Link Asset Management Limited (“Link”) today announced the launch of the city’s first integrated payment platform offering both e-payment and mobile parking payment through its innovative first-to-market “Park & Dine” app that unleashed business opportunities for tenants and revolutionised shopping experiences for consumers.

Link expects the app to be widely adopted across its tenants’ payment systems within the next two years, providing an unrivalled shopping experience for customers while streamlining tenants’ daily operations. The enhanced app will provide data analytics that not only help tenants better understand consumer needs, but to make more informed decisions that capitalise on market opportunities and bolster competitiveness.

As a market leader, Link recognises the growing global phenomenon of mobile payment and is committed to embracing the disruption brought by technology to enhance its customer experience. According to market research company Statista , the use of mobile payment around the world is expected to grow over 40% annually from 2015 to 2019. This means there will be over 660 million mobile payment users in 2021 worldwide, with an estimated 2 million mobile payment users in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority estimated e-payment accounting for over 60% of all private consumption transactions in 2017, and granted Stored Value Facility (SVF) Licenses to 13 financial institutions last year to accelerate the development of e-payments in Hong Kong.

Mr George HONGCHOY, Chief Executive Officer of Link Asset Management Limited, said, “Link manages over 100 shopping centres and 60,000 car parking spaces in Hong Kong, and is committed to providing multifaceted shopping options for consumers and enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve. Taking advantage of the growing e-payment trend, we have partnered with nine leading e-payment service providers, including Alipay HK, Android Pay, Apple Pay, JETCO, MasterCard, Octopus, PPS, Visa and WeChat Pay, to introduce Hong Kong’s first mobile parking payment function through our ‘Park & Dine’ app, taking the customer experience to the next level.”

This new mobile payment platform combines e-payment and car park payment and will be pilot tested at six car parks at Temple Mall and Lok Fu Place. Link will monitor and assess the performance and make enhancement to streamline the overall operation for the next stage. In two years, Link aims to extend the service to over 30 car parks with hourly parking.

In addition to real-time information on parking availability, the brand new “E-Parking” function will enable drivers to simply scan the QR Code in their mobile phones at the gate when they enter and exit the car parks to instantly pay for parking fees through the digital platform. Drivers can also use e-coupons to redeem free parking perks in a breeze. Mr HONGCHOY added, “Link is leading the charge to help retailers transform and move forward in a new digital era and this e-parking payment launch is a major milestone in our digital development to enhance their operational efficiency.”

In the development pipeline, Link’s new shopping mall in Mong Kok, 700 Nathan Road, will feature a host of ground-breaking digital applications including an innovative reward scheme for shoppers. As tenants connect their transaction systems to the mobile app platform, their businesses will enjoy greater operational efficiency, smarter decision making and associated cost reduction. The digital applications and reward scheme will be expanded to other shopping malls as the technology matures. Release schedule of new mobile payment and related service .pdf Please visit Linkhk.com for further information on the app’s features.