Fujitsu Limited has announced a field trial in collaboration with AEON Food Style Co., Ltd. to test an AI agent aimed at enhancing store operations. The initiative, part of Fujitsu's Uvance for Retail, seeks to address challenges within the retail sector, such as labor shortages and the reliance on individual expertise for store management.
The trial, set to take place in July 2026, will be conducted at a physical store and will focus on two primary functions: store strategy formulation and shelf allocation and layout planning. The AI agent is designed to support store managers by expediting decision-making processes, standardizing operations, and improving overall efficiency.
Fujitsu's Forward Deployed Engineers and designers have developed four prototypes of the AI agent, targeting tasks where store managers require significant support. These include strategy formulation, shelf layout planning, feasibility studies, and trade area analysis. The field trial will evaluate the effectiveness of two of these agents.
In the area of store strategy formulation, the AI agent will assist in executing analyses based on the 3C's framework and formulating medium- to long-term strategies. The trial will measure the reduction in time spent on strategy formulation and the adoption rate of AI-generated plans. It will also assess the agent's role in training new managers and standardizing operations.
The shelf allocation and layout planning function will generate detailed shelf plans and layout images, tailored to store characteristics and headquarters' instructions. The trial aims to verify improvements in task efficiency from plan creation to execution and the effectiveness of communication through shared layout images.
Fujitsu plans to leverage the results of this trial to enhance store operations and management for AEON Food Style, potentially expanding the scope of AI applications. Future trials may focus on increasing sales through multi-AI agent collaboration, which could autonomously execute various retail tasks.
This initiative reflects Fujitsu's commitment to driving innovation in the retail industry, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting sustainable growth through the integration of AI and data-driven solutions.
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