Just after announcing that Singpost plans to use drones in delivering mails, it unveiled another one which is a futuristic e-commerce mall that will combine both online and offline shopping together in one roof.
According to Techcrunch, the mall will be located at Singapore Post Centre and is scheduled to be completed by mid 2017. It would, accordingly, feature 25,000 square meters of retail space across five levels. An eight-screen cinema will also be expected but, most importantly, Singpost envisions the mall being the future of retail - where shoppers can check items in store and order them online for delivery to their home wherein the delivery and logistics are part where Singpost brings its resources into play.
Singpost explained in its announcement, "A consumer could browse in-store, purchase the product and arrange for delivery of the product directly to their home. The consumer could then continue shopping, watch a movie or have a meal in the mall without having to carry bulky shopping bags. The retailer, on the other hand, could save on storage space in the store as fulfillment would be done at the backend of the warehouse."
The mall will be the first of its kind in the world, although several online-to-offline ventures have been a trend that enabled some physical stores.
Alibaba has already invested a good $4.6 billion for the closer links of online and offline sales by buying 20% of the Chinese retail giant, Suning.
However, it is rather doubtful as to this venture since consumers will want to carry their purchases with them in their cars to their homes. Singpost, on the other hand, is gambling on some cases such as bulkier items which cater online shopping and speedy delivery to the buyers.
Cinema firm Golden Village Multiplex and coffee chain Kopitiam are the only confirmed tenants as of writing.
Do you think Singpost's innovative venture will be successful? Will customers prefer having their purchases delivered to their homes?