transcosmos Lets Sapporo Children Try Contact Center Work With Generative AI

AI customers for young agents

At the transcosmos booth, children experienced the work of a contact center agent helping customers resolve their problems. The tool behind the activity was trans-AI Tutor, which the company describes as a generative AI role-playing system.

Children selected and spoke with AI-powered customer personas that had a variety of characteristics. They chose for themselves whom they would assist. According to transcosmos, by listening carefully to identify each customer's problems and aiming to provide support that would earn a "Thank you!", the children enjoyed learning the importance of communication.

Participants also received one handmade gift of their choice. The options were original pocket notebooks, blank notebooks and memo pads created by employees of transcosmos assist inc., a special subsidiary of transcosmos established to promote the employment of persons with disabilities.

What Mini Sapporo is

Mini Sapporo is a work experience program for third- and fourth-grade elementary school students in Sapporo City and neighboring areas. According to the release, it offers a variety of experiential learning opportunities in support of the children's right to grow to their full potential, as stipulated in the Sapporo City Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children go through a series of activities that are rarely encountered in everyday life. These include searching for jobs, working, receiving wages and paying taxes. They can then use the wages they earn to shop and dine, which lets them learn how society functions.

transcosmos said it took part to give children the chance to experience both work and consumption, and to learn firsthand about the rewards and challenges of working.

transcosmos and its Sapporo presence

transcosmos entered Sapporo City in 1980. The company now provides CX services, including contact centers and digital marketing, as well as BPO services. It has approximately 6,500 employees across 16 locations in the city.

The company says it has served the community by making donations through the corporate version of furusato nozei, Japan's hometown tax donation program, and by participating as a registered business under the Sapporo SDGs-driven Business Registration Program.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. It reports 189 bases across 36 countries and regions, with a focus on Asia, and offers e-commerce services to consumers in 46 countries and regions.

What it means

The event shows one practical use of generative AI role-playing outside the corporate setting: letting young learners practice listening and communication in a simulated customer service scenario. The release does not give attendance figures or results, so the scale of the activity is not stated.

transcosmos said it will continue community-driven business activities. With the aim of creating a sustainable society, it added that it will help address the social challenges faced by local communities.