A new robot called Clockwork claims it will "liberate" people from the costly, time-consuming task of getting their nails done. Yahoo! reported that six of Target's locations in the US offer an in-store service of manicures that can be done under 10 minutes for just $8.
Indeed, robotics is revolutionizing how people live their everyday lives. As the first manicure robot, it has partnered with Target to include it in their locations in Texas, California, and Minnesota. It uses artificial intelligence and 3D scanning technology to calculate the size of the nails and paint them in just a short period.
Impressive AI-Powered Manicure Robot
The company once told InStyle in April this year that the artificial intelligence they use in their robot can identify the edges within 0.3mm accuracy and detects which part is skin and which is the nail. Then the algorithms will trigger the nozzle to the right part where to deposit the nail polish.
The device sounds pretty impressive with its AI and 3D scanning technology that significantly cuts the time when having the nails done in a nail salon.
Former Toys 'R' Us CEO and retail consultant Jerry Storch said that the partnership between Clockwork and Target is a win for the latter and its shoppers. He told Yahoo! Finance that retailers have to place a bigger emphasis on customer experience to increase shop traffic, increasing sales.
"The more fun added to the store environment, the better it is," Storch said.
However, Target is not the only retailer interested in these AI-powered manicure robots because they are also seeing a demand for the machine from other retailers worldwide. Clockwork CEO Renuka Apte said that they have tens of thousands of partnership requests right now, and are eyeing places where people already are and where they spend most of their time.
He told InStyle that the automation gives users a new option to get their nails down faster but with a guarantee of high quality. The machine is also perfect for those not in the mood for the whole salon experience. Those who have tried it already said their experience was therapeutic as they could sit in silence while getting their nails done.
Professional Service Robots Will Significantly Grow in the Coming Years
An article from Boston Consulting Group in June 2021 predicted that all professional service robots, such as manicure robots, will become significantly more common in the coming years with an estimated value of $170 billion by 2030. Even today, retailers are starting to incorporate AI and robots in their stores, especially when the pandemic hit.
According to Futurism, Clockwork is basing their business on the idea of what they call the "Athena Woman", a trailblazing, time-pressed professional who does not have the time in her calendar to go to nail salons and chit chat with manicurists.
But convenience always comes at a cost. The nail industry is a multibillion-dollar industry that supports the livelihoods of thousands of people. As of 2018, statistics show that there were approximately 395,000 nail technicians and more than 56,000 salons in the US.
That could potentially be the doom of the industry. So while it does make it more convenient to get a manicure, many are worried that it could also take their jobs and leave them jobless.
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