TOKYO - 7-Eleven has begun trialing robots for some store tasks, including window cleaning and beverage stocking, in an effort to cut labor needs by up to 30 percent.
On Monday, at a store in Tokyo, a robot could be seen wriggling across the glass. "Firmly suctioning and switching to thorough cleaning mode," the device announced. The company introduced the window-cleaning robot this month on a test basis.
Behind the sales floor, another robot was stocking drinks. Equipped with AI, it also supports inventory management.
Hioki Takei, head of operations at 7-Eleven Japan, said: "For stores, the declining birthrate and aging population, as well as the shrinking population overall, create a sense of unease about the future. By using robotics, we can dramatically change productivity."
With labor shortages deepening, Japan’s minimum wage has surpassed 1,000 yen in every prefecture this fiscal year, pushing personnel costs even higher.
Other convenience store chains are moving in the same direction. Lawson has introduced robots that cook items such as fried rice, while FamilyMart is testing robots for cleaning tasks.
7-Eleven Japan expects robots to reduce workloads by as much as 30 percent. After verifying their effectiveness, the company plans to accelerate consideration of a wider rollout to other stores.
Source: TBS
