Boonkiet Chokwatana (left), chairman of I.C.C. International Plc, and Chalermpon Punnotok, chief executive of CT Asia Robotics Co, cooperated to deploy the Dinsow robot to provide service at point-of-sale.
SET-listed I.C.C. International Plc, a distribution arm for fashion apparel and cosmetics under Saha Group, will use a point-of-sale robot to enhance ambience and efficiency at its shops nationwide.
Called Dinsow, this point-of-sale robot, which it claims is the first of its kind in the world, will start working at Arrow shop at the Terminal 21 mall in Bangkok next month before rolling out at other shops, said Boonkiet Chokwatana, chairman of I.C.C.
I.C.C. has 200 shops across the country and half of them, especially those in crowded or tourist destinations, will have the robots.
Each robot costs between 80,000 and 100,000 baht depending on its size and purpose. Dinsow can greet customers, say a customer's name after he or she shows it a membership card for payment, and present the receipt.
"It's been my dream for a long time to use robots at some of our shops," Mr Boonkiet said. "Now my dream has come true and this strategy also supports the government's digital economy policy."
He hopes his robots will help grow I.C.C.'s business and increase sales and marketing efficiency.
Dinsow, named after the Thai word for pencil, was developed by CT Asia Robotics Co, a software solutions provider.
"The use of Dinsow should improve shoppers' sentiment," said Mr Boonkiet. "Many of our sales staff can't speak foreign languages to respond to the increasing number of foreign tourists at our shops."
The robot will be developed to speak five languages -- Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese and French -- to help staff sell I.C.C. products. It can explain the details of promotions, how to make credit card payments and monitor product inventory.
Chalermpon Punnotok, chief executive of CT Asia Robotics, said the company spent almost 100 million baht to develop the Dinsow robot. Dinsow will also be able to take care of elderly people, communicate with relatives or doctors, answer the phone and connect with video calls via WiFi.
Some 500 small Dinsow robots were exported to take care of the elderly in Japan, while 15 big robots were sold to serve food at restaurants in Sweden. These robots will also be used at several hospitals including Phyathai, Kluaynamthai and Chulalongkorn.
The company is set to produce about 500 Dinsow robots per month, with 10% of them to be used at I.C.C. shops by the end of this year.
Mr Boonkiet said consumer purchasing power has gradually improved as its sales in the first nine months this year were stable. The company is confident its annual net profit will rise to almost 1 billion baht, up from 700 million last year, because of efficient cost reduction. During the first half, I.C.C. posted 683 million baht net profit on revenue of 6.6 billion.
ICC shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 36 baht, up 25 satang, in trade worth 10,750 baht.
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