Keells Super launches Sri Lanka’s first supermarket mobile app

Thursday, 31 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Keells Super has introduced yet another technological first by launching the first mobile app by a supermarket in Sri Lanka. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, the app was well received by Keells Super customers, with over 3,000 downloads recorded to date since its release recently.

Vice President – John Keells Holdings and Head of Business Systems – Consumer Foods and Retail Nalaka Umagiliya

The mobile app can be downloaded from the iTunes App store by visiting http://goo.gl/LQCHbM and the Google Play Store by visiting http://goo.gl/8XBnAX. With this new app, customers can order goods via www.keellssuper.com, view ongoing Nexus and Super Saver promotions as well as Cyber Weekend promotions, get directions to the nearest Keells Super outlet via Google Maps, contact any Keells Super outlet with the touch of a button as well as send in any comments or suggestions they may have. Speaking on the rationale behind this move, Nalaka Umagiliya, Vice President – John Keells Holdings and Head of Business Systems – Consumer Foods and Retail, said: “By the end of 2014, 6% of the global population will own a tablet, 20% will own PCs and 22% will own smartphones with smartphone penetration expected to hit 1.75 billion users by the end of the year. This is clearly prevalent in Sri Lanka too as according to the recent Telecommunications Regulatory Commission statistics there is a 130% growth in mobile internet users over fixed line users and we noticed that more than 20% of our users access www.keellssuper.com from their mobile devices. Keells Super, being the technology trendsetter in the supermarket industry took the strategic decision to invest in mobile apps with the vision of giving customers convenience at their fingertips.” Since its inception, Keells Super has been continuously ahead of the technology curve in the retail industry in Sri Lanka and claims a long list of technological firsts. For instance in 1996 Keells Super was the first to use Barcodes in Sri Lanka, the first to use business intranets in 2001 and launched e-commerce enabled Internet shopping in 2002 for the first time. Keells Super was also the first supermarket to use handheld devices for online tracking of stocks in 2006 which was recognised by Motorola as a case study.

Keells Super was also the pioneer of mobile point-of-sale terminals in 2007, retail radio in 2008 and was the first supermarket to launch an m-commerce enabled website in 2013. “At Keells Super we have always strived to enhance the customer’s experience via the use of technology and by doing so brought in several process efficiencies. With customers becoming more tech-savvy each day, we cannot rest easy and be satisfied with what we have achieved. We will instead focus our efforts on delighting customers through the use of modern and innovative technology,” Umagiliya concluded. Keells Super currently has 54 supermarkets situated in Colombo, suburbs and key towns in Sri Lanka.