Experimental system developed by HP Labs may make retail assistants redundant.

If HP has its way, you won’t need to face a scruffy teenager or unhelpful retail assistant the next time you walk into a department store. The IT giant today revealed plans for a retail assistant of the future called the Retail Store Assistant.

The experimental system hails from HP Labs and basically takes the form of a kiosk, similar to a digital photo kiosk. The idea is that a customer can walk into a store, swipe their customer card or type in the phone number and receive print-out information about the latest in-store specials and a store map of where they can be located. The device can also support audio and video information.

HP believes that by connecting backroom data on consumers with in-store data will help bricks-and-mortar stores to take advantage of internet technology. By using information on what customers have previously purchased, the Retail Store Assistant can be programmed to give specific customers specific deals based on that information.

HP believes this will help with what retailers call the “intention-action gap” or in essence, turning window shoppers into money spenders.

“Instead of sending consumers advertising and coupons and hoping they’ll come in to buy, it’s better to reach them when they’re actually in the store – they’re more likely to make the purchase,” said Mohamed Dekhil, manager of retail applications in the Digital Imaging and Printing Lab at HP Labs, the company’s central research facility.

As HP says, the Retail Store Assistant could provide customers will sales assistance without the need for actual staff.

No announcement has been made about any possible release date of a commercially viable unit however we wouldn’t be surprised that retailers will be watching with interest.