Emirates ID launches robot for services

Emirates Identity Authority has given life to Hamad - the virtual assistant that web visitors have so often dealt with.

Even as 'Ask Hamad' services proved to be a major success with nearly 10,000 questions being answered every day on its website that the Authority decided to bring Hamad from his virtual existence to real existence and is in the process of deploying his services at the customer service centers across the UAE before the end of this year.

“Dressed in UAE national dress and proficient in three languages at present, Robot Hamad can not only handle queries on the ID Card Status and track ID applications but also provides information on the service center locations.

"He can interact with the customers to renew their ID card as well. Little Hamad can even accept payments and send a confirmation of the receipt. Hamad will be able to assist the customers in updating profile information on ID cards,” Emirates ID said in a statement.

In the endeavour to provide enhanced customer experience and empowered self-service with a human touch, process automation has been bundled into an interactive robot. Hamad is the live robot who speaks, understands and interacts with the customers.

“Hamad can sense the presence of a customer and start to greet the customer when approached. He knows the time of the day and greets customers accordingly.

"Currently he provides three critical services - providing status of the ID card and ID card application, locating and directing the customer to different services centers, provide information of the queue status in a given center, and process applications for ID Card renewal.

"He accepts payments by credit cards and mails a receipt. He is currently being trained for many other services and as he acquires more skills and knowledge, he will be delivering more,” Eida explained.

Emirates ID Services today are available across different channels and with the introduction of the robot; automation is now being taken to the next level.

Rather than just allowing customers to process their service requests themselves the humanoid robot provides a near-human experience while interacting with the machines. It is the first government entity in the world to deploy such robots in providing front office customer services. It is also the first robot in the world to process a payment for service delivery.

The authority underlined that launching ‘Robot Hamad’ is part of its initiatives that aim to elevate its customer service centers to the 7-star ranking in what meets the requirements of the Emirates Excellence Programme through offering innovative and creative services that exceed customers’ expectations and focus on quality, efficiency and effectiveness.

The move is also in line with the smart transition in the country, the efforts to build knowledge economy and society and the Emirates ID’s commitment to realising of the UAE Vision 2021 for the UAE to become on the best countries in the world by its golden jubilee.

It also strengthens its efforts to gradually transform its services centers into ‘smart centers’ over the coming five years by eliminating human role in operations and services that can be automated, thereby optimizing its human resources.

Emirates ID added that ‘Robot Hamad’, who will be deployed in various sizes, is currently being empowered to perform eye-attracting movements as well as to acquire more skills and knowledge that will help him deliver more professional and social tasks in the future.

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