# Staffless Convenience Stores Wheelys 247 in Shanghai Introduces a Convenience Store of the Future By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2017-03-09 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/convenience-store-of-the-future References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/07/wheelys-unmanned-convenience-store/) & [wheelyscafe](https://wheelyscafe.com/wheelys247/) Wheelys is a start-up that first came into consumer consciousness with a mobile coffee cart, but it is now launching its first brick-and-mortar shop, which is set to be a model for the convenience store of the future. The 'Wheelys 247' store in Shanghai, China will be a [completely unmanned 24-hour convenience store](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-supermarket) that allows consumers to make purchases via their mobile devices using the Wheelys 247 app, completely [eliminating the traditional checkout process](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sams-club-4). Use of the app is also what grants a shopper access to the store, which is also a part of its system to deter theft. This new convenience store is joining the ranks of many restaurants and cafes that are now experimenting with [operations that do not involve staff](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venhub). Other notable examples include Eatsa and Renrenxiang, which rely on the use of smartphones for food-ordering, as well as Cafe-X and Zume Pizza, both of which use robots to prepare food and beverages. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 46% | Activity: 86% | 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 ### What's Driving This Trend - **Staff-less Stores:** Opportunity to create completely unmanned stores that allow consumers to make purchases through mobile devices, eliminating the traditional checkout process. - **Mobile App Ordering:** Opportunity to implement mobile app ordering for brick-and-mortar stores that provide access to the store and deter theft. - **Robot Food Preparation:** Opportunity to use robots for food and beverage preparation in restaurants and cafes. ### Who This Affects Most - **Retail:** Opportunity for retail stores, particularly convenience stores, to implement unmanned stores with mobile app ordering for a more efficient shopping experience. - **Food and Beverage:** Opportunity for restaurants and cafes to implement mobile app ordering and use robots for food and beverage preparation to create a fresh and unique experience for their customers. - **Technology:** Opportunity to innovate and improve technology for mobile app ordering and unmanned stores with improved security measures to increase convenience for customers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cashier-Free Grocery Chains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aisle-24.md) - [Unstaffed Convenience Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wundermart.md) - [Employee-Free Smart Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teo-smart-stores.md) - [Unstaffed Grab-and-Go Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xstore-7.md) - [Grab-and-Go Employee-Free Retailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lotus-pick-and-go.md) - [AI-Driven Convenience Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-convenience-stores.md) - [Checkout-Free Convenience Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7eleven-australia.md) - [24-Hour AI-Powered Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rewe-to-go-1.md) - [AI-Powered Snack Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quick-eats-store.md)