SMRT's Stellar Lifestyle Deploys AI and Robotics to Revive Transit Retail

Stellar Lifestyle, the retail and advertising arm of Singapore's SMRT, is using AI and robotics to reinvent transit retail across the MRT network's 3 million daily commuters, supported by IMDA's Open Innovation Platform. The initiative aims to close the gap between e-commerce convenience and in-station shopping by deploying smart solutions that personalise the commuter experience, optimise retail operations, and drive foot traffic back to physical transit retail spaces.

The partnership leverages IMDA's network of over 12,000 technology solvers, start-ups, and research institutes to crowd-source solutions for specific transit retail challenges. Past programmes have already produced commercial deployments: Waffle Technologies built a loyalty-based point-of-sale system adopted by over 50 retail tenants within Stellar Lifestyle's network, and Teredo Analytics developed an AI-powered lift motor condition monitoring system for SMRT Engineering using acoustics and IoT. Stellar Lifestyle has committed up to S$420,000 in prototype funding, with individual start-ups eligible for grants of up to S$70,000 each through the innovation programme, which has expanded to include partners like SUTD and Japan's JR East Business Development.

The programme specifically targets online-to-in-store shopping experiences, operational efficiency for merchants, and using commuter data to turn train stations into more vibrant community spaces. As e-commerce reshapes consumer behaviour, transit retail operators globally are racing to find hybrid models that blend digital convenience with physical presence — and Stellar Lifestyle's approach, backed by IMDA's structured innovation pipeline, gives Singapore's MRT retail network a significant head start.

Why it matters for Singapore: With over three million commuters passing through Singapore's MRT stations daily, the transit retail network represents one of the city-state's most valuable physical retail channels. IMDA's backing of Stellar Lifestyle's AI and robotics push shows how Singapore is applying technology to everyday public infrastructure rather than just flashy flagship projects. For the thousands of SMEs operating within transit retail spaces, the programme offers a pathway to digital transformation without requiring each merchant to navigate AI adoption alone. It's a practical example of how government-facilitated innovation ecosystems can modernise the commuter economy at scale.