AI-enabled robotic barista ‘ELLA’ can serve up to 200 cups of coffee per hour | Photo credit: Crown Digital 

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Stellar Lifestyle, the largest managing agent of retail and advertising spaces in Singapore’s rail network, has announced a collaboration with Internet of Things (IoT) start-up Crown Digital, to bring Singapore’s first robot barista across 30 MRT stations by the end of 2022.  
 
Created by Crown Digital, the AI-enabled robotic barista ‘ELLA’ can serve up to 200 cups of coffee per hour via contactless payment. Commuters will be able to order beverages ahead of time through an app and collect drinks upon arrival, according to a press release. 
 
“We plan to enhance commuters’ experience by enlivening and transforming Singapore’s public transport network spaces with innovative and new-to-network concepts. ELLA is an example of the kind of lifestyle concepts we are actively looking for at MRT stations across the island,” said Tony Heng, President, Stellar Lifestyle. 
 
Stellar Lifestyle specialise in property and retail management, media and digital advertising solutions. The company has also invested in Crown Digital's pre-series A fundraising round, with the deployment of ‘ELLA’ a part of the deal. 
 
Founded in 2018 by former wealth manager Keith Tan, Crown Digital is a IoT start-up in the food and beverage industry. It will be the company’s second collaboration with a rail network, having previously signed an agreement to deploy the robot barista for test-marketing at JR East's train stations in Japan in December 2020.