While preparing for its grand opening, Ningbo If Mall selected Tech-Trans to develop its intelligent ERP system in recognition of Tech-Trans's corporate strength, product capabilities and capacity for innovation. The project will serve as a model for developing next-generation digital management standards, with the objectives of centralised headquarters control, independent project operation and data sharing. By standardising business and information flows, the solution will establish replicable business processes, strengthen risk control and accelerate the digital transformation of headquarters functions. It also represents an important milestone in CTG Commercial's implementation of a three-pronged framework of learning, organisation and practical implementation to stimulate new momentum for cultural and tourism enterprises, and in its ambition to become a leading specialist in the operation of cultural and tourism commercial properties.
Ningbo If Mall
Developed by CTG Commercial, which is committed to becoming a leading specialist in the operation of cultural and tourism commercial properties, Ningbo If Mall is located in Yaojiang New City, Ningbo's 'third urban centre', within the core Olympic Sports area of the city's northern gateway. Adjacent to Olympic Sports Center Station on Metro Line 4, the project offers approximately 65,600 sq m of gross floor area (GFA). Featuring compelling experiential environments, a curated brand mix, attentive service and smart customer experiences, it is positioned as a refined neighbourhood hub for socialising and everyday living.
Comprising an indoor boutique mall, the Youyi Alley creative retail street, office space and other uses, the project will become a lifestyle destination for young families within a 3 km radius, significantly enhancing the area's appeal and commercial landscape.
Following Suzhou If Mall, Ningbo If Mall is another benchmark project for CTG Commercial and represents the upgrade of its refined community retail product line from version 1.0 to 2.0. The project is currently in a new phase of development focused on brand image, service and smart-technology upgrades. To advance its digital management capabilities, Ningbo If Mall has partnered with Tech-Trans to develop an intelligent ERP management system guided by digitalisation and intelligent technologies. Supported by a smart management hub, the system will strengthen standardised management practices across all business functions and support sustainable growth.
01 Multi-Tier Headquarters–Project Management and Control Architecture
As part of its long-term strategy, CTG Commercial upholds China Tourism Group's cultural philosophy of 'tourism serving the country and serving the public'. Guided by high-quality Party building as a sustained engine and inexhaustible source of momentum for high-quality development, the company combines professionalism and specialist expertise to develop three major commercial product lines: refined community retail, urban cultural and tourism leisure complexes, and small-town cultural and tourism retail streets. In support of the national development strategy for the Yangtze River Delta economic belt, its footprint is expanding from Ningbo and Hangzhou across the Yangtze River Delta and, eventually, nationwide. As CTG Commercial expands rapidly, managing an increasingly diverse and large-scale portfolio of projects and business operations presents significant challenges for intelligent management and control. Integrating all projects and business segments nationwide to enable comprehensive data sharing has therefore become a key priority.
YOYI, Ningbo If Mall's Brand Mascot
Using the Ningbo If Mall intelligent ERP project as a model implementation, Tech-Trans has developed a solution centred on a headquarters–project management architecture. Through core modules, group headquarters can centrally manage leasing master data and create records for different projects, malls and buildings to maintain property information. Customisable trade-category classifications support operational management and statistical analysis, while merchandise groups enable settlement and billing with multiple sales-based commission rates within the same store. These capabilities lay a solid foundation for continuously enhancing centralised management at CTG Commercial headquarters, enabling headquarters to oversee and share leasing, financial and operational data across the project and maximise resource efficiency across the group.
02 Two Mobile Application Platforms
In this solution, Tech-Trans has developed two mobile application platforms for Ningbo If Mall based on the needs of two key user groups involved in business operations and services: property management teams and tenants. Each platform provides convenient and effective management tools tailored to its users:
Commercial Property Operations Platform (WeChat)
Designed for operations and property management teams, the platform supports convenient mobile on-site store management. Using a single smartphone, property staff can log maintenance needs, accept and respond to repair requests, send announcements to all or selected recipients, check store sales, and route customer complaints while retaining a complete audit trail of communications.
Tenant Self-Service Platform
For contracted merchants and managers of self-operated stores, the platform provides end-to-end visibility into merchant move-in, fit-out, security, hygiene and store opening, while supporting day-to-day operations and interaction with the property management team. Features include announcements and notices, store-opening guidance, fit-out standards, data analysis, real-time sales data, settlement statements and other reports, and sales reporting.
03 Tenant Self-Service Sales Reporting
To accelerate revenue growth during operations, Tech-Trans developed a tenant self-service platform for Ningbo If Mall, replacing the traditional practice of operations staff visiting each tenant individually to record sales data by hand. Tenants submit sales data to Ningbo If Mall through the platform, and the data is entered into the system after review and approval. This simple, efficient and intelligent process, supported by clear management responsibilities and assessment rules, provides a reliable mechanism for monitoring project revenue, building a robust data set for analysis and supporting effective decision-making. Merchants can also view submitted data at any time by daily, monthly or annual settlement cycle, making it easier to verify sales and settlement information and enabling the project to deliver a better service experience.
04 Integration with Twelve Business Systems
When a project operates numerous heterogeneous systems, variations in integration processes, data requirements and data standards across business systems can seriously hinder effective decision-making. To address this, Tech-Trans implemented customised point-to-point integrations, seamlessly connecting the Ningbo If Mall intelligent ERP system with 12 external systems in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The solution enables integrated management of all key elements of commercial operations, including sales data collection, financial management, footfall, membership management, parking and invoicing. It has significantly reduced project operating costs and improved operational efficiency, while providing comprehensive digital support for the execution of headquarters strategy and business operations.
05 Agile BI and Visual Analytics
Building on BI technology and an enterprise-level data centre architecture, Tech-Trans integrates data generated by Ningbo If Mall's various business systems into a comprehensive data warehouse covering all project operations. Through data aggregation and multidimensional dynamic analysis, the solution provides an integrated reporting hub and multiple business dashboards, giving stakeholders clear visibility of key KPIs such as occupancy and vacancy rates. It supports in-depth leasing analysis by trade category and by floor, while enabling multidimensional visual management and digital collaboration. These capabilities improve decision-making efficiency across all project functions and enhance enterprise asset value.
Together, we set sail and ride the waves toward new horizons. The successful implementation of this solution will enable Ningbo If Mall to achieve transformational growth in its new operating cycle. Going forward, Tech-Trans will continue to leverage innovative technologies to help customers achieve smarter operations and advance their digital and intelligent transformation.
About Tech-Trans
Founded in 1986, Tech-Trans has focused on commercial digitalization for 40 years. To date, the company has delivered more than 3,000 commercial projects, with over 100,000 POS terminals installed. Its business covers a wide range of formats, including commercial complexes, airport retail, cultural and tourism districts, and chain brands. Its clients include more than 1,000 enterprises, such as Capital Airports Holdings Co., Ltd., Beijing Capital Group Co., Ltd., China Resources Land Limited, Greentown China Holdings Limited, Wangfujing Group Co., Ltd., Douyin, China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited.Its product portfolio spans Commercial ERP, CRM, Smart POS, Data Middle Platform, Customer Data Platform (CDP), Precision Marketing Platform, Data Asset Management Platform, and Business Intelligence (BI) analytics, together with digital-intelligent construction, upgrade and transformation services.