Westfield rolls out ‘searchable mall’ app

Westfield Group has unveiled a “searchable mall” app that helps consumers find items to purchase before they visit one of the company’s shopping centres.

The Searchable Mall app – at www.westfield.com.au – is the first innovation to come out of Westfield Labs, the group’s global digital lab based in San Francisco. All Westfield operations in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States are working with the lab to create new products for digital shoppers, Westfield said.

Interview: Peter Bourke, CIO, Westfield

Related: Why shopping isn't the only thing online retailers should worry about

Related: Westfied launches online mall

Related: CIO Insights 2013

The app’s first release lets users search for more than 97,000 fashion and beauty products from a raft of retailers, locate stores, opening hours, and deals, as well as search for events and movie times. More features will be added in 2014, the company said.

Westfield researched 6700 Australian adults who used the company’s previous website and found that consumers who browsed the website were more likely to visit a store and spent significantly more than those who did not.

David Jones CEO Paul Zahra, said the retailer – which was 16 stores in Westfield shopping centres across Australia – was focused on increasing foot traffic in-store and online, and its decision to partner with Westfield was a reflection of this objective.