Singapore’s Funan Mall, being built on the site of the former IT-focused Funan Digital Life Mall, is set to open ahead of schedule after a three year redevelopment phase. The mail has been described as Singapore’s first online-and-offline (O&O) mall.
Digital innovations at Funan include a smart interactive directory that uses facial recognition to provide shoppers with customized recommendations, video analytics that studies shopper traffic and crowd density and an all-in-one app for Ascott’s lyf coliving serviced residence – the first app by a serviced residence company that will allow social networking and room booking; and will also serve as a mobile key. Real estate giant, Capitaland, the owner and manager of the mall, plans to roll out the facial recognition to other CapitaLand malls.
Funan will also be first mall in Singapore to deploy automated guided vehicles to provide shoppers with a hands-free shopping experience and the first to utilize a robotic arm for its twenty-four-hour drive-through click-and-collect service. As part of Funan’s tech-enabled user experience, building users can also expect conveniences such as app-based booking of facilities within the development, video-based smart carparking facilities and facial recognition turnstiles at its office towers.
The mall will have more than 180 brands under its roof divided by six themes: craft, fit, chic, taste, play and tech. One in three will be new-to-market, concept stores or flagships. Located in Singapore’s Civic District, the mall will host the highest climbing facility in the Civic District. It has achieved 92% commitment for retail leasing which is only expected to increase in the coming months. International Brands at Funan include Dyson, which will see its first standalone store in Singapore there and Brompton Junction, the British folding bikes maker. Brands are also exploring new technologies, as FairPrice Finest will introduce mobile shopping and payment, Kopitiam will allow order placements on Facebook messenger and Courts is opening its first IoT store with simulated smart home technologies.
Local brands make up more than half of Funan’s tenants, which include both established and emerging stores. Native online brands opening their first physical stores include All Would Envy and Nasty Cookie, a confectionery brand.
An urban farm on the seventh floor operated by Edible Garden City will supply fresh produce straight to the restaurants in the mall.
(Source: Inside Retail Asia; Straits Time; CapitaLand)
