Smart networked shopping districts: off-peak revenue up 30%

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is promoting smart networked services, linking the Xinyi, Yongkang and Ximen shopping districts in Taipei. After downloading the app, the public can receive real-time discount and promotion messages from stores, driving off-peak business opportunities in the districts. Taking the Yongkang shopping district as an example, overall revenue is estimated to rise by 20% to 30%.

As mobile internet access becomes more convenient, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has taken "smart shopping districts" as its development core and is promoting a "smart networked shopping district demonstration" networked shopping experience environment. Together with the Institute for Information Industry's Creative Research Institute, Linking Digital, Uni-Hankyu Department Store and other institutions and businesses, it is promoting the new "iYou Taipei" networked commerce service in the Xinyi, Ximen and Yongkang shopping districts.

The Institute for Information Industry said that in the future, as soon as consumers step into the Xinyi, Yongkang or Ximen shopping districts, they can receive real-time discount and promotion messages from stores via low-power Bluetooth Beacons. Consumers can also choose to use the augmented reality navigation function to directly obtain store information, make reservations, book services and more.

It is worth noting that through peak and off-peak business strategies, foot traffic is directed to different shopping districts for spending. Limited-time flash-sale events promoted under the banner of off-peak discount business help district operators narrow the gap in buying momentum between peak and off-peak periods.

Liu Hung-hsiang, chairman of the Taipei Dongmen Yongkang Shopping District Development Association, said that in the past, during off-peak periods many store clerks often had nothing to do, yet stores still had to pay salary costs, and products also faced inventory pressure. If the number of customers during off-peak hours can be increased, then in addition to raising product turnover and balancing store space utilization, it can also lift store performance.

Since the opening of Dongmen MRT Station, foot traffic in the Yongkang shopping district is estimated to increase by more than 1 million people each year, bringing considerable business opportunities. Liu Hung-hsiang pointed out that in the future, by promoting the smart shopping district, store revenue across the district is expected to grow by another 20% to 30%.