Facing fierce competition from online shopping giants, malls are rolling out a fresh wave of innovations coming to transform the way we shop. From high‑tech security bots to on‑site funeral kiosks, these ten ideas aim to give brick‑and‑mortar centers a serious edge.

Innovations Coming to Transform Your Mall Experience

10 Fighting Robots

Knightscope was born out of the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting in December 2012, when co‑founder Stacy Dean Stephens, a former police officer, realized that faster intelligence could have saved lives. The Silicon Valley startup now builds autonomous security machines that patrol malls, collecting data and sending it straight to law‑enforcement and private security firms.

Today, Knightscope’s robots are patrolling shopping centers in Massachusetts and New York. Standing 152 cm tall and weighing 136 kg, each unit is equipped with a 360‑degree camera, multiple sensors, license‑plate recognition software, thermal cameras and signal‑detection tech that can even spot mobile devices.

Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, these robots could one day replace traditional mall security personnel, offering round‑the‑clock vigilance without a break.

9 Condominiums And Offices

When anchor retailers like Target and Sears shut their doors, mall owners lose the traffic magnets that once drew shoppers past smaller stores. The ripple effect has been amplified by the rise of online shopping, leaving many suburban malls in Canada scrambling for a lifeline.

One bold solution is to repurpose sprawling parking lots into mixed‑use developments that combine offices, condominiums, boutique shops, movie theaters, bookstores and restaurants. Analysts argue that these conversions will keep malls alive, turning them into vibrant community hubs rather than dead‑end retail spaces.

8 Reserved Parking Just For You

Westfield Century City in Los Angeles is pouring $1 billion into a massive remodel that includes a high‑tech parking overhaul. In addition to five valet stations, shoppers will soon be able to reserve a spot right next to the main entrance on Santa Monica Boulevard.

As you drive up, a gate reads your license plate, lifts, and guides you to a space that flashes your name on a nearby monitor. The reservation costs $20 for a minimum four‑hour stay, but an app also lets drivers park in any unassigned spot if they prefer.

Co‑CEO Peter Lowy says the goal is to eliminate the “consumer pain point” of circling for a space, turning the mall into a “sanctuary” where visitors can relax and move at their own pace.

7 Voice Shopping

A coalition of Google with retail heavyweights Walmart, Target, Home Depot and others is taking on Amazon’s Echo ecosystem. Using Google Assistant, shoppers can simply shout their grocery list or product orders into their phones while on the go.

The voice‑assistant will automatically select the preferred brand and, for Target customers, ship orders free of charge to the nearest store when the total exceeds $35. Pick‑up is possible within two days, and shoppers can link their accounts to Google Express for an even more personalized experience.

6 Chatbots

Simon Property Group has rolled out a “concierge” chatbot on Facebook Messenger that serves all 208 of its malls. Shoppers can type questions to get instant directions, locate restrooms, baby‑changing stations, parking spots, deals, ATMs or restaurant recommendations.

If the bot can’t answer, it forwards the query to a human mall representative. While a few glitches have caused delayed replies—like a two‑hour wait for a bathing‑suit question—most users praise the speed and usefulness of the service.

5 Free Electronic Legal Advice

Imagine walking into a mall and getting free civil‑law advice from a kiosk. These machines can guide people through divorce, foreclosure, landlord‑tenant disputes, and more. Users simply type a description of their problem, and the kiosk prints the necessary forms or even schedules an appointment with a qualified attorney.

Florida is spearheading the rollout, aiming to give low‑ and middle‑income families affordable legal representation without ever leaving the shopping center.

4 Artificial Intelligence

Brick‑and‑mortar retailers are finally catching up to the digital age by embedding AI directly into the shopping floor. One standout is the 3‑D full‑body scanner that creates a photo‑realistic, 360‑degree avatar of a shopper, letting them try on clothes virtually and instantly checking stock availability.

AI‑driven chat interfaces also simulate human conversation, handling live‑chat and messenger queries so convincingly that 38 % of test participants couldn’t tell whether they were talking to a bot or a person. Shoppers appreciate the human‑like interaction, even when they suspect it’s software behind the curtain.

3 ECommerce Logistics Services

The Singapore Post Center mall is pioneering a hybrid model that blends online and offline shopping under one roof. Customers can browse items in physical stores, purchase them on the spot, and have the goods delivered straight to their homes.

This arrangement lets shoppers continue dining or catching a movie without lugging bags, while retailers cut back on on‑site inventory by fulfilling orders from nearby warehouses. The result is a win‑win: a smoother experience for shoppers and lower operating costs for stores.

2 Medical Services

In Albany, New York, malls are becoming health hubs. A former tanning‑salon space now houses a Sunnyview Rehabilitation physical‑therapy office, and St. Peter’s Hospital runs a laboratory between a deli and a nail salon.

Kimco Realty’s centers also feature urgent‑care clinics, satellite hospital locations, after‑hours pediatric care, wellness centers and even dialysis stations—services that simply can’t be replicated online.

1 Funeral Homes

Southern California malls will soon host funeral‑home kiosks where shoppers can browse coffins, select urns and plan services on the spot. Proponents argue that a lively mall environment makes the difficult task of arranging a funeral feel less intimidating.

Robert Fells of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association notes that people are more likely to consider funeral options when they’re “surrounded by happy, lively people and maybe clutching a bag of Mrs. Fields’ cookies.” The kiosks rotate among six malls, distributing brochures and letting customers approach at their own pace.