Why Blockchain?
While some blockchain projects seem to have the sole purpose of storing value, others are trying to solve real-world problems like poverty, pollution and housing. Some blockchains projects are also software platforms capable of spawning new blockchain solutions.
With NULS — not only is value stored, but the blockchain software behind it is used to create new blockchains capable of storing value, NFTs, smart contracts and infinite types of records and documents. In Singapore, NULS is currently in use as a payment method for food and other goods delivered to smart lockers.
Innovation in Tech
Singapore — an island nation of almost six million people, is a powerhouse for innovation in technology and the economy. The country has been a pioneer in creating National Digital Identities (NDI) and using blockchain in transactions for land registries, vehicle registration, and passports.
The government agency, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), announced in 2020 a plan for smart lockers to help reduce their carbon footprint. Through its wholly owned subsidiary PickNetwork, one thousand smart parcel lockers will be in position on Singapore Island by the end of 2021.
These lockers will be within a five-minute walk of various housing areas. And the company providing tech and user interface is VeriTAG, using NULS as it’s blockchain. Cameras are installed at the locker stations to discourage theft. Sensors in every locker verify item deposit and retrieval.
In the US, Amazon successfully uses smart lockers, placed in grocery stores and other convenient locations. Packages in a locker are not subject to theft or weather damage.
Check it out
To get started, please use the VeriTAG website vtag.cc with a phone number (currently supports 11 Asian countries).
Once logged in, you are given an account that includes around 4 Umbrage tokens.
Lockers’ Future
Other parcel locker companies and startups are scrambling to establish themselves in Singapore and to gain a foothold in this hot market. Most of these companies have less than 20 lockers, other than Blu and SingPost which have over 100 each. The government sponsored PickNetwork with VeriTAG will be the largest set with 1,000.
Veritag
VeriTAG maximizes locker functionality with a tracking system that guarantees ease of use and food traceability from the origin to the point of sale. VeriTAG is a Singapore-based tech company specializing in innovative product tagging.
QR codes, bar codes, and other signatures on food item labels are the tools. VeriTAG collaborates with the Singapore Food agency and ST Engineering. The labels on the food are matched to permanent records in the blockchain. This means that the country of origin and manufacture date is set in stone. Thanks to blockchain — those records are unchangeable.
NULS produces an immutable and adaptive blockchain infrastructure, offering cost-effective and efficient business app solutions. NULS is the muscle behind VeriTAG.
Got Ubin?
The PickNetwork lockers accept Ubin (Ubin is Singapore Central Bank digital currency). If you don’t have enough SGD (Singapore fiat), you exchange NULS for SGD in the Ubin Wallet directly.
There are currently over 300 products to choose from in the PickNetwork food and household items section. This is just the beginning. We can see that the development momentum of community e-commerce will be a new trend.
Products available for purchase and delivery
Over 300 Japanese products including ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook meals
Premium durian and delicacies from Durianbb (innovative food producer in Asia)
Reusable masks made in Singapore
Home delivery is also available, possibly for a fee. To save on the delivery costs, all products can be delivered free to PICK lockers. There are now 200 lockers installed in Singapore and this will be extended to 1000 by the end of 2021.
Pick has partnered with delivery companies FedEx, Huper Express, Qxpress, S.F. International, UPS, WMG, XDel and ZTO. Soon other providers such as J&T Express, Ninja Van and Shopee Xpress will offer parcel delivery services for Pick.
Check Out VeriTAG from Outside Asia
Anyone globally can log into VeriTAG and experience its offerings. If you are not in one of the supported countries in Asia, please use the VeriTAG website from a desktop computer (not mobile).
Once logged in, you are given an account that includes around 4 Umbrage tokens. From there you select the Veri$HOP icon and you will find yourself in the shopping area.
If you’re curious, you can export the private key from your vtag.cc account and import it into a NULS wallet.
The government in Singapore is busy in 2021 passing legislation to support the move to parcel lockers. This article describes the latest bills and laws.
TradeTrust and NFTs will be covered in an upcoming article NULS in Action — Part Two.
The best way to get involved with NULS is to join in!
For more information about NULS, visit nuls.io and join the conversation on Telegram or Reddit. Make sure to follow NULS on Twitter for the latest news and updates. You can also follow us on other socials such as Facebook, Steemit and GitHub.
NULS — Nothing Makes Blockchain Easier
