Group 1 - The 25th China Retail Industry Expo (2025 CHINASHOP) took place from May 8 to 10 at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center, covering an area of 100,000 square meters and attracting over 900 exhibitors and more than 70,000 visitors [2][3] - Two major trends were observed at the expo: the accelerated penetration of AI technology in the retail sector and the diversification of products and business lines among payment technology companies, with many companies venturing into restaurant SaaS and shared charging treasure markets [2][6] - Microstore 24 showcased an "unmanned convenience store" model that utilizes real-time remote monitoring and AI algorithms to enhance service quality while reducing theft risks [3][6] Group 2 - Xiamen company Bailuns exhibited AI smart cash registers and attracted attention with cosplayers from popular culture [5] - JiaLian Payment, a subsidiary of Shenzhen New Guodu, introduced a new "shared charging treasure" with a capacity of 10,000 mAh, positioning itself for significant market opportunities [6] - LaKala announced a strategic investment of 250 million in TianCai ShangLong, marking it as the most important investment since its listing in 2019, and launched the SaaS software "QingCheng Restaurant Cloud" [6] - Future payment solutions are expected to integrate banking services, instant retail, and digital marketing, moving beyond single transaction functionalities to create competitive barriers [6]

Core Viewpoint - Lakala, a leading third-party payment company, is making significant strategic moves by investing in Tian Cai Shang Long while divesting from Baotou Rural Commercial Bank, indicating a shift back to its core payment business [3][5][6]. Investment Actions - Lakala announced a strategic investment of 250 million yuan in Tian Cai Shang Long, becoming its largest institutional shareholder with over 35% ownership [3][6]. - The company exited its investment in Baotou Rural Commercial Bank by divesting its shares at zero cost, resulting in a fair value change of approximately -135 million yuan [3][5][7]. Financial Performance - For the year 2024, Lakala reported a revenue of 5.759 billion yuan, a decrease of 2.96% year-on-year, and a net profit of 351 million yuan, down 23.26% [5][6]. - The decline in revenue was attributed to reduced hardware sales and technology service income [6][12]. Strategic Focus - The shift from financial investments to the restaurant sector is seen as a crucial step for Lakala to refocus on its payment services [5][6]. - The collaboration with Tian Cai Shang Long aims to leverage technology to reduce operational costs for merchants, enhancing their focus on product innovation and service upgrades [11][13]. Market Outlook - The restaurant industry is experiencing growth, with Tian Cai Shang Long reporting a 23.86% increase in sales during the May Day holiday compared to 2024 [10]. - Lakala plans to deepen its "payment + SaaS" strategy in the restaurant sector, having added over 10,000 SaaS service stores with a transaction amount growth of 65% [13]. Future Plans - Both companies are exploring overseas expansion, targeting regions such as Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and Southeast Asia [14]. - They are set to launch a new lightweight restaurant software product named "Qing Cheng Restaurant Cloud" [14].