Here’s what I think the future supermalls would be: there is no security, there are no security cameras, there might be minimal staff to help you (it is possible that to differentiate themselves, some supermalls might try having more valets and store attendants than others – I will call this as the normal experimentation process). When you enter, a series of invisible checks will scan you: right from biometrics (to ascertain your id), to your Bluetooth / RFID / FT devices (I am using FT as a generic term for Futuristic Technology which might be in place in a few years). They will establish your correct credentials (are you a fugitive, when were you here last, what did you like and buy the last time, what you did not like, etc.) and also prepare your on-the-move-com gateways that a transaction might be in the offing. As you spend time in the supermall, various invisible sensors will pick up your bio and electromechanical signatures and feed to complex databases and algorithms to interpret your interest in particular items or specific brands, specific colors, etc. From a previous shopping or window-shopping experience of yours, some brands might actually ‘speak up’ to you (have you heard a shirt calling you by your first name lately ?). You might ignore them or ask them not to bother you on a do-not-shout-my-name list. You move on. You buy stuff. You move. Then you buy some more stuff.
And then it suddenly hits you – there is no cash counter, no billing, no whatsoever. You are not sure what it means. There are hardly any attendants in the store to check with. You see a sign towards the exit door that says “Take green channel for on-the-move-com”. You are confused, you have heard of e-com, you’ve heard of m-com, but what is that, how are they going to invoice you, what if that is incorrect ?
Well, you follow the sign and walk thru a so-called green channel. You figure out no one is watching you and no security is standing outside either. You just walked out of the supermall without paying for any of the stuff you bought. You are still confused. You drive on, reach home and call up someone at the supermall who can explain what is going on. Before you can call up, you see a voice mail waiting in your cell, which says, “thanks for shopping with us, Mr. so and so, your total bill is $245.56 and you get 25 frequent shopper points. We have received the payment from your bank. Your transaction reference is 1QR5P, if there is a mistake in billing, please quote this reference number. You pass out.
I believe this is already possible with today’s technology. Imagine how much more efficient all of us could be: you don’t waste time at cash counter, a lot of people are not needed to manage cash counters (which is not a good news par se, but if read history, every new technology has taken away jobs at low-end of the food chain and created opportunities for people to move up the food chain). In such a world, there is nothing like shoplifting – actually everything is shoplifting ! I believe the supermalls will be open round the clock. When I look at airlines, I feel there will be airlines, or at least some flights where you don’t buy ticket – if there is a seat, you just get in, the aircraft will bill you without you realizing it. When you go to hospital, the doctor will see you, the pharmacist will hand-over medicines and the surgeon might even perform open-heart surgery. Not only would it be a cashless transaction, it would be a transaction-less transaction as in you will not be involved in it directly. The technology will talk care of closing the transaction. You will choose your apartment and start living in it and it would be yours – no papers are signed, no cash exchanges hands.
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