AI Avatar System 'Bonappetica' Launches Integrated App for Cloud POS Register 'SmartEC'

Hakuhodo Technologies Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yuzo Tanaka; hereinafter "Hakuhodo Technologies") announces the launch of an integration feature between its AI-powered customer service solution "Bonappetica" and SmartEC Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; Representative Director: Ryuhei Miyazaki), a provider of the high-functionality cloud-based POS register system "SmartEC".

This integration feature is now available through SmartEC's application platform "SmartEC App Market" and can be used upon application.

Background and Objectives of SmartEC Integration

Currently, store-based businesses, especially in the food and beverage industry, face severe challenges due to chronic labor shortages and increasing demand for multilingual support driven by the rapid recovery of inbound tourism.

While traditional mobile ordering and tablet-based ordering systems have improved operational efficiency, they have also reduced opportunities for direct communication between staff and customers, weakening personalized hospitality and diminishing upselling opportunities.

"Bonappetica" is a next-generation ordering system that, while offering standard tabletop ordering functions, uses AI to understand customers' dining behaviors and proactively recommends menu items, introduces products, and suggests additional orders at optimal moments.

Unlike generic AI applications, Bonappetica learns the unique characteristics of each store and service, enabling a store-specific AI avatar to deliver appropriate product names, explanations, and personalized communication tailored to customer behavior patterns.

By integrating with SmartEC, order data received by the AI avatar can now be transmitted in real time to the SmartEC POS system (or SmartEC Waiter), enabling seamless coordination from customer-facing service to automated order processing, kitchen operations, and payment, thereby significantly enhancing store productivity and ROI.

Key Benefits of SmartEC Integration

End-to-End Seamless Ordering and Payment

Order data received via Bonappetica is automatically synchronized with SmartEC. This eliminates the need for staff to manually re-enter orders into the register or kitchen printer, reducing human error and greatly improving operational efficiency.

Increased Average Order Value and Efficient Sales Management via Smart Recommendations

The AI avatar analyzes customers' dining progress and order history to recommend additional items at the right moment. This automates and enhances upselling that previously relied on staff intuition. Order data is then seamlessly transmitted to SmartEC, enabling efficient sales tracking and analysis.

Multilingual Avatar Support for Inbound Tourism

To serve the growing number of international visitors, AI avatars trained on store-specific knowledge provide natural, conversational support in multiple languages, preventing service delays due to language barriers. Foreign customers can place orders and complete payments smoothly and confidently.

※ Some features require optional settings

Future Outlook

With this integration with SmartEC, Hakuhodo Technologies has evolved Bonappetica into a more practical and comprehensive next-generation customer service system.

Going forward, as part of HCAI Professionals—the cross-group AI expert team within Hakuhodo DY Group—the company will continue to enhance features and expand services to strengthen in-store hospitality and drive sales growth.

How to Adopt and Use the Service

This service can be adopted via the SmartEC App Market or by submitting an inquiry through our company website.

It can be deployed together with new SmartEC installations, and existing SmartEC users can also seamlessly connect Bonappetica to their current POS system for immediate use.

About "Bonappetica"

Bonappetica uses AI avatars to replace or assist human staff in real-world store environments, supporting customer interactions such as service explanations and personalized product recommendations.

By leveraging large language models (LLMs), it enables multilingual translation, camera-based object detection for contextual actions, and AI-powered matching diagnostics, offering advanced customer service support.

About the Cloud POS Register "SmartEC"

SmartEC is a low-cost, high-functionality POS system that operates on iPad and iPhone devices. All data is centrally managed in the cloud, enabling real-time sales analysis anytime, anywhere.

It supports a wide range of business types including retail, apparel, and restaurants, and is suitable for both small independent stores and large chain operations.

About SmartEC App Market

SmartEC App Market is a platform connecting SmartEC users—owners of diverse store types—with developers and solution providers who create integrable services.

SmartEC users can search for and deploy needed applications directly through the management console, seamlessly integrating them with SmartEC.

About Hakuhodo Technologies

Hakuhodo Technologies is a technology strategy company specializing in full-funnel marketing, consumer interface technologies, media, and creative domains.

Established in April 2022 to consolidate and strengthen development capabilities within the Hakuhodo DY Group, the company launched its DX Solutions Center in August 2023 to support proposals and develop systems using AI and IoT technologies for digital transformation projects.

• Company Name: Hakuhodo Technologies Inc. • Address: 5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo • Business Activities: Planning and execution of technology strategies to solve challenges for Hakuhodo DY Group and its clients; development of technology-driven products, solutions, and services • Company URL: https://www.hakuhodo-technologies.co.jp/ • DX Solutions Center: https://www.solution.hakuhodo-technologies.co.jp/ • Bonappetica Service Site: https://www.bonappetica.hakuhodo-technologies.co.jp/

Contact Information

• For inquiries about adoption Bonappetica Inquiry Form: https://www.solution.hakuhodo-technologies.co.jp/contact/?page=Bonappetica

• For media inquiries Hakuhodo Technologies PR Contact: hr-koho@hakuhodo-technologies.co.jp