In the chain retail industry, challenges such as decentralized multi-store operations, cross-regional energy management difficulties, and opaque energy consumption data have long been pain points for enterprises seeking cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Lawson, a well-known domestic convenience store chain, has achieved refined monitoring and centralized management of energy consumption across over 3,000 stores nationwide by deploying the ADW300-HJ-D24-4G wireless meter and supporting EIOT solutions. Below is an analysis covering project background, hardware solutions, core values, and technical highlights:
Lawson convenience stores are distributed across multiple regions in China (including Shanghai, Guangdong, Liaoning, Sichuan, Chengdu, etc.). Although individual stores are small in scale, the chain operates over 3,000 stores, each equipped with various electrical devices such as lighting, refrigeration equipment, and air conditioning. Three core needs emerged:
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Centralized monitoring of multi-store energy consumption: Real-time access to electricity data from each store to eliminate "blind spots in decentralized management";
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Renovation convenience: Construction during store operations requires minimizing power outage impacts and reducing renovation complexity;
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Data-driven decision-making: Optimizing electricity usage strategies and controlling operational costs through energy consumption reports and regional comparative analysis;
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Construction quality assurance: Addressing inconsistent skill levels of cross-regional construction teams through technical means for remote verification of wiring standards.
Tailored to the characteristics of convenience store chains, the project uses the ADW300-HJ-D24-4G wireless meter as the core monitoring terminal, with hardware design precisely matching project requirements:
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4G wireless communication: No wiring required; direct access to public networks adapts to scattered store locations and complex network environments, enabling real-time data upload to the cloud platform;
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Open current transformers (CTs): A key advantage for renovation projects, allowing installation without power interruption, avoiding disruptions to store operations, and significantly reducing construction difficulty and time costs;
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High-precision metering: Supports collection of full electrical parameters (voltage, current, power, energy consumption, etc.), with data accuracy meeting commercial metering standards, providing a reliable foundation for energy analysis;
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Compact design: Small size fits limited space in convenience store distribution cabinets, ensuring flexible installation without occupying excessive space.
Through collaboration between the ADW300 meter and the EIOT platform, the project delivers four core functions addressing key management needs of convenience store chains:
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Real-time energy consumption monitoring across multiple stores
The platform displays real-time data such as total electricity usage, three-phase current/voltage, and power factor for each store. Abnormal fluctuations (e.g., overloads, voltage instability) trigger immediate alarms, preventing equipment failures or electricity theft.
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Refined data reporting
Automatically generates annual/monthly energy reports, single-store energy trend charts, and regional energy comparison tables, supporting "year-on-year/month-on-month analysis" (e.g., current month vs. previous month, East China vs. Southwest China) to visually highlight energy consumption differences.
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Regional energy management
Stores are grouped by province/city to calculate average energy consumption, proportion of high-energy stores in each region, and inform regional operational adjustments (e.g., equipment optimization, electricity time management).
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Centralized energy settlement and control
Integrates energy data from all stores to enable three-level data penetration ("headquarters-region-store"), supporting energy cost allocation and budget management. In some scenarios, it links to remote device control (e.g., automatic power-off during non-business hours) to reduce unnecessary energy use.
Beyond basic monitoring, the project addresses key pain points of chain renovation projects through upgraded ADW300 features:
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Phase sequence detection
The meter includes an upgraded phase sequence detection module, enabling remote monitoring of whether store distribution line phases are correctly sequenced. This prevents equipment reversal or burnout due to incorrect wiring during construction. Headquarters can verify construction quality in real time via the platform and request timely line corrections, reducing long-term maintenance costs.
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Lightweight deployment and rapid iteration
4G wireless communication eliminates reliance on store local area networks, allowing new stores to quickly connect to the system. The renovation of over 3,000 stores was completed in a short cycle, adapting to the "rapid store expansion" rhythm of chain brands.
The implementation of the ADW300 wireless meter and EIOT solution has delivered significant value:
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Improved management efficiency: Headquarters monitors energy status of nationwide stores without on-site inspections, expanding management scope from "single store" to "10,000+ stores" and reducing labor costs by over 30%;
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Optimized energy costs: Screening high-energy stores and establishing regional energy benchmarks reduced average electricity usage by 8%-12% in some regions;
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Construction and maintenance assurance: Open CTs minimized operational disruptions during renovation, while phase sequence detection cut line fault troubeshooting time by 60%;
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Scalability support: The system reserves interfaces for future integration of water, gas, and other energy data, enabling "full energy category" centralized management.
The ADW300-HJ-DXX-4G wireless meter, with its wireless communication, open installation, precise metering, and expandable features, perfectly fits the "multi-location, scattered, small-space, renovation-focused" scenarios of convenience store chains. The project not only achieves "visualization, centralization, and refinement" of energy data but also solves key management pain points for cross-regional chains, providing a replicable model for digital energy transformation in retail, catering, and other chain industries.
