Japan’s Convenience Stores Turn to Remote Cashiers to Battle Labor Shortage

Japan's convenience store chain Lawson has taken an innovative step to address the ongoing labor shortage by hiring remote cashiers from overseas. This strategic move aims to alleviate staffing challenges by employing individuals based in Europe and the Americas to serve customers at its outlets across Japan. The initiative comes amid a pressing need for reliable, cost-effective labor in the country's konbini sector.

The decision to employ overseas workers remotely is driven by the increasing difficulty in securing local part-time staff. As the demand for convenience store services continues to grow, finding adequate personnel within Japan has become increasingly challenging. This innovative approach not only taps into a broader labor pool but also leverages technological advancements to streamline operations and maintain customer service standards.

“The labour shortage is real, and konbini (convenience stores) rely heavily on a good supply of cheap labour,” said Roy Larke, a retail expert who closely follows developments in the sector.

Lawson's initiative coincides with a significant rise in hourly wages for part-time workers, which reached an unprecedented high in November 2024. This upward trend in wages poses additional financial pressures on businesses that rely heavily on part-time staff. By employing remote cashiers, Lawson aims to manage these costs while ensuring uninterrupted service across its nationwide outlets.

“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,” Larke noted.

The use of remote cashiers is supported by advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence. These systems facilitate seamless interaction between overseas staff and in-store operations, allowing remote employees to conduct transactions efficiently. As this trend continues, it is anticipated that reliance on human operation may gradually diminish, paving the way for more technologically integrated service models.