Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
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J U N E 2 0 1 7 / S C T 23 system speed the checkout process, it automatically updates store inventory too. This may also help Lawson cope with an issue that has been a thorn in the side of many Japanese retailers: a long-running labor shortage caused by the country's declining birthrates and aging population. Just now Lawson and Panasonic are evaluating the results of the Regi-Robo test, at a Lawson store in Osaka. "In 10 years people may no longer have to stand in line," said Cordero. "Technology will eliminate that step of the shopping journey." While much media ink has been spilled over the potential job losses associated with automation, some retailers are experimenting with systems designed to help store associates, not to replace them, and by extension to provide better levels of customer service. Lowe's, for one, is introducing autonomous roaming robots that assist customers and store associates alike. The home-improvement chain developed its so-called LoweBots in partnership with Fellow Robots, a Mountain View, Calif.–based designer and builder of autonomous-service robots. Lowe's, which also owns the Orchard Supply Hardware chain, first tested the robots four years ago at an Orchard Supply store in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last August the company began introducing the robots at other stores in the Bay Area (two machines per store) and elsewhere in Northern California. These robots assist customers and store associates in locating items more easily. And being programmed to communicate in multiple languages, they also help the visually or hearing impaired to communicate with store employees. "They were designed from the ground up to be helpers for store associates," said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe's Innovation Labs, a division intended to help position the company at the leading edge of retail technology. Further, the LoweBots use image-recognition technology to update inventory and to locate items that have been misshelved. Ultimately, the robots are intended to enable the store employees to spend more time helping customers with their home- improvement projects, says Nel. "They free up our store folks to do what they do best," he said. When shoppers first encounter the robots, most are understandably surprised, though over time they come to see them as a routine element of the store experience, Nel explains. "The first time someone sees it, they are amazed, but it quickly becomes a part of everyday life," he said. "It's amazing how fast people adjust to this kind of stuff." n The world's only patented camera based PGS Our patented, award-winning M4 smart-sensor technology redefined all expectations for a parking guidance system. Our L4 lightpipe sensor adds advanced LED lighting/control. Core business intelligence Our data-driven Insights ™ platform, a standard feature, tracks parker behaviors and preferences. Enabling you to maximize efficiency, create new opportunities and increase profitability. Added security in the bays With our Park Surveillance ™ API, our exclusive smart-sensors use an unobstructed view of the bays to capture streaming video whenever motion is detected. Or continuously if desired. Next-generation wayfinding: from arrival to exit Smart-sensor LEDs and digital signage combine to show real-time parking availability. Returning parkers use our exclusive Fin d Your Car ™ by entering a plate number into a kiosk or mobile app. 57 West 38th Street, 11th Floor New York, NY 10018 +1 917-793-5400 www.parkassist.com A member of the TKH Group Need to increase revenues, efficiencies, customer satisfaction? All three? Our patented parking guidance system (PGS) is accomplishing this and more for the world's top 10 retail developers. A new strategy for driving retail activity.