LAWSON Launches Flagship Unmanned Store at NTT Data Headquarters with Cloudpick

Customer Requirements

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 5,000 to 10,000 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) first partnered with Cloudpick in 2021 to launch CATCH&GO, Japan‘s largest unmanned store at the time.After four years of successful operation, the store has now been upgraded and rebranded as a flagship LAWSON unmanned store – bringing the convenience of Japan’s leading convenience brand to the same high‑traffic location.

Cloudpick Solution

Cloudpick deployed its AI Smart Unmanned Store solution at the LAWSON 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 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.

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. 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 – interfaces are more streamlined, and backend logic is adapted to Japanese retailers‘ standard practices.

Result

After four years of successful operation as CATCH&GO – serving approximately 800 customers daily with peak‑hour transactions exceeding 200 per hour – the store has been upgraded and rebranded as a LAWSON unmanned store, bringing Japan‘s most trusted convenience brand to this high‑traffic corporate location.

Key outcomes:

• Trusted brand, seamless experience: Employees now enjoy the familiar LAWSON shopping experience with zero checkout friction – scan, grab, and walk out.

• Contactless payment: Even during peak lunch hours, employees can exit quickly without queuing. During the pandemic, this approach also effectively avoids virus transmission risks from crowds and contact.

• “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 the LAWSON store for energy replenishment. The store operates 11 hours daily, ensuring meals from breakfast to overtime.

• Efficient restocking: Real‑time out‑of‑stock alerts enable efficient restocking at lower labor costs.

• Proven scalability: The successful four‑year run of CATCH&GO demonstrated the model‘s viability. Daiei has seamlessly integrated the backend system, with sales data directly generated within their internal system – no manual export needed.

A testament to long‑term partnership: This evolution from CATCH&GO to LAWSON represents the deepening trust between Cloudpick and Japan‘s leading retail players – from a pilot project to a flagship store under one of Japan’s most recognized convenience brands.

Customer Testimonial

Mr. Yamauchi Hiroshi, Director of ICT Planning, Retail Business Reform Department at Daiei (Aeon Group), said:

“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.”

Video

To see the LAWSON unmanned store in action, watch the video below: