25th June 2025
On Monday, on the 6th floor of Lawson’s soon-to-open head office (set to debut this July), a press event offered a sneak peek into the retailer’s futuristic new tech store.
Japan’s convenience stores are iconic and hugely successful—not just at home but increasingly across Asia. While Lawson trails behind industry leader 7-Eleven in market share, it’s not short on ambition. Backed by telecom giant KDDI, Lawson believes it has the technological edge to out-AI its larger rival.
Lawson is doing a lot of test marketing currently…check out this previous blog post…
The new concept store leans heavily into smart retail: AI-powered signage makes personalised product recommendations based on shopper behaviour and preferences. Interactive “touch shelves” offer deeper product information, enhancing the customer experience at every step.
Outside, digital displays provide real-time updates on weather, train schedules, and traffic—essential info for busy commuters on the go.
Robots cook Kara-age and replenish shelves.
According to Lawson’s official site, the project involves 18 partner companies. Familiar names include advertising heavyweight Dentsu and cleaning service provider Duskin. One notable international partner is Zoom, the video communications firm.
A financial analyst on a recent TV news segment noted that the digital enhancements could help drive up “basket spend”—a crucial metric in retail, referring to the average purchase value per customer.
Lawson’s bold play in AI-driven retail may signal the beginning of a new era for convenience shopping in Japan—and probably across Asia too.