Collaboration of BC Card, Smartro, and GS Retail
Official Opening of AI-Based Unmanned Convenience Store 'GS25 Eulji Smart Branch'
'BC Paybook QR Payment' Applied
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] BC Card is providing QR code-based automatic payment technology to AI-based future-oriented retail unmanned convenience stores to help customers make convenient payments.
BC Card announced that GS25 Eulji Smart Store, an unmanned convenience store collaborated by three companies including Smartro and GS Retail, opened on the 14th. Located in Eulji Twin Tower, Jung-gu, Seoul, this convenience store underwent pilot testing since the end of December last year and officially opened on this day. Key officials including Lee Moon-hwan, President of BC Card, Lee Hong-jae, President of Smartro, and Cho Yoon-sung, President of GS Retail, attended the opening ceremony.
GS25 Eulji Smart Store is based on the unmanned convenience store model operated by China UnionPay Merchant Services (UMS). Thirty-four AI cameras track customer movement, and over 300 shelf weight sensors recognize the information of products purchased by customers. The purchased products are automatically paid for, integrating cutting-edge IT technology throughout the entire consumer process from entry, purchase, to payment.
The automatic payment solution applies BC Paybook QR payment. After installing BC Card's simple payment app 'Paybook', registering a BC credit card, and pressing 'QR payment' to scan the issued QR code to enter the unmanned convenience store, the entire process is completed.
When leaving the store, customers simply carry the purchased products without scanning product barcodes or undergoing a separate payment process. Afterwards, product information is sent to Paybook, and automatic payment is made through the BC credit card. Purchase lists and payment details can be checked in Paybook after leaving the store.
In the future, GS25 unmanned convenience store payments will be handled by BC Card, IT technology operations by BC Card subsidiary Smartro, and product supply and store operations by GS Retail, respectively.
BC Card expects to provide the best service to customers and franchise owners through unmanned convenience stores. Customers can enjoy shopping comfortably as untact consumption, which provides services in a non-face-to-face manner, is increasing recently, and payments can be made via smartphones without cash or cards. Franchise owners also expect improved work efficiency and increased sales through flexible workforce management.
Lee Moon-hwan, President of BC Card, said, "The unmanned convenience store utilizing AI is meaningful as a case of collaboration between the heterogeneous industries of finance and distribution," adding, "We plan to further strengthen customer services based on Paybook by expanding various digital payment and authentication services incorporating AI technology in the future."
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