HDFC Bank has launched IRA 2.0, its interactive humanoid at the Koramangala Branch in Bangalore.
The advanced version is aimed to enhance user experience for customers visiting in this branch.
![HDFC unveils advance version of IRA 2.0 (virtual assistant EVA) HDFC unveils advance version of IRA 2.0 (virtual assistant EVA)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvjl4Zx-Mmn5eEy3DAFF46o_7geU3b8wsA3DmAKPbKdPu3caskv-gHxJE1_XhFej9PpfkFWgt0wxzGsIJRveWzQTmibZIOHChCJSXhGxgoc372bbEOB4ITR5y9hWzfwfI81_d8_EeaoTN/s320-rw/HDFC.jpg)
Background
- HDFC Bank has developed IRA (Interactive Robotic Assistant) 2.0 in collaboration with its technology partners Invento Makerspaces and Senseforth Technologies.
- It became the first bank in India to introduce a humanoid IRA 1.0 for customer service at the Kamala Mills Branch in Mumbai last January.
- Currently, IRA 1.0 is stationed at the Palarivattom Branch in Kochi.
Features of IRA 2.0
- IRA 2.0 is more advance than the first one (IRA 1.0) and it’s a blend of IRA 1.0 and EVA with some added features.
- It will interact with the customers visiting the bank, answer bank-related queries, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and also guide them inside the branch with voice-based navigation.
- It has an in-built GPS as well as a speech recognition module that can be trained to understand what customers speak.
- It uses ultrasonic sensor to move in inside the branch as well as a face detection algorithm for recognition the customers.
Launch of EVA
- The bank has also launched its virtual assistant ‘EVA’ on Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- HDFC has become the first bank to offer voice banking experience on Alexa.
- EVA on Alexa will support banking transactions and deliver hyper-personalized services using voice.
- HDFC Bank customers can now chat with EVA using voice from the comfort of their homes, without having to pick up a phone, tablet or laptop.
- Customers can also inquire about how to block/unblock card, what to do if one forgets pin, and updating personal information.