Imagine a scenario: In a convenience store in Tokyo, customers carry shopping baskets through the scanning area, and the system automatically identifies the products and completes the payment; In a unmanned supermarket in Dubai, an AI shopping guide robot recommends personalized products according to the customers' browsing history; In a shopping mall in Shanghai, a self-service vending machine for nail stickers completes product selection, payment, and pickup within 30 seconds. These seemingly sci-fi scenes are becoming the daily routine of the global retail industry.

I. The Wave of Unmanned Operations: From Scanning to Check Out to "Touchless Payment"
In a 7-Eleven convenience store in Tokyo, a silent revolution is taking place. In 2025, the five major convenience stores in Japan will fully deploy IC tag technology. Customers only need to put their shopping baskets into a special device, and the system can automatically identify the products and complete the settlement. This "grab-and-go" model not only compresses the checkout time from 3 minutes to 10 seconds but also achieves dynamic optimization of the supply chain through Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Manufacturers can monitor inventory in real time, and consumers can scan the code to trace the "past and present" of the products.
On the other side of the earth, in the United States, Amazon's Payless unmanned store has pushed the technology to a new height. Through computer vision and gravity sensing, the system has completed the pricing the moment customers take products off the shelves. There is no need to stop when leaving the store, and the bill is automatically deducted from the Amazon account. This "touchless payment" model reduces the labor cost of a single store by 40% and increases the repurchase rate by 25%.

II. Empowerment by Technology: AI and the Internet of Things Reconstruct the Consumption Logic
AI's "Third Eye"
In Metro, a retail giant in Europe, AI cameras are rewriting the anti-theft rules. Traditional anti-theft relies on manual monitoring, while the AI system can identify customers' behaviors in real time. When customers put un-scanned products into their pockets, the system will prompt with a voice message, "Please put it back in the shopping cart." If customers violate the rules multiple times, the device will automatically lock the exit and notify the security personnel. This technology reduces the theft rate by 60% and avoids the embarrassment of manual inspection at the same time.
The "Identity Revolution" of Biometrics
In high-end shopping malls in China, face payment has become the norm. In the "Cloud Mirror" fitting room of Intime Department Store, when customers try on clothes, the mirror will display product information, prices, and matching suggestions simultaneously. When making a payment, customers only need to "scan their faces", and the system will automatically link to the member account to complete the deduction. Data shows that this technology increases the conversion rate of the fitting room by 35% and raises the average transaction value by 22%.

III. Breaking the Boundaries of Scenarios: Penetration of All Product Categories from Fresh Produce to Luxury Goods
"Self-service Experiments" in Vertical Fields
The Beauty Track: The self-service vending machine for nail stickers of Naidu Planet has caused a sensation in Bailian Shopping Center in Shanghai. Customers can select styles through the touch screen, pick up the goods within 30 seconds after scanning the code for payment, and the built-in AI system of the device can also adjust the SKU dynamically according to the customer groups in the business district. Data shows that this model increases the conversion rate of offline stores by 25% and the repurchase rate by 30%.
Fresh Flower Retail: The 24-hour self-service flower vending machine of Huameike delivers fresh flowers from Yunnan directly to the core areas of the city through blockchain traceability and a 36-hour cold chain. The device supports scanning the code for immediate purchase, and the proportion of night orders reaches 40%, becoming a new highlight of the "night economy".
Adult Products: The self-service adult supermarket in Shenzhen is equipped with intelligent temperature control and privacy protection technology. The night order volume has increased by 61% year-on-year, and the repurchase rate ranks among the top three in the industry.
The "Technological Transformation" of Luxury Goods
In the flagship store of Chanel in Paris, AR makeup mirrors are redefining the high-end experience. Customers can virtually try on eyeshadow and lipstick by waving their hands in front of the mirror. When trying on high-end custom-made clothes, the system will automatically generate a 3D fitting effect and recommend matching accessories. This technology extends the customers' stay time by 40% and increases the associated purchase rate by 28%.

IV. The Future Is Here: The Evolution from "Tool" to "Ecosystem"
The Integration of Virtual and Reality
In 2025, VR intelligent retail will enter a period of explosive growth. Macy's in the United States has launched a "metaverse fitting room", and customers can enter the virtual shopping mall by wearing a VR helmet and try on the works of designers around the world. JD.com in China has embedded AR technology in offline stores, and customers can watch 3D demonstration videos by scanning product labels. Data shows that this immersive experience increases the online conversion rate by 30% and raises the average transaction value of offline stores by 15%.
Data-driven "Precise Service"
Tesco, a retail giant in Europe, is building a "digital twin" system. By collecting customers' behavior data, the system can predict the demand fluctuations in the business district and automatically adjust the inventory and pricing strategies. For example, it will automatically increase the inventory of umbrellas on rainy days and stock up on fresh produce in advance on weekends, reducing the out-of-stock rate by 50% and increasing the promotional response speed by 60%.
The "Green Engine" of Sustainable Development
Lawson convenience stores in Japan have launched an "environmental protection points" program. Customers who shop using self-service devices can obtain carbon points, which can be exchanged for products or donated to environmental protection projects. This program reduces the use of plastic packaging in a single store by 35% and increases customer satisfaction by 22%.

V. The Chinese Model: From "Follower" to "Leader"
Technology Infiltration and Scenario Innovation
County-level Market: Yunshu Vegetable Bazaar in Anhui launched a smart unmanned store on New Year's Day in 2025. By scanning the code to enter and exit and self-checkout, it provides affordable agricultural products for community residents. The device has built-in pesticide residue detection and cold chain logistics, reducing the fresh produce loss rate by 60% and the distribution cost by 40%.
Urban Renewal: In the renovation of old communities in Beijing, self-service medicine vending machines, medical examination machines, and other devices have been included in the "15-minute convenient living circle". For example, the self-service medicine vending machine on Wanshou Road supports 24-hour medicine purchase, and the proportion of night orders reaches 35%, becoming a "life-saving artifact" for patients with chronic diseases.
The "Two-wheel Drive" of Policy and Capital
The Ministry of Commerce of China has included self-service devices in the key projects of "consumption upgrading", and the Ministry of Finance provides a 30% device subsidy for intelligent terminals. At the capital level, the financing in the self-service retail field exceeded 5 billion yuan in 2024, and AI, the Internet of Things, and blockchain have become investment hotspots.