Photosynth has incorporated a new feature into Akerun that enables store doors to be unlocked with LINE friend registration alone and has begun trials at select stores. GPS authentication prevents unauthorized unlocking, balancing the convenience and security of unmanned operations.
Photosynth has developed a new feature for the Akerun access control system, which uses smart locks, allowing store doors to be unlocked from the official LINE account. Customers can enter stores by registering as a LINE friend alone, without installing a dedicated app or registering as a member. Pilot testing has begun at select stores.
The key feature is automatic verification of the user's location using GPS authentication, which prevents third parties outside the vicinity of a store from unlocking its doors remotely. This is expected to improve security during unmanned operations and make it easier to extend operating hours or move to 24-hour operations.
At the pilot stores, introducing unmanned operations at night and in the early morning has resulted in sales during unmanned periods accounting for 25% of total store sales. Access records can also be used as marketing data and as a basis for management decisions, including shift optimization. The system is also expected to be expanded to facilities beyond retail stores.
Photosynth plans to verify the effectiveness and practicality of the PoC and accelerate development toward making it a standard service. The company will hold Space Unmanned Summit 2026 on 18 November 2026 and plans to communicate the potential of the unmanned and labor-saving industries.