According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a communication interface, a shop database, a maintenance worker database, and a controller. The controller determines a degree of influence of a failure on a shop on the basis of failure information received by the communication interface and shop information stored in the shop database. The controller compares the determined degree of influence with a degree of influence in other shop and determines the priority of a response to the failure in the shop. The controller selects an appropriate maintenance worker from maintenance workers stored in the maintenance worker database on the basis of the determined priority.