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Lenovo StoryHub > When Is a Tablet Not a Tablet? Japan and Lenovo Go Beyond the Device with New Services in Surprising Sectors
When Is a Tablet Not a Tablet? Japan and Lenovo Go Beyond the Device with New Services in Surprising Sectors
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Lenovo's innovative tablets – combined with unique services offerings – are reshaping businesses across Japan, in restaurants, schools, beauty salons, golf courses, and more
The tablet market has become increasingly competitive as consumer preferences fluctuate. However, with the shift to remote working and learning in the last year, Lenovo's tablet business in Japan has seen outstanding growth as businesses and organizations have found new ways for these versatile devices to help them manage the transition to a hybrid world.
In Japan, when provided together with Lenovo's robust services offerings, tablets have found innovative applications not only in schools, but also in F&B outlets, hotels, and even on the golf course.
More than just a device: tablets support customer service and safety
In a number of hotels in Japan, Lenovo has installed in-room tablets which function as all-in-one guest services kiosks, allowing for contactless communication between guests and hotel staff. With just one device, guests can access tour guide services, hotel amenities, dining options, and even check-out of their rooms without ever needing to physically interact with staff. Other than reducing the need to constantly reprint and update material, staff are also able to easily manage content and track guests' needs.
Tablets also make for functional and easy-to-maintain entertainment devices, especially at beauty salons. Lenovo partnered with an all-you-can-read e-book service in Japan to give customers at beauty salons access to a wide variety of digital books, magazines, comics and more. Against the backdrop of strict disinfection and cleaning requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, tablets emerged as a convenient, easy-to-clean solution that have allowed these beauty salons to save space and stay safe, instead of stocking up on physical reading material.
Finally, as the pandemic propelled restaurants and cafes to go fully digital, Lenovo has supported Japan's surge in demand for online food delivery services with comprehensive hardware and software solutions.
Empowering digital transformation across the Food & Beverages (F&B) industry
Long before 2020, the F&B industry was already on its way to digital transformation. Diners began seeing tablets on their tables with self-service features as restaurants rode the digital wave to free up resources and focus on better customer service. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and cities were placed in lockdown, the entire industry was forced to accelerate its digitalization process and pivot overnight into an online delivery-only model.
F&B outlets needed portable and affordable devices with large screens that would help staff effectively organize and sort online orders. Lenovo answered the call with the Lenovo Tab Rel HD, and supplied over 40,000 tablets to restaurants and other outlets across the nation, combined with a comprehensive service offering ranging from training and configuration to help desk support. These helped Japan's food delivery platforms to quickly grow their IT infrastructure and manage the volatility caused by the pandemic – while simultaneously putting the outlets in a better position for the future, with access to better data, hardware, and services.
Lenovo helped F&B platforms with a solution specifically tailored to their needs. For example, to address the need for a stable operating system with no downtime, especially during the lunch and dinner rush periods, tablets were equipped with software to remove compulsory system upgrades.
Additionally, when restaurants opted out of a food delivery platform and no longer needed a tablet for online orders, they could choose to send used tablets back to Lenovo for repairs and refurbishment instead of simply discarding them. The refitted tablets were then deployed to other F&B outlets, ensuring effective supply management of tablets, and reducing the need to purchase new devices unnecessarily.
The future of the commercial tablet business
The development of 5G technology is set to advance the tablet market even more, and customers are on the lookout for bigger and better tablets. At this year's Mobile World Congress, Lenovo announced the new Yoga Tab 13 with a large 13" mobile display that will be especially useful for customers that demand both portability and large screens for their business or personal use.
With these offerings for the future, Lenovo is well-positioned to capture the market and continue offering comprehensive solutions that bring smarter technology for all.
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