MasterCard has introduced the first commerce application for SoftBank Robotics’ new humanoid robot Pepper.
MasterCard’s online card on file service MasterPass, will power the application, which aims to improve customer engagement in food and beverage outlets.
The new app extends the robot’s ability to integrate customer service, access to information and sales into a seamless and consistent user experience.
Pizza Hut Restaurants Asia will be the inaugural launch partner for the application. The restaurant chain is expected to pilot Pepper for tasks such as order-taking and personalized customer engagement by end 2016.
“Consumers have come to expect personalized service, customized offers and simple and seamless processes both in-store and online,” said Tobias Puehse, vice president, innovation management, Digital Payments & Labs at MasterCard.
“The app’s goal is to provide consumers with more memorable and personalized shopping experience beyond today’s self-serve machines and kiosks, by combining Pepper’s intelligence with a secure digital payment experience via MasterPass.”
A consumer will be able to initiate an engagement by greeting Pepper and pairing a MasterPass account by either tapping the Pepper icon within the wallet or by scanning a QR code on the tablet that the robot holds.
After pairing with MasterPass, Pepper will be able to assist cardholders by providing personalized recommendations and offers, additional information on products, and assistance in checking out and paying for items. Pepper will be able to initiate, approve and complete a transaction by connecting to MasterPass via a Wi-Fi connection and the entire transaction happens within the digital wallet.
“We are excited to welcome Pepper to the Pizza Hut family,” said Vipul Chawla, managing director of Pizza Hut Restaurants Asia.
“Core to our digital transformation journey is the ability to make it easier for customers to engage, connect and transact with Pizza Hut. With an order-and-payment-enabled Pepper, customers can now come to expect personalized ordering at our stores, reduce wait time for carryout, and have a fun, frictionless user experience.”
The app was built by the MasterCard Labs team in Singapore, one of the company’s eight research and development centers across the globe.