate offices to warehouses and medical centers, facilities leaders face mounting pressure to create environments that keep workers content and productive, without inflating operational costs. In recent years, vending machines, commissaries and traditional cafés have given way to micro markets designed for convenience and speed. Even so, these solutions still present challenges, including limited late-shift availability, bottlenecks during peak hours and theft.

Following the lead of retailers, a growing number of facilities leaders are embracing autonomous shopping formats like Just Walk Out technology by Amazon to deliver seamless, round-the-clock access to food and amenities.

Hungry and rushed: the hidden productivity drain

We’ve long known that workplace experiences impact employee performance and retention. Access to quality food and refreshments plays a critical role in that equation.

Despite employers’ good intentions, many workplaces offer limited food and beverage options, with late-night shift workers often having fewer choices than daytime staff. Even when varied options exist, accessibility can be a stumbling block. It’s common for hourly workers to lose precious break time waiting in checkout lines, leaving them rushed and unsatisfied.

In response, many employers have turned to hybrid spaces with coolers, freezers and open shelves that bridge the gap between vending machines and staffed cafeterias.^[1] These setups gained traction for their ease of access and minimal staffing requirements, but they’ve introduced a costly downside: theft.

Cutting losses, not corners: the micro market challenge

Theft at unattended micro markets has become a persistent headache for facilities managers — a flaw in the honor-system model that eats into profits and often forces employers into uncomfortable disciplinary situations. From written warnings to termination, security cameras to restricted access policies, the ripple effect of workplace theft extends far beyond lost inventory, creating tension between trust and accountability in the workplace.

The financial impact is more significant than many realize. According to Vending Marketwatch, most operators estimate shrink rates between 3% and 5%, though some have experienced alarming spikes reaching 50%. Even small percentage losses quickly compound into significant expenses for large organizations.^[2]

Tim McAra, president of Refreshment Services Group at Continental Services, spoke with industry media about theft surges in micro markets: “If you take your eye off it, it can get away from you,” he cautioned.^[3]

For years, facilities managers simply absorbed these losses as a cost of convenience — until now. The next evolution in workplace amenities isn’t just cashless or self-service. It’s completely checkout-free.

Checkout-free shopping transforms the workplace experience

At St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida, employees and visitors used to wait up to 25 minutes to grab food or drinks from the cafeteria. Today, that waiting game is over.

One of the first U.S. hospitals to deploy Just Walk Out technology in a full-service café setting, St. Joseph’s joins a growing roster of employers enabling truly checkout-free experiences. To make that possible, the technology combines artificial intelligence, computer vision and deep learning to accurately track items as shoppers select them.

Staff and guests simply scan their credit card, mobile wallet or employee badge at the café’s entry gate. As they shop, the technology detects items taken from or returned to shelves, creating a virtual cart. When finished, shoppers simply walk out — no lines, no waiting — and their payment method is automatically charged.

“Our day shift employees actually get to take a break during lunch because they don’t spend the whole time waiting in line. We’re giving them a lot of time back,” says Erica Salgado, regional director of food and nutrition services at BayCare Health System, which oversees St. Joseph’s.

Just Walk Out technology has also enabled 24/7 access to fresh food and beverages. Previously, the café closed at 9 p.m., leaving night-shift workers without options. Now, with uninterrupted availability, third-shift purchases have grown weekly, with higher average sales per visit.

Equally important, the hospital has reassigned former checkout staff to higher-value roles in patient service and physician lounges. “Just Walk Out allowed us to rethink positions and optimize labor,” Salgado noted. “This technology definitely alleviated a labor shortage we were not able to address [before].”

St. Joseph’s successes are not isolated examples. A growing number of employers like Aramark, UC San Diego and Amazon’s Toronto Tech Hub have implemented Just Walk Out technology to serve workers and guests.

The future of workplace amenities: smart, seamless, sustainable

Today’s evolving workplaces demand more than just functional spaces — they require thoughtful amenities that enhance the daily experience. Quick, convenient access to quality food and drinks significantly influences how employees feel about coming to work, day after day.

Checkout-free retail experiences offer employers a powerful, long-term solution: automated, convenient, and secure amenities that optimize operational efficiency while adding value.

“Everyone is happy with the convenience and accessibility that Just Walk Out technology has brought to our campus,” says Salgado. “It is a testament to us pushing boundaries, looking ahead and being innovative enough to make sure we’re offering the very best to our community.”

For facilities leaders looking to modernize their workplace experience while maximizing long-term return on investment, checkout-free retail represents the next evolution in workplace amenities — one that delivers tangible benefits through enhanced employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and innovation.

▷ Elevate employee experiences with frictionless, checkout-free shopping.
Request a complimentary consultation to learn what’s possible with Just Walk Out technology.