Starting today, 1 Utama is officially going cashless with the introduction of its own digital 1PAY e-wallet and online shopping website ONESHOP.com.my at a launch officiated by Y.B. Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Minister of Finance Malaysia with the attendance of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Chief Operating Officer Dato’ Ng Wan Peng.
This makes 1 Utama the first major mall in Malaysia to attempt developing its own retail mall e-wallet and e-commerce platform in efforts to digitalise the retail mall landscape.
“Digitalisation, competition and innovation have led Malaysia to significantly transform payment systems over the years,” Lim Guan Eng said. “According to Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint for 2011 to 2020, we can gain about 1% cost savings to Malaysia’s GDP annually by switching fully from paper-based payments to e-payments processes.”
The 1PAY e-wallet is an extension of 1 Utama’s existing loyalty programme ONECARD Privileges+ that supports both shopping and parking facilities in the mall.
Since ONECARD was launched in 2006, it’s gained a cardholder base of 480,000 members. 1PAY currently has 25,000 immediate users and targets to have 50% of ONECARD members to use 1PAY by December 2020.
While this means that users would have to download another e-wallet app, if you already have a ONECARD account, all you need to do to activate the e-wallet is by setting a payment PIN and accepting the T&C.
How one would use 1PAY is by:
- Scanning the merchant’s QR code at participating outlets,
- Keying in your total bill amount and receipt number,
- And keying in your payment PIN.
You can then earn instant ONECARD loyalty points called UPoints. Like other existing e-wallets in the market, 1PAY enables you to go cashless by being linked to your debit or credit cards or bank account.
We tried the app ourselves and found it relatively easy to use as it’s already connected to the UPoints, so existing ONECARD users might find the e-wallet an easier one to adopt than an external e-wallet (if you are not yet a user of any).
You’re also no longer tied down to carrying your ONECARD everywhere you go since your UPoints can be accessed through 1PAY.
Receiving and transferring money to friends and family can be done by sending a QR code with the desired amount and sharing it with someone via email or WhatsApp. To pay someone, just scan their QR code for an instant transfer.
Aside from 1 Utama, 1PAY can also be used at participating merchants in Bandar Utama including those at One World Hotel, Centrepoint and The Club. In the future, 1PAY should be able to be used for topping up parking credits and paying parking fees electronically.
Meanwhile, ONESHOP.com.my lets 1 Utama expand on its omnichannel marketing by letting customers, regardless of location, purchase whatever they want or need from 1 Utama retailers from their couches at home.
Customers have 2 delivery options: courier delivery to their doorsteps, or Click&Carry where buyers can collect their purchases from the 1 Utama concierge. Future plans for the e-commerce platform’s development includes launching a ONESHOP mobile app, a LUXE page for high-value brands, a locker service and a curbside porter pickup.
As of now, ONESHOP has 15,000 members and 187 merchants on board and the popular sales categories are ONECARD E-gift card, F&B, health and beauty, fashion, home living and digital vouchers.
Lim Guan Eng said, “The retail sector is not about e-commerce versus physical stores anymore. It is about now having a combination of both online and offline retail solutions, and it may even involve online-to-offline strategy to deliver Malaysians with the best shopping experience.”
From 13 to 16 September, 1 Utama is hosting a Launch Roadshow to promote both 1PAY and ONESHOP to the public with activities and promotions.