If there is one thing shoppers hate, it is waiting in line.

This is the problem that Amazon hopes to solve using technology that will eliminate the checkout process and will be launched in Canada this month.

In some food and beverage stores within the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary and the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, customers can now tap a credit or debit card or a smartphone that supports payment to open the gate, grab some items off the shelf, and leave without checking out.

Fees will be charged to their payment card immediately, without the need for a cashier or checkout.

For his part, John Jenkins, Vice President of Just Walk Out Technologies at Amazon, said, "You can enter and exit our stores in under 10 seconds."

The system has been available in the United States since 2018 and is now present in more than 150 retail outlets owned by Amazon and third parties.

Jenkins also noted that the technology can be widely applied, with the potential to expand into grocery stores, airports, and campus settings.