Cognizant helps CIT install cashier-free payment tech at campus
In a first for an education institute in the Southern Hemisphere, the Canberra Institute of Technology will soon feature a cashier-free shopping outlet, with Cognizant tapped to deliver the implementation.
Global consultancy Cognizant has been engaged by the Canberra Institute of Technology Student Association (CITSA) to implement Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ cashier-free system of shopping at the school’s Bruce campus Café Yala Plus store, said to be the first such roll-out for an educational institute in the Southern Hemisphere.
The deal follows Cognizant’s recent work with the University of Melbourne aimed at boosting student engagement.
“We are thrilled to have been selected to deliver this technology to enhance the student shopping experience,” stated Cognizant A/NZ chief Rob Marchiori. “By automating the checkout process, CITSA can offer almost 24-hour access to store resources that students need to stay focused. This is a testament to Cognizant’s strong focus on deploying technology that is fit for purpose and designed to improve the customer experience.”
Combining state-of-the-art computer vision and sensor technology with the power of AI, the advanced technology means that busy students will soon be able to pick up items from the store day and night without having to waste time lining up or even pausing to pay for the goods. Customers simply scan in with a payment device, take what they want from the shelves – or put back what they don’t want – and walk out, with the tech taking care of the rest.
“Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology benefits all CIT students, especially those studying outside of regular business hours,” stated CITSA CEO Andrew Scotford. “Many CIT students balance work, study and training, so flexibility and accessibility are important. Students living on the campus can also lack easy access to nearby shopping, so Café YalaPlus now offers extra convenience for food, beverages, and other essential items.”
Cognizant has also been busy working on a fresh tech implementation to support students and staff at the University of Melbourne, having been selected for the implementation of Tealium’s customer data platform. Delivering relevant, personalised content, the update is aimed at inspiring meaningful stakeholder engagement with the university on a deeper and continued basis, and is the latest project in an ongoing digitisation journey.
“As we continually undertake processes of digital transformation, we have the opportunity to elevate the student experience,” Ai Lin Choo Macdonald, communications & marketing executive director. “We expect this journey will prove invaluable for the university, students and alumni as we create tailored lines of communication based on individual needs, helping them engage with the University of Melbourne on their own terms.”
Kristen Anderson, Victorian CX practice lead at Cognizant’s cloud & data wing Servian, said the consultancy was excited to be collaborating again with one of Australia’s preeminent universities. Meanwhile, Cognizant’s former A/NZ chief executive Jane Livesey, who was elevated to the top role for APAC at the end of 2022, was previously an advisory board member for the Melbourne Business School’s Centre for Business Analytics.
