One of Malaysia’s largest shopping centre operators, Sunway Malls, has unveiled its new AI ecosystem to create the country’s first smart mall.

Across the group, the AI technology joins its ‘internet of things’ (IOT) ecosystem to improve operations and productivity, while helping the shopper experience.

It comes after the IOT integration of Sunway Pyramid in Subang Jaya in 2021, which the group said pioneered the technology.

“Digital technology will increasingly become a critical and strategic enabler for businesses moving into the future. Its timeliness, accuracy and relevancy allow better incisive and decisive interventions in a highly competitive market,” said HC Chan, group MD of Sunway Malls.

All 16 Sunway Mall locations will operate on an integrated IOT network, providing a unified management system and using automated, data-driven insights for decision-making. The company said that resources will be allocated “intelligently”, with the promise that maintenance issues will be resolved before they arise.

The wide-ranging technology will include a 5G network, smart toilets, smart escalators, AI-powered CCTV, and digitally-powered sustainability schemes.

A new AI customer chatbot and Sunway Super lifestyle app will also be rolled out for customers, with smart parking, in-mall navigation, and a virtual assistant for shoppers among the changes.