World convenience store king, 7-Eleven, recently opened its unmanned convenience store, named "X-Store", in Taiwan region of China.

Its name is inspired from three "X" in words of "explore", "experience", and "excellent". The 60-square-meter shop provides customers with about 1,000 produces, including snacks and instant foods.

The store partnered with more than 20 vendors to upgrade its facilities and services. Apart from common configurations of facial recognition, self-service cashiers and RFID tags, the store intelligentizes detailed services, such as, the refrigerator door automatically opens when people get close to, and the microwave can scan the product bar code and then automatically determine the required heating time.

Two 7-Eleven employees pass the facial recognition in the unmanned convenience store, named "X-Store", in Taiwan region of China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

X-Store also changed the paper poster inside that a normal store used into a display with a total of 24 screens for real-time promotion of related activities.

In addition, an usher robot and a sweeping robot enabling to do intelligent voice interaction were also introduced to the store.

The X-Store is currently in internal testing and is only open to 7-Eleven employees and is operating from 7 am to 7 pm. In-house coffee machine and dining space are provided.

Snacks are put aside at X-Store in Taiwan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The business relies on facial recognition software. Customers have to first register with the store using their real identity. Once approved, they can enter by scanning their face at the door. Then, they choose the items they want, scan them at the cashier and pay through mobile phone payment.

A camera tracks customers and anyone who don't pay for items they take and all the information are recorded in the company's database.

Visitors experience X-Store in Taiwan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]