Perth Airport has partnered with AI and e-commerce marketing company OpenDNA to create a platform that will allow Chinese travellers to pre-order and purchase products and collect at the airport on arrival and/or departure, accepting payment via methods including WeChat Payand Alipay.

Through the deal, OpenDNA will provide a customised version of its RooLife online shopping platform to be marketed under the Perth Airport brand, with the aim to grow sales with Chinese consumers.

The hyper-personalisation platform will provide online licencing for China, system hosting, marketing design, translation, sales promotion and management services to support and drive e-commerce sales to Chinese shoppers.

Chinese customers travelling through Perth Airport will have the opportunity to access products using their mobile phones while at the airport, travelling around Australia or from their home in China.

According to the companies, the engine will gather intelligence about customers’ preferences and buying habits, “in turn providing Perth Airport and their retailers with valuable insights into their end customers in China”.

Perth Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Kate Holsgrove said: “This partnership will not only be great for our Chinese customers but will also deliver benefits for our retail partners who can look to diversify their business for the China market by promoting and selling local Australian goods.

“Perth Airport is working strategically with its airline partners to enhance Western Australia’s connectivity to the Chinese market which offers great growth potential, not only from a tourism perspective, but also by attracting business travellers, international students and a number of export opportunities.”

OpenDNA Managing Director Bryan Carr added: “We are excited to be working with Perth Airport to enhance the airport’s service and retail offering to Chinese tourists and travellers.

“Perth Airport is perfectly placed to be a trusted supplier of high-quality and authentic Australian goods to Chinese shoppers both when travelling to Australia, but also at home in China.

“Importantly this engagement means that Perth Airport and its retailers will be able to accept payment for goods and services via the payment methods most widely used by Chinese consumers – WeChat Pay and Alipay, through the Perth Airport RooLife platform.”