This Month's Target Regulatory Sandbox Company Phasecomm to Introduce Unmanned Alcohol Vending Machines
Adult Verification System Applied via Mobile App... Planned Demonstration through Test Operation
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] The introduction of unmanned alcohol vending machines with adult verification at convenience stores is being promoted.
GS25, a convenience store operated by GS Retail, announced on the 7th that it has established a partnership with Phasecomm, a regulatory sandbox demonstration exemption company, and is promoting the introduction of unmanned alcohol vending machines for the first time in the industry.
The regulatory sandbox is a system that exempts existing regulations for a certain period when new products or services are launched. Phasecomm was designated in May as a company that can demonstrate unmanned vending machines capable of selling alcohol through adult verification. This has opened the way for demonstration tests of unmanned vending machines at convenience stores as well.
GS25 plans to introduce unmanned vending machines for testing within this month with goals including ▲ improving labor operation efficiency for franchise store owners ▲ building an advanced GS25 through digital transformation ▲ expanding alcohol sales at hybrid stores operating unmanned at night.
The unmanned vending machines by Phasecomm, which GS25 is promoting for introduction, apply a system where customers who have completed adult verification via a mobile application can purchase alcohol by scanning a QR code issued to them on the vending machine scanner.
After conducting demonstration tests through this system, GS25 plans to prioritize applying it to unmanned-operated stores if laws related to unmanned alcohol sales at retail stores are revised, and further develop the authentication method using biometric information such as fingerprints.
Kim Juhyun, head of the FS (Future Store) team at GS Retail, said, "We expect this introduction of unmanned alcohol vending machines to be the second case of distribution regulatory innovation following the alcohol smart order system Wine25Plus," adding, "GS25 will play a leading role in enhancing convenience for franchise store owners and customers amid the changing advanced distribution environment."
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