Shopping centre landlord British Land is to introduce elements of a Web-based system it has developed into each of the shopping centres it controls.
Together with technology specialist PoulterNet, which developed the new system now in use at Meadowhall in Sheffield, British Land has set up software development house Comgenic to market the system to other shopping centres, as well as develop new Web-based products for use in the industry.
British Land marketing director Kate Mason said most major shopping centre landlords, including Slough Estates, Hammerson and Land Securities, have looked at the system in use at Meadowhall.
The centre has spent£1 million on installing PCs in the vast majority of its tenants' stores to enable staff to access the shopping centre's new system.
The new Comgenic system offers a range of products. Comgenic Manager handles communications between the shopping centre, retailers and shoppers across intranet, Web site and touchscreen kiosks. Comgenic React handles urgent communications, ranging from those about lost children to shoplifting and emergencies, while Comgenic Analyse provides a sales reporting package.
It may be men who will take the most interest in the development. A MORI survey commissioned by Comgenic to coincide with the launch of the new company suggests far more men than women believe advances in technology, such as online shopping or mobile phone text messaging of special offers, will change the way they shop.
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