Retail News CRM

Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Why We Need To Say Goodbye To Fast Fashion?

    Why We Need To Say Goodbye To Fast Fashion?

    The fashion industry is all about glamour, and being fashionable. Most of the time, it comes at the expense of the environment, especially when it is all about fast fashion. Fast fashion borrows the name from the fast food industry that is all about cheap, in-season and fast-moving products. Fast fashion is trendy, but it is not long lasting. Therefore, it is essential to take care of fast fashion. 

    Fashion is cheap and disposable, which is why it is a part of modern life, especially amongst the young people who can purchase such items. However, investing in fast fashion is similar to investing in Lottery Sambad and recklessly spending the winning amount after winning the Dhankesari ticket. It might give temporary benefits, but in the long run, it is harmful in several ways.

    The Impact Of Fast Fashion 

    Most fast fashion clothing is designed to last for a short period. Therefore, most of these clothes are thrown away after a short interval of time. Such garments end up in landfill and create nuisances for the environment. Not only does it pollute the land, but it also emits greenhouse gasses. The fashion industry is the second biggest consumer of water. Further, it is responsible for about 9% of global carbon emissions. To give you an idea, this is the carbon emission produced by combined international flights and maritime shipping. 

    Also, the process involving the creation of fast fashion products results in water pollution and further dries up the water sources. According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change report, textile emissions will increase by 60% in 2030. Therefore, now is the right time to say goodbye to fast fashion to avoid this damage. 

    It is common for fast fashion to use synthetic fibres like acrylic, nylon and polyester to create clothes. These fibres generate microplastics that often end up in the ocean. Microplastics are non-biodegradable plastic that can tragically harm the marine ecosystem. 

    Not only the impact of fast fashion is high on the environment, but also, it has many societal problems. Most fast fashion production occurs in developing countries where there has been evidence of forced and child labour. Now that we know the impact of fast fashion, here are a few ways to engage in a responsible fashion. 

    Invest In High-Quality Key Pieces Of Clothing 

    The sure shot way of eliminating fast fashion from life is by investing in high-quality key pieces of clothing. Not only will it last long but also, it ensures that it stays fashionable. The consumer can identify the key pieces of clothing that they wear the most and invest in it to stay fashionable. 

    Further, one can work out different permutations and combinations to create a wide variety of designs from the key pieces alone. Buy less and always invest in high-quality products. 

     

  • How To Ensure A Balance Between Inventory And Sales?

    How To Ensure A Balance Between Inventory And Sales?

    With the recession taking place, many businesses that deal with physical products are considering overstocking the items to cut higher costs in the future. However, blindly overstocking the products can expose the businesses to the changes and further mercy of the consumer behaviour. Therefore, inventory management is a crucial part of businesses right now. There is a need to maintain a perfect balance between inventory and sales.

    With inventory management, the business can increase and improve customer service, cash flow cycle, resource capacity utilisation and supply chain efficiency. Furthermore, it reduces working capital requirements and inventory loss. Listed below are few tips for proper inventory management.

    Anticipating Customer Demand Is Essential 

    Consumer demand is dynamic; it keeps changing according to the economic condition. Even though it might seem a good idea to overstock the items and ship them through Ninja Van and other prominent shipping services like Shopee Xpress, it is essential first to ensure that there will be consumer demand. Overstocking inventory can put the business at risk as the inventory value has a chance to drop, and the business will be forced to push out the stock at heavy discounts. 

    Sales forecast plays a vital role in inventory management. It is essential to conduct thorough market research and collect all the necessary data to check whether the sales will be high or low. It is only through this information that it is possible to create the perfect inventory balance. 

    Identify The Risk Inventory And Get Rid Of It 

    Even though inventory acts like a shock absorber, it is critical to identify the risk inventory and eliminate it for its proper functioning. Identifying the risk inventory enables the business to reduce the cost of inventory management. Dead and obsolete inventory should be removed to ensure that the businesses have more cash on hand. 

    Alignment Between Sales And Stock

    When you keep the sales and stock levels in alignment, it is possible to ensure that you do not undertake or overstock the inventory. Keep real-time stock level data and adjust it whenever a transaction happens. There are plenty of tools out there that provide good recommendations about the items that need restocking. Further, keep the past trend in check to predict what you can consider in the future by considering the necessary variables. 

    Analyse Supplier Performance 

    A reliable supplier makes it easy to take care of the stock whenever it is required. On the other hand, an unreliable supplier can create plenty of problems. Keep the supplier’s performance in check and ensure that they are reliable. Further, the businesses should switch if the supplier is unreliable. Not only a reliable supplier is vital, but it is also essential to ensure that it provides the stock at competitive pricing. 

    Keep 80/20 Inventory Rule In Mind 

    The items that fetch the most money for a business should always stay in stock. In business, 80% of the company’s profits come from 20% of the stock. A business should identify this 20% of the stock and prioritise them in the inventory. Further, a complete understanding of the sales lifecycle of these items is important. Developing this understanding is possible when these products are closely monitored. 

    Track Sales And Understand The Pattern 

    During tough times, like the current recession, tracking sales daily is essential. Further, not only tracking the sales is important, but it is also crucial to understand the underlying pattern of the sales too. Analysing the sales data will shed light on the bestselling products and, further, identify the seasonal trend too. It will give the business the understanding that is required to restock the inventory at the right amount. 

    Inventory management might look tough, but it is not always tough with the right analysis and understanding. Keeping a tab on the inventory-to-sales ratio is vital to ensure that the inventory management is doing okay. Most of the time, the amount of inventory that needs to be kept is guesswork. However, it is possible to make intelligent guesswork with the right tool. 

    During the recession, taking inventory management seriously is extremely important. The items should neither be overstock nor understock. With proper planning, analysis and work, it is possible to engage in efficient inventory management that can ensure business profit even during tough times. 

     

  • The Relevance Of Customer Sentiment Analysis In Business

    The Relevance Of Customer Sentiment Analysis In Business

    Perception often becomes a reality in the business world. Perception has a habit of spreading like a forest fire through word of mouth. Therefore, it becomes essential to ensure that the perception of the customers and even non-customers towards your business is good. It has a direct impact on the credibility and reputation of the business. Even though perception is important, the real question is how can a business analyse customers’ perception of a business? The answer lies in customer sentiment analysis. 

    Just like we know, if someone has uploaded a Sad Status on their WhatsApp Status, the user is sad. Customer sentiment analysis allows the business to analyse how the customers feel about the business. With the analysis, a business can find whether the customer feels positively or negatively about the brand. 

    The Importance Of Customer Sentiment Analysis

    Customers are king for a reason. Their happiness and satisfaction matter for the growth of a business and there is no doubt about it. Research has indicated that a customer who has experienced a positive feeling while purchasing will tell an average of nine people about the experience. On the other hand, a customer who had a negative experience with a brand will tell 16 people about it. 

    In addition, customers with a positive experience will stay loyal to the business for more than five years compared to those with a negative experience. Further, the cost to serve a customer reduces by 33% when the customer experiences a positive feeling. It is why it is important to keep customer sentiment in check. 

    Customer sentiment analysis also throws light on customer loyalty and the customer lifetime value, which is essential to growing the business. 

    How To Do Customer Sentiment Analysis?

    If you are running a huge business, it is manually not possible to engage in customer sentiment analysis. Thankfully, there are software and tools that can automatically detect the customers’ sentiments through Natural Language Processing. 

    With the help of Natural Language Processing, it is possible to detect whether the customer’s sentiment is positive, negative or neutral. 

    The Benefits Of Customer Sentiment Analysis 

    The ultimate aim of any process involved in a business is to increase the profit for business. The same truth goes for customer sentiment analysis too. Here are a few benefits of customer sentiment analysis. 

    1. Better customer service 

    After experiencing bad service, most of the customers complained about it. There is a high probability that they will stop associating with the brand after the negative experience. However, it can be taken care of through customer sentiment analysis. After identifying the customers who have had negative experiences, the businesses can go ahead and provide them with better customer service by solving their business. Through this method, you can eliminate the negative experience of the customer. 

    2. Brand reputation management 

    Brand monitoring is essential, especially on social media platforms where everyone can view the comments. Through customer sentiment analysis, it is possible to monitor the mentions that a brand receives and is associated with negative emotions. Quick action towards it can help the brand to maintain its reputation. 

    3. Provides room for improvement 

    Customer sentiment analysis on the features of the product or services that require improvement. A sudden rise of negative mentions indicates a sudden need to fix an issue. Further, it helps the business better understand the customer’s requirements. 

    4. Hyper-personalized experience for the customer 

    Customer sentiment analysis can also be used to segment customers of your business based on their emotions towards the brand. It allows businesses to create hyper-personalized experiences and allows them to bring more sales. 

    5. Improved marketing and sales plan 

    With a new launch in the market, through customer sentiment analysis, it is possible to check whether the customers are experiencing any issues or not. Further, the reaction of the target audience can be measured. It gives the necessary data to the business for making any adjustment in the marketing or sales plan for the good. 

    Customer sentiment analysis is invaluable for any company. Every customer interaction provides room for growth for the business. The valuable information it provides makes it possible to improve the business and maximise profit. It is always wise to analyse customer sentiments and keep the brand’s image positive. 

     

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Why A Team Of IT Consultants Is Important For Your Business?

    Why A Team Of IT Consultants Is Important For Your Business?

    If you are not very familiar with the field of the internet and technology, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends and developments in the world of technology. Having a knowledgeable expert on your side can help your team stay ahead of the competition. By having an IT consultant team on your team, your team can gain access to all the important information that can help to beat the competition.

    An expert IT team that has a broad knowledge of various platforms and technologies in your field will provide your team with solutions that will help your business succeed. If you are getting double-minded about whether to hire an IT consultant team or not then these reasons might help you refine your decision:

    Integration Of Technologies

    A major benefit or reason for having an IT consulting team on your side is they can help with the integration of new and old technologies. Technology is becoming more and more complex due to which it is becoming difficult for many businesses to handle, integrate, and coordinate everything on their own.

    A team of IT consultants can help with the integration, upgradation, and usage of existing applications and systems. They can provide solutions to all of the compatibility and integration problems that may arise with new technologies. The team will most likely consist of IT experts who are familiar with the technologies and applications that are being used in the industry, so integrating new and existing technologies won’t be a problem for your company anymore.

    Cost-Savings

    Hiring a team of IT consultants also helps with cost savings. To stay up with the competition, an investment in new technologies and applications is required after every few years. Upgrading technologies and implementing new applications required specialized knowledge of different types of software and hardware along with familiarity with how these applications and technology work.

    An expert IT consultant team who has knowledge about the latest technologies being used in the industry will be able to help with everything, right from upgrading the technologies to training the staff members. There also won’t be any need to hire additional IT staff or hire an IT consulting firm as you will already have an expert IT team on your side.

    Prevention Of Loss In Employee Productivity

    You can also prevent a loss in employee productivity by having a team of IT experts on your team. If there isn’t a team of IT experts on your team then it can take only a computer crash or a network disruption to cause a major dip in the productivity of the entire office and these issues can happen at any time, sometimes in the mornings resulting in loss of productivity throughout the day.

    Even a problem with a PC program like Excel to PDF editor can cause a huge dip in the productivity of employees who have to work with digital documents. Without an IT firm, these problems can take hours to be resolved where you will need to call an IT consulting firm, ask them to come over, and resolve the problems, whereas, with an in-house team of IT consultants, these problems will be fixed in a few minutes. Whether it is a computer crash, a network issue, or a problem with the JPG to PDF Converter, these issues will be resolved quickly by an in-house team of IT consultants preventing a decrease in workplace productivity.

    Customer Satisfaction

    Having a team of IT experts on your side can also help with customer satisfaction. Often it is seen that when customers encounter a problem and no one in the company knows the fix to it or resolves it then they can get very frustrated. Customers don’t like doing business with companies that can’t even resolve their problems.

    By having an IT consulting firm on your side, all your technological needs will be taken care of and the problems that your customers will face will be taken care of. The reason why you will be hiring a team of consultants is to provide solutions for different technological problems and in this way, if your customers ever face any problem with technology at your company then it will be taken care of which will result in happy customers.

    New Business Strategies

    A team of IT consultants will also help with the growth of your business. Since they will be familiar with the technologies being used in the market, they will give suggestions to implement new technologies into your business operations. They will come up with new marketing strategies and how you can beat your competitors by using technology. Just having a team of IT consultants on your side, you gain a clear-cut advantage over your competitors. 

     

    Lees ook:

  • What Are The Benefits Of Ergonomics In The Workplace?

    What Are The Benefits Of Ergonomics In The Workplace?

    There is no doubt about it, ergonomics are helping to create a safe and efficient work environment for employees in offices so that they can perform at their highest level without having to worry about any physical injury. The main reason behind the implementation of ergonomics is the basis of creating a safe and efficient work environment where employees feel like going every day. 

    Some people, however, still avoid ergonomics and the implementation of a workplace because they think that it is not worth spending so much to make sure that employees don’t suffer any physical injury. These people are clearly wrong because there is no reason to risk the health of your employees over a little investment. Read on more to find out the importance of ergonomics in the workplace and why ergonomics shouldn’t be ignored:

    Improved Health Of Employees

    The main reason why ergonomic workplaces are designed is to improve the health of workers there. When employees work in a workstation where everything is comforting and beneficial for their health then they suffer fewer injuries. The major problem that people face while working in poor ergonomic workplaces is musculoskeletal disorders. Simply by improving the posture and maintaining the height of the chairs, you can see a 50% decrease in MSK disorders.

    Similarly, ergonomic workstations include adjustable chairs so that you can work at a specific position where you won’t be putting strain and tension on your eyes or neck. It also prevents the development of varicose veins and swelling in the legs because ergonomic workstations are designed in such a way that your blood flow is optimal.

    Higher Productivity Levels

    With an ergonomic workplace, your employees are better focused and they can work at higher productivity levels. By designing a workstation that is adjustable and allows for good posture, less force extortion, better reaches, and fewer motions, the employees are going to love it just as a board game lover loves the Word Unscrambler. An ergonomic workstation allows your employees to focus better which results in them having high levels of productivity.

    For your business to be successful, it needs to have productivity. Just changing the workplace for your employees and making it better for them will make them feel more comfortable, and valued, and they will feel like giving their best, which is obviously in the interest of your business.

    Better Work Quality

    If the place where employees work is not properly built and the workstation has poor ergonomics then it will lead to frustrated and fatigued workers who won’t be able to produce the best quality of work. Just because their workstation isn’t comfortable, the tools that they work with aren’t of high quality, they feel fatigued all the time due to which their work quality is affected.

    Simply by improving the ergonomics of the workstation and providing the highest quality of tools to employees and workers, you can see the best quality of work from them.

    Eliminates Potential Work Hazards

    Just as a person working in a lab wears a white coat, gloves, and safety goggles to protect himself against potential lab hazards, ergonomics in the workplace help to eliminate potential hazards. There are some unsafe distractions and daily hazards that can hurt your employees which can lead to serious consequences later on.

    Simply by applying ergonomics in the workplace, eliminating hazards that you observe yourself, and asking employees about the hazards that they face daily, you will be not only improving their safety but also letting them know that you care about them.

    Increased Employee Engagement

    When employees notice that their employer is making an effort to provide the best conditions possible to work and cares about their health and safety, they will feel like being a part of different business activities. Their interest in business activities will develop just as one’s interest in Scrabble develops after finding out about the Scrabble Word Finder. 

    You will notice they will be more motivated to work every day and this will help to reduce the turnover rate and increase the loyalty of employees as they would prefer working in a safe and comfortable place.

    Happier Employees

    Along with increased engagement, ergonomics also helps to produce happier employees. It all comes to you that how better are you able to utilize ergonomics in the office. The better you utilize ergonomics, the happier your employees will be. They will love coming to a workplace where they are able to work in a comfortable, distraction-free, and relaxing environment.

    You will notice it yourself when you will see that the mood of every employee is lightened up. When your employees are happy then it means that good days are coming for your company as they will be performing their jobs at the highest levels.

     

    Lees ook:

  • What Are The Benefits Of Workplace Automation?

    What Are The Benefits Of Workplace Automation?

    Automation is all around us, whether you believe it or not. From scheduling interviews to taking over day-to-day repetitive tasks, automation is everywhere. Some people are afraid of the fact that AI might replace them and take over their jobs but we haven’t yet reached a point where AI can fully function on its own without the need for human assistance. 

    With Automation in the workplace, productivity around the workplace is increasing. We are not even bothering ourselves with tedious and repetitive tasks as they are all done through automation. With AI taking over the repetitive tasks, we get more time to focus on important tasks that can help the business grow instead of wasting a few hours every day on a task that isn’t determinant to the company’s success. With that all said, let’s have a look at the benefits of automation in the workplace:

    Increased Workplace Productivity

    We are seeing a decline in workplace productivity, which could be because the employees are getting lazy or they are burdened with too much non-productive work that their productivity is hampered.  Businesses should be looking for ways to improve their workplace productivity to attain better results at faster rates and increase their revenue. 

    One of the ways to improve productivity is by automating repetitive and tedious tasks. Every day, every week, every month, and every year employees worldwide lose so many work hours just because of repetitive tasks that could instead be automated. A task like organizing job interviews or setting up a meeting seems minuscule but they can take so much of employees’ time without them even noticing. 

    So why not automate such repetitive tasks and give more time to employees so that they can focus on the work that matters, improve their productivity, and perhaps, play a game like Solitaire to refresh their minds. Just by automating these simple tasks, businesses can save so much and generate more money as employees would get the time to get more work done. All of this is just because of automation.

    Boosts The Morale Of Employees

    Automation in the workplace and business processes can boost the morale of your employees. It can also help to take a company to new heights of productivity and efficiency. When you automate different tasks around the workplace then the whole workspace is friction-free with minimal errors that allow employees to give their best. 

    When simple day-to-day work tasks are more manageable and automated then it becomes easier for the whole team to work seamlessly. Employees wouldn’t have to wait a long time for a task to be completed as automation software performs the tasks very quickly. When repetitive tasks will be taken care of then it will take the stress off of employees’ shoulders and they will be able to get things done in a better way. Just as playing Klondike Solitaire boosts your morale, workplace automation boosts the morale of employees.

    Cost-Effectiveness

    Workplace process automation is also a cost-effective option. Most workplace processes need to be performed manually because there are important tasks and handing them over to an automation software might not be the best thing to do but there are some workplace processes like repetitive tasks that can be automated and fully handled by automation software.

    Here the actual role of business process automation in cost-effectiveness comes into play. All the repetitive tasks can be handled by business process automation, reducing costs and allowing businesses to increase their revenue.

    Reduced Human Errors

    Workplace automation or business automation helps to reduce human error in repetitive tasks. Tasks like invoicing, data entry, or organizing can have human error but by automating such tedious and repetitive tasks, both the company and employees can benefit. As employees wouldn’t have to deal with such tasks which will translate into fewer mistakes and better employee satisfaction. A mistake by any employee in a task as simple as data entry or invoicing can end up being a huge blunder so automating such tasks is a win-win situation for both the company and the employee.

    Excellent Customer Service

    Workplace process automation can also be implemented in providing excellent customer service. The whole purpose of employing business process automation is to make things easier, faster, and more convenient. Customer service can be made better by using Chatbots to deal with customers. Chatbots are programs that use machine learning and artificial learning to interact with humans.

    Businesses all over the world have employed chatbots to automate customer service. These are highly-responsive and efficient programs that can deal with customers and provide them with the solution that they are looking for. There are also some programs available that can automate other tasks like organizing a meeting with clients, sending out invoices to clients, etc.

     

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • How Can Your Business Reach A Larger Audience?

    How Can Your Business Reach A Larger Audience?

    Every business out there wants to reach a larger audience as it adds value to a company and helps to maximize profits. It is one of the ways by which businesses can increase their profits easily. Reaching a larger audience isn’t easy because you not only have to keep in touch with your already existing customers and provide them value but also provide value to potential customers. 

    Reaching a larger audience is all about playing your cards right and employing different techniques and strategies that will help you in achieving this goal. Mentioned below are some of the ways that can help your business reach a larger audience:

    Analyze Your Target Audience

    The first thing that you have to do in order to reach a larger audience is to analyze your audience first. This includes analyzing the age, occupation, and interests of your audience. After you have made an analysis of your audience, you would have to come up with different marketing tactics.

    After analysis, it is important to understand how you can attract your customers. If your audience involves both young and older people then you would have to come up with different marketing strategies because what might work for younger customers might not work for older customers. 

    Remember that while analyzing your target audience, you should never target everyone because not everyone will become your customer but you should reach out to as many people as possible to gather more data as it will help to get a better analysis report.

    Come Up With Unique Marketing Tactics

    The next way by which you can reach a larger audience is by adopting new marketing techniques and tactics that your competitors haven’t yet adopted. Every year new marketing tactics and techniques are developed due to new social media platforms. We are seeing new marketing techniques that are employed on different social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Omegle, etc. If your target audience consists mostly of the younger generation then social media is a great way to target them as you would find them more on social media platforms.

    But social media marketing has become so popular that everyone is using it. So how can you beat your competitors? Well, you can come up with unique strategies such as creating unique content for your social media handles that your competitors aren’t doing and coming up with a unique way that increases the user engagement with your social media handles. 

    Social media marketing is just one of the various ways to reach a larger audience. You can do your research and come up with unique ways of marketing that are not being used in your industry as it will help you to beat your competitors.

    Work With Social Media Influencers

    Another way of reaching a larger audience is working with social media influencers. Social media has actually become a very big deal and you can utilize the power of social media influencers to easily reach out to a larger audience. It is a widely used digital marketing technique where businesses pair up with influencers and ask them to promote their products or brand. It is an effective way of creating brand awareness, generating qualified leads, and converting those leads into sales.

    Although it is considered a bit expensive method of marketing, it has proven to be highly impactful. Keep in mind that before pairing up with an influencer, it is suggested that you determine the ROI of the influencer which can be hard to find but is not impossible. You can execute and manage your influencer marketing campaign on different social platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Ometv, etc to reach a wider and larger audience.

    Run Giveaways And Organize Competitions

    Running giveaways and hosting competitions is also a way to reach a larger audience. Mostly online giveaways and competitions are known to be effective in creating brand awareness and boosting brand visibility, although a giveaway or competition doesn’t just have to be online, you can run offline fun competitions and giveaways too.

    Online giveaways will help create brand awareness for your business on the internet while offline competitions will help you to create a name for your brand in the local community where your business is based. Organizing giveaways and competitions give a huge boost to the visibility of your brand as it is exposed to more and more people.

     

  • What Are The Advantages Of Having A Web Portal For Business?

    What Are The Advantages Of Having A Web Portal For Business?

    In the world that we are living in, a business not having a web portal seems odd because the internet is an essential part of everyone’s lives. Some business owners still think having a web portal isn’t a rxquirement and these people can’t be more wrong. Having a strong web portal has become a requirement for the business industry where employees, customers, and partners can check their relevant data.

    A professional web portal can make a huge difference for your businesses and make it easier for customers to check up on their orders and for your staff members to work from anywhere and upload important files and documents at any time. So what edge does having a web portal give to your business and what are the advantages of having a web portal? Let’s find out:

    Improved Communication

    The first advantage that you get by having a professionally built and responsive web portal is that the communication is improved. Whether it is the communication between your employees, different departments, or between customers and staff members, it becomes easier with a web portal. A web portal becomes the go-to tool for communication instead of using any third-party solutions which aren’t as efficient as a portal built according to your company’s requirements. 

     

    A web portal that is usable by all your team members and customers makes communications easier for everyone just as the admin portal of a wireless router, accessible through 192.168.254.254 makes it easier for everyone to configure their network. In this age, communication holds utmost importance because proper communication can be the difference between a properly managed project and a poorly managed project.

    Faster Exchange Of Information

    Improved communication also means that through a properly built web portal the exchange of information occurs at a faster rate. A business can have multiple employees working in different roles who need quick access to the market data, special reports, and important company data. If your company has got a properly built web portal where employees can access the information on the go then it would be helpful for your business as they will be able to make quick decisions because of the faster exchange of information through the portal.

    This portal can also be beneficial for customers who can get access to their orders and the related information at a faster rate. In addition, if your customers happen to encounter any problem or need help regarding your products or services, it will be resolved at a much faster rate.

    Easy Accessibility

    One of the best features of a web portal is that it can be accessed from anywhere. Whether it is a staff member, a partner, or a client looking to access the portal, they can do it from anywhere in the world, from any device using the internet. This makes it easier for anyone to access the portal, make changes, see important information, and make changes accordingly.

    Flexibility

    A web portal also gives a specific advantage to the customer support staff. One of the biggest issues faced by the customer support staff is constantly switching between different applications to access the relevant information. This can sometimes make the customers angry as they don’t want to wait for such long times. As it wastes the time of the support staff too, in the long run, it isn’t productive and efficient.

    A web portal makes things easier for the customer support team as it provides the flexibility to access multiple applications from a single portal just as you can access multiple settings of your web router through the 10.0.0.1 web portal. No need of switching back and forth between multiple applications if you have got a properly developed web portal that provides flexibility.

    Tighter Security

    The safety and security of any company’s data are one of the top concerns and a properly, well-built web portal offers a high level of security to prevent any cyber attack or data breach. The safety and security of a company’s data is a major concern for its leaders because a security vulnerability or data breach can cause damage in millions. Spending once on a web portal will help you avoid these damages and not fall victim to any data breach.

    Staff Training Made Easier And Simpler

    A web portal also makes the training of new staff members easier. When all of the applications are available on a single platform and workflows are channeled through a single portal, it becomes easier to train new staff members since they will only have to master a single platform in order to get accompanied to the workflows. With a web portal, the whole process of new staff learning and training becomes a much simpler process.

    It is much easier to train people on a single platform than having to train people across different software and different applications. 

     

    Lees ook:

  • AirAsia signs partnership with Skyports to explore air taxi feasibility

    AirAsia signs partnership with Skyports to explore air taxi feasibility

    AirAsia has announced that its Advanced Air Mobility division has signed a letter of intent with Skyports Infrastructure to explore the development of air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia. This is a development of a report from last March, where AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said that the company has plans to launch a flying taxi service by 2022.

    AirAsia’s Advanced Air Mobility is a dedicated unit of AirAsia Aviation Group, which is the aviation arm of Capital A. Meanwhile, Skyports is a developer of infrastructure for advanced air mobility (AAM), and the newly established partnership between both companies is seen as an important next step in setting up a fully operation vertiport network in the country.

    Unlike conventional airports used by traditional airline operators, a vertiport is dedicated to aircrafts that land and take off vertically. VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, as they are called, require less room to operate, and AirAsia already announced last year that one of its future plans is to lease 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL (electric powered) from Avolon. The company also has its drone training program which has been extended to high-technology-related sectors.

    The VX4 features a powertrain with 1 MW of output and is said to be 100 times quieter than a helicopter. It’s capable of traveling at speeds of up to 325 km/h (202 mph), has a range of over 161 km (100 miles) and can carry five passengers (including one pilot).

    During the one-year partnership, both parties will focus on joint feasibility studies for the integration of air taxi vertiport infrastructure, the identification of potential vertiport sites, and the development of operational requirements and frameworks to ultimately implement a vertiport network in Malaysia – initial assessments will prioritise Kuala Lumpur.

    “Following the announcement of our venture into the urban air taxi service earlier this year, we have been working around the clock to explore its feasibility in Malaysia. This partnership with Skyports will accelerate the review of the infrastructure including vertical take-off and landing platforms in the country as well as strengthen our potential as a zero-emissions ultra-short-haul air travel provider in Southeast Asia,” said AirAsia Aviation Group chief safety officer and head of AAM Ling Liong Tien.

    “We are excited to be partnering with AirAsia, a powerhouse airline operator that brings great synergy to our work at Skyports. This partnership highlights the steady progress of AAM development and interest in Malaysia and the wider APAC region. With innovative and forward-looking partners like AirAsia, we will be able to take concrete steps towards the realisation of a safe, efficient and fully-integrated air taxi network which brings real benefits to the people and communities it serves,” commented Yun-Yuan Tay, head of Asia Pacific, Skyports.

    Lees ook:

  • Japanese retailer Yoshitsu buys Tokyo Lifestyle

    Japanese retailer Yoshitsu buys Tokyo Lifestyle

    Yoshitsu Co., Ltd (“Yoshitsu” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TKLF), a retailer and wholesaler of Japanese beauty and health products, as well as other products in Japan, today announced that on July 20, 2022, the Company entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) with All Seas Global Limited to acquire 100% equity interests in Tokyo Lifestyle Limited (“TL”), a company principally engaged in the import and retail of Japanese beauty and cosmetic products in Hong Kong and engaged in the live e-commerce business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shenzhen Qingzhiliangpin Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“SQNT”). This acquisition is a critical initiative of the Company’s business strategy to boost the Company’s business expansion in the Southeast Asia market and advance the digital transformation of live streaming e-commerce in its retail business.

    Pursuant to the Agreement, Yoshitsu agrees to acquire 100% of the equity interests in TL in consideration of the sum of JPY392,000,000 in cash (approximately US$2,805,192), subject to certain terms. The transaction contemplated by the Agreement was approved by the Company’s board of directors at a meeting on June 27, 2022, with the closing expected to occur by the end of July 2022.

    Mr. Mei Kanayama, the Principal Executive Officer of Yoshitsu, commented, “We are extremely pleased to take another initiative in Yoshitsu’s global business expansion. The capabilities of TL and SQNT and our expansion and digital transformation strategy are well matched. With the acquisition of TL, we expect to improve our operational efficiency and establish a solid foundation in Hong Kong to develop the Southeast Asian market further and strengthen our brand awareness in the region. SQNT is dedicated to cultivating key opinion leaders (“KOLs”), who are frequently approached by brands in the hopes that these KOLs will actively promote their products via online channels. The foregoing strategy is expected to improve our customers’ shopping experience and meet new market demands. We expect the acquisition of TL to strengthen our position in the marketplace and deliver higher value to our shareholders.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Google Maps unveils three new features, two are rolling out now

    Google Maps unveils three new features, two are rolling out now

    Google released a blog post today explaining how three updates are coming to Google Maps just in time for the warmer months. As the gang in Mountain View wrote, “If the warmer months have you feeling extra inspired — and excited — to get outside and explore with friends, Google Maps can help you transform the way you coordinate plans and stay connected this summer and beyond. Whether you’re checking out top landmarks in a new city, planning to hop on your bike, or hanging out with friends around town, these updates have you covered.”
    To help you plan your summer trips, Google Maps is adding what it calls “photorealistic aerial views of nearly 100 of the world’s most popular landmarks in cities like Barcelona, London, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.” This is the first step, Google says, toward launching Immersive View which combines AI with Street View, aerial, and satellite images.
    Google previously wrote about Immersive View back in May and explained how it allows users to “fly” above an area to see what it looks like at different times of the day. You can then “glide” down to street level and “peek” inside bars and restaurants to get a look at the atmosphere inside. It’s an exciting new technology that Google is bringing to its iconic app.

    Google says that worldwide, bicycling is up 40% which it notes is no surprise given the warmer weather and the higher gas prices. For over 12 years, Google has provided Maps users with cycling directions based on data from cities combined with AI. With Google Maps’ new bicycle route information, you’ll be able to compare different paths. The data will show you the elevation of the road or trail along your route and you’ll also know in advance if you will encounter heavy car traffic, stairs, or steep hills.

    The third and last of the three new updates is about location sharing notifications. Google explains how this works with a realistic scenario. “Say you’re headed to a concert with a group of friends. If they’ve already chosen to share their location with you, you can set a notification for the concert venue’s address so you can see when they’ve arrived and meet up quickly. You could also set a notification to see when they’ve left the venue — just in case you get split up.”
    To protect users’ privacy, these notifications can only be set for those who have agreed to share their location with you. As Google said, “The person who’s shared their location with you will receive multiple reminders to let them know — including both a push notification in the Maps app and an email, along with recurring monthly emails. As always, you’re in control: you choose to stop sharing your location or block someone from setting notifications altogether.”
    Two of the three new features are rolling out now on the iOS and Android versions of the Google Maps app. Those are the aerial view of landmarks, and the location-sharing notifications. The cycling route information will start rolling out in weeks in the hundreds of cities where cycling directions are made available.
    Google Maps is the default mapping and navigation app on Android and while Apple has its own Apple Maps app, Google Maps can be installed from the App Store for the iPhone. If for some reason you don’t have the app on your Android device, you can get it from the Google Play Store by clicking on this link.
    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vietnam’s biggest retailer Masan to bolster pharmacy retail interests

    Vietnam’s biggest retailer Masan to bolster pharmacy retail interests

    Vingroup JSC, Vietnam’s biggest listed firm by market value, said on Tuesday it will merge with leading consumer retailer Masan Group t create the country’s biggest retail company.

    Vingroup said in a statement that the two companies were finalizing legal procedures to sign an official agreement for the merger between its retail and agriculture units and Masan Consumer, a subsidiary of Masan Group.

    “The merger will enable us to expand our consumer base and ensure a fair retail playing ground for Vietnamese manufacturers,” said Truong Cong Thang, chairman of Masan Consumer Holding, which produces Vietnamese must-buy consumer goods.

    The new company is expected to run 2,600 supermarkets and convenience stores, and 14 hi-tech farms across the country, the statement added.

    After the merger, Masan Group will take control of the operation, while Vingroup will be a shareholder.

    Lees ook:

  • Airasia Super App achieves record high growth in average monthly active users

    Airasia Super App achieves record high growth in average monthly active users

    Capital A Berhad‘s digital businesses airasia Super App achieved a record high growth in average monthly active users (MAU) which stood at 10.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, up 236 percent compared to the same period last year.

    Capital A said in a statement on Monday the growth is primarily underpinned by the strong return of travel and increased user acquisition on the mobile app.

    Additionally, the number of transactions increased 70 percent for quarter on quarter comparison and climbed five times as compared to the second quarter last year. These were driven primarily by increasing transactions from flights, airasia ride, FlyBeyond, and SUPER+.

    Meanwhile, BigPay reached 1.2 million carded users in the second quarter, a 62 percent increase from the same period last year.

    This was mainly driven by strong market adoption over the past year and throughout this year in line with the travel recovery and the expansion of product offerings, such as DuitNow payments and transfers, additional remittance corridors, and one of the first digital lending products in Malaysia.

    For Capital A’s logistics business, Teleport transported slightly lower cargo tonnage by 27 percent year on year due to the extended lockdowns imposed in China that began in March.

    Delivery, on the other hand, improved significantly, up 630 percent year on year.

    Teleport achieved a record-breaking total of 1.15 million deliveries in the second quarter. This was in part due to Teleport’s onboarding of a large new ecommerce platform in the second quarter which accounted for 10 percent of delivery volume.

    The new platform is expected to boost growth in the industry significantly with Teleport’s robust expansion plans across the region this year.

    Capital A consolidated airlines continues to post significant performance improvement, with a notable load factor of 84 percent, akin to its pre-pandemic levels, signalling that air travel revival is well underway.

    The consolidated airlines carried over 5.6 million passengers, a 633 percent increase year-on-year and 48 percent increase quarter-on-quarter.

    The consolidated airlines flew more than 35,000 flights in the quarter, up 483 percent year on year compared to the same period last year, supported by the growing domestic demand and the resumption of international travel in ASEAN countries.

    Correspondingly, available seat kilometres (ASK) rose by 456 percent year on year and revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) increased by 582 percent year on year.

    In the second quarter, total operating aircraft for AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Philippines were 45, 12 and 8 respectively.

    AirAsia Malaysia posted a stronger load factor of 84 percent in the second quarter, up by 20 percentage points (ppts) year on year and 10 ppts quarter on quarter.

    Passengers carried and capacity increased significantly by 1276 percent year on year and 955 percent year on year to 3.8 million and 4.6 million respectively, with more operating aircraft added to support the huge surge in demand for both domestic and international flights.

    Load factor for international flights achieved 81 percent with 31 additional destinations reinstated and the highest number of international passengers carried post pandemic, attributed mainly from Malaysia-Singapore routes, followed by Malaysia-Indonesia and Malaysia-India routes.

    AirAsia Indonesia, meanwhile, recorded an encouraging load factor of 77 percent in the second quarter, an increase of 10 ppts year on year.

    Domestic flights achieved a healthy load factor at 73 percent while the load factor for international flights was stronger at 86 percent.

    Passengers carried and capacity improved by 132 percent year on year and 102 percent year on year respectively, on the back of the resumption of international flights, with 29 percent of the total number of seats sold from international flights.

    The number of flights flown has also increased by 102 percent year on year.

    AirAsia Philippines, on the other hand, posted the highest load factor among the group’s airlines at 93 percent, which grew by 15 ppts year on year.

    In the second quarter, the number of passengers carried increased by 480 percent year on year and capacity expanded 388 percent year on year.

    Flight frequencies were added on popular routes to meet strong demand which increased ASKs by 309 percent and the number of flights flown jumped 388 percent year on year.

    In June, AirAsia Philippines resumed international routes to Kota Kinabalu, Seoul, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

    In the second quarter, AirAsia Thailand carried over 1.7 million passengers, up 133 percent year on year with a load factor of 75 percent, rising 14 ppts compared to the prior corresponding period.

    The airline added flight frequencies and routes to meet rising demand, resulting in an 87 percent increase in flights flown, to a total of 12,326 flights with 25 operating aircraft during the quarter.

    More international flights were reinstated during the quarter, operating 19 routes to 8 countries by the end of the second quarter.

    As a result, the ASK and seating capacity significantly rose by 116 percent and 90 percent respectively as compared to the same period last year.

    Additionally, the average sector length grew by 16 percent, mainly driven by flights from the South Asian market.

  • Vietjet Air, Boeing restructure 200 aircraft deal

    Vietjet Air, Boeing restructure 200 aircraft deal

    Vietjet Air and Boeing have officially signed a restructuring agreement to continue a contract to purchase 200 Boeing 737 aircraft.

    Under the agreement signed at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow from July 18-22, Boeing and budget carrier Vietjet Air have agreed on a flexible delivery schedule in line with Vietjet’s global business plan to complete this important deal.

    The first aircraft of the deal will be delivered to Vietjet Thailand, the Vietnamese carrier’s Thai subsidiary.

    The agreement affirms Boeing’s commitment to support Vietjet with training, technical services, technology transfer, research and investment, facilitating long-term development and sustainability of both corporations.

    In 2016, Vietjet signed a deal to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft when the then US President Barack Obama was visiting Vietnam. Three years later, both sides agreed to raise the total number of aircraft to 200 when the then US President Donald Trump visited Hanoi.

    The deal is being resumed this year after the hiatus triggered by an unexpected incident with the Boeing 737 Max aircraft and the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • LNG power developers in troubled waters

    LNG power developers in troubled waters

    Liquefied natural gas (LNG) power has been considered a major part of Vietnam’s solutions for reducing carbon emission, but the country is facing several hurdles in using it.

    LNG emits half the amount of carbon compared to coal in electricity production, therefore several experts recommended that Vietnam focuses on it alongside renewable sources to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh committed at the COP26 late last year.

    Vietnam’s Power Development Master Plan 8 targets converting 18 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired power into 14 GW generated from LNG and 12-15 GW from renewable sources.

    But for this, the country will have to import all of the LNG for generation – around 14-18 billion cubic meters in 2030 – at a time prices have it record highs following the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

    LNG prices have tripled in a year, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

    In Europe, S&P Global Commodity Insights assessed LNG prices on a delivered ex-ship (DES) basis into north-west Europe (NWE) at $38.233/mmBtu on July 21.

    The competition between Europe and Asia at a time when global LNG supply is tight has recently pushed Asian LNG prices to a four-month high and close to record level seen in December at $44.35/mmBtu, according to Reuters.

    Nguyen Ngoc Hung, head of Energy Economics at the Vietnam Institute for Energy, cited international sources as saying prices would peak in 2023 before settling down.

    “LNG power plants will start operating in 2026-2030. Prices will be stable, and fall in the long term due to lower demand,” he said.

    The average LNG price for September delivery into north-east Asia was estimated at $38 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), down $2.5 or 6.2 percent, from the previous week, industry sources said.

    The Ministry of Industry and Trade has said the price rise would be manageable, with a 10-percent price hike only causing a 1.1-1.5 percent cost overrun.

    Determining prices to reach a power purchase agreement (PPA) is one of the key steps in developing a LNG power plant, but the unpredictability of prices is muddling the process.

    Half of the LNG projects under consideration in Vietnam are being delayed by unfinished PPAs.

    Responding to this situation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said a few requests by LNG power developers are not in alignment with current regulations.

    It cited as an example the Bac Lieu gas plant, invested in by Singapore’s Delta Offshore Energy, which wants the state-owned utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to buy all the energy generated, apart from other incentives.

    Several LNG project developers have also said they are finding it difficult to mobilize capital with lenders focused on minimizing risks.

    Investors of the Hai Lang LNG power plant said the credit crunch was happening because projects implemented by independent power producers can only sell a limited output to EVN, making them less appealing in terms of profitability.

    Vietnam, a manufacturing powerhouse that currently generates most of its electricity from coal, is drafting a new national power development plan that includes 22 LNG-fired power plants. These will have a huge combined potential capacity of up to 108.5 gigawatts.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: