Autonomous stores

Autonomous stores remove the checkout step entirely. Customers tap their card at an entry terminal to identify themselves, take items from shelves, and leave — VINR automatically charges the card when they exit based on a basket supplied by your store system.

This integration connects the VINR Terminal API with your computer vision or weight-sensor item-detection system. VINR handles entry authorization, identity linking, and exit payment. You handle item detection and basket assembly.

ArchitectureAskCopy

[Entry terminal] → card tap → VINR creates session
        ↓
[Your CV / sensor system] → detects items → sends basket to VINR
        ↓
[Exit terminal] → customer taps again OR implicit charge on exit trigger
        ↓
[VINR] → charges the card → fires payment.completed webhook

Entry flowAskCopy

When a customer approaches the entry gate, present an entry session on the terminal:

const entrySession = await vinr.terminal.autonomousStore.createEntrySession({
  storeId: 'store_flagship',
  terminalId: 'term_entry_gate_1',
  purposeMessage: 'Tap to enter',
});

// entrySession.id → "entry_01HZ8R..."
// entrySession.status → "awaiting_card"

When the customer taps their card, VINR fires autonomous_store.customer_entered:

if (event.type === 'autonomous_store.customer_entered') {
  const entry = event.data.object;
  await yourStore.openSession({
    sessionId: entry.id,
    customerId: entry.customerId,  // null if card not recognised as a loyalty customer
    cardTokenId: entry.cardTokenId,
    enteredAt: entry.enteredAt,
  });
  // Signal your CV system to begin tracking this customer
}

Basket updateAskCopy

As your system detects items being picked up or returned, push basket updates to VINR in real time:

await vinr.terminal.autonomousStore.updateBasket({
  sessionId: 'entry_01HZ8R...',
  lineItems: [
    { sku: 'SKU001', description: 'Orange juice 1L', quantity: 1, unitAmount: 350 },
    { sku: 'SKU042', description: 'Croissant', quantity: 2, unitAmount: 180 },
  ],
  subtotal: 710,
  tax: 71,
  total: 781,
});

You can call updateBasket as many times as needed during the session. VINR stores the latest basket and uses it at payment time.

Exit and paymentAskCopy

Implicit exit (no second tap)

When your system detects the customer leaving (door sensor, barrier break), trigger the exit:

await vinr.terminal.autonomousStore.triggerExit({
  sessionId: 'entry_01HZ8R...',
  exitTerminalId: 'term_exit_gate_1',
});

VINR immediately charges the card from the entry tap for the current basket total and fires autonomous_store.payment_completed.

Explicit exit (second tap)

If your store requires a confirmation tap at exit, set exitMode: "tap" when creating the entry session. The exit terminal prompts the customer to tap again, shows the basket total, and charges on confirmation.

Events referenceAskCopy

Empty basket and free exitsAskCopy

If the customer's basket is empty at exit, VINR does not charge the card but still fires autonomous_store.customer_exited with charged: false. Your system can use this to flag for manual review if expected.

Handling payment failures at exitAskCopy

If the exit payment fails (e.g. the card was declined after the entry authorization), VINR fires autonomous_store.payment_failed. Handle this in your system — the customer has already left with the goods. Options:

• Send a payment link to the customer's email on file
• Initiate a retry with an alternative payment method if one is stored
• Flag for manual follow-up in your accounts receivable system