#Japan #AI #Tokyo #Canon #Cafeteria

Canon's Innovative Automatic Payment Service for Employee Cafeterias

Canon Marketing Japan (Canon MJ), led by President Masachika Adachi, is pioneering a cutting-edge "Automatic Payment Service for Employee Cafeterias" featuring an AI engine that recognizes tableware through image analysis technology. Set to launch in late July 2025, this service aims to streamline payment processes while drastically reducing costs by as much as 85%.

The new payment system will utilize Canon's network cameras to capture images of tableware on trays. By analyzing these images, the AI will accurately identify various types of tableware for automatic payment processing. This system has already been tested across 44 Canon group employee cafeterias, confirming its efficiency and accuracy.

Currently, Japan is home to approximately 5,000 employee cafeterias. Many of these establishments have been grappling with staff shortages and the complexities of existing payment systems, which frequently rely on RFID tags affixed to dishes. While RFID provides automatic payment, it limits the types of tableware that can be used to those compatible with the technology. Additionally, these systems require regular maintenance, posing yet another challenge.

In response, Canon MJ's innovative AI-driven solution harnesses its extensive expertise in AI recognition and image processing. The engine efficiently recognizes not only the dishes but also eliminates any irrelevant objects in the frame, providing a high-quality service experience. Unlike traditional RFID systems, this new approach allows cafeterias to utilize a wider variety of dishware, making it easier to adapt menus to seasonal ingredients and culinary trends.

Canon's AI system has learned from a diverse range of commonplace tableware types typically used in cafeterias, allowing it to achieve remarkable accuracy in identifying dishes. This has resulted in significant cost savings, as evidenced by the 85% reduction in tableware expenses recorded during trials.

Employees of the Canon group are already benefiting from this advanced payment service, ensuring a smoother and more efficient cafeteria experience every day.

With a strong track record of providing industry-specific solutions via its imaging and AI technologies, Canon MJ has consistently supported businesses in their digital transformation. Moving forward, the company plans to enhance its AI engine technology, aiming to implement its Automatic Payment Service in 30% of employee cafeterias nationwide by 2030. Additionally, Canon MJ intends to expand this technology into other sectors, including restaurants, further optimizing the dining experience.

Moreover, Canon MJ is exploring the potential of integrating health and nutrition data analysis through post-meal image data, contributing to the overall health management in society.

This not only represents a leap forward in operational efficiency but also aligns with the broader trend of health-conscious eating. As Canon MJ continues to innovate, the future of cafeteria services is set to become smarter and more adaptive, catering effectively to the needs of a dynamic workforce.