#Japan #Tokyo #Azure OpenAI #KMS #Co Manager

Revolutionizing Dining Experiences: The Introduction of Co Manager AI in the Restaurant Industry

Revolutionizing Dining Experiences with AI

In a groundbreaking initiative, KMS (Kaleidoscope Media Service) has announced the implementation of its innovative AI customer assistance service known as "Co Manager" in collaboration with the Skylark Group. Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, this partnership aims to enhance customer experiences in the restaurant industry, specifically at the Gusto Akihabara branch.

Overview of KMS's AI Business

KMS has embarked on a mission to improve various industry-specific challenges by utilizing AI, drawing on its rich expertise in game development and operations. The company focuses on creating a secure environment where individual optimization can enhance efficiency, ensuring that everyone can easily access AI technologies. To meet these objectives, KMS intertwines three critical elements: UI (creativity), Development (operational capabilities), and UX (experience). By promoting these interactive elements, KMS continues to explore new technologies and their capabilities.

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Background

The Skylark Group has actively pursued digital innovations, introducing tools such as digital menu books and cat-shaped serving robots to enhance operational efficiency and customer convenience. However, the reliance on technology inadvertently resulted in fewer interactions between customers and restaurant crew members. To address this challenge, KMS collaborated with Skylark Group and initiated the "Co Manager" project, aiming to maintain high-quality customer service while supplementing it with AI capabilities to enhance the overall customer experience.

New Initiatives

The “Co Manager” service, powered by Azure OpenAI Service, is designed to provide customers with a novel dining experience. This AI system interacts with customers via digital menu tablets to assist in their ordering process. By harnessing a machine learning model that integrates Gusto’s menu data, the system can propose product recommendations relevant to each diner’s preferences.

Development for this AI assistant began in March 2024, and included features such as an "AI Robot" that recommends menu items and a functionality that summarizes conversations with patrons to automatically generate daily reports. A pilot program is expected to launch in September 2024 at the Gusto Akihabara-front shop.

Achievements & Benefits

By employing Azure OpenAI Service, the project enables thoughtful and intelligent conversations with customers. Some patrons have become repeat visitors simply to enjoy chatting with the AI robot. The robot, worn with a “in training” badge, engages customers with a touch of clumsy charm, making it more personable. Customers often respond with gratitude, suggesting a developing emotional connection.

However, determining the actual improvement in customer experience at this stage is still ongoing. There are promising signs that practical applications of generative AI have led to new insights, sparking innovative suggestions from both the marketing department and store crew for expanded use cases. One notable suggestion has been the potential use of AI in the kitchen, especially during menu revisions where new recipes need to be learned, leading to the initiation of developing an AI Robot for the kitchen.

Future Prospects

KMS and Skylark Group are set to expand their collaborative initiatives based on the trial results from this project. They will continue to explore new applications of AI to enhance customer experiences, leveraging their insights from game development and operations.