Cadillar Fairview (CF), one of the largest owners, operators and developers of retail and mixed-use properties in North America, including over 38 million square feet of leasable space at 72 properties in Canada, is enhancing its tech footprint with several new initiatives in malls across the country.
In Ontario, CF Fairview Mall is implementing indoor positioning and turn-by-turn navigation, the first time it's offered at any Canadian shopping centre. Powered by Aislelans, the Navigate Platform provides blue-dot wayfinding to help shoppers find their way around the two-floor mall. The technology uses a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth beacons for triangulation, and acts like an indoor GPS. Shoppers can locate their accurate position, and see the shortest route to the desired store or amenity. Interactive 3D maps also provide walking paths across floors.
Shoppers can access all mapping and navigation at CF Fairview Mall by downloading the latest CF SHOP! app from the Google Play Store or App Store or by browsing to CF Fairview Mall website.
Additionally, Cadillac Fairview is upgrading its Wi-Fi offering with faster connection speeds and easy-to-use Wi-Fi access. The new platform, also offered by Aislelabs, remodels guest Wi-Fi, ensuring that users can log in using their social accounts. Shoppers using the free Wi-Fi will only need to sign-in once and will be auto connected to the Internet for each subsequent visit. An added roaming feature will allow direct Internet access at any CF shopping centre.
CF is also extending CF SHOP! Text to all 20 of its retail properties. The service, introduced in November 2015, is used by CF shoppers to inquire about anything from retailers and services to promotions to the latest trends. It is available at eight retail properties including CF Pacific Centre, CF Chinook Centre, CF Masonville Place, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, CF Sherway Gardens, CF Rideau Centre, CF Carrefour Laval, and CF Galeries d'Anjou.
Over on the Website side for CF Markville and CF Richmond Centre will be the addition of Chinese simplified and traditional language updates to help effectively communicate with non-English speaking shoppers.
"Cadillac Fairview continues to aggressively invest in innovative technologies that enhance the consumer shopping experience," says Jason Anderson, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Cadillac Fairview. "Shoppers want to stay connected during their entire shopping journey, and we continue to evolve our digital capabilities, leveraging existing services like our CF SHOP! app, as well as investing in platforms to enable efficient, convenient and interactive experiences at all our retail properties."
Cadillac Fairview has been wholly-owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan since 2000. Ontario Teachers' is a diversified global investor and administers the pensions of more than 300,000 active and retired schoolteachers. Cadillac Fairview's investments include over 38 million square feet of leasable space at 72 properties in Canada.