• The ‘living lab’ store will test innovative retail technologies in a real-world environment, while offering an interactive and immersive customer experience
• The store utilises visible light communication technology to support in-store navigation, next generation SCAN2GO personal shopper systems, convertible self-checkout systems, and a dedicated ‘experiential corner’ to showcase new retail technology.

SINGAPORE, 9 October 2017 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) today officially launched a technology driven supermarket that will serve as a ‘living lab’ to test new and innovative retail technologies to revolutionise the grocery shopping experience at the newly opened SingPost Centre. The 22,000 square feet supermarket, opened by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, utilises visible light communication technology to support in-store navigation, next-generation SCAN2GO personal shopper systems, convertible self-checkout systems, and a dedicated ‘experiential corner’ to showcase new retail technologies to provide an interactive and immersive shopping experience for customers.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, CEO, NTUC FairPrice, said, “FairPrice is constantly innovating to meet the changing needs of our customers and make lives better for all. This store at SingPost Centre is designed to showcase and test new retail technology in a real-world environment to provide greater convenience, boost productivity while also providing customers with a glimpse of what the future of supermarket retail might be.”

The development of this store is in line with the Retail Industry Transformation Map (ITM) launched last year by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and SPRING Singapore. 

Mr Poon Hong Yuen, Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore, said, “The ‘living lab’ store combines the use of data and emerging retail technologies to create a smart shopping experience for consumers. By pioneering this innovative concept, FairPrice has taken a big step towards re-inventing grocery shopping. We hope to see more retailers embracing such innovations to transform and grow.”

In-Store Navigation and Personalised Promotions

The FairPrice store at SingPost Centre will see several technologies being tested and developed. The “FairPrice@SingPost” mobile app, the first of its kind in Singapore, allows customers to locate products within the store with in-store navigation. This unique ability to track and plot a route to pick from a shopping list of products within the store is made possible by integrating navigation technology and visible light communication (VLC) technology which communicates with the mobile app via the customer’s smartphone camera.  The app also allows customers to browse the store’s products remotely, check stock availability and create customised shopping lists. Apart from this, personalised promotions will be sent to each shopper as they use the app to browse for products.  This ability to send user-specific promotions is enabled by cloud-based big data machine learning analytics. The “FairPrice@SingPost” app is available for download on Apple and Android app stores.

Integrated Personal Self-Scan and Self-Checkout Systems

Customers will be able to utilise the SCAN2GO system that allows them to scan their purchases with a personal handheld scanner as they shop. This eliminates the need to scan each item when they check out, reducing queue waiting times. The system also provides real-time information such as a product’s recommended retail price, promotional price, total spend and accumulated savings to help shoppers keep track of their shopping. The SCAN2GO system is integrated with a self-checkout system to provide a seamless fully automated shopping experience where shoppers can process their own payment once they are done shopping.

The self-checkout system at this store is also unique as it can be switched between self-service to assisted-service modes. This provides the flexibility of converting the self-checkout counters to a manned checkout configuration where staff can be deployed to process checkouts during high-traffic periods. 

Experiential Corner to Enhance Retail Experience

The store will feature an experiential corner, which provides a space for brand owners to showcase and test new and creative point-of-sale displays to engage customers. Examples include the use of augmented and virtual reality, digital games, and interactive booths to provide customers with an enjoyable and enhanced shopping experience. These displays will be changed on a regular basis to showcase different types of point of sale technologies periodically.

Automated Self-Service Click&Collect Lockers

To complement online shopping, automated Click&Collect lockers will provide shoppers with the convenience of self-collecting their online purchases from FairPrice Online – saving the need to wait at home for their deliveries to arrive. Refrigerated lockers will be piloted at this outlet for chilled products.

In-Store E-Learning

A newly developed e-learning platform will be piloted at the store where employees are able to attend training in-store, thereby saving time having to travel to training centres. The platform utilises avatar based virtual reality to provide a highly interactive learning tool where staff are put through various scenarios to hone their skills on various topics such as customer service and product knowledge. The platform is able to track their performance and provide feedback for areas of improvement.

FairPrice@SingPost Centre is located at 10 Eunos Road 8, SingPost Centre #B1-101 to 107, and opens daily from 8am to 10pm.

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