Case study: a 24-hour unmanned store in Qingdao cuts overnight labour cost by 62%

A community convenience store in Licang District, Qingdao, completed its unmanned transformation in June this year. Three months on, the owner's numbers are straightforward: overnight labour cost down 62%, night-time sales up about 29%.

The problem before

The store used to close at 23:00. Two office buildings and a night-bus hub nearby meant real late-night foot traffic — but staffing the night shift did not pay. A night clerk cost close to 5,000 yuan a month, while night revenue hovered around 800 yuan, too little to cover the wage.

What was changed

• Self-service checkout: customers scan in, pick up what they need and pay by QR code or face payment;
• AI visual monitoring: full coverage with real-time alerts on unusual behaviour, replacing a human watcher;
• Remote human assistance: one operator supervises several stores and can talk to customers through the store speaker;
• Smart access and lighting: the store switches to an energy-saving mode during unmanned hours.

Results after three months

• Overnight labour cost: from about 5,000 yuan to about 1,900 yuan per month (shared remote operator) — down 62%;
• Night-time revenue (23:00–07:00): from about 24,000 to about 31,000 yuan per month — up 29%;
• Opening hours: extended from 15 hours a day to 24/7;
• Shrinkage: from 0.8% to 0.4%, as every transaction is traceable.

In the owner's words

"I was worried about theft with nobody watching. Three months in, losses are actually lower than before. The best part is that I can see what is happening in the store from my phone at home."

The owner plans to open a second store in a nearby residential compound using the same model, leaving the night shift to the system.