The first robotized 24/7 store will launch in Hong Kong

A small, round-the-clock store of a new format will soon open on the Hung Hom waterfront in Hong Kong, where customers will be served by a humanoid robot named Xiao Gai, based on the G1 model produced by the Chinese company Galbot.

Standing 168 cm tall with an arm span of over 180 cm, the robot can reach products on shelves up to 2.3 meters high. Galbot equipped it with visual and auditory perception systems: the android understands voice commands, recognizes customers and products, independently restocks shelves, assembles orders, and operates at the checkout. According to the developer, Xiao Gai is primarily designed to handle product categories such as snacks and medicines, ensuring uninterrupted automated inventory management around the clock.

The Hung Hom waterfront was chosen deliberately—it is a popular tourist spot in the city, and Galbot expects the presence of the robot salesperson to increase store foot traffic by 40%.

The project is being implemented with the support of the Hong Kong-based investment corporation HKIC, which, according to Inside Retail, plans to scale the format and open similar stores in 10 other major cities worldwide.

Source: interestingengineering.com