Dubai: The first-of-its-kind Smart Mall, which allows users to shop through an interactive screen at Metro stations, and the construction of 100 smart air-conditioned bus stops offering complimentary internet are among the things the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will showcase at the Gitex 2015 exhibition in Dubai this week.
The Smart Mall project, undertaken by RTA in conjunction with etisalat, is one of the innovative initiatives offering smart solutions of Smart shopping to Metro riders through interactive 3D Ultra High Definition (UHD) screens of 9 square metres in areas, enabling two people to carry out purchasing processes at a time.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: “The initiative will be implemented in five Metro stations; four on the Red Line: Mall of the Emirate, Damac Properties, Dubai Internet City, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, in addition to one station on the Green Line: Baniyas station.”
The project’s implementation will kick off by selling food items, other products will then be added such as clothes and electronics. Two smart kiosks will be deployed offering the same services in order to ensure the privacy of customers.
“Through the Smart Mall, the customer can select items required from those on offer, drop them in a shopping basket, and pay through a credit card. Items purchased will be delivered to the place and time selected by the customer. RTA is considering other payment options, such as Nol card, or the mobile phone (Etisalat Balance),” Al Tayer said.
Smart kiosks
“RTA will shortly start construction of 100 air-conditioned Smart Shelters for public transport users in cooperation with Right Angle Company. About 50 stations will be constructed over the next two months, and the remaining 50 constructed next January,” Al Tayer said. This initiative will support the transition towards the smart city, improvements in providing information to public transport riders, and higher customer satisfaction with public transport means.
The Smart Kiosk offers a wide range of services to bus riders, including free Wi-Fi internet in cooperation with Du, Nol card selling and top-up services, mobile phone top-ups, payment of bills of government departments, recharging mobile phones service, smart kiosks, interactive ad screens, screens offering RTA’s services, and selling refreshments and snacks.
During the Gitex exhibition, the RTA will also exhibit a number of its latest apps and smart services.
“Last April RTA completed the transition of all customer services to smart services designed to be creative, and user-friendly. About 173 services were transformed and now offered via ten smart apps usable in various types of smartphones: Android, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows,” Al Tayer said.
Smart Apps
Among the new services to be launched at Gitex is the new Personalised Nol Card (Blue, Silver and Gold Nol Card), which can be issued by using the ID card. This service enables customers to cut the time it takes to issue a Personalised Nol Card from 14 days to 15 minutes.
The RTA will also display the Smart Watches featuring Nol cards designed like watches or accessories usable by users instead of the plastic card.
Al Tayer said that a smart monitoring system will also be unveiled at the exhibition. “An e-system considered the first of its kind in the region enables tracking the performance of drivers and vehicles electronically without human intervention. The step will result in increasing the operational capacity of the fleet, maximising customers’ satisfaction rating, and directing drivers to address the defect instantly.
“RTA will also exhibit a system for eliminating defects of vehicles and maintaining the safety of roads. It involves the fitting of devices on heavy vehicles in Dubai, which help classify vehicles in terms of the degree of hazard. Accordingly, proactive measures will be taken to ensure the safety of road users. We will also showcase the Sharekni app, enabling individuals to share one vehicle in mobility from and to the place of work. Through the app, they can register their details.
