Supports remote management of site access control, lighting, temperature/humidity and other operational systems, and inventory checks.
Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of Japan’s Rakuten Group, launched an AI-based IoT platform called ‘Rakuten NEO’ on the 11th, aimed at automating space operations for unmanned businesses such as unmanned stores, gyms, shared offices, unmanned golf practice facilities, self-storage and trunk rooms, and home-sharing services.
Rakuten NEO is an advanced AIoT-based solution equipped with sophisticated machine learning algorithms and sensor technology. It supports the full automation of recently emerging unmanned businesses as well as the transformation of conventional manned businesses into unmanned operations. This solution optimizes space management and reduces operational costs, thereby maximizing profitability for business owners.
Rakuten NEO provides remote support for site access management, lighting, temperature/humidity and other system controls, and inventory checks. It also quickly detects and responds to unauthorized access, water leaks, and other emergencies. This enables the simultaneous, real-time management of multiple spaces with minimal personnel and without the need for on-site staff. Users can select and utilize necessary features, and the platform is provided in a SaaS format, making it cost-effective and efficient.
Rakuten NEO is a service that was developed through collaboration with ‘ASA (Alicorn Space AI),’ launched by the Korean startup Alicorn in 2020. Alicorn, through its ASA service, enabled a single operator to manage 12 shared offices more than 600 km apart, marking an important milestone as the first successful case.
Currently, more than 10 major companies in Korea, including GS and Shinhan Investment Corp., have adopted this solution, achieving up to 80% reduction in labor costs and improved operational efficiency. Building on this success, Rakuten Symphony has launched Rakuten NEO, a service aimed at the global market, starting with Japanese customers to actively target the AI-based IoT market for unmanned business operations.
In Japan, the unmanned storage company Marine Box has actively adopted Rakuten NEO, significantly enhancing its operational efficiency. Marine Box utilizes Rakuten NEO for smooth access management, remote control of temperature and humidity for stored customer items, and real-time alerts for leaks or fires, thereby reducing personnel costs while improving the quality of its storage services.
Rakuten NEO can be applied not only to unmanned storage services like Marine Box but also to offices, showrooms, lodging facilities, golf practice facilities, gyms, and coin laundries, among other unmanned stores.
Seung-Hyun Son, Head of the Internet Services Division at Rakuten Symphony, which operates Rakuten NEO, stated, “The retail industry in both Korea and Japan is currently facing serious employment issues. Through Rakuten NEO, we aim to alleviate the losses that companies are experiencing due to these workforce challenges and to provide socially beneficial services that align with Rakuten’s corporate philosophy. We hope that Rakuten NEO will help ease the burden for business owners struggling with employee management and associated costs.
Alicorn 