Service robots to assist shoppers in Metro Manila mega mall
In a country-wide’s first, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, the Philippines’ second-biggest shopping center behind SM City North EDSA, will deploy robots starting from next year to help customers navigate through the massive premises. Initially, three human-resembling robot (androids) will be put into service, Steven Tan, chief operating officer for the shopping malls of SM Prime Holdings, told Bloomberg News.
The talking robots will provide mall directions and information on promotions and events, he added. They also will employ artificial intelligence technologies to provide information to customers through an interactive, seamless and real-time platform, according to Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), the provider of the androids.
SM Megamall, among the biggest shopping centers in Southeast Asia, spans over 477,000 square meters, an area equivalent to about 89 football fields, and is frequented by about 277,000 people every day, according to the operator.
If the pilot run is successful, the group will bring the robots to SM City North EDSA and others of its major malls. SM Prime Holdings’ three largest malls in the Philippines attract daily foot traffic equivalent to ten per cent of Metro Manila’s 13 million population, while the group’s 72 malls nationwide draw more than 3.5 million customers a day.
The company behind the robots, Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), is a subsidiary of Taiwan-headquartered New Kinpo Group, whose business unit New Era Robotic Inc has been established in June 2017 to allow the company to focus on developing smart technology solutions by combining robotics with artificial intelligence. These solutions include developing cutting-edge service robots which boast a growing list of self-learning capabilities such as auto-navigation, voice control, as well as facial tracking and recognition. New Era Robotics says it tailors smart solutions to meet the needs of consumers and businesses from a number of different industries, apart from retail.
In a country-wide's first, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, the Philippines’ second-biggest shopping center behind SM City North EDSA, will deploy robots starting from next year to help customers navigate through the massive premises. Initially, three human-resembling robot (androids) will be put into service, Steven Tan, chief operating officer for the shopping malls of SM Prime Holdings, told Bloomberg News. The talking robots will provide mall directions and information on promotions and events, he added. They also will employ artificial intelligence technologies to provide information to customers through an interactive, seamless and real-time platform, according to Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), the provider...
In a country-wide’s first, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, the Philippines’ second-biggest shopping center behind SM City North EDSA, will deploy robots starting from next year to help customers navigate through the massive premises. Initially, three human-resembling robot (androids) will be put into service, Steven Tan, chief operating officer for the shopping malls of SM Prime Holdings, told Bloomberg News.
The talking robots will provide mall directions and information on promotions and events, he added. They also will employ artificial intelligence technologies to provide information to customers through an interactive, seamless and real-time platform, according to Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), the provider of the androids.
SM Megamall, among the biggest shopping centers in Southeast Asia, spans over 477,000 square meters, an area equivalent to about 89 football fields, and is frequented by about 277,000 people every day, according to the operator.
If the pilot run is successful, the group will bring the robots to SM City North EDSA and others of its major malls. SM Prime Holdings’ three largest malls in the Philippines attract daily foot traffic equivalent to ten per cent of Metro Manila’s 13 million population, while the group’s 72 malls nationwide draw more than 3.5 million customers a day.
The company behind the robots, Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), is a subsidiary of Taiwan-headquartered New Kinpo Group, whose business unit New Era Robotic Inc has been established in June 2017 to allow the company to focus on developing smart technology solutions by combining robotics with artificial intelligence. These solutions include developing cutting-edge service robots which boast a growing list of self-learning capabilities such as auto-navigation, voice control, as well as facial tracking and recognition. New Era Robotics says it tailors smart solutions to meet the needs of consumers and businesses from a number of different industries, apart from retail.
