Tokyo's 'Henn na Cafe' Has a Bot Serve Coffee to Customers
Laura McQuarrie — February 1, 2018 — Tech
References: hennacafe.jp & japantrends
The success of the robot-run Henn na Hotel in Japan has led to the opening of a new venture—the Henn na Cafe in Tokyo, which is situated in the Shibuya ward.
At the all-new cafe, consumers have the chance to be served by a robotic barista, a piece of technology that is made by Rethink Robotics. The machine boasts a robotic arm, an automated coffee maker and a screen that gives the robot the ability to emote human-like expressions. Beyond just providing coffee to consumers, the bot boasts the ability to interact with guests, greeting them and asking: "Hello, would you like delicious coffee?"
To place an order for a drink to be fulfilled by the bot, customers must purchase a ticket via a vending machine. After choosing from a drink menu of seven items, they are able to present their QR code ticket to the robot so that the preparation of the beverage may begin.
At the all-new cafe, consumers have the chance to be served by a robotic barista, a piece of technology that is made by Rethink Robotics. The machine boasts a robotic arm, an automated coffee maker and a screen that gives the robot the ability to emote human-like expressions. Beyond just providing coffee to consumers, the bot boasts the ability to interact with guests, greeting them and asking: "Hello, would you like delicious coffee?"
To place an order for a drink to be fulfilled by the bot, customers must purchase a ticket via a vending machine. After choosing from a drink menu of seven items, they are able to present their QR code ticket to the robot so that the preparation of the beverage may begin.
Trend Themes
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Robot Baristas — Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the food service industry by replacing human baristas with robots.
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Automated Customer Interaction — Disruptive innovation opportunity to enhance customer experience by using robots with human-like expressions to interact with guests.
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Ticket-based Ordering — Potential for disruptive innovation in the vending machine industry by using QR codes to order drinks from a robot barista.
Industry Implications
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Food Service — Opportunity for the food service industry to automate coffee-making and customer service processes using robot baristas.
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Customer Experience — Disruptive innovation opportunity for industries that prioritize customer experience, such as hospitality and retail, by incorporating robots with human-like expressions.
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Vending Machines — Potential for disruptive innovation in the vending machine industry by introducing QR code-based ticketing systems for ordering drinks from robots.
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