Technology Innovations in Shopping Malls

                  Shopping mall or frequently called mall is a large retail complex containing a variety of stores and often restaurants and other business establishments housed in a series of connected or adjacent buildings or in a single large building according to the dictionary.reference.com. It is a common place where in everybody can relax, enjoy, eat, watched movie, shop, and play. It is considered to be the center of fun and entertainment for all ages.

            In the Philippines, shopping malls play an important role in the economy. Some of the major Philippine mall chains are located around the country, such as SM Supermalls, which has over 43 shopping malls, the Ayala Malls, which has 14 shopping malls serving nationwide and one of it is located here in Bajada, Davao City. The Philippines has also other major mall chains such as Robinsons Malls, Araneta Malls, Gaisano malls and many more.

The retail industry in the Philippines is an important contributor to the national economy as it accounts for approximately 15% of the Philippines' total Gross National Product (GNP) and 33% of the entire services sector. It employs some 5.25 million people, representing 18% of the Philippines' work force according to the research.

On our Technopreneurship subject assignment, we were tasked to wander around different malls and observe there processes of serving. And by doing so, we have to make or visualize a technology innovation that may help the malls more productive and convenient to the customers.  For the years that I am here in the city, I been to different malls such as the SM Supermalls, NCCC at different branches, Gaisano Mall, Gaisano South, Victoria Plaza Mall and the newly developed Abreeza Ayala Mall.

I was staying at the dormitory near the Victoria Plaza Mall. It was built in the 1990’s and is one of the earlier malls here in Davao City. It is located along J. P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada Davao City having a gross land area of 81,000 sqm. The two-story mall has a supermarket, a department store, a hardware store, and a cinema. The mall is old and so it is not updated with the latest technologies nowadays. I frequently pass by Victoria Plaza after class since it is located near our dormitory and I am always annoyed with the kind of security that they have. Because when you enter and you bring yourself a bag, the security guard would just touch it instead of checking on the inside of it. And so, the mall would not be that secured for the armed citizens entering. But this does not only happen in the Victoria. Concerning on the security at the entrance door of the mall, I find it tiring and hassle to open your bag for them to check it. There were also times when a have so many bags and so I have to open it one by one that takes too much time and effort and may bother the person next to me.

Because of these problems, I had in mind a security body scanner located in the doors inside malls that would scan a person and automatically detect harmful objects. If someone is detected to have guns, knife, prohibited drugs or other materials that is harmful, it would automatically locked down so that the suspect could not escape and is subject to questioning. The security guards would no longer open the bags since that scanner can detect everything that could harm people. They would just be on the side of the scanner so that they can prepare when a bad guy is caught up with that machine. This will also help those people from vacation bringing large bags with them inside because they would no longer open it for checking instead they can just pass by that scanner and everything will be fine. This could also help the establishment gain customer because having that, they can assure their security.

            Now, let us go inside of the mall. We always wanted to look good for ourselves so that we will look good on others too. Physical appearance is important at times when you have to be presentable and want to have an impression to others especially during interviews or other social events. That is the reason why we have to go to the malls to look for a dress or proper clothing that fits perfectly for us and to our personality without wasting so much of our time looking for a perfect fit.

The second problem that I observe in the mall is the hassle in the fitting rooms. I and my sister really love to shop for clothes especially during events or when we decided to spend our savings. In shopping clothes, you cannot buy a certain item if you are not sure if it fits you perfectly so you have to try it on the fitting rooms. There were times when you picked the larger ones or the smaller ones. It is very time consuming and effort giving to wear your own clothes again and get the bigger ones or the smaller one of it that would fit for you. It is also time consuming to call for someone to get you the next size of it. So I thought of a machine or an automatic dress size picker inside every fitting room. This device will allow you to scan the barcode of the dress and input the size that you want to have or the color that you desire. After specifying it, the next size of the dress will pop out of the box. This will actually save much of your time and efforts. By having this kind of machine, any customer will be free of choosing what she really wants and what best she feels to have.

The third thing I observed in the malls is in accessory or jewelry department. Usually, when I am at the mall I would always go to the accessory department because I love to shop for garnishes for myself especially earrings, hair bands, hair clips, bracelets, and necklaces and other girly stuffs. When I wanted to have a pair of earrings, I would fit for it if it looks good on me but if not, I would pick another one. Isn’t it infuriating to get some then fit it then get another one then look again at the mirror if it fits? Yes, it is. And so, I have in mind this kind of technology innovation that I could suggest to lessen the burden of fitting it again and again.

This will be a digital accessory finder that would help you choose what best for your face. When you would go to an accessory section, a tab-like mirror will be the one entertaining you. You can choose there if you want to try some earrings, necklaces, bracelets or hair bands. When you had already choose one, you can see yourself in the mirror with those things and when you want to change, you can just slide sideward and then the next item will appear to you. This device will save your time and effort as well as with the sales lady to pick up and then try it on you.

These were just some of the hundreds of technology innovations that I can suggest inside the shopping malls.