Japan NTT Data

Cloudpick’s AI vision enables a 600‑SKU, cashier‑less employee store – serving 32 floors of workers with contactless grab‑and‑go convenience.

Insights

Customer Requirements
Cloudpick Solution
Result
Customer Testimonial
Video

NTT Data & Daiei Launch “CATCH&GO” – Japan‘s Largest Unmanned Store with Cloudpick

Customer Requirements

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Japan faces a severe labor shortage due to declining birth rates and an aging population. The resulting rise in labor costs poses significant challenges for labor‑intensive industries like retail and services. There is an urgent need to use digital means to reduce dependence on human labor and enhance operational efficiency.

The COVID‑19 pandemic further shaped new consumer habits, with stronger demand for non‑face‑to‑face and contactless shopping experiences. Consumers now prioritize “safe and reliable” alongside “convenient and fast.”

At the NTT Data headquarters building in Tokyo – a 32‑floor office tower housing thousands of employees – the cafeteria faced familiar challenges: peak‑hour congestion, limited operating hours, and long queues during lunch breaks. Employees on higher floors often had to travel to the first‑floor convenience store when the cafeteria was closed.

NTT Data and Daiei (a supermarket chain under the Aeon Group) aimed to introduce an AI system to transform their business model, addressing these challenges and achieving a dual improvement in consumer and operator satisfaction.

Cloudpick Solution

Cloudpick deployed its AI Smart Unmanned Store solution at the CATCH&GO store, located on the 22nd floor of the NTT Data headquarters building. The solution combines computer vision, deep learning, and multi‑sensor fusion to accurately identify customer actions (picking up and putting back items) and product information.

How it works for employees:

Entry: Employees open the user app, link their credit card, and scan a QR code to enter.
Shopping: AI cameras on the ceiling track shopping behavior in real time. Items taken from shelves are automatically added to the virtual cart; returned items are removed.
Exit: Customers simply walk out through the gate – the corresponding amount is deducted automatically.

Group shopping support: A unique feature allows colleagues to shop together under one account – perfect for “treating” each other. The host scans the code and opens the gate; invited guests enter together, and all actions are recorded under the host‘s ID. Payment is unified through the host’s account upon exit.

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Customized hardware: Cloudpick developed tailored IoT devices including shelves, air curtain cabinets, and bagging machines. These interconnected devices enable automated control and remote sales access – even with unmanned operation. For example, when a shelf is out of stock, the AI system immediately notifies the operator through the app or SMS, specifying which shelf, which section, and which product needs restocking.

Customized software: Cloudpick adjusted user apps, store manager apps, and PC‑based merchant platforms based on local Japanese usage habits. Backend logic was adapted to Japanese retailers‘ standard practices, providing a more user‑friendly experience. Stores can publish daily fresh food promotions and new product information online – no need for in‑person promotion offline.

Result

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On September 2, 2021, CATCH&GO officially opened – reported to be the largest unmanned store in Japan at the time. It operates from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, offering nearly 600 products including bento boxes, beverages, desserts, and frozen foods to meet the daily needs of headquarters employees.

Key outcomes:

Contactless payment: Employees shop without fear of peak hours or pandemic risks. Even during busy lunch periods, they can exit quickly without queuing.
“Second cafeteria” concept: Located on the 22nd floor, the store provides dining options throughout the day. Employees on higher floors don‘t need to go to the first‑floor convenience store when the cafeteria is closed – they simply visit CATCH&GO for energy replenishment.
Efficient restocking: Real‑time out‑of‑stock alerts enable efficient restocking at lower labor costs, preventing sales decline due to empty shelves.
Digital promotion: Stores can publish promotions and new product information online, stimulating in‑store shopping, increasing conversion, reducing food waste, and aligning with sustainable development goals.

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Integration with Daiei’s backend: As a Daiei representative noted, “Daiei has seamlessly integrated with the backend system of CATCH&GO. There is no need for manual export of sales data – it can be directly generated within our internal system. This endeavor is a preparation for future implementations of more unmanned stores.”

Customer Testimonial

“Daiei has seamlessly integrated with the backend system of CATCH&GO. There is no need for manual export of sales data; it can be directly generated within our internal system. This endeavor is a preparation for future implementations of more unmanned stores. In the future, Daiei plans to extend this unmanned store model to larger‑scale store formats that can accommodate approximately 2,000 SKUs. This aims to provide consumers in various scenarios with an unprecedented and novel shopping experience.”

— Daiei Management Team