Lawson has launched its first next-gen convenience store in Tokyo, blending AI tech and robotics to tackle labor shortages and streamline shopping.
Opened on June 23 in Takanawa Gateway City, the new Lawson store uses 14 in-store AI cameras to monitor customer behavior in real time. According to The Mainichi, these cameras suggest products based on shopper actions like recommending coffee when someone grabs a dessert, or displaying best-sellers if a customer hesitates at a shelf.
Touchscreens also let shoppers access detailed product info, while larger displays above shelves push real-time recommendations and alerts about freshly made items like fried chicken and more.
Convenience store uses AI and robot helpers
The futuristic shop doesn’t just stop there, though, as robots also assist with cooking and lifting heavy objects, which is especially useful when staff need to restock the store. Behind the scenes, AI also analyzes footage and workflow data to boost staff efficiency.
Lawson is targeting a 30% reduction in in-store labor by 2030 and plans to bring its next-gen store model to more locations across Japan and overseas.
Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu stated: “By combining reality and technology, we propose a new kind of convenience store. We aim to improve the customer experience while enhancing operational productivity, allowing the time saved to be used for higher value-added tasks.”
This isn’t the first time robots have been used in a Japanese convenience store, as rival chain FamilyMart began trialing its AI-powered drink-stocking robot (TX SCARA) in late November 2021 to reduce manual labour and increase efficiency.
Either way, it’s clear AI technology is becoming more prevalent in every facet of our daily lives. A recent study even revealed how this emerging technology is already impacting our brains, while a UCLA student recently went viral for revealing they used ChatGPT to pass their course.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.