Retail in Asia

Travel Retail

Shilla brings ‘K-Metaverse’ technology to Incheon, Changi, and Hong Kong airports

The Shilla Duty Free plans to introduce ‘K-Metaverse’ technology to enhance its duty free services at three major airports where it operates – Singapore Changi, Hong Kong International and Incheon International.

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The company said it would use its know-how in online services and the Metaverse accumulated from its operations in South Korea.

The retailer said: “The Shilla Duty Free is the only duty free shop operator with experience in successfully operating online duty free shops at global airports. The Shilla Duty Free participated in the launch of both iShopChangi in Singapore and HKAirportShop in 2014 and has continued to run those online duty free shops.

“The Shilla Duty Free’s experience in operating ‘smart duty free shops’ has become a core competency for the smooth implementation of a smart duty free service and Metaverse service at Incheon Airport, which Incheon International Airport Corporation is focused on.”

The Shilla Duty Free said it plans to introduce a more advanced level of K-Metaverse technology to iShopChangi and HKAirportShop based on its know-how. It will use enhanced AR and VR technologies and the much talked-about AI ChatGPT technology, and will partner with brands as part of its technology drive.

In December last year, Shilla hosted a Metaverse beauty class which it hailed as the first of its kind in the duty free industry. Arranged in collaboration with Metaverse platform ZEP, it attracted 3.5 times more guest participation than its target. The number of consumers who made a purchase increased by about +80% on the day of the event with a 1.6 times value sales rise compared to normal trading.

The Shilla Duty Free has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Metaverse content art tech company Vive Studios to build its own Metaverse studio. The retailer said it plans “to provide new experiences to its customers with content created using cutting-edge technology”.

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A Shilla Duty Free official said, “We will take the lead in online duty free services by grafting our own K-Metaverse technology onto Asia’s three big hub airports. Based on continuous innovation and our accumulated know-how, we will do our best to provide new experiences to consumers visiting airport duty free shops to maximise their shopping convenience.”