According to NHK, Lawson teams up with KDDI to launch a futuristic convenience store in Tokyo. Robots, AI, and automation aim to cut labor needs by 30% by 2030.
In the heart of Tokyo, Lawson is rewriting the future of convenience stores. Facing a growing labor shortage, the Japanese retail giant has teamed up with telecom powerhouse KDDI to launch a next-generation, tech-powered store that’s anything but ordinary.
Opened on Monday inside a massive urban redevelopment zone in central Tokyo, the store blends cutting-edge automation with intelligent design. Inside, robots prepare meals, restock shelves, and handle repetitive tasks while digital price tags mean no more manual updates.
But it’s not just about robots.
With help from AI-powered surveillance fed by over 20 in-store camerasLawson is now tracking real-time customer behavior. This data helps fine-tune product offerings, optimize layouts, and identify top-selling items, all in a push to create a faster, smarter, more responsive shopping experience.
Backed by KDDI’s recent 50% acquisition, Lawson plans to scale this technology across its nationwide network. The goal? To slash labor demands by 30% by fiscal 2030, while delivering unmatched convenience for customers.
This is more than a high-tech store it’s Lawson’s bold vision for the future of retail.
