Shopping malls used to be bustling centres of activity, where everyone could find something to buy, eat, or do. But since the pandemic, malls have been deemed hotbeds for COVID-19 bringing all retail activity to a halt.

The United States, which was once a leader in the construction of larger and better retail malls, has recently seen a slew of closures. According to Coresight Research, 25 percent of mall locations in the United States will close in the next five years.

With such a bleak outlook, how can malls remain relevant to wary customers rather than becoming a relic of a bygone era?

Changing the shopping experience

McKinsey, in a 2014 report indicated that malls will never again be able to contend with the limitless online product range and convenient price comparisons, ever. It is therefore, time for malls to shift their focus away from mass-market retail experiences and instead adopt a more value-proposition based approach for shoppers. Business owners and mall operators must integrate technology into their ecosystems to establish a broadened value offer.Electronic kiosks are a highly relevant and innovative solution in the retail space, which also help economise on business costs.

Location information

Use the IMIN’s Android POS software in mall kiosks to display maps that show where the consumer currently is and the quickest path to their desired destination. Additionally, these activated kiosks are more beneficial to clients with accessibility issues as well as those who are less tech-savvy. Moreover, these can also be used as a non-intrusive data collecting location to assist malls in tracking foot traffic and planning accordingly.

All-in-one loyalty programme

Operators must assist customers in developing a stronger relationship with the place in order to persuade them to visit the mall and spend more time there.Mall loyalty programmescan be used innovatively (worldwide) to include incentives from all of the retailers in the mall. Even multi-mall loyalty programmes can be floated with this automation.

Mall operators can improve their value proposition by developing customised loyalty programmes and relying less on the allure of its tenants. It also adds value to tenants' businesses, making it a win-win situation for both malls and occupants. Most importantly, loyalty programmes foster relationships between malls and their customers, motivating them to return.

Mall operators can employ the point-of-sale kiosk technology to analyse shoppers’ purchase behaviour and deliver a variety of benefits, such as parking discounts, shopping vouchers, and birthday perks, by using the Android POS ME IMIN technology.

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