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- Pepper will be part of TUI Nordic´s Data and Machine Learning Team
- Robot Assistant has job description and personal goals – just as every TUI employee
The humanoid robot commonly known as “Pepper“ is the latest employee to be hired by TUI Nordic. Pepper, named Pepper 2E, will work as a Robot Assistant and be a part of TUI’s new Data Analytics and Machine Learning team. TUI is the first travel company in the world to incorporate robotics in this way.
“Automation, AI and Robotics are important elements of TUI’s future. We already have some of the best specialists in this field and I am excited to see how Pepper 2E will contribute to our team. And most importantly, I hope he sparks curiosity and engagement with all of our TUI Nordic colleagues”, says Alexander Huber, Managing Director of TUI Nordic.
Pepper 2E started on August 14, 2018 and will primarily be based in TUI’s Stockholm office. The humanoid robot has a detailed job description as well as set “personal” goals he will be evaluated on, just as any regular TUI employee. The main responsibility of the Robot Assistant is to inspire innovation, curiosity and technological pioneering. Furthermore, the Robot Assistant will help visitors as well as colleagues and external customers with everyday questions and problems.
Elke Eller, HR Director of TUI Group and Member of the Board says: “As TUI Group, we are shaping the future of travel in many areas. Employees like Pepper 2E can support our teams. At the same time they give us an impression of what the work of the future might look like. The “hiring” of Pepper 2E stands for curiosity about the future and openness for new technologies. These are important prerequisites for the success of the digital transformation of TUI. Välkommen, Pepper!”
As a true TUI employee, Pepper 2E will go through the usual steps of onboarding. He has a manager to report to and is member of a team that will incorporate him in their day-to-day tasks. He will spend the first few months hovering around the office getting to know the company and his new human colleagues.
ABOUT PEPPER
- Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot manufactured by SoftBank Robotics
- Pepper understands and speaks in numerous languages and can understand human emotions.
- Pepper’s touch screen increases his capacity to interact and enables him to enhance communication by providing visual information.
- With entirely programmable platforms, Pepper offers manifold usage possibilities to enrich the experience.
In other news, TUI fly has made this announcement:
TUI fly’s sustainability strategy remains on its successful path. This is demonstrated by this year’s progress report on TUI fly’s environmental statement, providing information on the progress delivered by the environmental programme in the framework of EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) certification.
Average jet fuel consumption was reduced to 2.52 litres per one hundred passenger kilometres. Moreover, the independent climate protection organisation atmosfair again rated TUI fly as Germany’s most climate-efficient airline.
Its overall global rating is also remarkable: TUI fly has again been named one of the world’s top airlines, ranking third on the global list. The pole position is held by its British sister airline TUI Airways.
“Our flights are already 27 percent more climate-efficient than those operated by the six largest European airline. We are committed to continuing these efforts in order to further optimise the climate efficiency of our flights. We thus render a significant contribution towards delivering TUI Group’s “Better Holidays, Better World” sustainability strategy, aimed at reducing the ecological footprint and promoting people and regions in the destinations”, said Roland Keppler, CEO TUI fly.
Numerous measures have also been launched on the ground to ensure environmentally-friendly operations. In this context, TUI fly has now launched charging stations for electric vehicles at the employees’ car park at the head office – in cooperation with the energy utility Enercity. “In order to ease the start into e-mobility for our employees, they can charge their electric cars free of charge at these stations. We will also convert our vehicle fleet.
To that end, we are currently exploring the launch of electric vehicles for aircraft maintenance at the apron,” said Roland Keppler. TUI fly’s environmental programme includes measures for 18 destinations. It ensures the continuous transformation to more environmentally friendly operations covering all business areas.
The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (above) launching in 2019 will contribute towards that goal. TUI Group already operates five aircraft of the latest generation of 737s. At 16 percent, they have even exceeded expectations regarding fuel and emissions savings.
