More malls to experiment using ‘smart’ technology for cleaning, security services
Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam visiting Singapore's first on-site centralised dishwashing facility located at IMM in November last year. Since its set-up in March 2015, the facility has helped F&B companies achieve productivity gains and alleviates the need to hire extra manpower for dishwashing. Photo: MTI
SINGAPORE — Robots that mop and clean and systems that manage queues and use face-recognition software are among the tools that malls here are experimenting with, in order to “smarten” facilities management to provide a high level of comfort and security for their users.
IMM Building, for instance, was first to offer a centralised dishwashing service for food-and-beverage tenants in the mall last November, thus improving productivity and freeing up space within the premises while it re-deployed workers who do dishwashing. Surrounding malls, including Westgate, JCube and The Star Vista, also tap this service.
At Jurong Point, automatic licence-plate readers are set up to manage traffic in the carpark and around the mall.
By 2020, the Info-comm Media Development Authority hopes to pilot similar “smart” technologies at 30 commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. Costs will be offset by the Enhanced iSprint scheme, aimed at boosting productivity and growth for small and medium enterprises through technology.
The initiative is expected to enhance efficiency in facility management sectors by more than 15 per cent over five years, and to address manpower shortages in the cleaning, security, landscaping, and facilities maintenance sectors.
The Manpower Ministry’s latest report in February showed that cleaners, landscapers and security guards are among the hardest positions to fill. Close to 60 per cent of vacancies for cleaners and service and sales workers had no takers for at least six months.
From Saturday (Oct 1), CapitaLand will roll out an “integrated security solution” comprising smart cameras and video analytics tools at IMM, Plaza Singapura, and The Atrium@Orchard. Five more of its malls will be equipped with the same technology over the next few months.
Mr Jason Loy, head of operations at CapitaLand Mall Asia, said that this initiative is expected to reduce the number of security personnel at the participating malls by 20 per cent.
Starmall Property Management, which manages Jurong Point, is looking to deploy robot “cleaners” during non-peak hours and night shifts, and will also use video analytics to cut down demand for security guards.
AsiaMalls, which manages shopping complexes in the heartlands such as Century Square, Tiong Bahru Plaza and White Sands, said that it is studying the feasibility of these measures in raising productivity and efficiency. It aims to complete the study next year.
