That brings us to Pepper, a little robot that has recently been enlisted by the Asian branch of Pizza Hut to act as a high-tech cashier.
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In a media release, MasterCard said Pepper will be able to take orders with an application powered by MasterPass, MasterCard’s digital payment service. This humanoid robot can interact with customers and perceive emotions. MasterCard has tried similar campaigns with Pepper-manned “MasterPass Cafe” shops in the region. Nonetheless, it will add an element of fun to proceedings and the firm says it will be able to provide offers and personalized recommendations to customers using Pepper. The robot is still largely considered a novelty, yet MasterCard has confirmed that the programme is a genuine attempt to trial the technology for the future development of commercial payments.
Pepper can then approve and complete the payment by connecting to MasterPass over a Wi-Fi connection.
Vipul Chawla, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Restaurants Asia, expressed his delight at the news saying, “We are excited to welcome Pepper to the Pizza Hut family”. “The Pepper application adds to ongoing MasterCard programs that bring payments to any consumer gadget, accessory or wearable”.
“Consumers have come to expect personalised service, customised offers, and simple and seamless processes both in-store and online”, Tobias Puehse, vice president, innovation management, Digital Payments & Labs at MasterCard said.
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Pepper is being used as a waiter, salesman and customer service representative in about 500 companies in Japan, including Nestle (NESN.S) and Mizuho Bank. The application was built by the MasterCard Labs team in Singapore, and is now being showcased in Paris at an event hosted by SoftBank Robotics Europe. The company began 58 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, when two brothers borrowed $600 from their mom to start a pizzeria.
