Innovation Breakthrough: CUHK-Shenzhen and Feng-E Technology Establish Smart Retail Joint Laboratory

On January 14, 2025, the School of Data Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) and Shenzhen Fengyi Technology Co., Ltd. (Feng-E Technology) held a framework agreement signing ceremony to officially unveil the unattended retail industry’s first Smart Retail Joint Laboratory.

The event was attended by high-level representatives, including Li Xuejin (Associate Vice President and Director of the Research Office, CUHK-Shenzhen), Dr. Zhu Tao (COO of Feng-E Technology), and senior leadership from the School of Data Science. The two parties will engage in deep cooperation across scientific research and AI talent cultivation, exploring innovative "AI + Unattended Retail" models to inject new vitality into the industry's digital transformation.

IWhile AI is already used in recommendation algorithms and warehouse management, the unattended retail industry still faces hurdles due to complex scenarios and a shortage of professional talent. This partnership will focus on three core areas:

1.Operational Efficiency: Using AI for precise market demand forecasting, intelligent route optimization for delivery, and supply chain management to reduce stockouts and inventory congestion.2.Customer Experience: Researching personalized product recommendations and refining service quality.3.Frontier Research: Exploring the next generation of "AI + Retail" technologies.

Strategic Visions: Reconstructing Competitiveness

Li Xuejin (CUHK-Shenzhen): Highly commended Feng-E Technology’s rapid development and its technology-backed business model. He noted that the university’s world-class faculty and research capabilities will help turn these innovative retail scenarios into a "broader chapter of cooperation."

Jiang Caihong (Marketing Director, Feng-E Technology): Highlighted that as of December 2024, the company’s terminal scale has exceeded 140,000 units. She expects the lab to achieve breakthroughs in quality control and marketing, bringing a new service experience to consumers.

Dr. Zhu Tao (COO, Feng-E Technology): Emphasized that the future of retail is a competition of data and algorithms. He revealed that the laboratory’s research will be open and shared, including the release of test datasets to the wider industry. This aims to help traditional enterprises break through operational dilemmas through digital means.

Solving the "Talent Drought"

The unattended retail sector often struggles to attract top-tier AI talent compared to the internet giants.

Feng-E Technology's Commitment: The company currently maintains a tech team of over 150 people (the largest in the industry) and invests over 60 million RMB annually in R&D.

Mutual Growth: Prof. Wang Zizhuo (Associate Dean, CUHK-Shenzhen) noted that this project provides students with real-world business data and practice while providing the company with elite academic resources.

The Future of Retail 2.0

The ceremony also touched on future challenges, such as AI application security and the balance between automated decision-making and human execution. As AI potential unfolds, these traditional, operation-intensive businesses may soon become more dependent on algorithms and data than the internet sector itself, creating a revolutionary shift in the retail "funnel" and service experience.