BYTE: Why 7-Eleven Japan Is Years Ahead of U.S. Retail - with Jim Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven | E06b

Think 7-Eleven is just cheap snacks and Slurpees? Think again.In this segment of Tech Legacies podcast, former 7-Eleven and Blockbuster CEO, Jim Keyes shares how 7-Eleven Japan quietly became one of the world’s most advanced retail operations… decades before data-driven retail became trendy.Jim explains how, even in the 1990s, 7-Eleven Japan was using real-time data and logistics to deliver fresh food multiple times a day, manage precise inventory forecasts, and empower store managers to adapt based on real customer insights, not just algorithms.More than just a story about innovation, it’s a lesson in how technology should enhance, not replace, human intelligence.You’ll learn:How 7-Eleven Japan used data warehousing before it was coolWhy logistics + local insight = retail magicWhat U.S. convenience stores still get wrongWhy the future of retail blends AI with the eyes and ears of the people on the groundIf you're into retail innovation, leadership, or tech culture in Japan, this story will surprise and inspire you.