China Post Group, China’s state-owned postal service provider, and Lazada Group, the leading online shopping and selling destination in Southeast Asia , have signed a strategic agreement to enhance cross-border logistics solutions for Chinese sellers on the Lazada platform.
The areas of collaboration include enhancing current delivery options for merchants selling small and light items, and developing financial solutions such as micro-credit loans and online payment options for logistics fees. Both organizations have also expressed interest to collaborate with cross-border warehousing solutions, logistics-related education and training, and seller on-boarding in the longer term.
Honeywell has released the N6600 Series Ultra-Slim Area-Imaging Engine and its miniature decoding board Mini DB, which together enable small mobile devices to quickly and accurately capture data from barcodes using small mobile devices.
Measuring just 6.8 millimeters in height, the N6600 series is one of the slimmest and most compact engines of its kind currently on the market. It can be embedded in mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet sleds or wearable scanning solutions used in retail, distribution center, logistics and parcel delivery environments.
Huawei and Vodafone have announced they reached 20Gbps wireless transmission rates during 5G field tests using high-frequency E-Band spectrum.
The 5G mmWave field test covered both single and multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions. The former achieved a 20Gbps EU peak rate, while the latter achieved a 10Gbps peak rate over a long range.
Announcing the results, Huawei said this marks the first 5G outdoor field test using E-Band (71-GHz to 86-GHz) spectrum to reach the 20Gbps peak rate for a single user device targeted by ITU-R as a 5G requirement.
The company said E-Band millimiter wave spectrum can be used as a complementary spectrum band to lower-band frequencies to deliver on the performance targets of the 5G standard.
“This field test in an outdoor environment is a significant step in validating the performance of 5G in high frequency bands, improving our understanding of the capabilities of the technology,” Vodafone Group CTO Johan Wilbergh commented.
Huawei rotating CEO Eric Xu added that 5G “will introduce full spectrum access to support AR, VR, Smart Automobile and other unknown new services,” and that “the joint trial of 5G mmWave connectivity in a real world radio propagation environment and co-existence of different radio links is encouraging.”
A massive Starbucks Asia store roll-out has boosted the global coffee company’s third quarter results.
Across China and the Asia-Pacific region, Starbucks opened 888 new stores in the first nine months of the current financial year. That helped lift revenues by 18 per cent in the region.
However, underlying same-store sales were a far more modest 3 per cent up on the same quarter last year.
“The concern is that some of this is related to a general slowdown in China which, if part of a longer term trend, could harm company earnings,’ observed retail analyst Neil Saunders, CEO of Conlumino.
The company’s Channel Development division – which encompasses the sale of Starbucks branded products in grocers and other stores- also posted positive numbers, with revenues rising 9 per cent. This was aided by strong sales of single-serve Starbucks products following a new agreement with Keurig Green Mountain to push branded K-Cups into more channels. A new partnership with Nespresso to launch Starbucks-branded pods should provided a further uplift to this division in the quarters ahead.
“Unfortunately, the stronger performances in Asia and in the Channel Development Segment were not enough to offset the weakness in the Americas, which remains larger than all other divisions combined,” said Saunders.
“And therein lies the forward issue for Starbucks: it has to increase momentum in this part of its business if it is to get back into high growth territory and if it is to avoid a future squeeze on profits.”
Globally, Starbucks seemed to lose momentum in the third quarter, with overall growth slowing to 7 per cent and global same-store growth moderating to 4 per cent – both below forecast.
“Worryingly, the slowdown took hold across all regions with even the Americas division, which usually puts in a fairly robust performance, posting a lacklustre same-store increase of 4 per cent. The fact that the company appears to have run out of steam somewhat overshadows its nonetheless impressive achievement of breaking the $1 billion operating income barrier for the first time in a non-holiday quarter.”
A 19.8 per cent drop in sales in Hong Kong and Macau has been recorded by French skincare retailer L’Occitane International for its first fiscal quarter.
This amounts to €22.8 million (MOP175.3 million/US$21.9 million), according to its filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Its same-store sales in the two regions for the three months ended June 30 dropped by 11.7 per cent year-on-year. The company had 33 stores in Hong Kong and three in Macau at the end of June.
Total net sales reached €268.5 million for the period, down 2.2 per cent. Of the total, sell-out sales brought in €200.4 million.
L’Occitane says the soft performance was because of “lower sales to travel retail operations in the Asia region” as well as the global economic downturn and overall unfavourable foreign exchange impact.
Meanwhile, the company’s sales on the mainland decreased 5.3 per cent during the quarter to €24 million. Same-store sales, however, eased by only 0.4 per cent year-on-year.
The company had 195 stores on the mainland at the end of June, eight more than at the same time last year.
Involving a celebrity with the Pokemon Go obsession may seem like a golden marketing opportunity, but for one Hong Kong shopping mall the combination has been a screw-up.
With the game not yet officially available in Hong Kong, actress Chrissie Chau claimed on her Facebook site that she would be the first to catch the augmented-reality (AR) game fever. With the heading “Exclusive Pokemon Go Real Live”, she announced she would do a live stream on Facebook.
However, it turned out to be a video of Chau dressed in a Pokemon costume, pretending to be Pikachu. Later, some net users discovered that it was a promotional event Chau was working on with a shopping mall.
This prompted an angry reaction from more than 10,000 internet users in Hong Kong, disappointed that it was just a gimmick and criticising the marketing stunt. Many used Facebook’s “angry” expression, and many left comments describing the the event as a “prank” and even a “PR disaster”.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s Japan will be the first paying sponsor of Pokemon Go as the game launches there. It will be the first advertiser to test out Pokemon Go’s new sponsored location feature, reports Marketing magazine.
With the fast-food chain confirming the collaboration, the game in which players use smartphones to search for virtual creatures layered over images of the real world is officially stepping into advertising. In return, McDonald’s Japan will host more than 3000 of its outlets as “gyms” or battle sites for players.
Eagle Gates Group plans to further expand its Asian retail business in the next five years. Eddy McClough, chief executive officer at Eagle Gates Group, says the group will continue to look at retail opportunities in Asia, with possible plans to establish new offices in the region.
Eagle Gates Group’s history spans almost a decade and through careful stewardship and intelligent investment, the group has expanded to become one of the leading financial services groups across America and Europe.
Eddy is positive about the outlook for the Asian market.
“I see tremendous growth opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, especially the likes of China and Thailand. A number of partnership discussions are already underway. The foray into the Asian market reflects our commitment to growing the global footprint of Eagle Gates Group and gives us access to such an important investment market,” he said.
Eagle Gates Group provides exchange traded funds and other products investing in indices, infrastructure and real estate. Eagle Gates Group also serves institutional investors who need to invest insurance or pension funds.
In Asia, Eagle Gates Group has a Tokyo office which has been operational since 2013 but Eddy admitted its Asia business should be bigger.
“The business in Asia Pacific now represents only single digits of our global business asset size. We are targeting a double digit in the next five years. Asia has a young population and a growing segment of wealthy individuals which would support future growth for the asset management industry,” he said.
This is where shareholders in Singapore’s subway network get off. And it doesn’t matter if some of them can’t quite see the platform. Leaving people stranded has become a hallmark of their company’s operations in recent years. Like back in January 2008, and then twice over three days in December 2011 when two passengers fainted, and again in July last year.
Decent Ride
Singapore subway operator SMRT has returned almost 600% since the SARS epidemic of 2003. But the ride is over. State investment firm Temasek, which owns 54 percent of SMRT, has offered S$1.68 ($1.24) to buy out the remaining shares. Minority shareholders should be grateful for the 8.7 percent premium over the last closing price. Considering the island’s transport regulator is taking away SMRT’s trains and signaling system for S$991 million ($730 million), which — after paying taxes and retiring debt — won’t even leave enough for a special dividend, the rump isn’t worth much more.
Besides, as Smartkarma strategist Crispin Francis notes, the Land Transport Authority’s nationalization plan will see SMRT having to share with the government the outsize profit margin of about 60 percent it earns from rental income and advertising. That would be in exchange for a boost to the profitability of its core rail operation business, from a measly 1.1 percent to a more respectable 5 percent. Hardly a sweetheart deal.
Temasek, though, should still come out okay. It owns 41 percent of the nation’s largest property developer CapitaLand, 25 percent of retailer A.S. Watson, and all of MediaCorp., the Singapore broadcaster with a large outdoor advertising arm.
As Singapore upgrades its rail network to close the gap with Hong Kong, the value of the city-state’s droopy residential property could get a lift; there would be more underground locations for retail; and plenty of new walls for LCD displays. Temasek will indirectly reclaim at least some of what SMRT’s other shareholders will lose from nationalization. Since a part of Temasek’s returns are used to finance the government’s budget, this will complete a virtuous cycle.
Maintaining the status quo would have created a vicious cycle. Private capital is loath to finance massive investments from which gains are likely to be so diffuse they can only be captured by a government or large, diversified investor such as Temasek. So while it’s been a good ride for SMRT shareholders, it’s time they got off. They can use the S$1.68 they’re getting for their shares to hail a ride home.
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise, today announced that it has signed an agreement to form a franchise partnership with Emart Company Ltd (a member of Shinsegae Group), South Korea’s number one hypermarket retailer. Together, they will create a Boots branded pharmacy-led, health and beauty retail franchise in South Korea.
Under the terms of the agreement, Boots branded stores will be opened in shopping malls, on high streets and within the outbound areas of Shinsegae department stores and Emart hypermarkets. The Boots stores will each feature an independent pharmacy and a range of Boots owned products and ‘exclusive to Boots’ brands as well as leading Korean brands.
“South Korea is considered a leading market for skincare and cosmetics products in Asia today. We believe there is a significant opportunity to extend the reach of Boots own brands into this market and are thrilled to be doing so with Emart,” said Ornella Barra Co-Chief Operating Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance. “Emart is the preeminent retailer in South Korea and their strong experience as well as their marketing expertise gives us great confidence in the long-term potential of this partnership.”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce the Boots brand, and offer pharmacy care as well as acting as a beauty and healthcare destination by also offering a wide range of both Korean and Boots product brands.” said Gab-Soo, Lee, CEO of Emart Inc.
The first stores are expected to open before the end of the first half of calendar year 2017 and will include Boots highly regarded and exclusive No7 and Soap & Glory products.
Korean retail giant Lotte Department Store revealed Thursday that it will implement a new 3D foot-measuring device at its stores starting Friday, to provide quick and accurate measurements for custom shoe orders.
By placing his or her foot on the device, a customer will able to obtain not only their foot’s length, but its overall shape, including width and height, to gather more accurate sizing information.
The conventional foot-measuring process can make customers feel uncomfortable, and usually takes two to three minutes. But the new device will shorten the process to two seconds using 3D scanning technology, according to a Lotte official.
After having their feet measured, customers will select the shoe design of their choice, and a final pair of handmade shoes will be delivered to their doorstep in about two weeks. Upon request, customers can even have their foot size information mailed to them or saved in the store’s computer system, so they can place more orders in the future without having to re-measure their feet.
The 3D device was developed in collaboration with Swedish start-up Volumental, and will first make its debut at the Tandy shoe store in Lotte’s flagship department store in Myeongdong. The service will expand to other shoe brands in department stores across the country starting July 29.
Lotte Department Store also plans to launch a 3D virtual fitting service in the latter half of the year. The service uses a special mirror that provides a virtual reflection of the customer wearing clothing by applying a 3D image of the product to the customers’ body.
Vietnam’s second largest mobile operator Mobifone has constructed its fist high-capacity converged packet-optical backbone network using equipment from Ciena.
The operator has deployed a network spaning more than 1,400km from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. The network currently has a capacity of 300Gbps.
Mobifone plans to use the network to provide high-speed mobile broadband services to businesses and consumers in more than two dozen provinces.
“Ciena’s cutting-edge optical platforms enable us to have a state-of-art backbone system. Demand for high-speed fixed and mobile data services, video content and the move to the cloud mean that network services in Vietnam have never been more important,” Mobifone chairman Le Nam Tra said.
“With Ciena supporting the next evolution of the MobiFone backbone we can provide the scale and reach our consumer and business customers need for regional and international connectivity.”
MobiFone is currently a state-owned operator but is undergoing a privatization process. The company is seeking an international partner to take up to a 49% stake as part of this process, and international operators including Australia’s Telstra, Norway’s Telenor and Sweden’s Comviq have reportedly expressed an interest in making the investment.
A recent report from the Australian Financial Review indicates that Telstra is seen as a good fit as a formerly state-owned operator that has gone through the privatization process.
Sources told the publication that Telstra met with Vietnamese officials in May to discuss a potential deal.
Holders of credit and debit cards from the three companies issued by Bank of China, DBS Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Hang Seng Bank are now able to take advantage of the mobile contactless payment service.
Apple’s Hong Kong website states that support for Bank of East Asia and Tap & Go cards is also “coming soon.”
In Hong Kong, Apple Pay is currently available in Apple’s own stores, as well as those from 39 other major chains, including 7-Eleven, APITA, KFC, McDonalds, Starbucks and Genki Sushi. It is also supported by a number of apps including Cathay Pacific, Deliveroo and Foodpanda. Support for Uber is coming soon.
Apple Pay’s contactless payment technology aims to improve security by not storing credit card numbers on the device or sending credit card details to merchants. Payments can be authorized using the Touch ID fingerprint authentication system.
Apple Pay is supported by the iPhone 6s and newer, the Apple Watch paired with an iPhone 5 or newer, as well as the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 and 4.
“In Hong Kong contactless payments have become a necessity for everyday life, consumers and retailers realize the greater convenience and faster checkouts for busy people on the go,” Visa Hong Kong and Macau country manager Caroline Ada said.
She said research from the company shows that 77% of respondents are willing to try out or adopt new ways of paying, and 78% are ready to use smartphones as the device for making everyday payments.
Hong Kong’s CSL aims to take advantage of the global buzz around the augmented reality game Pokemon GO by offering free unlimited mobile data for the app as a promotional exercise.
Once the game launches in Hong Kong, customers of both the CSL and 1O1O mobile brands will be able to use the game without incurring data charges.
The offer appears to be an attempt to attract or retain customers from the younger segment. In line with this, the offer is applicable to CSL’s student plans, which are tailored for users aged between 11 and 17.
Mobile customers in Hong Kong will also be able to use the Tap & Go mobile payment service to purchase Pokecoins from Google Play and the Apple App Store.
“As the leading mobile operator in Hong Kong, we foresee that Pokemon GO popularity would take off once this new sensation is launched in Hong Kong,” CSL chief marketing officer Bruce Lam commented.
“ And we are making this offer available so our customers can play the game for hours on end without having to worry about mobile data consumption.”
China Telecom has reportedly expressed an interest in expanding into Egypt through the acquisition of a 4G license in the market.
The operator, along with Saudi Telecom Company, have been in contact with the communications ministry regarding potentially securing licenses in Egypt, a ministry official told.
But neither operator has yet submitted a formal request, and 4G licenses will only be offered to new entrants if existing players reject the terms of the licenses, the report states.
Incumbent operators have reportedly been slow to accept the terms offered by the government for 4G licenses. In an example of these terms, Orange’s Egyptian affiliate has been asked to pay 3.54 billion Egyptian pounds ($398.6 million) for a license, and to decide whether to agree by August.
The fact that international operators are interested in acquiring licenses could increase pressure on the existing entrants to agree to the terms.
At least some analysts believe that all of Egypt’s existing players will ultimately apply for 4G licenses, which would mean the government would not have sufficient reason to approve the entry of a newcomer. It is therefore uncertain whether China Telecom will be entering the Egyptian market.
The GSMA has launched its Mobile Connect authentication service across India, in collaboration with six mobile operators.
Bharti Airtel, Idea, Aircel, Vodafone India, Tata Teleservices and Telenor India have all started offering Mobile Connect services.
A range of Indian digital service providers in sectors including commerce, finance and banking, health services, media and entertainment, travel and hospitality and B2B have agreed to make use of the system
GSMA director general Mats Granryd said the Indian launch marks the culmination of a year-long collaboration with the Indian mobile operators to introduce a single, secure mobile-based authentication system to the market.
“With Mobile Connect, mobile operators are fulfilling an important role in the digital identity space, giving users control over their own data and enabling Indian consumers, businesses and governments alike to interact and access online services in a convenient, private, and trusted environment,” he said.
Mobile Connect employs a user’s unique mobile number and combines it with a unique PIN for more secure use cases to verify and grant online access to services.
The system is now being implemented by 42 operators in 22 countries worldwide, making it available to nearly 3 billion customers.
