AI moves beyond analytics as APAC retailers digitise operations

45% of APAC consumers follow AI recommendations.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond analytics into daily operations in Asia-Pacific grocery retail, GlobalData reported.

The report said that dense urban stores, high labor turnover, and competitive quick-commerce are driving adoption.

A Q4 2025 GlobalData survey found 45% of consumers in Asia and Australasia are likely to buy products based on AI recommendations.

“Whether shoppers realise it or not, machine-learning systems have long been deciding when to encourage consumers to make purchases, which products they can see, and what discounts they can avail,” said Jaya Dandey, consumer analyst at GlobalData. “Now, agentic systems can also complete shopping-related tasks end-to-end.”

Japan’s Lawson introduced AI-powered “Lawson Go” stores in 2022 and upgraded in 2025 with CloudPick’s AI and computer vision to remove checkout lines. South Korea’s Fainders.AI launched a cashier-less MicroStore in a gym in 2024.

The report also noted that AI is helping retailers forecast demand and automate replenishment. Japanese food retailer Coop Sapporo uses Soracom’s camera-based AI system, Sora-cam, to prevent overstocking and reduce unsold goods. The system’s analytics team monitors shelf images to optimise product display ratios and alerts staff to apply discount labels on items nearing expiration.

AI-driven labor optimization tools, such as staff scheduling, task prioritisation, and workload balancin, are increasingly important in Japan and South Korea, where labor shortages are chronic, and in fast-growing Southeast Asian markets, where efficiency is key.

“In food retail, agentic AI is best understood as an AI “operator” that can understand a goal, plan steps, stay within budget or allergen constraints, execute actions across systems, ask clarifying questions, and learn preferences over time,” said Dandey.

For example, customers can request: “Plan five dinners for a family of four, mostly Asian recipes, no shellfish, under 45 minutes.” This fits APAC’s fresh-cooking culture better than generic meal plans.

“In many APAC markets, shopping is already deeply integrated with digital wallets, messaging apps, ride-hailing, and delivery ecosystems, making it easier for agentic AI to plug into daily routines,” Dandey said.

Still, key challenges remain, including securing consent for private data sharing, reducing errors related to allergens and ingredients, and properly localising AI systems to handle language nuances, he noted.