Lawson, a major convenience store chain, has announced that it will pilot a technology that allows clerks to serve customers remotely using an alter ego "avatar".
In order to deal with the chronic labor shortage, the convenience store industry has begun to utilize new technologies.
According to the announcement, Lawson will set up a dedicated monitor next to an unmanned self-checkout, etc., and experimentally introduce technology that will serve customers with an avatar that the clerk will be an alter ego.
When this avatar receives questions from customers about how to operate the cash register, where products are displayed, etc., it can reflect the voice and hand movements of the store clerk who responds remotely with almost no delay.
The aim is to reduce the number of store employees without reducing the quality of customer service, and from November this year we will introduce it on a trial basis at one store in Tokyo, and we would like to expand to more than 200 stores nationwide by 2025. .
At a press conference on the 22nd, President Sadanobu Takemasu said, "With avatars, one clerk can work at multiple stores, which increases productivity. We will create an ideal store where you can feel the warmth of people instead of cold digitalization. I want to," he said.
FamilyMart also introduced a new accounting system
In addition, "FamilyMart" has begun introducing a system at six stores that uses cameras and sensors to identify the products that each customer picks up, and then allows customers to checkout without having to scan the products when they move to the cash register. increase.
In the convenience store industry, there is a serious shortage of workers, especially in the late-night hours.