Singapore retailer FairPrice Group plans to revolutionise the retail experiences with its Store of Tomorrow (SoT) programme.

SoT represents a roadmap to integrate the latest technologies from gen AI, data analytics and automation, to biometric recognition into new and existing stores and omni-channel features that will redefine the customer experiences at its supermarkets.

The SoT programme will first be implemented in the firm’s Punggol Digital District FairPrice Finest outlet, set to open in the third quarter of this year.

Vipul Chawla, group CEO, said FairPrice aims to trial more than 20 digital technologies a year for the next three years so its customers in Singapore can benefit from enhanced shopping experiences to help them stretch their dollar through hyper-personalised deals catered to their tastes, budget and purchasing habits.

“The last few years of global disruption have shown that the only certainty in retail is how quickly consumer needs, tastes and preferences evolve,” said Chawla. “Through our Store of Tomorrow programme, we want to re-imagine how innovation and technologies like genAI and data analytics can make things easier on the wallet and experience for both physical and digital retail formats.”

The SoT programme was introduced at last week’s NRF Big Show Apac in Singapore. FairPrice showed how its technology stack, bolstered with Google Cloud AI capabilities, will be integrated with its physical and digital touchpoints to create personalised, innovative and seamless customer experiences.

Currently piloted in FairPrice Finest Sengkang Grand Mall, its smart carts have built-in displays that can support customers with in-store navigation, highlight promotions for nearby products as customers browse the aisles, and provide product recommendations based on their shopping needs. The carts also feature scanners shoppers can use to scan and pay for products as they go.

The company’s Vision AI leverages existing in-store CCTV infrastructure and video analytics to provide real-time updates to staff on where support or intervention is required. For instance, Vision AI could detect emptying shelves and pre-emptively alert staff to restock relevant products, analyse growing queues in checkout areas and update staff when additional registers need to be opened, or detect potential safety hazards such as spills or obstructions that need to be resolved.

By implementing Vision AI, FairPrice aims to gain real-time, actionable insights from store activity, empowering frontline workers to operate more efficiently and deliver an improved shopping experience.

A key pillar of the SoT initiative, Grocer Genie is an AI-enabled one-stop staff portal for all store operations, accessible through multiple channels including iOS, Android and a web app. Grocer Genie features intelligent task management, supporting frontline workers with task assignment and providing teams with data and analysis on key store performance metrics such as sales, inventory and customer satisfaction.

For instance, by simply taking a picture of a spill and uploading it to Grocer Genie, a store manager could have the clean-up task automatically assigned to a team member. Through integration with Vision AI, Grocer Genie could also notify the store manager of consistently long queues at certain checkout areas or certain times of the day, prompting more efficient, data-driven resolution.

FairPrice is working on the implementation of biometric payment in stores to offer greater convenience and flexibility of payment to customers. By scanning and registering their palm prints to mobile numbers and FairPrice App accounts, shoppers will eventually be able to make payment and earn link points simply by scanning their palms at checkout counters.

In addition, the company is working on integrating the app with MyInfo data. It is encouraging all customers to update their MyInfo status by September so deals can be hyper-personalised. Eligible customers will benefit from not having to remember to bring their physical cards with them when they shop and will be able to benefit from discounts when they shop online. They simply have to check out with their app for the discounts to be applied automatically to their purchases.

If pilots are successful, FairPrice (www.fairpricegroup.com.sg) will fully roll out digital price cards across its 164 supermarket touchpoints in the next three years. By completely digitalising shelf or larger promotion labels, it aims to free up staff time spent on printing or changing physical labels, contribute towards the group’s wider sustainability efforts by reducing usage of paper, and ensure that shoppers have more efficient access to product pricing and promotional details.

The SoT programme is the first in a series of initiatives it has planned. The programme is anchored by AI collaboration with Google Cloud, alongside other key technology partners.

“FairPrice Group’s Store of Tomorrow initiative showcases how AI can be harnessed to foster deeper connections between retailers and consumers, and optimise operations,” said Karan Bajwa from Google Cloud (cloud.google.com). “Our partnership with FairPrice Group is driving the design and deployment of functional and experiential AI innovations that will surprise, delight and offer greater value to Singaporeans. The sheer ambition of FairPrice Group’s vision, coupled with their relentless commitment to implementation at speed and scale, is forging the blueprint for the future of retail, not just in Singapore, but internationally.”

For more information about the Store of Tomorrow, please read www.fairpricegroup.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FairPrice-Group-Store-of-Tomorrow-Programme-2025-Fact-Sheet.pdf.