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Singapore hotels will use facial recognition in order to speed up the check in procedures

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Singapore hotels will use facial recognition in order to speed up the check in procedures

The tech-savvy country of 5.7 million people is turning its head more and more to automation services to speed up services and deal with workforce shortages, with robots deployed for tasks ranging from cleaning to food production.

The data from the scan is sent to immigration authorities for checks, after which the visitor is issued a room key, said the Singapore Tourism Board and Hotel Association, which announced the initiative this week.

Singapore authorities are always looking for ways to improve their services

Currently, the technology is being tested at three hotels and is similar to that used in some airports including Singapore's Changi. It could reduce check-in times by up to 70%, they said.

Authorities in the Southeast Asian country are always keen on trying out top notch technologies that could improve the customer's experience. They're constantly on the lookout for ways to promote automation and boost workers’ productivity, both to improve efficiency and adjust to the constraints imposed by an aging workforce. Tourism accounts for about 4% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The facial-recognition system, known as E-Visitor Authentication, allows users to scan their passport and take a photo, with data then sent to immigration to attest to the validity of their stay. So far, it’s being piloted at three hotels, the Straits Times reported.

One of the technology's users, Grand Park City Hall, estimated the new process reduced the time it took a guest to check in to about one minute, down from five. “Guests now enjoy more convenience,” said General Manager John Kockan.

Singapore welcomed a record high 18.5 million visitors last year, which means an increase of up to 6.2% from the year before. The city has more than 400 hotels with 67.000 rooms.

Sources: bloomberg,com, msn.com

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