# Smart Store Concepts Suning's Biu Smart Store Shows the Future of Retail Technology By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-06-14 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biu References: [prnewswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/suning-showcases-innovation-in-smart-retail-at-ces-asia-300665607.html) & [suningholdings](http://www.suningholdings.com/) At CES Asia 2018, Suning is showcasing its [unstaffed 'Biu' smart retail store](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lotus-pick-and-go), which makes the most of everything from big data and facial recognition to RFID technology. Suning's launched its first self-service store in 2017 and first debuted Biu at CES 2018 in Las Vegas. However, its newest showcase shares some of the latest innovations it is working on for the future of retail. This upgraded Biu Store boasts features like Suning's [Anywhere AR](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/store-digital-twin), which makes it possible for consumers to place virtual products into real scenes for making efficient purchasing decisions, as well as the voice- and text-activated Smart Sue Shopping Assistant. The futuristic store also shows off [Smart Shelves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vusiongroup-edgesense-ai), which use gravity sensors and facial recognition tech so that consumers may make easy automated payments and enjoy a customized shopping experience. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.6/10 - Popularity: 95% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Smart Retail Store:** Opportunity for retailers to implement facial recognition, RFID, and augmented reality technology for customized and efficient shopping experiences. - **Unstaffed Stores:** Opportunity for retailers to reduce overhead costs by implementing unstaffed stores that utilize technology for automated payments and shopping assistance. - **Virtual Product Placement:** Opportunity for retailers to use augmented reality technology for virtual product placement, enabling customers to experience products in real-life settings, thereby increasing sales and improving user experience. ### Where This Applies - **Retail:** Retailers can leverage advancements in facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology to automate payments and provide personalized shopping experiences. - **Technology:** Advancements in big data, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence can be utilized by technology companies to create retail-focused solutions for retailers looking to implement smart store concepts. - **Consumer Goods:** Consumer goods companies can take advantage of virtual product placement technology to provide immersive digital experiences for their customers and increase brand awareness and sales. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Unstaffed Grab-and-Go Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xstore-7.md) - [Smart Cashierless Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cashierless-shop.md) - [Record-Breaking Autonomous Supermarkets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-supermarket.md) - [Employee-Free Smart Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teo-smart-stores.md) - [Taiwan-Based AI Shopping Carts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innolux.md) - [Automated Retail Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venhub.md) - [AI-Assisted Aisles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cantaloupe-smart-aisle.md) - [AI Checkout Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/self-checkout-lines.md) - [AI-Driven Convenience Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-convenience-stores.md)