September 2025
The university has signed a Research Collaboration Agreement with WITO Technology Sdn Bhd to jointly develop an Intelligent Retail System using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision, a move that will significantly enhance WITO’s flagship Omnimerce retail and commerce platform, marking a significant step forward in integrating advanced technology into Malaysia’s retail sector.
The collaboration, led by the university’s School of Engineering, will focus on developing AI-powered solutions to help retailers predict sales in real time, create personalised marketing strategies, and improve store monitoring. The project will also work on connecting these tools with existing business and warehouse systems for smoother operations. The initiative will combine sales, video, and business data to provide insights that boost efficiency and enhance customer experiences.
Associate Professor Ir Ts Dr Joanne Lim, from the Department of Electrical and Robotics Engineering and Course Director of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at the School of Engineering, and Lead Investigator for the project, said the initiative will help retailers move beyond traditional sales tracking to a more intelligent, data-driven approach. “By combining AI with everyday retail systems, we can give businesses real-time insights into what their customers want, when they want it, and how best to engage them. This means faster decision-making, smarter promotions, and ultimately, more satisfied customers,” she said.
The research will be carried out in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Drones Lab, Department of Electrical and Robotics Engineering, School of Engineering, where the team led by Associate Professor Ir Ts Dr Joanne Lim Mun Yee, with members Alex Wong Wee and Dr Lily Wong will integrate cutting-edge AI development with practical retail applications to ensure the solutions are both innovative and market-ready.
WITO Technology Sdn Bhd’s Founder and the team highlighted the company’s goal of bringing cutting-edge AI and computer vision capabilities into real-world retail environments. “Omnimerce is already a comprehensive retail and commerce solution, but with the integration of AI and computer vision, we’re taking it to the next level, enabling retailers to predict demand, personalise marketing, and optimise operations in ways that were not possible before. This collaboration ensures Omnimerce stays ahead as the smart retailer’s choice.”
The project is designed to put powerful AI tools directly into the hands of retailers via Omnimerce, helping them better understand their customers and respond faster to changing needs. By analysing sales data and in-store images, the AI will be able to spot buying trends, predict which products are likely to be in demand, and suggest personalised marketing offers that resonate with customers.
Retailers will benefit from a working AI prototype built into Omnimerce, making it easy to test and apply the technology in real business settings. The AI will also be fine-tuned to work with widely used business and inventory management platforms, so it can fit smoothly into existing store operations without the need for complex system changes.
In practice, this means store owners could receive instant alerts about fast-moving items, be guided on which products to promote, and access live dashboards showing customer behaviour patterns. These tools will help businesses boost sales, operate more efficiently, and deliver more personalised shopping experiences to their customers.
This collaboration is a step forward in uniting academic expertise with the industry, as it exhibits the university’s role as a hub for applied AI research and reflects WITO Technology’s commitment to driving digital transformation in the retail sector. By combining research excellence with real-world application, the partnership aims to deliver outcomes that benefit both industry and society.
