Chinese vaping company RLX Technology is combining big data risk management and artificial intelligence for automatic age verification in its stores.

The upgrade to its minor protection Sunflower System technology was announced at its event this month in Yanji, China. By combining big data risk management and artificial intelligence, the age verification process will become mandatory in RELX-branded store in China. RLX exclusively sells its products in mainland China.

The latest version – Sunflower System 3.0 – will be installed in the in-store point-of-sale machine, which means any customers intending to make a purchase, will need to verify their ID, name and face before the system can generate orders. Therefore, age verification becomes mandatory in stores as the customers and the store staff cannot generate the purchase order before the procedure is completed.

The system will be installed in all RELX-branded stores in China by the end of this month. RLX, which only sells RELX products in China, is also willing to open its system for the entire industry to adopt in the future.

The previous Sunflower System 2.0 adopted ID and facial recognition technologies to ensure that only adults could purchase products in its stores. Any person not able to show legal, valid identification that proves they are an adult will be asked to leave the RELX store.

However, Zhang Di, head of RLX’s data technology, said the successful application of Sunflower System 2.0 relied on a willingness to cooperate from both staff and consumers.

“Our goal is to make age verification as mandatory as the security check in airport,” said Zhang. “We want every consumer to complete the procedure.”

Kate Wang, CEO of RLX, added: “Inconvenience is inevitable as age verification will cost users extra time and communication. We hope our users can understand RLX and work with us. Only with the support from everyone can RLX stop minors from purchasing vaping products.”

Sunflower System 3.0 also provides the option to use the Chinese ID card to complete age verification for the elderly and persons with disability who find the system inconvenient to use.

“Minor protection is worth us making the maximum effort,” said Wang.