Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Finance Magnates’ 2016 Summit Kicks Off in Downtown London

    Finance Magnates’ 2016 Summit Kicks Off in Downtown London

    The highly anticipated Finance Magnates London Summit kicked off today at The Brewery in the heart of the online trading industry. For five years now Finance Magnates has been hosting the prestigious event that has seen over two thousand attendees on an annual basis.

    2016 has been a very unique year for the foreign exchange and broader financial industry with two seismic events potentially redefining the current status quo. With the Brexit referendum in the UK and the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in the US, the industry seems primed for a shakeup, and the biggest names and players worldwide are now together under one roof to discuss the issues.

    Summit Kicks Off

    The event began with the Networking Blitz Opening Party today, which saw over 1,000 individuals attend. The Blitz is the first part of the two-day Summit, which features over 2,000 attendees and 90 exhibitors at a prestigious London venue. Industry elites were able to enjoy a wide range of refreshments and entertainment, as well as several attractions such as in the Institutional Lounge and more.

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    What to Expect on Day 2

    Looking beyond today, the second day of the summit features a full schedule of panels, seminars, and workshops, including roundtable discussions between some of the industry’s most recognizable figures. Attendees will be able to explore and immerse themselves in a wide range of topics, including the adoption of data driven market intelligence, blockchain technology, the influence of the upcoming MiFID II regulation, retention management, and much more.

    In addition to a plethora of different topics and events, the Finance Magnates London Summit will also include multiple workshops and exclusive product launches. Attendees are invited to take part in each of these presentations, which will be capped by the Finance Magnates Awards ceremony tomorrow evening. The winning brokers, providers, and other groups will be announced at the ceremony – only London Summit registered attendees, the gold standard of the executive level of the global industry, are given the privilege of participating in the voting process, ensuring a truly transparent and representative competition.

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  • Village for Cafe Amazon’s Japan launch

    Village for Cafe Amazon’s Japan launch

    Rather than a big city, Thai coffee-shop chain Cafe Amazon has chosen a village for its launch into Japan.

    More than 200km from Tokyo, Kawauchi in the Fukushima prefecture has fewer than 2000 residents, and the community is still struggling to recover from the 2011 nuclear disaster.

    Cafe Amazon Japan store

    Kawauchi is about 25km away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which had meltdowns after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. The village was temporarily evacuated, with about 30 per cent of the registered population of 2700 yet to return.

    However, Thai state oil and gas company PTT, which owns the Cafe Amazon chain, believes that starting out in such a location could help to raise brand awareness.

    PTT president/chief executive Kevin Vongvanich, who travelled from Bangkok to attend the Kawauchi shop’s opening ceremony, says the company hopes to open other branches across Japan.

    Cafe Amazon Japan open

    He says one of PTT’s objectives in Kawauchi is to gather consumer feedback. “We have a special coffee designed for the Japanese – a bit lighter than coffee in Thailand. The testing will provide us with information so we can adapt our coffee to suit Japanese tastes.”

    Cafe Amazon is using the same Thai beans it offers in its 1600 domestic outlets. A basic cup of coffee in Kawauchi sells for 250 yen (US$2.30), and the 60-seat shop resembles a wooden house, with customers being asked to leave their shoes at the entrance.

    Japanese building materials maker Codomo Energy, which has a factory in Kawauchi, has the Cafe Amazon franchise for Japan, and the partners plan to open several more branches next year, starting in Osaka.

    For Kawauchi, the cafe represents a rare investment from outside the community. At the opening ceremony, Mayor Yuko Endo said he hoped more outsiders would visit the village because of the cafe.

  • Military minimall for US troops in Korea

    Military minimall for US troops in Korea

    A $6.2 million US military minimall has been officially opened for troops relocating to an expandedCamp Humphreys in South Korea.

    The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) centre includes fast-food restaurants, a barber shop and a retail store, across the street from a new barracks at the US Army garrison 88km south of Seoul. This means soldiers will no longer need to take a bus to the central food court and commissary that previously served the whole post.

    Soldiers at the opening ceremony were told the minimall will save them time and help alleviate queues and crowding. The complex also is near a chapel, theatre and gym.

    Its 124-seat dining room has a Starbucks, Subway and Taco Bell. There is also a dry cleaner, an eight-chair barber shop and a grocery store that also sells other items.

    Construction of the almost 24,000 sqft (2229 sqm) building three years ago, with the South Korean government paying $4.4 million and the AAFES $1.8 million. The South Korean government is funding most of the $10.7 billion overall expansion project.

    AAFES regional senior VP Karin Duncan says four more amenities will open late next year, including a 300,000 sqft post exchange.

    The US has about 28,500 serving military in South Korea, which remains technically at war with the North after the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice instead of a peace treaty.

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  • Retail decline in China, says Fitch report

    China’s traditional retail industry is continuing to decline with demand likely to “remain muted” into next year, according to a new Fitch report.

    The credit rating agency’s report covers shops and and department stores.

    “Not only are shopping preferences changing, but declining consumer sentiment affected retail sales in several categories this year,” analysts Yee Man Chin and Cathy Chao say in the report. “We think the rapid change in shopping formats will increase competition, and therefore expect persistent weak sales for traditional retailers as consumer preferences evolve.”

    In the first nine months of this year, the top 50 domestic retailers saw sales fall 1.9 per cent, representing a slowdown in growth of 2.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the China National Business Information Centre.

    Despite the country’s middle class expanding, sentiment has been dampened by a devalued renminbi and the economic slowdown, says Chin and Chao. Shoppers are now increasingly favouring eCommerce, which makes up 20 per cent of the country’s retail sector, and shopping malls over traditional channels such as department stores and street-level stores.

    This is reducing profitability for retailers who run their own stores with a fixed cost base for rent and staff, the analysts say.

    While the retail sector expanded 10.4 per cent in the first-three quarters of the year, the growth was largely from online sales, which surged 26.1 per cent year-on-year to 3.5 trillion yuan (US$513.8 billion), according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    Same-store sales for Parkson Retail Group fell 9.7 per cent in the first half, while for the Golden Eagle Retail Group the drop was 8.7 per cent. Chinese shopping centre group Intime Retail, which is backed by Alibaba, had a 3.7 per cent fall in sales in the first nine months of the year.

    More competitive

    Weakness in the industry is making the retail environment increasingly competitive, say Chin and Chao. “Retailers can gain an edge by improving their product mixes, because certain industry segments such as sporting goods are continuing to grow.”

    Sports companies went through consolidation in 2012, and with consumers becoming more health-conscious, suppliers like 361 Degrees International “should benefit accordingly from sales growth,” says the Fitch report. A Chinese athletics brand, 361 Degrees has seen same-store sales growth rebound by more than 5 per cent since 2013.

    Traditional retailers are also resorting to new tactics to attract customers. These include “experimental shopping” whereby outlets increase their F&B, lifestyle and entertainment options, as well as linking online-to-offline shopping capabilities, the analysts say.

    Through “gimmicks” and technology adoption, retailers can draw millennial and middle-class shoppers by offering digital and personalised shopping, says Colliers International (Hong Kong) associate director of research Joanne Lee.

    “We believe technology will come into the market, and artificial intelligence or virtual reality will enhance the shopping experience,” she says.
    Her colleague director Daniel Shih says social media will be a focal point for the future, for both retailers and shopping centres.

    These strategies have been evident in the roll-out of the annual Singles Day shopping event hosted by Alibaba, reports the South China Morning Post.

    While retailers can take steps to reduce costs, such as reducing inventory or closing stores, Fitch says the structural challenges facing the retail sector are likely to persist.

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  • HDR key to offsetting profit erosion

    HDR key to offsetting profit erosion

    High dynamic range, also known as HDR, is a new category of 4K TVs that emerged in 2016. HDR TV shipments will reach more than 4 million units in 2016 and growth to more than 30 million units by 2020, according to research firm IHS Markit.

    The market for HDR compatible TVs, defined as any sets compatible with basic HDR formats but using standard dynamic range displays, will be as much as four times larger. By 2020, IHS Markit expects that nearly all of the 112 million 4K TVs shipped worldwide will be compatible with HDR, but only 30 percent will have true HDR performance capabilities.

    Worldwide demand for 4K TVs continues to grow even though total TV shipments will decline slightly in 2016. The lack of unit volume growth in the total market and continuous price erosion, especially for categories like 4K, is a concern for TV manufacturers and retailers. New display technologies like HDR hold promise for improving ASPs and profits, but only if the technology and its benefits are communicated well to consumers.

    “As with many new technologies in the TV market, the ability to introduce them to consumers in a way that communicates the value is crucial to achieving lasting premiums and profits,” said Paul Gagnon, Director of TV sets research for IHS Technology.

    “In the case of HDR, only some sets have enhanced display performance that can allow the consumer to see the benefit, while the rest will have little discernable difference to consumers, who may become confused about the value of HDR as a result,” said Gagnon.

    Standard dynamic range, or SDR, TVs will shrink rapidly as a segment within the 4K TV market, but remain the only choice for HD and 1080p resolution TVs as HDR benefits are featured primarily with 4K content.

    The 4K TV market is growing quickly from 55 million units in 2016 to more than 100M units by 2019, achieving 100 percent share of 50-inch and larger TV shipments by 2019. As with many new TV technologies like 4K, HDR is featured in larger screen sizes where the additional costs are supported by larger premiums. More than 80% of HDR TV shipments will come from 50-inch and larger screen sizes.

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  • Chinese shoppers lead way in digital commerce

    Chinese shoppers lead way in digital commerce

    While digital commerce is strong in the world’s two largest economies, Chinese shoppers use smartphones and tablets more than shoppers in the US.

    This is shown in a new study from IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) and IAB China, Understanding Digital Commerce in the US and China. Conducted by consulting firm Hypothesis Group, the research shows that both China and the US have achieved near-full adoption of digital commerce, with 89 per cent of Chinese digital users aged from 18 years upward and 84 per cent of US digital users in the same age bracket saying they had bought a product or service digitally over the previous 12 months.

    When it comes to mobile commerce, China leads the way in several areas:

    • 67 per cent of Chinese digital users had made a mobile purchase over the previous 12 months vs 34 per cent of US digital users.
    • 24 per cent of Chinese mobile shoppers purchase via mobile every day vs 15 per cent of US mobile shoppers.
    • 89 per cent of Chinese mobile shoppers are interested in making a mobile purchase over the next month vs 78 per cent of U.S. mobile shoppers.
    • 59 per cent of all monthly purchases in China are digital compared to 42 per cent in the US. Of those purchases, 48 per cent are made via mobile in China, while mobile commerce accounts for 26 per cent in the US.

    Plentiful cross-channel opportunities are available in both markets, says the report, with a similar percentage of Chinese and US digital shoppers using both digital and offline channels when deciding on a purchase (31 per cent in China vs 29 per cent in the US).

    Digital research

    Chinese shoppers are more likely to research and compare prices digitally while within a physical store, with 38 per cent saying they do so all the time or most of the time, while 23 per cent of US shoppers do the same. They are also more likely to use more than one digital device over the course of the purchase process (67 per cent China vs 43 per cent US).

    Americans tend to favour multi-product retailers when buying digitally, with 72 per cent of US digital shoppers buying from one of these outlets compared to 61 per cent of Chinese shoppers. Meanwhile, Chinese digital shoppers are more likely to buy from sites or apps that highlight discounts (63 per cent China vs 37 per cent US) or that let them compare prices from different sites or apps (51 per cent China vs 29 per cent US).

    Chinese shoppers are also more likely to make a purchase via a messaging app (29 per cent China vs 16 per cent US), while US shoppers are more likely to buy via auction sites (33 per cent US vs 25 per cent China).

    When it comes to making a purchase, American shoppers are much more likely to use a credit or debit card (63 per cent US vs 34 per cent China on computer; 37 per cent US vs 6 per cent China on mobile). In China, payment is much more likely to be through a digital payment service like PayPal or WePay (47 per cent China vs 15 per cent US on computer; 36 per cent China vs 17 per cent US on mobile) or a mobile wallet service like Apple Pay (21 per cent China vs 2 per cent  US).

    Security concerns

    While these numbers indicate strong adoption of digital shopping, obstacles still remain, says the report. The main concern is security, with only 13 per cent of Chinese digital shoppers and 30 per cent of US digital shoppers feeling completely safe shopping digitally. While American shoppers are mainly concerned about information safety and privacy, Chinese shoppers fear digital fraud and scams.

    The top benefits of digital shopping are listed as including convenience, ease of use, price and selection.

    “This study confirms that mobile is a crucial and growing part of the eCommerce experience,” says IAB senior VP/GM mobile and video, Anna Bager. “While China has always been a mobile-first culture, as its initial adoption of the internet was driven by mobile devices, we are now seeing tremendous year-over-year upticks in terms of mobile growth in the US. We expect to see that trend extend to US mobile commerce going forward.”

    IAB China head Chen Yong, who is also secretary-general of the Interactive Internet Advertising Committee of China (IIACC), says it is vital to note how much commerce happens on small screens.

    “Marketers who want to reach Chinese shoppers need to follow their lead by investing in mobile advertising so they can bring their messages to the right people at the right time and right location.”

    The IAB comprises more than 650 media and technology companies responsible for selling, delivering and optimising digital advertising or marketing campaigns.

  • Jaguar Electrifies With I-PACE Concept Car

    Jaguar Electrifies With I-PACE Concept Car

    Jaguar’s engineering and design teams have torn up the rule book to create a bespoke electric architecture, matched with dramatic design. The result is no-compromise smart, five seat sports car and a performance SUV in one.

    Ian Callum, Director of Design, said: “The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of electric vehicle design. It’s a dramatic, future-facing cab-forward design with a beautiful interior – the product of authentic Jaguar DNA, electric technology and contemporary craftsmanship.

    “Our virtual reality reveal today has pushed technology boundaries as well, and captures the hi-tech essence of the concept car. We only have one concept car and it is in LA for the reveal. For the first time, VR has allowed us to share it across the globe in the most immersive way possible.”

    This unique and world-first ‘social VR’ reveal is believed to be the largest live and connected VR event of its type to date. Throughout the day more than 300 guests were transported into a specially created life-like virtual space, into which, two of the car’s creators, Ian Callum and Ian Hoban were projected.

    From VR hubs in Los Angeles and London, groups of 66 guests including A-list stars Michelle Rodriguez, Miranda Kerr, James Corden and David Gandy, used HTC Vive Business Edition headsets, powered by Dell Precision workstations, to put themselves inside the concept car and interact live with other participants. Guests ‘sat’ on the concept’s virtual seats, had a 360[0] view of Venice Beach as the concept was built piece by piece around them, and saw the I-PACE Concept race towards them across a virtual desert.

    Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “This is an uncompromised electric vehicle designed from a clean sheet of paper: we’ve developed a new architecture and selected only the best technology available.”

    The I-PACE Concept transforms the electric driving experience and offers the driver-focused performance and response Jaguar is renowned for. To help deliver this, the I-PACE has electric motors on the front and rear axles. Their combined output is 400PS and 700Nm of torque – the same torque rating as the F-TYPE SVR, accelerating from 0-60mph in around four seconds. For rapid charging, using a typical public 50 KW DC charging network, a full charge will take just over 2 hours – enough to deliver more than 220 miles range.

    The virtual reality experience also allowed participants to sit in the front and rear of the Jaguar I-PACE Concept and explore the beautiful interior, discovering hidden details and features.

    Ian Callum said: “The interior of the I-PACE Concept is finished with beautiful, premium materials and an unwavering attention to detail. From the expansive panoramic glass roof to the sporting, beautifully finished seats, every feature bears the hallmark of British craftsmanship.”

    Renowned VR Director, Alexander Horton, led the creative direction. Participants experienced the car being built around them, speeding towards them and appearing to fall to Earth from another planet – clearly signalling the future-forward nature of the revolutionary Jaguar.

    The new and exciting VR platform pushed the boundaries further than ever before, with the inclusion of social interaction and a live presenter broadcast into a single VR world, so groups in both LA and London were able to communicate and interact with one another.

    The VR content from the reveal will now be available on Vive Port through a dedicated Jaguar app allowing consumers to experience the I-PACE Concept at home.

    Jaguar joined forces with VR leaders HTC, Computer experts Dell and Creative agencies ReWind and Imagination to create the world’s largest, global, connected VR experience.

    Hervé Fontaine, Vice President Virtual Reality B2B and Business Development at HTC said: “Jaguar Land Rover is renowned for its innovative spirit, and with Vive Business Edition we’re thrilled to be the virtual reality partner to help bring to life their latest launch. With the blend of cinematics and Vive’s room-scale VR technology, the I-PACE Concept VR experience offers an incredible level of immersion, and showcases an exciting reimagining of the traditional car launch as we know it.”

    Rahul Tikoo, Vice President and General Manager for Dell Precision, said: “Dell has long been involved in VR, and we’ve been evolving our business model to introduce solutions that are optimized for the future of VR. The Jaguar I-PACE Concept, designed and introduced with VR, reinforces the incredible innovation that’s possible with VR technologies and the potential to ultimately transform industries.”

    Ross Wheeler, Head of Automotive at Imagination, said: “For the first time in history, a global automotive brand has used fully immersive VR to launch their latest car. This launch takes the individual far beyond any new car experience they would have witnessed before, allowing people across the globe to connect in real time, be fully immersed within the vehicle and share live together their experience of Jaguar’s first ever electric vehicle.”

    “Jaguar, by embracing cutting-edge technology in this way, has created an experience rich and rewarding for its consumers. It has undoubtedly redefined the future of how automotive brands introduce their new vehicles to customers.”

    The Concept will make its first public physical appearance at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday 16 November.

  • Jamie Oliver to announce its opening for the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie Oliver to announce its opening for the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Thailand

    Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver is pleased to announce its opening head chef for the first Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Thailand, set to open in the fourth quarter of this year. Alex Barman, a dynamic and passionate chef with more than 11 years of culinary experience, will be leading the kitchen team as head chef of Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery.

    Born in North Wales, UK, Alex started working in restaurants at a young age while still studying, beginning his culinary career as a kitchen assistant in a local hotel restaurant, and then progressing to be a sous chef in a local bistro, and head chef for Whitbread Group in Cardiff. In 2010 he joined the Jamie’s Italian family in Cardiff as a commis chef, moving swiftly through the ranks and taking his first head chef role for Jamie’s Italian in Cheltenham and Birmingham. He was also a member of the training support team for the opening of Jamie’s Italian Westfield, Stratford near the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. Alex moved to Singapore three and a half years ago to open the first Jamie’s Italian in Asia in VivoCity, where he started as the sous chef and was quickly promoted to head chef. In 2015, he moved to Bali as head chef for the new restaurant, Jamie’s Italian Kuta Beach.

    “Everything we serve is made with care,” Alex Barman, the head chef of Jamie’s Italian Siam Discovery said. “Good food is as the heart of everything we do. We are fully committed to supporting Jamie’s fight for better food worldwide, and his mission to make good food accessible for everyone.”

    As with all Jamie’s Italian outlets, the Siam Discovery restaurant will remain committed to sourcing only the best free­range, sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients. The restaurant will also work closely with Thai farmers to showcase local, responsibly grown produce.

    Alex said: “One of the most exciting parts of the job so far has been sourcing ingredients that fit in with Jamie Oliver’s food ethos. It’s not always easy, but it is always enjoyable as I have been able to meet some really amazing people. I am very passionate about sourcing and working with great local suppliers who are as passionate about great ingredients and the food ethos behind them, as I am. I’m really looking forward to seeing these ingredients feature throughout our menu.”

    “Since moving to Asia I’ve always wanted to work in Thailand and experience the culture, people and amazing local food on a regular basis, not just for a holiday, as you never really get to experience the real country and people on short breaks. It’s such a diverse and dynamic country with big differences from one province to another, making it very exciting to travel around and experience all the country has to offer. I love cities and actively seek to work and live in big, bustling, dynamic cities in which Bangkok has to be one of the best so far I’ve lived in.”

    Alex said: “Jamie’s Italian food is simple, rustic and inspired by dishes eaten all over Italy, delivered to the local market at affordable prices, which means it’s great for any occasion. I will also be creating some fantastic daily specials, maximising ingredients I can get at short notice from local markets and suppliers. I’m really looking forward to using some of the interesting products that are available here to create some brilliant dishes, with a new brigade of talented local chefs, and seeing our first guests enjoy our food.”

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  • Netflix, Amazon top spenders on programming

    Netflix, Amazon top spenders on programming

    Netflix and Amazon have ramped up their investment in programming, spending $7.5 billion last year—more than CBS, HBO, Turner and most countries, including South Korea and Australia.

    According to IHS Markit, Netflix and Amazon more than doubled their annual expenditure on programming between 2013 and 2015.

    Amazon spending jumped from $1.2 billion in 2013 to $2.7 billion in 2015. In the same timeframe, Netflix spending rose from $2.4 billion to $4.9 billion.

    “The levels of investment we are seeing from Netflix and Amazon are only topped by Disney ($11.8 billion) and NBC ($10.3 billion),” said Tim Westcott, senior principal analyst at IHS Technology.

    Other online platforms like Hulu in the US and China’s Youku Toudu, iQifyi and Tencent have also increased their investment in original programming and acquisitions.

    “In what Netflix calls the era of internet TV, more and more consumers are watching content online, shaking the foundations of the traditional TV industry,” Westcott said. “However, it’s premature to declare that the era of linear TV is already over, and Netflix and Amazon have come hard on the heels of a boom in production of original drama and comedy by the likes of AMC and FX in the US.”

    After the US, the mature Western European region is the next most important, investing $38.6 billion, or just under one-third of the total. The biggest markets in Western Europe were the United Kingdom with $10.7 billion, Germany ($7.3 billion), France ($6.6 billion) and Italy ($4.6 billion).

    “Notably, China is now the second-largest market in the Asia-Pacific region, with $8.4 billion invested last year,” Westcott said.

    Japan is the largest in the region with $9.8 billion, followed by South Korea ($2.6 billion), Australia and India—both on $2.4 billion. Leading Latin American markets are Mexico ($1.5 billion) and Brazil ($1.4 million). Canada invested $3.4 billion last year. Russia and Turkey were both around the $900 million mark.

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  • Aldi in Asia launch

    Aldi in Asia launch

    German discount supermarket Aldi is set to enter China, and broader Asia, using Australia as a springboard.

    Aldi in Asia will initially sell groceries and wine online to China in the first half of next year, with stores expected to open later, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

    The site will sell shelf-stable groceries and wine, with most products sourced from the group’s Australian suppliers, says a spokeswoman.

    German retail blog Lebensmittel Zeitung, however, says Aldi intends to create “a truly local assortment” with German products as a “topping”.

    In Australia, the spokeswoman says there is a strong demand among Chinese consumers for Australian-made products.

    “Aldi has been active in the China market for several years undertaking detailed feasibility studies regarding potential market-entry options. This work has resulted in the decision to start retail operations in the China market initially with an eCommerce offering.”

    She says Aldi will start selling a “carefully selected” range of everyday grocery items to Chinese consumers via an online retailing platform, with products delivered to their homes.

    With a presence already throughout Europe as well as Australia, Britain and the US, Aldi is turning to Asia to maintain growth.

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  • Matahari Department Store Launches MatahariStore.com

    Matahari Department Store Launches MatahariStore.com

    The launch of MatahariStore.com has provided more opportunities for the company and for the development of online and retail industries in Indonesia as research from Google and Temasek shows that e-commerce will contribute to nearly 60 percent of Indonesia’s overall online market, leaving behind online ticketing and ride-hailing booking services.

    “Through the retail stores, mobile applications and now with the newly-launched online platform, we believe that we can become an omni-channel retail player,” Christian said.

    MatahariMall.com will run all MatahariStore.com transactions and will provide content, a secure payment system and delivery of products.

    MatahariStore.com will also implement an online to offline strategy — which allows customers to shop online and pick up their goods at the retailer’s nearest delivery hub — with features that allow customers to pay, receive and return products at any of Mataharimall.com’s 649 delivery hubs across Indonesia.

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  • Vodafone India to launch 4G in 8 more circles

    Vodafone India to launch 4G in 8 more circles

    Vodafone India has revealed plans to roll out 4G services in eight additional telecoms circles by March 2017, giving it a 4G presence in 17 of India’s 22 service areas.

    The operator aims to deploy 4G in 2,400 additional towns over the next four months, in the circles of of Maharashtra and Goa, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh West, Assam and North East.

    Vodafone’s SuperNet 4G service already covers nine circles – Mumbai, Delhi and NCR, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh East and West Bengal.

    Vodafone was the biggest winner of India’s recent $9.8 billion spectrum auction, securing 2x 82.6MHz of FDD and 200MHz of TDD spectrum across the 1800-MHz, 2100-MHz and 2500-MHz bands. The auction gave the company 4G capability in 17 of India’s 22 telecoms circles.

    Now the company plans to leverage this spectrum to expand its 4G network. This will allow Vodafone to better compete against disruptive new pan-India 4G operator Reliance Jio Infocomm, which has been shaking up the market with its mobile data focused approach. Jio’s unlimited voice and SMS plans threaten to further cut into existing Indian mobile operators’ low margins.

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  • TV, video viewing shifts rapidly towards mobility

    TV, video viewing shifts rapidly towards mobility

    Average viewing times on mobile devices has grown by more than 200 hours a year since 2012, driving up overall TV and video viewing by an additional 1.5 hours a week, according to the latest Ericsson ConsumerLab TV & Media Report.

    The surge in mobile viewing is offset with a decline in fixed screen viewing of 2.5 hours a week, however the appetite for TV and video is not waning.

    Weekly share of time spent watching TV and video on mobile devices has grown by 85% (2010-2016). On fixed screens it has gone down by 14% over the same period.

    Also, 40% of consumers globally are “very interested” in a mobile data plan that includes unrestricted video streaming.

    In the US, 20% of mobile viewing is paid-for content using services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

    A major issue is low consumer satisfaction when trying to find something to watch, 44% of US consumers say they can’t find anything to watch on linear TV on a daily basis, an increase of 22% compared with last year (36%).

    In contrast, US consumers spend 45% more time choosing what to watch on VOD services than linear TV.

    Paradoxically, 63% of consumers claim that they are very satisfied with content discovery when it comes to their VOD service, while only 51% say the same for linear TV.

    The findings suggest that although the VOD discovery process is more time consuming than with linear broadcast TV, consumers rate it as less frustrating, as it implicitly promises the opportunity to find something they want to watch, when they want to watch it.

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  • Oppo Joins Hands with Tokopedia

    Oppo Joins Hands with Tokopedia

    OPPO has officially established a partnership with e-commerce company Tokopedia to market its best products, such as its best-selling product OPPO F1s.

    “Our cooperation with Tokopedia is an added value to our customers throughout Indonesia,” OPPO Indonesia CEO Ivan Lau.

    Ivan said that OPPO’s customers who cannot be reached by OPPO’s physical stores will be able to get OPPO products through Tokopedia. In addition, he said, OPPO’s excellent sales volume in Tokopedia had also been factored in. “It was one of the reasons behind the strategic cooperation with Tokopedia.”

    Tokopedia CEO William Tanuwijaya said that Tokopedia users, known as Toppers, will be able to enjoy the ease of payment for OPPO products, ranging from cash payments via convenience stores and post offices to interest-free credit card installments.

    Tokopedia boasts two million pageviews per month, making it as one of the best distribution channels for many brands, including OPPO.

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  • Indonesia can weather financial market volatility

    Indonesia can weather financial market volatility

    Despite concerns about volatility in the financial markets for the remainder of the year, experts are upbeat that Indonesia can withstand the turmoil, citing sound fiscal and monetary conditions as the prime driver of hope.

    The domestic bond market is particularly a concern as investors will remain jittery over how the global economy will develop given the lack of clarity in the policies of US president-elect Donald Trump.

    JPMorgan Securities Indonesia managing director and head of investment banking David Dharma Thomas said global investors were currently waiting for policy direction from Trump, who promised an expansive fiscal policy through infrastructure spending next year to propel growth.

    With expected higher economic growth in the US, he said inflation was predicted to surge, and thus encourage the US Federal Reserve to raise its fund rate.

    “The market has already priced in the potential higher rates in the US. With the new president-elect, I think it’s very likely for the Fed to basically increase the rate sooner rather than later,” he said.

    Such a situation would put pressure on Indonesia’s US dollar bond market, David said, as most of the debt papers’ pricing was based on US Treasury bills with 10- to 30-year tenors.

    Yields for 10- and 30-year Treasury bills stood at 2.12 percent and 2.93 percent, respectively, at close of trading on Nov. 10, according to Indonesia Bond Pricing Agency (IBPA) data.

    David said most of the holders of Indonesia’s US dollar bonds were foreign investors through global fund managers. This will encourage them to benchmark the local yields versus the higher-yielding assets offered in more mature markets, specifically those in the US.

    “When rates in the US are going up, obviously people will demand better yields from emerging market papers including from Indonesia,” he said, adding that there would always be risks of capital reversals during volatile times.

    However, David believed the government and Bank Indonesia (BI) had done well enough to cushion the impact of the volatility, such as through the tax amnesty program that was received positively by investors as a means of improving state revenue and foreign fund inflows through repatriation.

    He said the government’s plan to issue bonds for the 2017 allocation early, at the end of this year, would also help the government anticipate the risks that may unfold next year.

    Mega Capital Indonesia fixed income analyst Adra Wijasena said a Financial Services Authority (OJK) regulation issued earlier this year requiring insurance firms and pension funds to invest a minimum 20 percent of their funds in government bonds (SBN) had also helped ease the risks of fund outflows.

    “The policy has lowered the volatility risk and reduced foreign domination,” he said, adding that 38 percent of Indonesia’s government bonds were still held by foreign investors.

    Adra acknowledged global volatility had cut investors’ appetites for sovereign bond (SUN) auctions planned before year-end.

    If the incoming bids turned out to be below expectations, he said, the government would have to pay higher yields, which would then lead to higher costs of funds.

    “If the auction is not successful enough, the government can offer the debt through a private placement scheme,” he said, pointing to a scheme in which the government directly sold its debt papers to certain state institutions, such as BI, the OJK, regional administrations and major dealers.

    Edward Lee, the head of Southeast Asia equity capital markets with Deutsche Bank believed the financial market remained attractive despite the global turmoil as could be seen by Indonesia’s stock index outperforming its peers this year as a result of substantial fund inflows.

    The inflows amounted to between US$2.6 billion and $2.7 billion yearto-date, higher than the $1.7 billion in the same period last year.

    “There are clearly external factors beyond the control of the government, but I think with respect to the measures the government took on the macroeconomy, we feel that backdrop will be supportive of a continued improvement of the stock index and the whole environment of corporate earnings,” he said.

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