(Singapore, 20/10/2022) SMRT’s business arm, Stellar Lifestyle, today opened an innovation space for SMEs conveniently located at Esplanade MRT. It was unveiled by Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong.
The innovation space, named Hive by Stellar Lifestyle, aims to build “Communities in Station” with new retail and F&B experiences, and new capabilities for SMEs. Minister Gan said: “Communities in Station aims to nurture a sense of community within the transit network and create vibrancy in stations, through a series of activations that include SMEs, social enterprises, multi-generation care, education, arts and heritage.”
For SMEs, the innovation space will allow them to test out and validate new business concepts, at the same time encouraging digital transformation of retailers they work with. They will also be able to garner direct feedback from customers and accelerate commercialisation.
Added Tony Heng, President of Stellar Lifestyle: “Even as more people gradually return to work and engage in face-to-face social interactions, retailers and F&B operators must adapt to the new realities of higher operational costs, greater competition, and continued manpower shortages.”
Importantly, many of the SMEs at the innovation space are showcasing their latest technologies to support evolving consumer demands and reduce the reliance on service staff. As example, SingPost showcased its POPDrop automated machine which can be used for dropping off parcels at any time. The items can be tracked by both the sender and receiver via the SingPost mobile app. Similarly, e-logistics company Pickupp provides a one-stop e-commerce platform offering all-rounded payment and delivery solutions for businesses, including last-mile delivery needs within train stations.
Tiktok’s digital studio at the innovation space is helping tenants and merchants create new content and on-board their products on TikTok shop. Le Tach operates smart vending machines utilising IoT technology, enabling data analytics for inventory and payment tracking, and even consumer health research. Similarly, Octobox operates an autonomous store platform enabling retailers to transition to unmanned stores.
As for Quikbot Technologies, they are conducting a proof-of-concept project in collaboration with Stellar Lifestyle, South Beach Consortium and 7-Eleven, using delivery robots on South Beach premises. Harnessing robotics and AI technologies, their robots extend the final-mile to door services for third-party logistics and courier services providers. As an example, their larger robots can communicate with and pass on deliveries to smaller robots authorized to operate in private lifts.
Commented by Alan Ng, founder of Quikbot Technologies: “if Stellar Lifestyle forward-thinking in their approach towards the future of retail and logistics, and we look forward to working with them and other partners in delivering an effective, efficient, and sustainable solution for retailers and customers.”
