Across Asia, retailers and platforms are increasingly using technology to improve transparency, speed and personalisation. This feature explores how leading Asian players in China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore are deploying technology to drive competitive advantage

AI and live kitchen streaming: Meituan's food safety push

China's food delivery market continues to scale rapidly, and consumers are increasingly demanding higher standards of hygiene and nutritional transparency. Meituan, the dominant player in China's delivery space, has introduced an AI‑powered system that reviews kitchen images submitted by merchants to assess cleanliness and compliance.

The platform has also launched a live kitchen streaming feature, allowing customers to view food preparation in real time before placing an order. To encourage adoption, Meituan offers hardware subsidies to reduce the cost of installing cameras and streaming equipment for merchants.

Since the launch, over 400,000 merchants have opted into the service.  According to Meituan, platform data shows that participating restaurants have seen notable business improvements, a 23% drop in customer complaints, a 12% rise in repeat purchase rates, and an 8% higher average order value.

This approach shows how digital platforms can use technology to raise transparency and food safety standards at scale. By combining AI monitoring with real-time transparency, Meituan strengthens loyalty and reduces risk for both customers and merchants. This model offers a blueprint for global delivery platforms looking to strengthen quality control while driving adoption through targeted incentives.

CU and Lawson: technology turns convenience into service

Convenience stores in Asia are evolving beyond traditional product retailers into lifestyle platforms that offer unique, tailored experiences.

In South Korea, CU recently became the first convenience store to launch an AI-powered "Makeup Palette Maker" kiosk, which scans a customer's face, analyses their skin tone, and produces a custom eyeshadow palette on the spot. Shoppers can choose from over 100 colours, with each palette including two matte and two glitter shades at an affordable price point.

Similarly, in Japan, Lawson has rolled out a digital "Wine Sommelier" on its store shelves. Shoppers interested in wine can interact with a small screen that asks a few quick questions about their taste preferences to deliver tailored wine recommendations.

For retailers, the core competency is shifting from location and product assortment to data-driven, in-store service integration, meaning they should view themselves not just as sellers of goods but as curators of solutions.

For suppliers, market access will increasingly depend not only on securing shelf space but on providing structured product data that can be prioritised by digital recommendation tools. A product that aligns precisely with a shopper's preferences will hold a stronger competitive advantage than one relying solely on prominent shelf space.

FairPrice: smart trolley speeds up supermarket shopping

In Singapore, FairPrice has introduced a smart trolley at its Punggol Coast Mall store, bringing self‑service technology directly into shoppers’ hands.

The trolley features a small screen and a built-in barcode scanner on the handle, allowing shoppers to scan items as they add them to the cart. The screen also displays a 3D layout of the entire store, helping customers quickly locate products. If a product is accidentally missed during scanning, the system alerts the user immediately. At the end of the trip, payment can be completed directly on the trolley, removing the need to queue at checkout and creating a faster, more convenient shopping experience.

Investing in in-store hardware technology like smart cart can directly improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. By streamlining the shopping journey, retailers can serve more customers with the same number of staff. Suppliers can benefit from enhanced visibility within digital store maps and the potential for more targeted, in‑journey product prompts. As adoption grows, smart trolleys could become a key platform for both operational efficiency and shopper engagement.

Implications for retailers and suppliers

Together, these examples show how technology is moving beyond efficiency to actively shape trust, engagement and service quality across Asian retail. Platforms and retailers that integrate AI, automation and in‑store digital tools are better placed to meet evolving shopper demands. For suppliers, success will increasingly depend on supporting these ecosystems with data, visibility and activation. As adoption scales, technology‑enabled retail is set to become a core driver of growth across the region.

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