News Lawson to unveil 'convenience store of the future' in Tokyo

In partnership with Mitsubishi and KDDI, Lawson is set to revolutionise Tokyo's convenience store experience. The trio announced plans on Wednesday to open futuristic stores featuring cutting-edge technology next spring. Located in the Takanawa Gateway City complex, these innovative stores will showcase robots capable of stocking shelves and preparing food. Additionally, AI-powered signage will offer personalized product recommendations to customers. A consultation booth will enhance convenience further, allowing customers to seek remote advice on various topics, including healthcare and financial management. The ultimate goal of this project is to reduce the workload of store staff by 30% by 2030.

Labour shortages are the number one issue that needs to be address, Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu said at a news conference on Wednesday. "We aim for stores with the highest growth potential in the world," he added. KDDI will provide technical support for the project while leveraging Lawson's stores to expand its customer base. It will also renew its subscription services next month to distribute coupons that can be used at Lawson stores.

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This is what an advanced economy with a shrinking workforce looks like. I hope it works for them!

I hope they don't forget to add Mt Fuji background capability to the storefront AI signboard.