Retail Robot

This holiday season saw the arrival of the first autonomous retail service robots at a hardware store in San Jose. Known as OSHbot, they are designed to provide an additional layer of customer support by answering simple questions, remotely connecting with employees if necessary, and communicating with customers in multiple languages.

For example, the robots will be able to direct shoppers to specific products and provide information about promotions and inventory. They also incorporate technology that enables customers to scan an object that they’re looking to replace and quickly find where it’s located in the store. And when a customer needs to consult a human expert, OSHbot can summon them for assistance.

The goal is to improve the in-store experience for shoppers by providing a consistent level of service, while freeing employees to focus on delivering project expertise and advice.