A new Lotte store robot unveiled this week marks a first for South Korea’s retail industry.
Lotte Department Store’s Myeongdong outlet introduced robot shopping assistant ‘el Bot’. on Monday, a 1.2m tall machine capable of providing a variety of information to shoppers.
It can recommend and give directions to restaurants inside the department store, or provide instructions on how to use a 3D “virtual fitting” service that the retail giant introduced last year.
For foreigners speaking English, Chinese or Japanese, it can connect them with Lotte’s human assistants for a voice or video call.
“We’re introducing the industry’s best robot assistant to offer our customers a whole new level of fun and convenience,” said an official. “We’ll continue to develop ICT-integrated services that will enhance the shopping experience,” he said.
Original reporting by Yonhap, via Korea Bizwire. Image Credit: Yonhap /photonews@koreabizwire.com