NEC opened a cashless store “NEC SMART STORE” in February in its headquarters building in Mita, Tokyo, using image recognition technology and other services to enable payments without going through cash registers. The contents were released.

NEC SMART STORE, a cashless store located on the first basement floor of the NEC Head Office Building

Entrance of "NEC SMART STORE". NEC's robot "Papero" will be the store manager

仕 組 み It is a mechanism that allows you to make a payment by simply picking up the product you want to purchase and leaving the store without going through the cash register. By combining the camera and image recognition technology installed in the store, the product and the purchaser are recognized. Payment is made at the same time as the store is closed, and it is settled in conjunction with the payroll system.

NEC's face recognition AI engine "NeoFace" is used for face recognition technology. Linking store systems built by NEC for the retail business, such as sales management and customer management, with the data analysis system of Shanghai startup Cloudpick. In addition to eliminating the shortage of cashier staff on the store side, users can eliminate cashier waiting time.

で き Even when commuting or busy hours, you can buy products without lining up at the cash register, and the store can also tell you what products you have selected and what products you are lost in purchasing.

11Available to 110,000 employees of the NEC Group, with an average of 200 employees per day. "At first, some employees were confused that there was no cash register, but it has been said that it would be convenient to be able to purchase it without placing it at the cash register." In addition, NEC has already been a Representative Director, President and CEO.

Also used by CEO Takashi Niino. "I want you to spread it to the world," he said.

Employees register their face information with a tablet or the like, but employees who have already registered their face information using the face authentication system already used at headquarters and other locations can use it as is. Although it is technically possible to use the photo on the employee ID card, the company says it is taking a new photo because it did not include a provision for using it for payment when taking the photo.

ゲ ー ト When entering the store, the gate opens by walk-through face authentication. The feature is that you can enter the store without stopping for certification. Products are identified by weight sensors installed on each shelf and 35 cameras installed in the store. It is necessary to register the location and the number of the products installed on the shelf at the time of opening and replenishing the store. Based on this, the manager can be notified that the number of products on the shelf has decreased.

Entered the shop with face authentication. Authenticate without stopping

Each shelf has a weight sensor

35 cameras are located on the ceiling

時 に は There are some restrictions when using. Because face authentication at the gate is required, it is prohibited to limit the entrance to the store or exchange the product before purchase with another person. In addition, when returning a product once taken to the shelf, the product is to be returned to the same shelf. In addition, the maximum number of shoppers is limited to eight for accurate image recognition.

When taking out the product, identify the product and the person with the camera and sensor

Recognize even if undone

決 済 Payment is automatically made by face authentication when you leave the store, but the tablet installed at the exit of the store allows you to check the purchase result based on face authentication and also check it on the web. Currently, salaries are being deducted, but the company is considering introducing payments linked to credit cards and various types of electronic money.

If you leave the store as it is, it will be automatically settled