SoftBank opens customer service center in Zepeto

The SoftBank virtual shop set up in Naver Z's metaverse Zepeto [NAVER]

SoftBank, Japan's third-largest telecom company, will set up a virtual shop inside Naver's metaverse service Zepeto, Naver said Friday.

The shop will be a digital customer service center. Customers can visit it with their avatars.

It will be open 24/7 and have automated programs that take requests from visitors at any time. Avatars of human staffers will be available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Visitors will be given coupons that can be used in bricks-and-mortar stores or make purchases of products that can be delivered to them.

Naver Z, the operator of Zepeto, is 17.6 percent owned by SoftBank.

“Zepeto is one of the best platforms to meet the fast-changing needs of the millennial and Generation Z customers,” said Kim Hui-bin, the head of Naver Z Japan. “We will improve our services to provide more experiences that connect the real and virtual worlds.”

Zepeto, which began in August 2018, had over 300 million subscribers as of this month. Various brands have set up virtual exhibit spaces and shops on the service, including Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Nike, Starbucks, Hyundai Motor and Samsung.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]