Revamped Funan kicks off

It will bank on experiential offering such as an urban farm and a futsal facility to drive footfall.

The 34-year-old Funan has finally re-opened its doors with a new look after three years of redevelopment.

The CapitaLand owned mall will be home to over 190 brands circling around themes such as
Tech, Craft, Play, Fit, Chic and Taste, of which more than 30% are new-to-market brands, concepts or flagships. Additionally, more than 60% of what it will host are Singapore’s homegrowns.

In an announcement, CapitaLand said that Funan will also feature what it claims to be several firsts, including an urban farm, a fully unmanned futsal facility, and a theatre venue in a mall that is designed, managed and programmed by a theatre group. Funan also houses a one-of-a-kind Tree of Life centrepiece with plug-and-play retail pods that host pop-up stores.

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As a revamped retail mall, Funan will enable shoppers to browse and search through 40 smart directories that will map the shortest route possible to reach a store with the wayfinding system.

“Enabled by sensors, these smart directories can also make product recommendations based on the shopper’s demographic profile. By year-end, shoppers can expect a robot-enabled handsfree shopping and 24/7 click-and-collect drive-through service,” the mall operator said.

Behind the scenes, Funan utilises video analytics to measure and analyse footfall throughout the mall and entering each store. In-store smart terminals further capture transaction data so that tenants can use the analytics to refine their offerings and enhance customer experiences. Smart technologies will also be employed in the property’s office segment as executives entering Funan’s twin office blocks enjoy the convenience of facial recognition turnstile access.

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Retailers are also incorporating digital innovations to enrich their in-store experience. For instance, COURTS’ first IoT-themed store, which retails the latest smart home, AI and voice-control technology from leading brands, incorporates interactive in-store experiential concepts and robotics.

Meanwhile, Fashion retailer Love, Bonito’s largest physical store offers an electronic queueing system for its fitting rooms, and an augmented reality walkway photo spot for digitally-native customers to share their shopping experiences on social media. For its part, KOPItech food court will enable patrons to enjoy ordering via Facebook Messenger or through the self-service kiosks, which accept various e-payments, including cryptocurrencies.

“We are heartened that Funan’s latest transformation has been well- received by the market, having achieved robust levels of 95% for retail leasing and 98% for office leasing. We will remain vigilant in monitoring market trends and continually identify ways to future- proof the malls in our portfolio,” Tony Tan, CEO of CapitaLand Mall Trust (CMT) Management, said.