Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Insurance industry growth surges 17% in Q1

    Insurance industry growth surges 17% in Q1

    Việt Nam’s insurance industry maintained positive growth in the first quarter of this year, with total premiums surging by 17 per cent year-on-year, according to reports from the General Statistics Office.

    Life insurance surged by 23 per cent, while non-life insurance increased by 9 per cent.

    According to the Ministry of Finance’s Insurance Supervisory Authority (ISA), the insurance industry is targeting a growth rate of 20 per cent this year.

    Experts remain upbeat about the industry’s health in the coming years, forecasting that it will maintain an annual growth rate of 10-20 per cent. Many banks that co-operate with insurers to provide bancassurance products even expect an annual growth rate of up to 30-40 per cent.

    The fast-growing domestic insurance market should thrive thanks to rising living standards and a high gross domestic product (GDP) growth of more than 6 per cent annually over the next three years, experts said.

    The growth potential is great as the country has one of the world’s lowest life insurance penetration levels at less than 1 per cent of GDP. The average insurance premium in Việt Nam stands at US$30, much lower than the global average of $595 and Southeast Asia’s average of $74.

    To maintain high growth, Deputy Finance Minister Huỳnh Quang Hải said the Insurance Association of Vietnam (IAV), in conjunction with other relevant agencies, must raise awareness about insurance.

    IAV also needs to promote closer co-operation among insurers so that businesses can join hands to build and fine-tune the industry’s databases, which will improve the quality of their services, thereby raising their financial capability and competitiveness, Hải said.

    Hải also told insurers to work with IAV and the Ministry of Finance to develop a new insurance business law to contribute to the development of the local insurance market.

    The ISA reported that the country has 64 insurance companies, including 30 non-life insurers, 18 life insurers, two reinsurance companies and 14 insurance brokerage companies.

    There are up to 850 non-life insurance products and 450 life insurance products sold on the Vietnamese market.

    Read more at https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/518204/insurance-industry-growth-surges-17-in-q1.html#lVqMUB0GwB3zyHU6.99

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  • Electricity hike hits industry hard

    Electricity hike hits industry hard

    Vietnamese manufacturers are set to increase their selling prices following the 8.36 per cent hike in electricity price that launched from March 20.

    Việt Nam Cement Industry Corporation (VICEM) Bút Sơn announced it would increase the price of its cement by VNĐ30,000 (US$1.29) per tonne immediately after the power price increase.

    Đỗ Tiến Trinh, VICEM Bút Sơn’s general director, said that in addition to the electricity tariff hike of 8.36 per cent, the price of coal sold to cement producers also increased by 2.3 to 5.8 per cent depending on the kind of coals.

    The coal price increase came because electricity accounts for 10 per cent of production cost. In addition, the Việt Nam National Coal and Minerals Industry Holding Group (Vinacomin) has not provided enough coal to cement producers, making them import the product at high prices.

    Trinh said the firm could not afford to offset the rise in input costs and had to increase retail prices to ensure sustainable production.

    VICEM Tam Điệp Company also had the same increase in the selling price.

    According to Phạm Văn Minh, the company’s general director, no business wants to increase retail prices, but electricity and coal make up a big portion of input material costs for cement production.

    Công Thanh Cement Joint Stock Company in the central region did not raise its retail prices but is charging distributors VNĐ30,000 more per tonne.

    Nguyễn Quang Cung, chairman of Việt Nam Cement Association said cement producers were not surprised by the power tariff hike and had been preparing for the change.

    Its calculations showed if the electricity price was increased by 8.36 per cent, cement production cost would rise by VNĐ14,000 to VNĐ15,000 per tonne.

    Steel producers also said they would increase their selling prices.

    SSE Steel Company said it doubled its steel selling price to VNĐ200,000 per tonne, while Thái Nguyên Steel and Iron Corporation (Tisco) increased its selling prices by VNĐ150,000 to VNĐ200,000 per tonnes.

    The Việt Nam Steel Association said it was unavoidable for steel producers to raise their prices as power accounted for 8 to 9 per cent of total production costs. In addition, the import prices of iron ore and steel billets were also rising this year, affecting steel production costs.

    Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, head of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Việt Nam (ERAV) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) told a press meeting last week that there were about 1.4 million manufacturing businesses in Việt Nam who spend on average VNĐ12.39 million per month on electricity. The average increase in their power bills would be VNĐ870,000 a month.

    While electricity prices have almost doubled in the last decade, the MoIT said Việt Nam’s electricity prices were 8.1 per cent lower than that of China and India, 18 per cent lower than Laos and 26.5 per cent lower than Indonesia. Even with the latest increase, the prices would only be on par with China and India.

    “Việt Nam’s electricity prices are lower than other countries. It is the reason that foreign investors are not interested in investing in electricity projects in the country,” said deputy minister Hoàng Quốc Vượng.

    However, chief economist of the Bank for Investment and Development of Việt Nam (BIDV) Cấn Văn Lực suggested the Government needs to eliminate cross-subsidising mechanisms for units using electricity.

    At present, industrial sectors consuming large amounts of electricity, accounting for 55 per cent of electricity density, such as cement, iron and steel, are being compensated for electricity prices and only subject to the lowest price of 6.8 cents per kWh. Meanwhile, electricity costs households 8.7 cents per kWh.

    “Currently, consumers using electricity for domestic use as well as service enterprises are compensating a certain amount for industrial production enterprises – that is unfair. When there is fairness, people and businesses will agree and are willing to pay more reasonable electricity prices,” Lực said.

    Read more at https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/507842/electricity-hike-hits-industry-hard.html#CEgTqP3b4CrxPzgm.99

  • How to get leg up on e-tail with digital POP displays

    How to get leg up on e-tail with digital POP displays

    If there’s anything we’ve learned from the “retail apocalypse,” it’s that consumer shopping habits are changing, and fast. More consumers are making purchases online today than ever before, but surprisingly, several still prefer to shop in-store for a range of goods – mostly because of the immediacy factor, shipping savings and a chance to test drive products before purchase. While no one can predict the future, one thing is certain – to stay afloat, traditional brick-and-mortar stores will need to rethink their approach to the in-store experience. Embracing digital point-of-purchase (POP) displays is one strategy, helping retailers attract and engage customers as well as earn their loyalty.  
    POP signage, both digital and static, has not only been shown to catch the consumer’s eye but also to improve the brand experience and ultimately influence purchasing decisions. In a recent report, 62% of shoppers expressed an increased likelihood to search for a product advertised on a POP display during a future visit, with 43% also noting they’d be more likely to purchase it right away. With technology advancing at breakneck speeds and the cost of screens coming down, the digital POP display in particular is quickly becoming more appealing. Here are 5 ways retailers can improve the in-store customer experience this year using digital POP displays:
    1. Make a lasting impression with moving images
    Capturing the attention of consumers amidst everyday distractions is more difficult than ever, but digital POP displays can help retailers break through the noise with moving imagery. Moving imagery in digital signage has proven to be more than two times as effective at yielding an emotional response than static images and also corresponds to greater recall, which can help boost brand loyalty and ultimately revenue.
    1. Encourage relevant impulse purchases
    Digital POP displays help automate the delivery of “in the moment” ads, promos and other content that can improve the consumer’s day-to-day. For example, a digital promo showcasing “50 percent off all jackets” or a “buy one, get one free” offer for a warm beverage on a cold, rainy day can encourage unplanned purchases based on real-time conditions catered to the shopper. This sort of promo is easy to launch on in-store displays with APIs from digital signage providers having made the integration of real-time data into displays simpler and more efficient.
    1. Get interactive
    Digital POP displays can help you create unique experiences that can’t be found elsewhere, which is important, considering 89% of companies expect to compete on the basis of customer experience.  From a virtual dressing room to on-demand assistance and beyond, touchscreen technology can be used to help stores better engage with customers, so that they leave with a more positive brand association.  
    1. Enhance audience targeting with real-time data
    Today’s digital POP displays easily integrate with measurement tools to provide a clearer overview of audience demographics as well as the types of promotions that might appeal to them. This data can be used to display product information or promos that the customer might find useful. In terms of ROI, measurement technology can also provide insight into how many people on average checked out a particular display as well as the duration of each view. It can also be used to generate reports showing correlations between the number of promo plays and total sales of promoted goods.
    1. Highlight loyalty programs
    Today’s consumer is willing to exchange data for deals, with 77% of consumers reporting that loyalty programs make them more likely to be a repeat customer according to Bond Brand Loyalty’s “The Loyalty Report 2018.”This trend has created a loyalty program fever pitch among retailers. Marketing loyalty and membership programs via in-store digital POP displays can help draw attention to related promotions, and also trigger the delivery of relevant creative to individual consumers whenever they scan their card or enter their phone number in-store.
    For retailers investigating digital POP displays as a way to improve their in-store experience and their customer interactions, there are a host of screens and software available that make it easy to deploy and automate the population of content across displays. But, don’t treat this as a technology-only project. Focusing on the shopper experience that you want to deliver or enhance should also be a priority. It’s important to budget for a content strategy and ongoing content production tailored to the context of these screens versus repurposing TV or web content.
    In today’s shifting market, it’s never been more crucial for retailers to put themselves in the shoes of the modern consumer and think outside the box; digital POP displays offer a smart and flexible way to ensure your brand isn’t left in the dust.
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  • Millennials in Singapore eshew power and famefor self-fulfillment and caring for the community

    Millennials in Singapore eshew power and famefor self-fulfillment and caring for the community

    The majority of Singapore millennials are extremely passionate about social causes such as human rights, poverty and helping the elderly, and prefer to gain life experiences when they have the financial means, rather than physical possessions.

    These key insights of millennials were revealed in the inaugural annual FRANK by OCBC survey, the FRANKly Asked Questions, which aims to understand and track four psychographic variables – values, attitudes, interests and desired experiences – of millennials over time. Conducted between January and February 2019, 866 students and young working adults aged 16 to 29 years old were asked a total of 50 questions in an online survey. Forty-five per cent of the respondents were students from all Singapore universities and polytechnics.¹

    An integrated banking programme for millennials in Singapore

    OCBC Bank created the FRANK by OCBC banking programme in 2011. It remains the only programme which provides millennials with banking products and solutions designed for them as they go through milestones in life as tertiary students, to entering the workforce as young professionals. FRANK by OCBC offers millennials deposit accounts, credit and debit cards, insurance, investment products and study loans. The other programme activities in place today include:

    • Financial literacy seminars organised regularly for FRANK by OCBC customers to learn how to invest and manage their finances
    • Helping youths give back to the community

    o   Organising youth dives to clean up the reefs of plastic waste

    o   Supporting campus programmes such as at Prinsep Street Residences, where SMU students organise overseas Community Involvement Programmes and programmes to support the elderly in the Bras Basah area

    • Helping youths prepare for future careers

    o   FRANKpreneurship – learning human-centred design and start-up business principles as they are mentored by The Open Vault at OCBC and different teams in OCBC Bank to tackle real banking challenges

    Insights from the FRANKly Asked Questions survey will help FRANK by OCBC develop more comprehensive programmes on financial literacy and beyond to meet millennials’ holistic needs. They will include:

    • Helping youths to build their wealth

    o   Looking to introduce new investment and insurance products which will be affordable for youths

    o   Organising financial seminars with partners such as SGX to learn the basics of investing

    • Helping youths to raise awareness of environmental issues

    o   Supporting #noplastics initiatives by distributing reusable tote bags at the NUS FRANK store and Cheers and FairPrice outlets at NUS

    Mr Dennis Tan, OCBC Bank’s Head of Consumer Financial Services Singapore, said: “The ‘FRANKly Asked Questions’ is the first FRANK by OCBC survey that we will be conducting annually. The survey has revealed insights into the psyche of millennials today and the values and attitudes they hold dear. In addition to the deep and rich insights that we already have from banking with one in two youths in Singapore, this enables us to tailor products and services that they will find useful at every stage of their lives and help achieve their aspirations.”

    Key Insights from FRANKly Asked Questions (see attached slides)

    Youths are motivated to discover their inner selves, care for their family and society, and are less likely to be materialistic in nature

    o   86% of millennials are motivated to understand their inner selves, compared to being famous (32%)

    o   3 in 4 millennials are concerned about their parents’ finances for retirement, and find it important to help others

    o   Less than half of millennials want to gain physical possessions when they have the money

    They understand the importance of a well-rounded education, value work-life balance at the workplace, and are practical

    o   82% of millennials feel that internships and working experience is crucial; 73% agree that getting a degree is a necessity

    o   Work-life balance is their top consideration for an ideal job

    o   83% of millennials want to secure a job with regular income, rather than start a family (46%) or start a business (37%)

    o   70% of millennials will only consider marriage once their career is stable

    They are generally positive in their financial attitudes, but more could be done to keep them informed and educated about investments and insurance

    o   41% of millennials struggle to stick to their saving plan

    o   While 69% of millennials want to start buying insurance policies and 71% want to start investing, less than half of millennials consider themselves knowledgeable about insurance and investments

    They are interested in bigger societal issues and new technologies, but are less interested in entrepreneurship and freelancing

    o   The top 5 most important social causes millennials care about are human rights (82%), poverty (81%), the environment (79%), helping the elderly (79%) and mental health awareness (79%)

    o   Millennials are more excited about the Internet of Things (73%) and Artificial Intelligence (62%) than going cashless (59%) or self-driving cars (57%)

    o   Less than half of millennials are interested in starting a business in the next five years, or being a freelancer

    They value gaining life experiences to value-add to themselves, and are constantly seeking to broaden their horizons and skillsets

    o   82% of millennials say gaining life experiences will be a priority when they have the financial means

    o   82% want to maintain relevant skillsets, which is their top motivation for pursuing higher education

    o   76% like to try new and different things, and half of them often try out new and trendy restaurants

    New ‘borderless’ FRANK Store at NUS

    The survey comes on the heels of the opening of the fourth and newest FRANK by OCBC Store at the National University of Singapore (NUS) last month. Taking over the space at the Stephen Riady Centre at University Town (UTown), which was previously a sports shop, OCBC Bank won a public tender for the space by offering to build a bank branch to offer students an essential service, and at the same time, add vibrancy to UTown through the creative design and use of the space. Occupying an area of 947 square feet, the FRANK by OCBC Store at NUS is a testament to the deep knowledge and insights FRANK by OCBC boasts in understanding the interests of millennials and integrating banking and financial literacy into their lives to make it accessible and relatable. The new FRANK by OCBC Store integrates features that are desired by millennials – borderless and digital interactions, environmental sustainability and a casual setting for banking.

    Like all other FRANK by OCBC Stores, the Store at NUS is designed differently from a traditional bank branch, making it attractive for students to come into the Store to take their time to browse and ask questions about banking products and services, play games or catch up with their friends over coffee.

    The new Store at NUS is Singapore’s first borderless and open-concept bank branch that does not utilise shutters or barriers after operating hours, and has no teller counters.

    Students interact with banking staff – known as FRANK Ambassadors – at the store’s collaboration areas, and can access the store round-the-clock to study or to get snacks at the cashless vending machine using the OCBC Pay Anyone mobile payments app. A ‘Future of Banking Zone’ highlights new mobile and Internet banking features on the latest iPads and iPhones, and enables students to try out digital banking services, including interacting with chatbot ‘Emma’ about study loans.

    The other FRANK by OCBC stores are located at Singapore Management University, Nanyang Technological University and orchardgateway mall.

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  • Cole Haan Launches GRANDPRØ TURF SNEAKER Collection for Spring 2019

    Cole Haan Launches GRANDPRØ TURF SNEAKER Collection for Spring 2019

    Cole Haan, the innovative American lifestyle brand and retailer, will be introducing its newest dual gender collection, GRANDPRØ TURF, for Spring 2019. Providing the same featherweight construction as the top-selling GRANDPRØ TENNIS SNEAKER, the GRANDPRØ TURF SNEAKER offers retro style in a sports-inspired silhouette with versatile capability to be dressed up or worn casually.

    An instant classic with featherweight construction & retro T-toe styling

    Minimal, lightweight construction means everything you need and nothing you don’t, as the ultralight Grand foam allows you to move effortlessly. Craft, style and engineering combine to deliver Cole Haan’s operating system for footwear, Grand.ØS. Designed to drastically reduce weight, the Grand.ØS technology mimics the foot’s natural flexibility, offers dynamic breathability and provides responsive cushioning for maximum comfort.

    With silhouettes for both men and women, the GRANDPRØ TURF  features Cole Haan’s proprietary Grand.ØS energy foam integrated throughout the shoe and is fitted with a lightweight, injection-molded EVA sole for flexible ease. With the Grand.ØS technology, the sneaker allows for high rebound and lightweight cushioning that complements the natural running gait cycle of your foot.

    With a classic pivot point integrated onto its forefoot tread pattern, the GRANDPRØ TURF is paired with a rubber bottom for comfort and dual colour contrast effect. For retro finish, the sneaker features waxed handstitch detailing and classic T-toe styling in mixed material accents/full grain leather and crafted.

    The GRANDPRØ TURF collection is now available in Cole Haan Paragon and Suntec City stores.

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  • Volkswagen Teases Electric SUV

    Volkswagen Teases Electric SUV

    Volkswagen is all set to bring in the ID. ROOMZZ1 concept at the Auto Shanghai 2019. The ID. ROOMMZZ1 is the next member of the ID family and gives us a glimpse into the company’s upcoming version of a zero emission SUV.

    The production version based on the ID ROOMMZZ1 will first make its debut in the Chinese market in 2021 after which the model will be brought into other global markets. Just like the compact I.D.1, the I.D. CROZZ1, the I.D. BUZZ1, the I.D. VIZZION1 and the I.D. BUGGY1 before it, the sixth member of the fully electric family is based on the modular electric drive matrix and comes laden with innovations.

    The I.D. ROOMZZ1 gets variability in terms of vehicle interior, boasting of new seat configurations, high-quality materials and customizable light. It also gets the IQ.DRIVE systems which will drive the I.D ROOMZZ1. There’s a I.D. Pilot mode too in which the vehicle can be driven autonomously without an active driver which basically hints at a level 4 autonomous vehicle.

    There’s not much information yet about the what powers the ID ROOMZZ1, and what user experience will be like. We will know more about this, once the company showcases the car at the 2019 Auto Shanghai.

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  • Liquid Group partners Changi Airport to roll out world’s first integrated QR Platform

    Liquid Group partners Changi Airport to roll out world’s first integrated QR Platform

    Liquid Group is pleased to announce today that it has entered into an agreement with Changi Airport Group to roll out the integrated acceptance of multiple major QR payment apps by merchants located across all four terminals at Changi Airport.

    The integrated payment platform by Liquid Group will allow retailers at Changi Airport to accept e-wallets such as GrabPay, Liquid Pay, Singtel Dash, Ezi Wallet and PayNow QR bank payment apps, as well as international payment app partners such as WeChat Pay, UnionPay and Alipay.

    Liquid Group’s payment platform will roll out a unified point-of-sales (POS) for QR payments that enable merchants to accept multiple local and international QR payment apps using a single device. Furthermore, with a standardized merchant workflow, participating Changi Airport retailers can accept multiple QR payment apps without additional infrastructure, integration or cashier training when Liquid Group and Changi Airport expand the network to include additional local, overseas and card scheme QR payment apps.

    The platform also enables Changi Airport to launch multiple marketing campaigns with participating payment apps without the need for additional cashier training or verification during checkout.  This provides for a frictionless user experience.

    “Changi Airport strives to continually enhance our passenger’s shopping experience. With the rise in QR payments, launching Liquid Group’s unified QR payment platform not only provides a frictionless payment experience, it will also provide more partnership opportunities with local and overseas e-wallet issuers. In addition, the unified QR payment platform will improve our tenant’s productivity in the areas of staff training, reporting and settlement for QR payments. We are pleased to partner Liquid Group to introduce this convenient payment option at Changi Airport.” – Ms Teo Chew Hoon, Group Senior Vice President at Changi Airport Group

    “Alipay welcomes this initiative and looks forward to further improving the user experience for our consumers at Changi Airport.” – Ms Cherry Huang, General Manager, Alipay South & South East Asia

    “At Grab, we are about providing real choices and more convenience to our customers. As travel gets bigger in Southeast Asia, we are pleased to have GrabPay accepted at all merchants in Changi Airport. Our users from across the region who are already using GrabPay to pay for their transport, food and other daily needs, can now enjoy the same seamless payment experience at the airport and have more opportunities to accumulate GrabRewards points for perks and benefits.” – Mr Gary Wong, Head of GrabPay Singapore

    Changi is the world’s seventh busiest airport for international traffic with over 65 million passenger movements. With the rapid proliferation of QR mobile payment apps across ASEAN, North Asia and South Asia, Liquid Group’s payment platform will enable Changi Airport to spearhead the seamless acceptance of such apps and offer deals to shoppers from different countries.  Retailers and consumers can look forward to an exciting and innovative e-payment journey ahead at Changi Airport.

    This is also in line with the Government’s Smart Nation objective to provide an open, accessible and interoperable national e-payment infrastructure, as well as the adoption of SGQR as the single, standardised QR code for e-payments in Singapore.

    “As one of the world’s leading airports, WeChat Pay is both excited and proud to be part of Changi Airport’s efforts to enhance its merchants’ payment experience. We believe this initiative will help Changi’s merchants gain greater access to the billion users that are active on the WeChat platform” – Team of WeChat Pay, Southeast Asia

    “We’re excited to have Dash accepted at the many merchants in Changi Airport, bringing even more dining and retail choices to our customers. This is an especially perfect fit for us, as we continue to expand our VIA cross-border mobile payment alliance and connect more merchants to travellers. Overseas customers that are part of VIA would be able to enjoy the ease, familiarity and convenience of using their local wallets at Changi Airport, greatly enhancing their retail experience.” – Mr Gilbert Chuah, Head of mCommerce at Singtel

    “The use of QR Code for payments is gaining momentum in Singapore and all across Asia. According to The Future of Payments Study conducted by UnionPay International and Nielsen last year, QR was the most widely-adopted mobile payment method among Singapore consumers, with two-thirds of Singaporeans having used it at least once in the past three months. With the integrated QR and Marketing Platform for merchants at all Changi Airport terminals, we believe that more travellers and Singaporeans alike will get to enjoy greater convenience and ease of payments with UnionPay QR Code, to further heighten their shopping experience at the world’s best airport.” – Mr Wenhui Yang, General Manager, UnionPay International South East Asia

    Jeremy Tan, Founder and CEO of Liquid Group, said: “Promoting the interoperability of mobile payment services is a fundamental part of advancing a cashless society. We are delighted to roll out the largest open QR payment platform at Changi Airport, which provides a unified point-of-sale for the wide range of QR payment apps available. Our vision is to expand this network across the region and create a cross-border platform to facilitate large-scale QR payment transactions and accelerate the adoption of QR payment apps.”

    The roll-out of the new payment platform will be in phases, with the first phase slated to commence in the 1st half of 2019.

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  • TomTom IQ Maps Makes Global Premiere In India With MG Hector

    TomTom IQ Maps Makes Global Premiere In India With MG Hector

    The MG Hector is still a few weeks away from hitting the market but the SAIC-owned brand has taken the wraps off the car’s connectivity and IT services. In a bid to offer a first-in-segment connected car, the MGHector sees the company bring several big names in IT and services together to create its i-smart platform. Besides Microsoft, Cisco, Nuance et al, there is also the world’s leading name in navigation systems – TomTom. And a unique offering from the Netherlands based player is an immediate area-only self-updating new navigation system called IQ Maps. Speaking carandbike Tsjerk-Friso Roelfzema, VP Automotive – Europe & Asia, TomTom said, “You don’t have to do anything, plug in a new CD or DVD, a USB, or go to a dealer. It’s automatically updated in the background, and not just only automatically updated, but only what is relevant to the driver. So we are here in Delhi today, you don’t want to have the updates of your map let’s say in Pune, it’s not relevant. So we update what is relevant to you.”

    TomTom’s self-updating new navigation system called IQ Maps will be introduced with the MG Hector

    The IQ Maps idea is simple. The car will have embedded maps for the whole country as is. But these maps get outdated quickly; especially in a country like India here our road systems are constantly undergoing detours or changes due to fresh construction or improvements in infrastructure. IQ Maps helps the car to provide you with updated and current maps, without worrying about those kinds of changes. And yes the system is in-dash – and will work through the big 10.4″ screen on MG’s i-smart unit.

    It also gives you real-time traffic updates, and will reroute your guidance if there is a traffic jam for instance. It also takes into account any last minute road closures or other changes like say, construction activity. The map is updated accordingly, and is fed with a combination of live and historical data inputs to achieve its levels of accuracy. This has been made possible not just because of the innovation at TomTom’s research centres in Europe and also in Pune, India.

    Of course the enabler here is also the vehicle itself, which would have to provide connectivity, since this is an in-car navigation system and not an external device or phone app. And that connectivity on the MG Hector will come courtesy the embedded eSim card the car will have from the start. This in turn will provide data services to not just update maps and conduct live searches for destinations or points of interest, but also stream music, browse the net or access your email. The eSim will also be the way to contact MG’s call centre where a concierge service can hep you find destinations, or more importantly provide first response in the case of an emergency. And the good news is MG has said the data plan for the buyer if the car will be free.

    TomTom plans to develop the product further both in terms of offering even more layers of sophistication, and also see if it can be offered in standalone navigation devices or as a phone app. But there is another potential area where it could be even more relevant. Roelfzema says, “It is very important today in normal navigation, but especially when you talk about autonomous driving, you really want to know if the road has changed if your car is driving itself. And that’s really important. We need to see when the rest is following, but it is a very exciting moment also for us.”

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  • UNIQLO Announces 19SS UT Collection

    UNIQLO Announces 19SS UT Collection

    The UT collection provides fresh perspectives on an array of pop culture that is perfect for this season, from works by emerging to legendary artists, manga, animations, and other elements of Japanese culture, and games, characters, and other contents. The UT line transforms T-shirts into canvases of art expressing the individuality and tastes of wearers. Offering something for everyone, the range will continue to evolve as exciting and unique LifeWear.

    Giveaway: 500 UTs to be won on UT Trains!

    • From 8 April to 12 May 2019, selected MRT trains on the East-West and North-South lines will be decked out with  UT collections such as JAPAN MANGA, THE GAME by STREET FIGHTER and MARVEL X JASON POLAN.
    • Commuters stand a chance to win a UT by voting for their favourite UT content via the QR code found on the hanger tags on board these special MRT trains.
    • There will be a total of 500 winners who will be notified via email by 19 May 2019.

    New Collection Highlights

    MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM, JAPAN MANGA, and other subculture contents

    ▪      A specially designed UT to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam features key scenes from the first television series, the most impactful for this animation.

    ▪      The UT lineup appeals to everyone, not just fans, such as with items celebrating the manga of Rumiko Takahashi’s “Urusei Yatsura” and “Ranma 1/2”, which are beloved across the generations, as well as items showcasing the hit Detective Conan series in Weekly Shonen Sunday and Weekly Shonen Jump’s wildly popular One Piece.

    Special: Custom Gunpla Display

    ▪      UNIQLO has teamed up with Bandai Namco Singapore and Hobby Art Gallery to put together a one-of-a kind custom Gunpla Kits from local builders.

    ▪      From 25 Mar to 21 Apr 2019, Gundam fans can head to UNIQLO Orchard Central Flagship store to view this special Gunpla Showcase.

    ONE PIECE STAMPEDE UT

    • In collaboration with manga series One Piece and its upcoming 14th film: One Piece Stampede, UNIQLO will be rolling out its ONE PIECE STAMPEDE UT collection in late July.
    • This season, the UT design team and TOEI ANIMATION extended its collaboration to crafting character costume designs supervised by Original author, Eiichiro Oda.

    SUPER MARIO FAMILY MUSEUM UT

    Super Mario has been a favourite worldwide among the young and old, men and women alike, ever since the launch of Super Mario Brothers in 1985. This collection pays tribute to the series that has long been synonymous with video games, with designs that foster communication across generations.

    • The collection features the classic horizontal scroll and 8-bit designs and many of the recurring characters in the series, such as Chain Chomps, Boos, and Goombas.

    Fantasies from the MAGIC FOR ALL collaboration project with Disney

    We continue offering graphics through MAGIC FOR ALL, a global collaboration with Disney Consumer Products that adds a touch of Disney enchantment, Marvel action, Star Wars adventure, and Disney-Pixar creativity to everyday LifeWear fashions.

    ▪      The unique MARVEL X JASON POLAN collaboration highlights such MARVEL superheroes prints as The AVENGERS by renowned New York-based artist Jason Polan.

    ▪      For the third season of MICKEY ART, in addition to Yu Nagaba, we newly harnessed the talents of French graphic designer Genevieve Gauckler, as well as the multi-talented Jeremyville, Esther Kim, the creator of Esther Bunny, and shop signs and graphic artist of NUTS ART WORKS.

    ▪      MICKEY BLUE is inspired by traditional indigo and ocean blue to bring the world together.

    UTs highlighting universally beautiful and sophisticated textile patterns

    ▪      New this season is SCANDINAVIAN PATTERN COLLECTION by northern European designers in various fields. The prints are inspired by simple, everyday life, featuring forest, ocean, and field scenery during the Scandinavian summer.

    ▪      We again showcase the floral motifs of Sanderson, a traditional British interior brand that is renowned for its timeless and elegant designs.

    Redesigned UTs for kids and babies

    ▪      The diverse kids’ UT range incorporates specially redesigned versions of adult UTs for new games, manga, MARVEL X JASON POLAN and other contents. There is also content exclusively for kids, including, SUMIKKOGRASHI and DISCOVERY CHANNEL.

    ▪      For babies, we are adding to our collection of motifs from picture books in which children first interact with art. New designs include Cornelius from picture book master Leo Lionni and prints from David McKee’s ‘Elmer and the Rainbow’.

     

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  • AEON and Robinson present “ROBINSON SUMMER FREE.VER” Songkran celebration campaign

    AEON and Robinson present “ROBINSON SUMMER FREE.VER” Songkran celebration campaign

    Mr. Tula Pharuehaspailin (right), Assistant Vice President Marketing Credit Card Promotion of AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited together with Mr. Miti Chanyawong (left), General Manager Sales Promotion of Robinson Public Company Limited, announced the “ROBINSON SUMMER FREE.VER” campaign in celebration of the upcoming Songkran festival. Special promotions include the best prices on summer items, along with a discount coupon of up to 40% off. Exclusively for AEON credit cardholders, receive cash back up to 30,000 baht, with 10 chances to win a gold necklace, when spending up to 1,000 baht. The special offer is valid from today until 2 June, 2019 at all Robinson Department Store nationwide.

  • Telcos to use AI to fight SMS fraud and drive A2P messaging revenue

    Telcos to use AI to fight SMS fraud and drive A2P messaging revenue

    Juniper Research is forecasting that total operator revenues from A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging services will reach $62 billion by 2023, up from $43 billion in 2019.  This represents a growth of 42% over the next 4 years.

    The research firm also claimed that revenue growth will be driven by operator efforts in mitigating messaging fraud over grey routes, alongside the emergence of rich-media messaging technologies including RCS (Rich Communications Suite).

    The Juniper research, A2P Messaging: SMS, RCS & OTT Business Messaging 2019-2023, also found that increased investment in SMS firewalls and AI (Artificial Intelligence) will drive down operator loss due to grey route SMS messages to $4 billion by 2023. This represents a fall from $10 billion in 2019, further contributing to operators’ messaging revenue growth over the next four years.

    Grey route SMS includes A2P messages disguised as P2P (Peer-to-Peer) traffic to exploit the lower costs compared to directly connected A2P SMS. Juniper estimates that 24% of A2P SMS messages will be delivered via grey routes in 2019, however efforts in improving SMS firewall capabilities will drive this down to below 10% by 2023.

    Meanwhile, RCS business messaging will account for under 10% of operators’ A2P messaging revenue by 2023. However, the research claimed that RCS business users will continue to use SMS for simple notifications, such as OTPs (One Time Passwords) owing to the low cost and simplicity. The research identified the integration of mobile payment capabilities directly into the RCS client to provide a differentiation point to SMS and increase RCS traffic.

    Research author Sam Barker added “RCS will provide operators with additional revenue opportunities beyond simple message termination. Operators must explore the advertising ecosystem and mobile payments over RCS to exploit their substantial subscriber bases to generate fresh revenue streams.”

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  • Fortnum & Mason To Open Store and Restaurant in Hong Kong

    Fortnum & Mason To Open Store and Restaurant in Hong Kong

    Fortnum & Mason, the British retail and hospitality brand, is pleased to announce  the opening of a new site in K11 MUSEA, a unique retail destination situated in the heart of Hong Kong’s US$2.6billion Victoria Dockside redevelopment. The Fortnum’s shop and restaurant will open in September 2019.

    This opening represents a significant milestone for the business as the first Fortnum’s store and restaurant concept outside of the UK. Responding to the thriving international demand for Fortnum’s products, service and hospitality,  the shop and restaurant are set to complement its current retail partnerships across Asia including Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, Isetan Mitsukoshi in Japan and, most recently, Shinsegae in South Korea. It marks the continued development of the business and creates an opportunity to extend its best selling products to new and existing customers in Hong Kong, Mainland China and beyond.

    “Fortnum’s is a business which, for centuries, has thrived on delivering a sense of pleasure for our customers. Building on our 47 years of experience in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, our latest expansion in Asia is an important next step for us, as we extend our reach further across the world ” says Kate Hobhouse, Chairman of Fortnum & Mason. “We have seen significant appetite for the Fortnum’s brand and products in the region, with impressive year-on-year sales growth. We are therefore incredibly proud to continue our record of investment and growth by expanding our business into new markets, and reinforcing our support for amazing producers and suppliers  and creating new job opportunities.”

    “We are excited to establish our presence in Asia in such a pioneering development. K11 MUSEA, a unique retail destination in Hong Kong, speaks to the growing consumer demand for immersive experiences of art, culture and commerce,” says Ewan Venters, CEO of Fortnum’s. “As a business with creativity and innovation at its core, we believe that our partnership with K11 MUSEA is a natural fit for us.”

    The latest evolution in Fortnum’s 312-year history, this announcement marks the ongoing growth of the retailer following its most recent opening at the Royal Exchange in London. As with previous store and restaurant openings, Fortnum’s is proud its continued growth creates new job opportunities both at home and in the region, with c.90 new roles in Hong Kong. This also represents a significant opportunity for Fortnum’s British suppliers who produce 86% of the retailer’s products in the UK.

    The beautifully designed 7000 sq. ft. space will include a store, featuring an edit of Fortnum’s most cherished products, from Tea, Biscuits and Wine, to joy-giving gifts such as champagne and stunning teaware and of course people will be able to enjoy the award winning hospitality of Fortnum’s in the restaurant upstairs while taking in the stunning views across the iconic Hong Kong harbour.

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  • Gianvito Rossi Opens Its First SEA Flagship Store in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands

    Gianvito Rossi Opens Its First SEA Flagship Store in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands

    The boutique is a further step in the collaboration between Gianvito Rossi and Milan based architect, Patricia Urquiola. The three backlit logos attract attention towards Gianvito Rossi’s refined world whilst the grand shop window, purposefully designed bilaterally, is the perfect showcase for the designer’s elegant collections.

    As each Gianvito Rossi store retains its unique flavour and individual characteristics, a single undercurrent unites each location reflecting the valued codes of the brand: elegance, feminity, and modernity, as well as impeccable quality and craftsmanship.

    Gianvito Rossi is now open to the public and is located at B1-86/87, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

  • M1 taps UOB for QR code payment

    M1 taps UOB for QR code payment

    Singapore operator M1 has partnered with the nation’s United Overseas Bank (UOB) to offer PayNow as a payment mode for M1 customers.

    Under the agreement, M1 customers can now make mobile payments for purchases via PayNow at all M1 Shop outlets, as well as make monthly bill payments via PayNow by scanning the QR Code on the bill.

    M1 is the first communications provider in Singapore to enable retail customers to make e-payments via PayNow, providing customers with an additional payment option, in addition to existing payment modes. UOB is the key provider of PayNow Corporate services to M1, and will help enable the safe and hassle-free scan-and-pay experience for M1’s customers.

    To pay for in-store purchases, customers need to scan a dynamic QR Code that is generated at the counter using the mobile banking application of any PayNow participating banks with QR scanning functionality. Customers can also use PayNow to pay for their monthly bills by scanning the dynamic QR code on their bill statement. Customers can complete the payment by confirming the transaction details that have been automatically filled in, such as the payment amount and recipient.

    “Today, about eight in 10 consumers in Singapore have adopted e-payments and PayNow is a very convenient e-payment platform which will enhance our customers’ payment experience. This new initiative is one of many, as part of our digitalization journey to deliver a seamless digital experience for our customers,” M1 CMO  P. Subramaniam said.

  • Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly joins Vietjet at the ceremony in Toulouse

    Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly joins Vietjet at the ceremony in Toulouse

    Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and her fellow dignitaries from the National Assembly attended the delivery ceremony for Vietjet’s brand new A321neo, registered as VN-A600 at Airbus’s factory in Toulouse (France) yesterday.

    This visit by the delegation of National Assembly of Vietnam to the aircraft manufacturing factory underscores the deep commitment of Vietnam’s national leaders to support the development of Vietnam’s aviation industry and other affairs related to technology transfer and strategic cooperation within the industry.

    During the visit, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, asserted in her speech that Vietjet has been a pioneering airline which has positively contributed to the development of the national and regional aviation industry. She also noted that the Vietnamese aviation industry has been growing continuously while Vietjet has been among the fastest growing airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. As a result, Vietnam’s economy has benefited greatly from the contribution of tourism and investment segments.

    Kindly find enclosed the press release alongside the accompanying images for your perusal and use.

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