Konica Minolta Innovation Centre And Techmetics Collaborate To Increase Productivity And Raise Customer Experience Through Service Robots

Konica Minolta’s Business Innovation Center Asia Pacific (BIC) announced a strategic partnership with Techmetics Solutions, a leading provider of service robots and automation solutions in the F&B and Hospitality space.

As part of the strategic partnership, Konica Minolta will provide enterprise market access, value-added onsite implementation and support services for the service robots. Techmetics will continue to design, develop and supply the robots.

According to the Frankfurt-based International Federation of Robotics, 8.7 million service robots were sold globally in 2009, up from some seven million year-on-year. With an aging workforce and rising labour costs, the global robot market could reach $190 billion in 2020. Nearer home in Singapore, the government is promoting the use of technology to increase revenue opportunities and enhance productivity for enterprises

Rachel Goh, Director, Business Innovation Center, Asia Pacific, said: “BIC is already incubating micro-location and contextually-aware solutions in the retail, travel and hospitality space. Our partnership with Techmetics aligns with our goal to help promising companies expand their international presence, and enhance their ability to capitalize on our innovative and transformational technologies.

Techmetics has an established customer base in the F&B sector and has provided automation systems for food ordering and payment for more than four years. The service robot is a natural extension to the company’s portfolio. This year, a number of service robots called Techi will be rolled into its customer base to be robotic waiters and butlers.

“With Konica Minolta, we gain a partner with a full spectrum of award-winning services infrastructure, capabilities, global reach and scale,” according to Mathan Muthupillai, Chairman of Techmetics. “Our entry into service-intensive sectors such as hotels demands that we partner with proven leaders in these markets.”