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Yesterday, Lawson opened its first convenience store staffed by on-screen avatars remotely controlled by employees, making it possible for even those with mobility issues to be employed by the store. The chain's first Green Lawson, located in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, promotes an environmentally friendly lifestyle by eliminating the sale of plastic bags. From 10 January, customers will no longer be provided disposable forks and straws. Except for cases of cash payments, remotely controlled avatars will generally tend to customers via monitors installed near self-checkout counters and in product aisles.
Employees will be represented by either Aoi or Sorato, the names of the female and male anime-style avatars, respectively, which were developed in collaboration with Japanese avatar development company Avita. To reduce food waste, the Green Lawson store will stock more frozen boxed lunches, which have a longer shelf life than products stored at room temperature or refrigerated. The company is also developing a made-to-order food preparation service and plans to collect unneeded paper bags from customers' homes to reuse them as shopping bags. Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu said the company aims to open 100 such stores by 2025.
Lawson opens first avatar-staffed convenience store in Tokyo
Remotely controlled avatars will tend to customers via monitors near self-checkout counters and in aisles, making it possible for those with mobility issues to be employed by the store.
www.japantimes.co.jp
Sorato and Aoi: will they be multi-lingual?
ローソン、コンビニでアバター接客を導入 人手不足や深夜の就労対策
9月22日、コンビニ大手の株式会社ローソンはアバター事業を手掛けるAVITA株式会社と、協業を発表しました。 両社は、人手不足や深夜の就労対策としてアバターを活用。時間、場所、年齢、性別、身体的ハンディキャップなどに制約 […]
www.moguravr.com