Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • South Korea e-commerce market to surpass $160 billion mark in 2027

    South Korea e-commerce market to surpass $160 billion mark in 2027

    South Korea continues to evolve as a major e-commerce market and is expected to register a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% between 2023 and 2027 to reach KRW202.6 trillion ($160.4 billion) in 2027, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s E-Commerce Analytics reveals that South Korea e-commerce market has been on growth trajectory, registering a CAGR of 17.4% between 2018 and 2022 to reach KRW136.6 trillion ($108.2 billion) in 2022. This trend is expected to continue in 2023, with e-commerce sales expected to grow by 10.0%.

    Shivani Gupta, Senior Analyst Banking and Payments at GlobalData, comments: “South Korea has a well-developed e-commerce market supported by high-speed internet, rising smartphone penetration, availability of secure online payment systems and increasing consumer confidence in online shopping.”

    South Koreans are frequent online shoppers with over 80% of the consumers reported to have shopped online in the past six months, while only 10% indicated that they never shopped online, according to GlobalData’s 2023 Financial Services Consumer Survey*.

    The availability of new and innovative mode of online shopping such as video live streaming is also encouraging shoppers to go online. South Korean e-commerce giant Naver leads this space by enabling merchants to live stream their products on its “Naver Shopping Live” platform. Customers can view the product details, interact with the seller and buy from the platform on real-time.

    International brands are also venturing into this space, contributing to the e-commerce growth in the country. In June 2023, YouTube launched its first official online shopping channel in South Korea, live-streaming products in Korean language.

    Gupta adds: “Koreans increasingly prefer shopping online even for day-to-day products, a trend that continued post COVID-19. GlobalData’s survey revealed that everyday essentials such as food and drinks account for nearly one fourth of the e-commerce purchases by value in 2023, while clothing and footwear account for 12.2%.

    Gupta concludes: “South Korea’s e-commerce market registered sustainable growth during the last five years. The uptrend in e-commerce sales is likely to continue over the next few years supported by the growing consumer preference, improving payment infrastructure, and growing popularity of innovative online shopping modes.”

    *GlobalData’s 2023 Financial Services Consumer Survey was carried out in Q2 2023. Approximately 50,000 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed across 40 countries.

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  • Macau In 2023: More Than Just Casinos

    Macau In 2023: More Than Just Casinos

    Known as the “Vegas of Asia”, Macau’s economy has traditionally relied on gambling as its primary source of revenue. But the world changes and both the government and independent traders have seen the need to diversify as the economy can’t rely on casino footfall alone. This has led to interesting innovations in other industries, which have rapidly developed from the ground up, often using local products, and appealing to the 600,000 Macau residents as much as the tourists. With the allure of Macau’s gambling scene still bringing in millions of tourists a year, hundreds of independent businesses have a great chance to thrive and expand.

    Macau’s tourism industry is being driven by visitors from nearby Hong Kong — so far this year more than 2.5 million people have traveled to Macau to play in the gaming halls. This is a major shot in the arm for the gambling industry in the city, as well as the restaurants, cinemas, and retail outlets that rely on casino tourism.
    The gambling industry worldwide hasn’t slowed down either, powered by online casinos, which continue to develop more sophisticated games for those who play slots online or enjoy live dealer games at the card tables. As far as destinations for land-based casinos go, Macau is at the top of the pile, and despite the iconic status of Las Vegas as a playground for gamblers, it regularly outperforms its American counterpart by six times.

    Innovative & Independent BusinessesDespite the dominance of the casinos, a vibrant market has opened up, giving opportunities for small businesses to establish themselves. Macau’s small size means that local companies can make more impact than they could on the Chinese mainland or other huge markets, with their intense competition in all sectors. A good example is the food delivery app Aomi because in a larger country, it wouldn’t stand a chance, but a local service needs less capital to penetrate the market and can operate at a competitive level.

    While major brands still dominate the malls and resorts, many small businesses have emerged, which are often taking advantage of increased online engagement with independent companies. Macau has seen a rising trend in people monetizing their hobbies and creating fresh ideas and concepts — handmade jewelry by Miden Designs and bespoke scented candles from Imbali Essentials, to name a couple that have launched in the last three years.

    Somewhere beneath the bright lights Portuguese influence can still be felt in Macau, and is probably best represented in food form. Monoymous Macau entrepreneur Asai has collaborated with Portuguese chef Pedro Almedia on several projects, and over the last two years they have successfully opened fine-dining spot Portucau, as well as a traditional pie-shop Pastéis de Chaves. And their tavern Three Sardines serves petiscoes — small plates similar to tapas — to enthusiastic locals and tourists alike.

    Another independent company, The Moo Creamery, has been proffering vegan and lactose-free ice cream online since 2020, and proved so successful that a retail shop opened in 2021. Not only is the ice cream delicious, but it is also low in sugar and made mainly from raw ingredients, making it a great healthy option for kids and adults.

    Macau will always be a casino town. But if you scratch the surface you’ll find a buzzing hive of activity, with local retailers to check out and support, great independent eats and drinks, and a whole host of other interesting small businesses. Hopefully, these innovative companies will continue to thrive.

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  • Panduan Bagaimana untuk Menjana Pendapatan melalui YouTube

    Panduan Bagaimana untuk Menjana Pendapatan melalui YouTube

    Pernah tertanya-tanya bagaimana para penggiat YouTube yang bermain di laman slot seperti 7Slots menjana pendapatan dengan membuat kandungan? Begitu juga dengan Che Nom yang dikenali dengan resepi masakannya yang enak, hanya dengan menyediakan resepi dan masakan di laman akaunnya. Malah, ada juga penggiat YouTube yang meraih ribuan malahan jutaan tontonan hasil daripada kandungan yang dikatakan tidak memberangsangkan. Jika anda berminat untuk mencipta kandungan, inilah panduan untuk anda. Panduan ini dapat membantu anda memulakan perjalanan karier YouTube anda.

    Apa yang perlu dilakukan sebelum bermula

    Ramai yang berpusu-pusu ingin menjadi penggiat YouTube, tetapi malangnya, ramai yang tidak berhasil. Kenapa? Hal ini kerana mereka tidak mengikut langkah yang betul, dan terus sahaja memuat naik video mereka, tanpa meneliti tentang strategi yang berkesan untuk menarik penonton dan menjana pendapatan.

    Berikut adalah langkah-langkah yang perlu diambil kira untuk mula bergiat:

    Memilih Niche/Tema

    Tema/niche ialah satu hal yang saling berkait antara kandungan dan harus berfokus pada satu topik yang jelas, contohnya, jika anda memilih niche kecantikan, sudah tentulah anda harus sering menyiarkan video yang berkaitan dengan kecantikan. Banyak kelebihan niche ini antaranya:

    1. Penonton dapat mengetahui apa yang anda ingin sampaikan dalam video.
    2. Video anda menjadi rujukan ramai orang.
    3. Menjadikan kandungan anda lebih tersusun.

    Jika anda keliru tema apa yang sesuai dengan anda, anda boleh fikirkan minat, pengetahuan dan pekerjaan anda lalu terapkan tema yang sesuai dalam kandungan anda.

    Belajar daripada Pesaing Anda

    Teknik belajar untuk kandungan YouTube adalah dengan meniru dan inovasi teknik pesaing anda. Anda perlu tahu dengan siapa anda bersaing supaya anda boleh tahu mengapa penonton memilih untuk melihat video mereka.

    Pelajari bagaimana mereka mengambil video mereka, dari sudut kamera, pencahayaan, suntingan dan pengenalan video mereka. Anda akan dapat memahami dengan lebih baik, apa yang sesuai untuk anda, dan apa yang tidak.

    Sumbang Saran dan Jadualkan Kandungan Anda

    Sumbang saran dan penjadualan ini sangat penting kerana ia dapat membantu anda menyusun jenis video atau jenis idea yang anda ingin olah atau paparkan kepada penonton.

    Membuat satu video mungkin memakan masa yang lama, jadi pastikan anda sudah bersedia dengan beberapa video ke hadapan supaya anda tidak tergesa-gesa untuk merakam atau menyunting pada saat-saat akhir.

    Pastikan anda mempunyai jadual untuk siarkan video ana. Hal ini kerana dapat membantu penonton untuk mengetahui bila mereka dapat melihat siaran anda. Ini tidak langsung, dapat membantu anda mendapatkan tontonan lebih banyak jika penonton sudah tahu jadual anda.

    Bina Halaman Saluran YouTube Anda

    Anda sudah mempunyai tema, sudah mempunyai beberapa video untuk disiarkan, tetapi apa yang penting, anda perlu menjaga Halaman Saluran YouTube anda.

    Nama dan Penerangan Saluran

    Nama saluran anda perlulah mudah diingati dan ditaip. Lebih bagus lagi, jika anda menggunakan nama anda serta diikuti tema anda. Contoh: Aina Beauty Review, Syafuan Production dan banyak lagi. Anda juga boleh menggunakan penjana nama yang ada di Google untuk mendapatkan nama saluran yang bagus.

    Untuk mengoptimumkan lagi saluran anda, isi penerangan YouTube anda tentang tema anda, dan letakkan sekali jenis sosial media supaya mereka yang berminat dengan kandungan anda, dapat menghubungi anda.

    Imej Profil

    Sudah tentu, gambar profil sangat penting untuk meyakinkan para penonton. Bayangkan, anda tidak meletakkan gambar profil, walaupun isi video anda sudah cukup bagus. Tetap tidak dapat meyakinkan orang untuk menonton video anda.

    Terdapat banyak aplikasi atau laman web untuk meningkatkan kualiti gambar anda. Anda boleh menajamkan lagi gambar, menambah warna latar belakang, menyunting gambar supaya kelihatan lebih menarik.

    Muat naik Video Pertama Anda

    Setelah anda melengkapkan semua di atas, anda sudah boleh memuat naik video pertama anda. Perhatikan kualiti bunyi dan pencahayaan ketika memuat naik video.

    Anda pasti pernah mendengar perkataan “clickbait?” Atau kata lainnya, umpan klik. Ramai yang tidka puas hati jika umpan klik ini langsung tidak sama dengan video yang disiarkan, tetapi ini juga merupakan salah satu strategi pemasaran tanpa perlu mencari penonton.

    Jika kita ingin mencari sesuatu video, pasti seseorang itu akan menaip kata kunci yang diingini. Pastikan tajuk video anda mempunyai kata kunci yang sesuai serta terpulang kepada anda jika anda ingin menggunakan teknik umpan klik.

    Thumbnail atau lakaran kecil juga penting supaya penonton tertarik untuk melihat video anda. Anda perlu memilih dan menggunakan lakaran kecil yang menarik, dan ini dapat menambahkan tontonan.

    Buat Duit dengan Saluran Anda

    Ini topik yang sering menjadi permintaan ramai. Boleh dikatakan, ia mudah dan juga tidak mudah. Oleh kerana anda berada di Malaysia, sudah pasti anda dapat menyertai Youtube Partner Program. Tetapi, untuk layak menyertai program ini, pastikan anda memenuhi keperluan tersebut:

    1. Mendapat 1,000 pelanggan dengan 4,000 jam tontonan umum dalam 12 bulan lepas ATAU.
    2. Dapatkan 1,000 pelanggan dengan 10 juta tontonan Shorts umum yang sah dalam 90 hari lepas.

    Bagaimana untuk memohon

    Jika anda telah memenuhi keperluan dan saluran anda layak untuk memohon, daftar untuk program daripada komputer atau peranti anda:

    1. Daftar masuk ke YouTube.
    2. Di bahagian atas kanan, klik gambar profil anda > YouTube Studio.
    3. Di menu sebelah kiri, klik “Dapatkan”.
    4. Pilih “Mohon” untuk bermula.
    5. Klik “Mula” untuk semakan dan menerima terma Asas.
    6. Klik “Mula” untuk membuka akaun AdSense atau pautkan akaun anda yang aktif.

    Teruskan Memuat Naik Video untuk Menjana Pendapatan

    Untuk kekal berjaya dalam menjana pendapatan di YouTube, penting untuk memuat naik video secara konsisten. Apa yang utama, kualiti kandungan perlulah mempunyai nilai positif atau menarik baik dari segi hiburan, berita atau inspirasi.

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  • Cebu Pacific upgrades aircraft fleet this year

    Cebu Pacific upgrades aircraft fleet this year

    Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific has increased its aircraft deliveries for 2023 to a record high of 21 to further improve its operational resiliency amidst growing demand for air travel.  

    The airline originally had plans to add 15 aircraft to its fleet, and now expects six more to be added to its fleet. It welcomed its ninth aircraft this year on 27 July, a brand-new Airbus A321neo, which was delivered from the Airbus centre in Hamburg, Germany using blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on its flight. 

    Cebu Pacific is expecting 21 individual aircraft delivered this year, of which 17 are NEOs and four are CEOs (current engine option) on short-term lease. It aims to shift to an all-NEO fleet by 2028. 

    Earlier in June, Cebu Pacific received a brand new A320neo aircraft from Airbus’ final assembly line in Tianjin, China, powered by SAF with 41 percent blend, marking a major milestone for its sustainable aviation initiatives.   

    “This aircraft delivery allows us to increase our operational resilience while continuing to provide safe, reliable, and affordable air travel to our passengers. Our ongoing re-fleeting with new-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft and our continued use of sustainable aviation fuel will also help our decarbonization efforts in making the aviation industry more sustainable,” said Alex Reyes, chief strategy officer.  

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  • DHL to acquire Turkish courier MNG Kargo

    DHL to acquire Turkish courier MNG Kargo

    DHL Group has agreed to fully acquire Turkish parcel delivery company MNG Kargo Yurtiçi ve Yurtdışı Taşımacılık A.Ş. (MNG Kargo), one of the leading parcel delivery companies in Turkey.

    The merger will look to capitalise on Turkiye’s growing e-commerce market, which is estimated to see double-digit growth in the next few years. Tobias Meyer, CEO DHL Group said “E-commerce remains one of the biggest growth drivers for logistics services and especially for parcel volumes. We, therefore, continuously work to expand our footprint in the e-commerce sector – whether through organic or inorganic growth. MNG Kargo complements our business portfolio and will help further to strengthen our position in this sector.”

    The acquisition will boost DHL’s domestic presence in Turkiye and DHL considers the newly acquired parcel network a perfect addition to its European parcel delivery network, with 27 mid-mile sorting centers and over 800 last-mile branches in main cities of Turkey.

    The transaction is subject to merger control clearance by the Turkish Competition Authority as well as approval of the Turkish Information and Communications Technologies Authority.

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  • Qatar Airways taps PROS for optimal pricing

    Qatar Airways taps PROS for optimal pricing

    Qatar Airways Cargo is empowering its online channels with real-time personalised dynamic pricing for air freight bookings with PROS Smart Price Optimization and Management.

    The AI-powered optimisation solution models improve win rates by personalising the price offering and maximising sales. This means customers can now receive real-time, reliable, and personalised pricing with each shipment requested via Digital Lounge, marketplaces and host-to-host integrated connections, enabling them to book immediately with the best prices available

    Qatar’s Digital Lounge places an emphasis on user experience and ease of use, allowing customers to price and book cargo shipments without the need to call or email the sales team directly. The new pricing feature is now live on all online booking channels across the airline’s network.

    The carrier said PROS Air Cargo Orchestration Services enables it to provide real-time, optimised prices to third-party digital marketplaces like WebCargo, CargoAI and Cargo.one.

    “PROS real-time pricing engine provides a highly accurate, scalable pricing capability that directly translates to a reliable and responsive buying experience for our customers,” said Florent Bonello, Vice President Cargo Revenue Management at Qatar Airways Cargo. “As a next phase of our implementation, we are seamlessly integrating PROS Smart Configure Price Quote within our sales ecosystem, so that we can quickly manage and deliver omnichannel quoting across our spot, contract and allotment sales.”

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  • OPPO to exit France as distributor ceases operation

    OPPO to exit France as distributor ceases operation

    2023 has been a steep slalom for OPPO in Europe. In late March there were rumors that OPPO will leave four EU states, then the company denied this. Some four months later, OPPO might be leaving France for real.

    A report from SamMobile references an article from French outlet Frandroid: Yang Technology, the exclusive distributor of OPPO in France, announced that “it will cease its activities”.

    Earlier this year tipster Max Jambor tweeted that both OPPO and OnePlus are to withdraw from the following European countries: Netherlands, France, UK and Germany. An immediately issued statement by a OnePlus official refuted the tipster’s info and noted that “OPPO and OnePlus are committed to all the existing European markets”.

    Then came May, when it was reported that the German OPPO website was still live, but had turned into a ‘ghost town’ with no new posts, information or updates. That’s on par with the fact that the OnePlus 11 did not launch in Germany because of a patent dispute between Nokia and OnePlus.

    The beef between OPPO and Nokia was taken to court, where the Chinese brand actually won. A judge in the Paris Court of Justice has ruled that Nokia’s patents are considered “invalid” due to a “lack of novelty”. The trial at first instance has been won by OPPO, but most probably Nokia will appeal this Paris decision. Nevertheless, OPPO has decided to take a step back and apparently cut ties with France, while staying ‘on hold’ in Germany.

    It’s been awfully quiet on OPPO’s social media in France and their Instagram account. The brand used to share a minimum of three posts per week, but for the last 9 weeks, the sum is… zero. Social media activity is not a serious activity criterion, but it’s not to be underestimated in light of recent events

    This new state of affairs means that it will soon no longer be possible for people in France to buy OPPO smartphones straight from the official distributor, but instead will have to rely on resellers. However, there’s a statement from OPPO that their users in France will be able to access after-sales services and receive future OS updates.

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  • Beer Fans set to launch in New Zealand in August

    Beer Fans set to launch in New Zealand in August

    Beer Fans, a leading online marketplace dedicated to connecting beer enthusiasts with their favourite beer brands, is thrilled to announce its official expansion into the beer-loving market of New Zealand. The launch is scheduled for August 2023.

    Recognizing the rich diversity and exceptional quality of New Zealand’s beer industry, Beer Fans is dedicated to fostering connections between these local breweries and a global audience of beer enthusiasts. Initially launching nationwide for domestic orders, Beer Fans has plans to extend its reach with international shipping in the pipeline for 2024.

    Beer Fans’ expansion into New Zealand is not just about beer; it’s about building a community of passionate fans around these brands. The platform will showcase New Zealand’s finest breweries through its marketplace website, introducing them to new fans through merchandise products that go beyond beer itself.

    Founder and beer fan, Joe Cook, will be traveling to New Zealand in August, coinciding with the esteemed BrewNZ event. During this visit, he will meet with various beer brands, aiming to forge meaningful partnerships and explore collaboration opportunities.

    As part of this international expansion, Beer Fans has invested in expanding its customer service team to ensure that the same high level of service and support is provided to customers in New Zealand as in its home market.

    To support the exciting launch, Beer Fans proudly announces its partnership as the official merchandise sponsor for Beervana, a renowned beer festival celebrating the best of craft brewing in New Zealand.

    “We are thrilled to bring our passion for beer and community to New Zealand. By providing a platform that not only promotes beer, but also fosters a strong fan base through merchandise, we believe this model can be a game-changer for the broader industry. We are committed to proving this concept’s success and scaling it to even bigger markets in the future,” said Joe Cook, Founder of Beer Fans.

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  • Alibaba to double investment in Vietnam

    Alibaba to double investment in Vietnam

    Alibaba.com, the global business-to-business e-commerce platform of Chinese tech giant Alibaba, will double its investment in emerging manufacturing centers in Vietnam and additionally hire hundreds of employees.

    In the next three years, Alibaba.com will complete the establishment of specialized teams to operate in Vietnam’s emerging manufacturing hubs, including Binh Duong, Bac Ninh, Long An, Da Nang and Hai Phong, in addition to the teams already operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Roger Luo, director of Alibaba in Asia-Pacific, announced recently in Ho Chi Minh City.

    “Vietnam is a very important part of our e-commerce development map,” Luo said, pointing out three advantages of this market.

    First, Vietnam has favorable foreign trade policies with many free trade agreements being signs. “Compared to China, Vietnamese-made goods have an advantage. Moreover, the U.S.-China trade war has big influence on Chinese goods, while Vietnamese goods are not affected,” he said.

    Second, labor costs are still low. Third, there are many Vietnamese specialty products.

    “Vietnamese suppliers on our platform are gradually building a reputation with a large number of global buyers, especially in such areas as agricultural products, food, fashion and home garden products,” he said.

    The number of Vietnamese sellers on Alibaba’s e-commerce platform has increased to thousands.

    The number of Vietnamese products available on this platform in March surged by 24% against the same period last year.

    In the first half of this year, Vietnam’s export turnovers stood at US$164 billion, down 12% against the same period last year.

    The situation would be better in the second half of the year because inventory in the U.S. is decreasing.

    “Small and medium-sized businesses need to quickly seize this opportunity by reviving their human resources and strengthening their digital capabilities,” he recommended.

  • EVN eyes another round of electricity price hikes

    EVN eyes another round of electricity price hikes

    Vietnam Electricity has sought the Government’s permission to hike power tariffs soon saying production costs have risen sharply.

    The average electricity price was increased by 3% on May 4 to VND1,920.37 (8 U.S. cents) per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

    But the cost of production had surged by 9.27% last year to VND2,032.26, and so its financial situation has not improved even after the price hike, according to the state utility.

    EVN, the country’s sole power distributor, faces cash flow difficulties and is likely to default on payments to independent power producers.

    It has sought interest-free loans from the central bank to pay them.

    Over the past two years EVN has reduced spending on repairs by 10-50% due to the cash crunch, severely affecting the safety of the electrical network.

    EVN made a loss of over VND36.29 trillion in 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.

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  • Durian exports exploides

    Durian exports exploides

    According to Vietnam Customs, Durian exports increased 19-fold year-on-year in the first half of this year to US$876 million.

    Of this, China alone accounted for $835 million.

    Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruits and Vegetables Association, said durian is harvested in May-June in the southern provinces and August-December in the Central Highlands.

    The Government has signed many protocols and free trade agreements that foster the development of local fruit and vegetable market, he said.

    Recently durian has been recently bought at high prices by Chinese firms and small traders. Since transportation from Vietnam to China does not take long short, the fruits remain fresh, giving them a competitive advantage over Thai exports.

    First-grade durian is now sold at the farm gate at VND85,000-100,000 ($3.59-4.22) per kilogram.

    Exporters said the quality is higher this year than in previous years. Domestic demand was up 10-15% in the first half.

    According to the Department of Crop Production, durian is grown on 110,300 hectares now compared to just 37,000 ha as recently as in 2017.

    This year’s output is estimated at 1 million tons, 15.9% higher than last year, and 400,000-500,000 tons are expected to be exported for some $1.5 billion.

    Last year Thailand exported more than 800,000 tons, earning $3.5 billion.

  • Sabeco’s profit plunges by a third in Q2

    Sabeco’s profit plunges by a third in Q2

    Sabeco, the brewer of Saigon Beer, saw profits plunge 32% year-on-year to VND1.2 trillion ($50.7 million) in the second quarter as rising competition pumped up its marketing expenses.

    Fierce competition with international brewers forced the company to spend more on marketing and distribution, while demand has plunged from last year amid economic challenges, the company explained in its financial report.

    The impact of tightened regulations on driving under the influence and rising costs of ingredient and packaging also contributed to the profit drop, it added.

    In the second quarter last year Sebeco reported a post-tax profit of VND1.79 trillion, the highest since Thai company ThaiBev acquired it in 2017.

    In the first six months this year the company posted a post-tax profit of VND2.2 trillion, meeting 38% of the year’s target.

    Earlier this year Sabeco leaders said that Vietnam’s beer industry was seeing a golden opportunity amid rising income and the potential of increasing exports of non-alcoholic beer.

    Sabeco therefore targets a revenue increase of 15% to VND40.27 trillion and a profit rise of 5% to VND5.77 trillion, a new peak.

    But most analysts have forecast that the company will fail to meet these goals as consumers are tightening their spending amid economic difficulties.

    Vietcombank Securities last month forecast that Sabeco will see revenue increasing only 6% this year.

    SSI Securities expect its revenue to rise 4.7% and profits 5.2%.

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  • Cainiao launches new hub in Indonesia

    Cainiao launches new hub in Indonesia

    Cainiao Group, the logistics arm of Alibaba, has officially launched its first warehouse in Indonesia as part of a regional hub expansion plan.

    Situated in GIIC Deltamas Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, east of Jakarta, the new Cainiao Cikarang Logistics Park is the third warehouse to be added to the company’s planned warehouse network of ‘chubs’ in Southeast Asia.

    The project has a total land area of 320,000 square metres and encompasses six warehouses covering 170,000 square metres. Cainiao said these ‘cHubs’ are strategically located near key transportation nodes and manufacturing hubs like Indonesia to boost connectivity to global markets.

    The Alibaba logistics unit is confident about the country’s strong potential and demand for warehousing capabilities as industry experts forecast rapid eCommerce growth and increasing customer expectations for fast and affordable deliveries.

    “The vision is for Cainiao Cikarang Logistics Park to pave the way for future full chain capabilities to support manufacturers for their logistics and trading needs, such as fulfillment and sorting for local deliveries, import and export for B2B and B2C businesses, smart supply chain management, and logistics technology such as IoT, automation and warehouse management systems,” Cainiao noted.

    Factoring in sustainability and local climate characteristics, the logistics park project also features skylights, incorporated into warehouse rooftops, as well as a natural ventilation system that will ensure a comfortable environment with energy savings in mind.

    Cainiao shared the project received strong interest from local businesses prior to the official launch and achieved a 75 percent occupancy rate. Tenants include PT Senopati Fujitrans Logistic Services (Senfu), PT SGMW Indonesia (Wuling Indonesia), CJ Logistics, Klog, Haier and Lazada. Work is underway to expand the overseas warehouse network in Thailand and Vietnam.

    “We have witnessed immense potential in Southeast Asian region and have been actively investing to expand our warehouse network in order to cater to the needs of local businesses. We are thrilled to finally announce this new warehouse, our first infrastructural investment in Indonesia and third in the region. Our strong network and expertise in logistics and supply chain capabilities will help our partners and customers in Indonesia accomplish more in less time and boost local and regional trade activities by streamlining workflows and processes across the value chain,” said Eric Xu, Vice President, Cainiao Group.

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  • Wealth Management the One Bright Spot at Vontobel

    Wealth Management the One Bright Spot at Vontobel

    Swiss wealth and asset manager Vontobel delivers strong first-half results as the wealth management unit performs strongly. However, institutional investors «continue to defer investments which was reflected in negative outflows. The firm plans to hire over 50 Relationship Managers this year.

    Vontobel reported that its wealth management unit delivered «very strong» performance in the first half, with assets under management growing 6 percent to 98.1 billion Swiss francs ($113.7 billion), and reported a Group net profit of 127.6 million, according to first-half results released Thursday.

    In the first six months of the year, overall assets under management rose 4 percent to 211.9 billion francs compared to 204.4 billion at the end of last year. Net money growth in Wealth Management increased by 8.4 percent in the first six months of the year, which included outflows related to a strict market focus based on its strategy.

    Even with the outflows, assets under management in the unit rose to 98.1 billion francs in the first half from 92.6 at the end of last year, helping to increase gross margin 12 basis points to 82 basis points.

    Institutional investors «continue to defer investments» which was reflected in negative outflows of three billion francs in Asset Management. Assets under managemen

    As with other wealth managers, Vontobel is also on an aggressive hiring path and plans to hire more than 50 over the course of the year.

    Vontobel hired numerous wealth management experts from a large number of interested professionals, some of whom are now already working for the firm or plan to join in the course of the year. It said it’s holding further talks with wealth management professionals who could serve clients in the Swiss home market and selected focus markets in the future.

    At the end of 2022, a total of around 316 advisors served Vontobel‘s wealth management clients.

    Vontobel believes that the current uncertainty is set to persist, but the investment firm is well positioned to navigate this landscape. The war in Ukraine is continuing and geopolitical tensions are undiminished. Fears of recession still loom large and global inflation has not been tamed. This situation is further exacerbated by challenges such as demographic developments and climate change that the world has faced, at least in part, for decades. And finally, the developments of the last two years have left their mark on the financial sector,» said CEO Zeno Staub.

  • Google Maps on Android Auto gets a design tweak that will help drivers on the road

    Google Maps on Android Auto gets a design tweak that will help drivers on the road

    Google Maps is rolling out a new design for the Maps app on Android Auto. The new design adds a sidebar to the Maps experience in your car where controls live.

    Previously, map controls were only displayed when you interacted with the map. But with the new design, the controls are always visible in a translucent bar on the left side of the screen.

    The new translucent bar’s controls include zoom, changing the map’s orientation, changing what is said out loud by the assistant, and access to additional settings.

    The new design appears to be in its testing stages although some users already report seeing it on Android Auto v10 and v9.9 with Google Maps v11.90. This version isn’t live yet for everyone and it is not yet clear if the new design will be available for older versions of Android Auto.

    The new Android Auto design has a very significant benefit: It makes it easier to access map controls while you’re driving since they are now positioned closer to the driver — at least in the U.S. — and you no longer have to fumble around with the touchscreen to find the controls you need. Even if you’re not familiar with the app, this new design makes the most used controls more visible and easier to get to.

    Note, though, that this view only shows up when the app takes up the full screen and not when it uses the Coolwalk split-view redesign that Android Auto introduced a few months back. This also follows a redesign of how the Google Assistant appears in your console, showing more consistency with what you see when you use the Assistant on your phone.

    This tweak to Maps on Android Auto is a welcome improvement. It makes it easier to use Maps while driving, providing a more consistent look and feel across Android Auto apps.