U-NEXT HOLDINGS group company USEN-ALMEX and Super Hotel have started a pilot test for the introduction of the hotel front service robot “ClerkBot,” developed by USEN-ALMEX with the cooperation of Super Hotel. The pilot test is being conducted at “Yumoto ‘Hananoyu’ Super Hotel Osaka Natural Hot Springs,” which is operated by Super Hotel. During the test, one “ClerkBot” is operating as a front desk staff member at the hotel, handling guest check-ins and providing information about the hot springs and other facilities in four languages: Japanese, English, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. This service robot, which can move within the hotel while displaying facial expressions and using voice and subtitles to give multilingual guidance and handle check-in procedures, is the first of its kind in Japan.
(Source : USEN-ALMEX)
This pilot test aims to address the growing number of inbound foreign tourists and reduce the burden on front desk staff in the hotel industry. At “Yumoto ‘Hananoyu’ Super Hotel Osaka Natural Hot Springs,” the challenge of providing multilingual guidance within the hotel has been a concern. To address this, USEN-ALMEX developed the “ClerkBot” and customized it to meet the needs of Super Hotel, leading to this pilot test.
(Source : USEN-ALMEX)
The pilot will run from September 2 to September 15, 2024, during the operating hours of “Yumoto ‘Hananoyu’ Super Hotel Osaka Natural Hot Springs.” “ClerkBot” stands 1,200mm tall, weighs 60kg, and is equipped with a 10.25-inch touch panel, a QR code reader, and a thermal printer. It recognizes guest movements using a forward-facing adjustable camera and a rear-facing 3D camera, enabling flexible multilingual guidance. The robot has both check-in and guidance modes, which can be switched based on a schedule or screen operations, and it can also be remotely operated from the counter. Furthermore, it is equipped with a function that allows it to autonomously move between a charging station and a designated standby location, ensuring safe and reliable operation for both guests and staff.
(Source : USEN-ALMEX)
For Japanese guests, a “Mobile Check-In System” is available for self-check-in. This system, jointly developed by USEN-ALMEX and Super Hotel, allows guests to complete the check-in process by scanning a QR code issued after making a reservation through the Super Hotel official app or booking website. For foreign guests, the robot provides guidance in Japanese, English, Korean, and Simplified Chinese while moving around the hotel. It also features an AI-powered function that automatically generates appropriate response texts from hotel guide documents, simultaneously displaying the text as subtitles and reading it aloud.
USEN-ALMEX is a company that plans, manufactures, sells, and maintains front desk management systems and IT total solutions for improving operational efficiency, mainly in medical institutions, hotels, accommodation facilities, and leisure hotels, as well as web services in related businesses. Super Hotel operates 171 locations in Japan and one overseas, with a concept of “Natural, Organic, Smart,” proposing a healthy and sustainable lifestyle to its guests. The company has received awards for improving productivity through IT utilization and enhancing customer satisfaction through high-quality service. It is also the only hotel company recognized under the Ministry of the Environment’s “Eco-First Program,” which certifies industry-leading environmental companies. In addition to environmental conservation efforts, Super Hotel is actively engaged in SDG initiatives, including regional revitalization and support for future generations.
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