TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s convenience store chains are accelerating AI adoption as they face labor shortages and rising costs.

7-Eleven Taiwan and FamilyMart are digitizing operations from inventory ordering to equipment management and customer service, per CNA. What was once a support tool is now a key competitive battleground shaping store operations and future business models.

FamilyMart has focused on improving internal efficiency, rolling out an AI-powered fresh food ordering system since 2022. By analyzing sales data, weather, and other variables, the system cuts ordering time by more than 75% and reduces food waste by over 10%.

The company has also deployed energy management systems across about 4,400 stores, using AIoT to automate freezer defrosting and optimize temperature control. These measures reduce electricity use by around 10% and save nearly 1.5 million kWh annually while easing manual workloads.

On the operations side, FamilyMart has introduced AI tools to support staff, including a Store Manager AI Assistant and an Employee AI Assistant. The systems provide real-time answers on store operations, HR, and scheduling, improving response speed and internal communication.

7-Eleven is extending AI to front-end services and store innovation. Its AI ordering system is now used in stores across the country, helping forecast demand and reduce about 365 labor hours per store each year.

The company has also launched cashierless X-Stores, using AI-powered image recognition and tracking to enable grab-and-go shopping. The stores integrate self-pickup systems using AI and IoT to manage parcel storage efficiently in limited space.