Auckland, New Zealand, 2015-12-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — A world-first for travel retail, ACE, an acronym for Automated Collection Experience, has arrived in Aelia Duty Free at Auckland Airport. Creating a technology-driven concept, ACE makes the consumer shopping experience not only more convenient but also intriguing and slightly theatrical.
In a world where technology is becoming the defining factor in everyday convenience, the use of robotics in service delivery is cutting edge, revolutionizing the way consumers shop with one implicit promise: speed of service.
With a few simple steps, ACE brings the whole pre-order process into the 21st century, says Ivo Favotto, Executive General Manager of Duty Free & Luxury, Pacific for Lagardère Travel Retail.
“You can now order your duty free goods online and collect them automatically and in-style via ACE. The whole experience is now completely digital. Our ACE is a world first for travel retail and the first retail execution of a robot of this kind in New Zealand. The focus of Aelia Duty Free at Auckland Airport is to revolutionise duty free with experiences that passengers will never forget. Be it the Top Shelf Bar in Departures, where you can get premium cocktail for just $5, or ACE in Arrivals.”
Entirely exposed to consumers from behind the glass, the ACE identifies their box of goods, delivering the purchase within 30 seconds in a highly entertaining and engaging way, enhancing the shopping experience while making it faster and more convenient.
With the overall structure standing four metres high, so heavy that it required the floor to be restructured and strengthened for its installation, ACE is capable of lifting up to 150 kg, ensuring even full duty free allowance orders of 3 bottles of spirits and 6 bottles of wine are no trouble for the robot’s ability.
Richard Barker, Auckland Airport’s general manager of retail and commercial, says, “The ACE robot shows our ongoing commitment to making journeys better and providing a world-class duty free experience at Auckland Airport.”
“Not only does the ACE robot look impressive, it also reduces the time arriving passengers have to wait at the duty free collection point. We congratulate Aelia on their innovation and commitment to customer service,” says Mr Barker.
With similar robots operating at Yotel in New York City and Shoebox in Berlin, the arrival of the ACE at Aelia Duty Free is a testament to parent company Lagardère Travel Retail’s visionary style, recognising the importance of technology and online ordering, just as it has in a traditional retail environment, will become the way of the future for duty free.
With Lagardère Travel Retail being highly experienced in the airport retail environment operating thousands of stores globally in duty free, specialty, convenience and cultural leisure, Aelia Duty Free offers a ‘Here and Nowhere Else’ promise, ensuring the ACE robotic experience remains a highly sought after and exclusive one.
ABOUT LAGARDERE TRAVEL RETAIL: With 3,2 billion euros 100% managed sales in 2014 and a presence in 30 countries, 150 airports and 700 train stations in EMEA, North America and ASPAC, Lagardère Travel Retail is a pioneering and leading travel retail player with global reach. Operating stores in travel essentials, duty free and luxury and foodservice, Lagardère Travel Retail offers a complete range of products and services to satisfy each and every traveller all along his journey. Beyond its three businesses expertise, as a multi-specialist assembler, Lagardère Travel Retail creates value-added opportunities in each location.
In Asia Pacific, Lagardère Travel Retail group operates over 300 outlets in 16 airports, supported by professional local teams in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China.
PRESS CONTACT
Matthieu Mercier, CEO
+61 2 8218 1105 • m.mercier@lagardere-traspac.com
www.lagardere-traspac.com
Janette Doolan, Communications Manager
+61 2 8218 1142 • j.doolan@lagardere-traspac.com
www.lagardere-traspac.com
SOURCE: LAGARDERE TRAVEL RETAIL: