Participants in a public engagement session on rejuvenating Housing Board (HDB) heartland shops on Monday (Feb 21) grappled with digitalisation as the way forward, raising concern that older shop owners may fall behind.

“E-payments are good but, in reality, it’s a bit too complicated and uncomfortable for many shop owners. Cash, on the other hand, is something tangible and comfortable,” a participant said.

Another participant added: “We also have a concern that if shops digitalise, would they replace our jobs with (things like) self-ordering machines?”

They were among 24 participants who discussed how the authorities can shape the heartland retail scene, and how shops can foster community ties while remaining “vibrant, relevant and endearing”.

The session comes amid efforts by the Ministry of National Development (MND) to seek suggestions on how to refresh heartland shops while preserving their heritage and cultural value.

There are around 15,000 shops spread out across town centres, neighbourhood areas and precinct shop clusters.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee said that preserving tradition while implementing innovative solutions is important for heartland shops.

Citing traditional Chinese medicine clinics and joss paper shops, Mr Lee said: “If you look at the trend, these shops are at risk of fading away… because the younger generation no longer subscribe or have an affinity to these things.

“But even the young people feel the loss when these traditional trades vanish.”

Read more at: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/rejuvenating-heartland-shops-ideas-span-new-and-old-amid-some-concern-about-digitalisation