CapitaLand inks agreements with Alibaba and Lazada

Real estate company CapitaLand has announced that it will be working with two of Asia’s key e-commerce players, Alibaba and Lazada. In a statement issued today (23 August), CapitaLand said that it has signed an agreement to manage the new Alibaba Shanghai Center.

Located in the northern core of Shanghai’s Hongqiao Central Business District (and less than two kilometres away from Hongqiao Transportation Hub), the centre is scheduled to open next year.

Under the contract with Alibaba, CapitaLand will oversee the pre-opening and management of the centre’s shopping podium and one of its four office towers.

Meanwhile, CapitaLand has also signed an agreement to launch an exclusive online mall on the Lazada Singapore e-commerce platform.

CapitaLand said that the shop-in-shop on Lazada.SG will position the company as “Singapore’s first omni-channel retail landlord that connects retailers to shoppers both offline and online, complemented by a unique in-mall collection service for shoppers”.

Shoppers who patronise the CapitaLand official store on Lazada.SG will have the option to collect their purchases in CapitaLand malls. As a start, CapitaLand will roll out two unmanned click-and-collect lounges at Plaza Singapura and Bugis+ for shoppers to collect and return their parcels.  In addition to collection lockers, the lounges will feature fitting rooms and a product-testing bench to enhance the overall shopping experience.

Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO of CapitaLand Limited, said: “Even as new technologies disrupt traditional business models, real estate remains an important part of a holistic customer journey, as affirmed by leading digital players who are seeking to gain a foothold in the physical space.  CapitaLand is excited to collaborate with leading digital economy players like Alibaba and Lazada on this transformational journey and we look forward to creating win-win outcomes for all parties.  We will continue to work with our business partners and forge new strategic alliances to future-enable our properties and support our retailers in embracing an omni-channel business model that meets the needs of consumers.”

Jason Leow, CEO of CapitaLand Mall Asia, added: “We are pleased to partner e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba to jointly explore the possibilities in combining bricks with clicks – starting with Alibaba Shanghai Center – and creating new and exciting O&O experiences.”