Etisalat opens 125th Smart Store in the UAE

Etisalat has announced the opening of its 125th smart store in the UAE, which is located at Riverland Dubai.

The fully digitised store is located at the heart of Dubai Parks and Resorts and aims to provide customers with a more efficient and enhanced retail experience, according to Etisalat.

The telecoms company, highlighted that the new concept focuses on transforming a brick and mortar retail environment to a fully digital and seamless experience for customers.

Dubai Parks and Resorts, the multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination and Etisalat had collaborated last year to create the region’s “first-of-its-kind integrated” smart theme park destination in the UAE. As part of the collaboration, Etisalat is the ICT and digital solutions provider for Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR). Etisalat also has a model of its signature building in MINILAND at LEGOLAND Dubai, one of the major theme parks at Dubai Parks and Resorts, with 70,596 LEGO bricks being used to build this structure. The model of the Etisalat building was designed and built in 1,025 hours and stands at 3.84 metres.

Etisalat rolled out its ‘Smart Stores’ concept in 2014 to digitally and ergonomically transform existing stores as well as those opening in new locations across the UAE. Since launch, this new quality improvement approach has continuously focused on offering customers a more personalized experience and improved quality of service across its network of stores.

Khaled ElKhouly, chief consumer officer, Etisalat, said, “In this rapidly changing world, it is essential to continually assess our business model to ensure we remain ahead of the game. To develop innovative new retail business models and generate incremental revenues from the mobile ecosystem, we have devised a clear strategy for digital transformation. Today’s opening of our 125th smart store and our entire smart store network has set a benchmark incorporating the digital strategy across our retail channels in the country. We will continue to secure every opportunity to bring in this transformation by adapting the latest retail technologies, tools, expertise and resources to build our future success.”

Etisalat Smart Stores has introduced unique concepts at the store to provide an exclusive experience before a consumer enters a store. The ‘Digital Queue Management (Qmatic) System’ connects via Etisalat App from the mobile device integrating both the virtual and physical ecosystem helping to engage and connect with the customer. The efficient use of technology has enabled the store to go completely ‘Paperless’ utilising interactive and smart tools empowering the customer with an improved retail experience.