Qisda Corp.’s smart retail unit acquired a stake in Taiwanese barcode scanner manufacturer Sintron Technology, as Taiwan’s electronics giants seek to capitalize on the rapidly growing automation market for convenience stores and supermarkets.
Parter Technology, Qisda’s retail solutions subsidiary, became one of Sintron’s top five shareholders through an undisclosed investment below NT$300 million ($9.9 million), according to a company statement Monday. The deal positions the partnership to integrate artificial intelligence-powered retail systems with automatic identification and data capture technology across global markets.
The investment reflects growing confidence in retail automation, with the global AI in retail market projected to reach $40.74 billion by 2030, growing at 23% annually. Yet the modest stake suggests Qisda is testing the waters rather than making a transformative bet, industry watchers said.
Sintron’s current ownership structure shows Chairman Liao Yi-yan holding 9.79% and Director Lin Yong-fa with 9.66%. The companies plan to focus on smart convenience stores, supermarkets and restaurants, targeting markets including Australia, Thailand, India, Europe and North America through cross-selling arrangements.
The smart retail market reached $47.58 billion in 2024 and could grow to $274.82 billion by 2033, driven by demand for automated checkout systems and inventory management. However, competition is intensifying as major players from Amazon to Alibaba pour resources into similar technologies.
The partnership combines Parter’s AI-enabled store management systems with Sintron’s optical character recognition scanning technology. Industry analysts note Qisda’s preference for maintaining control in acquisitions, suggesting the initial investment may be a prelude to larger moves if the collaboration succeeds.
Both companies plan joint exhibits at major trade shows including the National Retail Federation convention in the US and EuroShop in Germany to demonstrate their integrated solutions to international clients.
NT$1 = $0.033
