TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — 7-Eleven on Thursday unveiled its ninth unmanned store, betting on the growing grab-and-go market as Taiwan’s labor pool shrinks.

Uni-President Group, which operates 7-Eleven in Taiwan, opened the outlet at National Central University in Taoyuan, per CNA. It uses 140 ceiling-mounted cameras and optical radar with AI image recognition, letting shoppers check out in about 30 seconds without scanning barcodes or waiting in line, per UDN.

Uni-President Group Chair Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) said the stores are meant to future-proof operations rather than chase short-term profits. “Unmanned stores do not make money, but we have to do them, not to save labor costs, but to prepare for a shortage of service workers,” he said.

The 82-square-meter branch also includes Taiwan’s first automated pickup micro-warehouse, built with AI and Internet of Things technology developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute. The system automatically adjusts storage compartments based on parcel size.

Uni-President said five of its nine unmanned stores are on university campuses, where students are more receptive to new tech. Its X-Store 3, relocated to National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, has tripled customer traffic and doubled sales versus street stores, the company said.

Rival FamilyMart is expanding its unmanned Tech Store 4.0 in Taoyuan’s Yangmei Industrial Park, where AI computer vision and contactless payments charge customers automatically as they leave. The chain plans more self-service outlets in industrial and office zones.