Short on workers, Japan retailer hires remote cashiers living overseas

“The labour shortage is real, and konbini (convenience stores) rely heavily on a good supply of cheap labour,” said Roy Larke, a senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Waikato and an expert on Japanese retail.

“Hourly part-time wages were at an all-time high in November 2024 and will continue to rise. I would fully expect Lawson and others to use this type of system backed by AI in the very near future, reducing and then eventually doing away with the need for human operation.”

Lawson’s remote staff will interact with customers through the use of digital avatars, with animated characters mimicking the movements of the cashier and appearing on a screen at checkout.