Banco Bradesco has opened a futuristic hi-tech branch in São Paulo Brazil featuring robot guides, personalised financial advisory services from digital avatars and on-screen consultants, biometric interfaces, and wall- and table-mounted gesture-controlled touchscreens.
Customers approaching the Bradesco Next branch - developed in partnership with Portuguese design agency YDreams - are enticed in by Link 237, an R2DT-inspired bot that greets visitors with a smile and invites them to explore the space.
Biometric log-in points play a central role in the design of the branch, which is geared towards the provision of easy access to tailored financial advice. Bradesco first introduced Fujitsu's palm-based biometric authentication in 2006 and has since amassed 10 million user profiles. Once touched in, clients can conduct transactions at a range of cardless ATMs, and are provided with personalised information across a plethora of touch-controlled digital interfaces in the store.
Based on each individual's financial profile the 'Life Cycle' service displays personal interests, financial situation and consumption patterns. The application may predict the ideal time to purchase a home, or set up a personal pension plan. This information can then be forwarded to the client's e-mail or discussed in further detail with a bank officer.
A on-to-one customer service room - where the partition glass automatically frosts over to ensure privacy - provides a space for clients to interact with digital avatars or request a video conference with an investment specialist.
For those suffering from a hi-tech overload, the 'Mesa Lounge' offers a touchscreen display table where customers can order a bottle of mineral water, read the latest magazines or find out about the latest cultural events in town.