8 in 10 Singaporeans comfortable with virtual shopping assistants

78% are at ease with one booking their plane seats for them.

Singaporeans are growing fonder with devices to help them shop, Worldpay revealed in a survey. About 82% are comfortable with a virtual assistant to organize and pay for items, and 78% are at ease with one booking preferred seats on a plane.

According to a press release, half of surveyed consumers are ready to embrace the technology and are comfortable with a device at home ordering a product on their behalf.

Around 60% said they see the benefits of owning such devices in their home, whilst 57% like the idea of having a machine anticipate their shopping needs.

Singapore consumers might be more positive towards embracing the Internet of Things (IoT) and payment devices, Worldpay said.

However, worries towards connected products still remain. Amongst participants, 78% are worried the device would share their personal data and 79% see the threat of devices being hacked.

Consequently, consumers express firmness in controlling their payments.

Respondents are most likely to demand the ability to set the rules around their purchase at 62%. Around 46% said they prefer fixed rules such as setting the amount that can be spent each week.

About 48% also said they want to get notified when orders are placed, 52% said they want to be able to cancel orders, and 55% want to approve a purchase.

Phil Pomford, general manager for Asia Pacific at Worldpay, said, "Our research has found that there should always be a conscious ‘act of consent’; be that via a device notification, button press or a pre-set rule like a spending limit, being agreed in advance."