Singapore company firm Accrelist has soft-launched its first unmanned store equipped with AI retail technology solutions.

The Geylang Road outlet We9go uses artificial intelligence, facial recognition and radio frequency identification to track inventory, collect data on shopper preferences, facilitate payment processes and recognise product movements.

Executive chairman and MD of Accrelist Terence Tea said the shopping process becomes highly efficient for consumers.

“For retailers, not only does this retail technology significantly reduce manpower overheads, it also allows data about buyers’ shopping habits and product preferences to be captured through artificial intelligence. This information enables retailers to optimise their inventory and shelf space according to their shoppers’ patterns and preferences.”

Customers are admitted into the store via facial recognition following a one-time account registration on the store’s mobile app. After selecting their items, customers proceed to the exit for self-checkout and payment. As products are fitted with radio frequency identification tags, the items are recognised immediately and their prices are tallied up automatically. Through facial recognition, secure payments are made with funds from the customers’ digital wallets, enabling the entire checkout and payment process to be completed quickly. Customers of We9go are only able to unlock the exit doors of the store upon completing payment.

Tea added: “As a potential forerunner in artificial intelligence retail technology solutions, we expect to rapidly gain on-the-ground experience in Singapore through the unmanned store. We believe this will give us the advantage of sharing our knowledge and offering our technology to potential retailers looking to save manpower costs and increase competitiveness by leveraging consumer data.”

The We9go store will have an artificial intelligence-powered robot that greets shoppers and assists with queries that shoppers may have, such as product information and availability. When fully launched, the store will operate round-the-clock and be open seven days a week.