Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Malaysia’s AirAsia applies for digital banking license

    Malaysia’s AirAsia applies for digital banking license

    Malaysian budget airline AirAsia Group Bhd said on Thursday its fintech unit has bid for a digital banking license in the country as part of a consortium.

    BigPay, the unit, has partnered with Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad – a unit of the country’s largest asset manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd – and private equity firm Ikhlas Capital.

    Singapore-based Ikhlas was founded by Nazir Razak, the former chairman of CIMB Group Holdings.

    The consortium also includes a foreign conglomerate with fintech expertise, AirAsia said in a statement.

    Citing sources, Reuters reported earlier on Thursday that AirAsia and its partners were among the bidders for up to five digital banking licences that the Malaysian central bank has said it will issue by early 2022.

    Other bidders include a joint venture between ride-hailing-to-fintech group Grab and Singtel, telecoms operator Axiata and a consortium backed by Chinese tech firm Tencent.

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  • Gluten-free version of Coco Pops launched Australia wide

    Gluten-free version of Coco Pops launched Australia wide

    Kellog’s has unveiled a gluten-free version of its Coco Pops, allowing coeliacs and gluten-sensitive individuals to enjoy the chocolate-flavored puffed rice cereal.

    Endorsed by Coeliac Australia, Coco Pops has joined the cereal giant’s gluten-free portfolio, which includes gluten-free versions of Corn Flakes, Special K, Breakfast Biscuits, and Sultana Bran launched earlier this year.

    Dan Bitti, senior marketing at Kellog’s, said the range is designed to meet the needs of the increasing number of Australians looking for gluten-free alternatives without compromising on taste.

    “Whether you’re looking for a high-fiber cereal or simply want to enjoy a chocolatey taste, both Sultana Bran and Coco Pops Gluten-Free cereals are sure to deliver that great taste you expect,” he added.

    The entire Kellog’s gluten-free range is available at Coles supermarkets nationwide.

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  • Nerada Tea releases plastic-free loose-leaf tea box

    Nerada Tea releases plastic-free loose-leaf tea box

    Queensland’s Nerada Tea company is marking Plastics Free July with the launch of a cardboard tea package that features no plastic lining or wrapping.

    The box, made from recycled cardboard, comes with a pour spout that folds out to dispense the loose-leaf tea into a brewing pot. It will sell for RRP$3.30 in supermarkets.

    Nerada Tea, which sells 1.5 million kilograms of tea a year, is also currently trialing a 100-per-cent plastic-free paper for its tagless pot bags which it hopes to roll out in stores by the end of this year.

    In what the company describes as “a high priority,” further research is ongoing into a plastic-free solution for tea bags which the company hopes to bring to market within a year.

    Launched in 2010, Plastic Free July has reportedly inspired more than 326 million participants around the world to reduce their household waste and recycling by 21kg per person, per year – equivalent to almost 5 percent – contributing to a total saving of 940 million kilograms of plastic waste annually.

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  • Coles revamps cereals aisle, moving healthy options mainstream

    Coles revamps cereals aisle, moving healthy options mainstream

    Coles is making its healthy breakfast options more accessible, transforming the chain’s cereals aisle by adding a larger range of healthy products.

    More than 50 new healthy cereals, muesli, and breakfasts on the go have been added, to meet surging demand for healthy and nutritious products among Aussie consumers.

    The new range includes Coles’ first breakfast in beverage form, Breakfast on the Move, Wellness Road toasted muesli range with high fibre grain Barleymax, and an exclusive range of 11 ‘Goodness Bowl’ cereals and low sugar mueslis from Uncle Toby’s.

    According to the company, the new aisle is tailored to help customers easily find dietary options in one destination, including a new ‘Gluten Free Cereal’ section which was previously only found in the health food aisle.

    “Customers will love the simplicity of finding their favorite breakfast products in the main aisle and making healthy choices part of their everyday lives,” said Leanne White, GM for grocery at Coles.

    “The changes we’ve made will help make it easier, enjoyable, and affordable for millions of customers, particularly those with special dietary requirements, to shop for suitable healthy breakfast options.”

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  • Instagram is trying its best to keep up with TikTok

    Instagram is trying its best to keep up with TikTok

    After TikTok shook the social media market and fundamentally changed the name of the game, western companies quickly rushed in to grab a piece of the pie. As per usual, Instagram was quick to follow up with a similar feature with the release of Reels in 2020.

    On June 30, the head of Instagram shared a video on his Twitter page about upcoming changes in the social media platform. In his post, he mentions the addition of fullscreen mobile-first video to the app.

    We’re also going to be experimenting with how do we embrace video more broadly — full screen, immersive, entertaining, mobile-first video.

    These videos will appear in your feed in the form of recommendations, even if you don’t follow the account that’s posted them. Adam Mosseri explained the need for such changes by addressing the increasingly competitive environment in which Instagram finds itself.

    Let’s be honest, there’s some really serious competition right now. TikTok is huge, YouTube is even bigger, and there are lots of other upstarts as well.

    The days when the app was primarily photo-centric are long gone. It used to be a place where people would casually share photos of their everyday life with their friends and family. It then became a creative place for professional artists to showcase their work and promote it to a wider audience. Some would say that was the golden age of Instagram.

    In the last couple of years, however, Instagram evolved into a platform that also focuses on retail, instant entertainment, and product advertising. “We’re no longer a photo-sharing app or a square photo-sharing app,” said Mosseri. He then cemented his message, saying that “people are looking to Instagram to be entertained, there’s stiff competition and there’s more to do. We have to embrace that, and that means change.”

  • Suzuki Hayabusa Bookings Begin Again

    Suzuki Hayabusa Bookings Begin Again

    Suzuki Motorcycle India has reopened the bookings for the 2021 Hayabusa. The company sold out the first batch of 101 motorcycles in April 2021 in just a couple of days after opening bookings. While deliveries of the first batch have already begun, the company says that the second batch of the Hayabusa is likely to come to India in August 2021. The motorcycle was showcased in a new-generation avatar last year and made its way to India earlier this year. The new-gen Suzuki Hayabusa is priced at ₹ 16.40 lakh.

    The new Hayabusa gets comprehensive updates for the first time in 13 years. The bike now features improved aerodynamics, as well as an updated electronics suite too. It gets a 1,340 cc, four-stroke, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline-four engine which makes 187 bhp at 9,700 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm. Top speed is still rated at 299 kmph and kerb weight sees a marginal drop of 2 kg to 264 kg.

    Along with the updated engine, the motorcycle also gets a wide variety of electronic rider aids and a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU). The USP is the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S) under which you get three riding modes and three user-defined modes, with different settings for traction control, anti-lift control, engine brake control and so on.

  • Sony Xperia 5 III coming to Europe in September and it won’t be cheap

    Sony Xperia 5 III coming to Europe in September and it won’t be cheap

    Sony announced that it will bring the Xperia 1 III in the United States in late September, but didn’t mention anything about the Xperia 5 III, the former’s cheaper brother. That could mean a few different things like maybe Sony isn’t sure when it will be able to bring it to the US, or perhaps it has no intention to sell it in North America.

    Either way, we at least have an idea about how much the Xperia 5 III will cost in the US. The company’s European branch revealed that the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III will be launched in Europe for €1.300 and €1000, respectively.

    Considering the Japanese company has already opened Xperia 1 III pre-orders in the US and the phone is priced at $1,300, it’s safe to assume that the Xperia 5 III will sell for $1,000 in case Sony decides to bring it to the States.

    Just like the Xperia 1 III, the Xperia 5 III will be shipped in Europe from September. This one will be available in Black and Green, but additional colors may be introduced after the phone’s market launch.

    The Xperia III 5 is a top-tier smartphone powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor, paired with either 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, or 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Also, the smartphone boasts a stunning 6.1-inch OLED FHD+ display featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 6 coating.

    However, one of the phone’s main selling points is the triple camera setup (12MP+12MP+12MP). Along with the Xperia 1 III, the Xperia 5 III is the world’s first smartphone with a variable telephoto lens paired with a dual PD sensor. Not to mention that the camera features Zeiss optics and a brand new AI super-resolution zoom technology.

    As far as the battery goes, Sony claims the 4,500 mAh battery can charge up to 50% of capacity in 30 minutes with the 30W charger that comes with the phone.

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  • Facebook’s mobile cloud gaming service now covers the entire US

    Facebook’s mobile cloud gaming service now covers the entire US

    Just like other giants in the industry (Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA), Facebook has its own cloud gaming service. Announced last year, the closed beta of Facebook’s cloud gaming platform promises to offer a decent catalog of games that can be played instantly, with no installs, while on the move.

    The service was launched with just a handful of cloud-streamed games on Android and web in select US regions. Today, Facebook announced that its cloud gaming platform is accessible to over 98% of people in the mainland United States.

    Also, the company revealed that it’s on track to hit 100% by fall of this year and that it will start rolling out the service in Canada and Mexico. By early 2022, Facebook plans to reach Western and Central Europe with its cloud gaming platform.

    The announcement includes one other highlight that involves a new partnership with a major game developer: Ubisoft. Under the new partnership, Facebook’s cloud gaming platform will add more titles to its catalog starting with Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, which was launched as a cloud-streamed game on Facebook Gaming.

    Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed game can be played on the Facebook app on Android and the web (via fb.gg/play). In addition to Rebellion, Facebook has added two other Ubisoft titles to its portfolio of streamable games: Hungry Shark Evolution and Hungry Dragon. Two others will be added in the coming months: Mighty Quest and Trials Frontier.

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  • Volvo And Google Extend Partnership For VolvoCars.OS

    Volvo And Google Extend Partnership For VolvoCars.OS

    Volvo and Google have announced that they are extending their partnership for Android Automotive which will not hook into a new user experience that the Swedish brand is developing called VolvoCars.OS. VolvoCars.OS uses an assortment of operating systems be it Android Automotive, QNX, and Linux. But the big deal is that it will hook into the cloud, or Android Automotive in its electric cars, and will also have a new front end for in-car displays.

    This is a more integrated approach mirroring what Google is doing with its other platform – wearOS on the smartwatch platform which is now merging with Samsung’s Tizen OS or even on the phone with its partnership with Reliance Jio in India for the Jio Phone Next. It is integrating more closely with OEMs and creating a more unique and customized experience.

    Of course, on the car, especially on Volvo’s cars, which are known the world over for their safety. This new UI is going to optimize safety. As always, this starts with a high-resolution infotainment screen and even a heads-up display, and everything will be available through voice, embedding the Google Assistant at the heart of the experience. Volvo and Google are already doing this, but what they will probably end up making is something more unique for Volvo than something stock that makes every Android Automotive car feel the same.

    “Our teams have spent a lot of time with Google to further develop and improve our user experience for the next generation of Volvo Cars,” said Henrik Green, chief technology officer, Volvo.

    “Especially in terms of safety, serenity, and simplicity, we have made great strides thanks to a deeper integration of design and technological development. We are convinced that it will allow us to create even better Volvo cars and set a new industry standard,” he added.

    Of course, these cars will also integrate better with mobile phones and the phone will act like a key leveraging a car key feature that Google unveiled at Google IO earlier this year. Volvo will also have an app that will connect you to everything else that comes with owning a modern electric car, the company claims in an official release.

    It is building features for paying for charging and connecting the with home devices and also pre-cooling and preheating the vehicle remotely. All these cars will also support OTA updates, but that’s something that has become a standard-issue these days with connected cars.

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  • Google Assistant is secretly listening to you, it turns out

    Google Assistant is secretly listening to you, it turns out

    In a strange turn of events, Google allegedly confirmed that Google Assistant on your phone or smart speaker may be recording your audio without your knowledge, but just “at times”.

    Google representatives on Tuesday told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology that Google employees listen to some recordings of conversations between users and Google Assistant.

    Back in 2019, Google confirmed that its employees occasionally listen to conversations between users and Google Assistant. “We take a number of precautions to protect data during the human review process-audio snippets are never associated with any user accounts and language experts only listen to a small set of queries (around 0.2 percent of all user audio snippets), only from users with VAA turned on,” Google stated at the time.

    That’s all in the fine print but as it turns out, sometimes audio was recorded by the Google Assistant on a smartphone or smart speaker even when a user had not triggered the AI by saying Ok Google. IndiaToday sources claim that in response to a question from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, the Google team confirmed the aforementioned.

    Google’s privacy policy states, “Occasionally, the Assistant will activate when you didn’t intend it to because it incorrectly detected that you wanted its help. If that happens, just say Hey Google, that wasn’t for you, and the Assistant will delete the last thing it sent to Google.”

    That’s all fine and dandy but there’s nothing about the times when Google Assistant is secretly listening to your conversations. How would you know in the first place? It’s a major scandal that has the potential to blow way out of proportion! We’re monitoring the situation closely and we’ll keep you posted if there’s any further information.

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  • WhatsApp gets View Once messages in its beta version

    WhatsApp gets View Once messages in its beta version

    Last year, Facebook introduced Vanish Mode to Messenger and Instagram, a feature that allows users to send ephemeral messages. Now, the company is extending the feature to WhatsApp, and it is already available in the app’s beta version.

    The Vanish Mode in WhatApp has been dubbed “View Once”. Before you send a photo, video, or text, you have the option to tap on a little circle icon with the number one inside. That way, your message will automatically delete itself once viewed by the recipient. Additionally, you will receive a notification when your media has been opened.

    However, there is a crucial caveat to take note of. Unlike Messenger’s vanish mode, if the person on the other end of the conversation decides to screenshot or screen record your message, you will not be notified. Unfortunately, in its beta WhatsApp still does not support screenshot detection. We will have to wait and see if it gets added.

    There are also a couple of details in regards to disabling read receipts. Firstly, if read receipts are disabled, the person you’re chatting with will still be able to see whether you’ve opened View Once content. However, you won’t know if they have opened yours.

    On the other hand, you will still have the ability to see who has opened your message in group chats despite having read receipts disabled. Another important detail for group chats to remember is that blocked users can open the photos and videos you send to them. You can view who’s looked at the content by going to “Message Info”.

    View Once will work even for those who haven’t received it yet. Facebook hasn’t reported when View Once will graduate from the beta version to the stable one. Currently, it is available only on Android and will be introduced to iOS at a later date.

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  • Waze adds cats and dogs voices and moods, car icons to its app

    Waze adds cats and dogs voices and moods, car icons to its app

    More voices are coming to one of the most popular navigation app, Waze. This time we have something special to talk about, as Waze is adding cats and dogs voices to its mobile apps. So, regardless of whether you’re a cat or dog person, Waze now has you covered.

    From today for a limited time, Waze users can choose between two navigation voices that personify a dog or a cat. But we’re getting a lot more than just two voices, as each is themed toward a different mood.

    The dog voice is upbeat, positive, encouraging, and excited (distracted too!), while the cat voice is c, but also funny and irreverent. So it’s up to each user to choose the theme they like.

    In addition to the new voices, Waze introduces new car icons that can be used on the live map, such as the Meow Mobile and the Woof Wagon. There are also meant to show the user’s pet preference as they’ll have to change their mood to Cat or Dog.

    Keep in mind that the Cat & Dog theme will be available in English, French, and Spanish for a limited time, so make sure to download them before they’re gone.

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  • VietinBank pre-tax H1 profits up 75 pct

    VietinBank pre-tax H1 profits up 75 pct

    State-owned lender VietinBank has recorded pre-tax profits of VND13 trillion ($565.2 million) in the first six months of 2021, a year-on-year increase of 75 percent.

    Its ratio of non-performing loans at the end of Q2 was 1.38 percent, chairman Le Duc Tho said, adding that the targeted non-performing loans ratio for this year was 1-1.2 percent

    The bank’s total assets value at the end of June was VND1.4 quadrillion ($60.8 billion), while its loans outstanding were VND1.06 quadrillion, according to its CEO Tran Binh Minh.

    Capital mobilization as of June reached VND1.2 quadrillion, up 3.4 percent year-on-year.

    The bank plans to increase its charter capital by 29 percent to over VND48 trillion this year by paying dividends in shares.

  • Deutsche Bank Hit by Expired Hong Kong IPO License

    Deutsche Bank Hit by Expired Hong Kong IPO License

    A staffing error reportedly bypassed internal controls at Deutsche Bank which led to the expiration of its Hong Kong license to sponsor initial public offerings, marking a setback to the relaunch of its Asia equities business.

    Deutsche Bank failed to replace to regulated staff on time which will cause its IPO sponsor license to lapse from next month, citing unnamed sources.

    Deutsche’s IPO principals until June were investment bankers Poon Tsz Yuen and Rowena Wang, as per the Securities and Futures Commission’s (SFC) register. According to the report, Poon left the bank on June 16 and Wang is set to be removed from the register of authorized principals in early July.

    A spokesperson for the bank confirmed the license expiration and staff departures.

    The license expiration marks a setback to the relaunch of Deutsche Bank’s Asia equity capital markets (ECM) business after a restructuring in 2019 that saw Hong Kong shed alms all its ECM teams.

    According to another unnamed source close to the SFC, the issue suggests that there were «poor internal controls» at the bank and that process hereafter is expected to be slow.

    Separately, the SFC fined Deutsche Securities Asia last week for issuing incorrect statements to its prime brokerage clients and delaying the reporting of the failures to the regulator. And earlier today, the German lender’s Greater China investment banking vice-chair Rowena Chu reportedly retired.

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  • HSBC Names Regional Fund Selection Head

    HSBC Names Regional Fund Selection Head

    She will succeed Virginia Devereux Wong, regional head of funds and ETFs, who will be leaving HSBC Private Banking at the end of June.

    Lina Lim, regional head of discretionary, Asia, will take on the expanded role of regional head of discretionary and funds, citing a HSBC spokesperson.

    In her new role, which combines Wong’s responsibilities, Lim will oversee discretionary, funds and ETFs in Asia. She will lead the team to introduce products by leveraging HSBC’s product manufacturing capabilities, HSBC said.

    Lim joined HSBC Private Bank’s Investment Services and Product Solutions (ISPS) team in Asia Pacific in 2019 as regional head of discretionary, Asia, following over 13 years at J.P. Morgan in various roles, including head of its Institutional Wealth Management discretionary business in Asia for family offices.

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