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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.

  • Online retail the ‘silver lining’ in Singapore retail space

    Online retail the ‘silver lining’ in Singapore retail space

    The Singapore retail real estate market has weakened amidst the coronavirus pandemic, according to a quarterly market report released by Edmund Tie.

    Transactions fell across all real estate sectors despite significant support measures passed by the government under its Unity Budget, Resilience and Solidarity Packages.

    In retail, an industry already battling a recession throughout last year, with weak signs of recovery reversed by the outbreak, travel restrictions and social-distancing measures are thought to have largely contributed to a downturn in sales.

    Turnover by retailers in prominent Singapore retail districts such as Chinatown plummeted by as much as 80 percent. Sales at Jewel Changi Airport contracted by as much as 70 percent in the same month.

    “A silver lining in this otherwise gloomy scenario is that the demand for online shopping has surged, as people turned to e-commerce in lieu of physical stores,” said Edmund Tie’s paper. In February, online retail sales accounted for 7.4 percent of total retail transactions, up from 5.5 percent in January.

    “The pandemic will fast-track the adoption of technology, from omnichannel retailing to greater use of data analytics to better understand consumers and their preferences,” said Edmund Tie CEO Ong Choon Fah.

    “New and creative ideas will emerge when the situation stabilizes and we enter a new normal. The diversification of revenue streams arising from adopting an omnichannel approach will make retailers more resilient over the long term.

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  • Central Pattana improves Covid-19 communication to reassure shoppers

    Central Pattana improves Covid-19 communication to reassure shoppers

    Thai shopping center operator Central Pattana is promoting new hygiene and preventive measures to reassure customers their centers are safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Central Pattana’s ‘Central’s Hygiene and Safety’ plan is designed to reassure customers that the highest standards of hygiene and safety are being observed in shopping centers should they need to visit for buying essential products.

    The new plan covers five key core ideas with more than 75 measures, including extra screening, social distancing, safety tracking, extra cleaning and a touchless experience.

    “Despite some uncertainty around the current Covid-19 situation, the company is deeply concerned and has been proactively pioneering a master plan … to implement in our shopping centers, stores and with employees to help curb the spread of the pandemic and to ensure everyone’s highest safety at our shopping centers,” said Central Pattana deputy CEO Wallaya Chirathivat.

    “In response to this ‘new normal’ of changing consumer behavior facing the pandemic, this master plan is open as a guideline for general use for the best interest of the nation to hereafter set a new retail and social norm.”

    Central Pattana’s properties include CentralWorld, CentralPlaza, CentralFestival, Central Phuket and Central Village malls.

    “Central Pattana has been fully cooperating with the government’s mandates as well as encouraging social distancing,” added Wallaya, “… in the midst of this uncertainty, the re-opening of our shopping centers will be strictly in compliance with government’s mandate.”

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  • FairPrice launches mobile supermarket in Singapore

    FairPrice launches mobile supermarket in Singapore

    Singapore supermarket chain FairPrice has launched a mobile grocery service dubbed ‘FairPrice on Wheels’, delivering essential groceries closer to customers’ homes.

    With FairPrice on Wheels, customers living far away from supermarkets can now buy products from FairPrice’s vans parked near their home. Essential products include rice, milk, eggs, canned products, vegetables and toiletries. FairPrice has imposed purchase limits on these products as per below:

    “While we encourage everyone to stay home during the circuit breaker period, we also understand that there may be people who do not have the option to have their groceries purchased on their behalf,” said FairPrice Group CEO Seah Kian Peng.

    “Therefore, we aim to bring daily essentials closer to their homes, especially for seniors, so that they do not have to spend too much time away from home.”

    FairPrice on Wheels is available in five locations: Commonwealth Link, Telok Blangah Crescent, Telok Blangah Rise, Kampong Glam Community Club and Jalan Kukoh. More locations will be added soon.

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  • Meitu lets retailers test online makeup service during Covid-19

    Meitu lets retailers test online makeup service during Covid-19

    Chinese imaging app Meitu has offered its AR online makeup trial system to global beauty enterprises and retailers for free to help them overcome difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

    The firm’s Beauty Industry Support Plan was extended from limited-time free use in specific regions to apply universally. The plan was rolled out as a three-month free trial service in the wake of the outbreak for 10,000 beauty enterprises and retailers, with a three-month extension given to existing users – including Givenchy, Shiseido, Clarins, Bausch + Lomb, DFS, and other partners.

    The software, called the Cosmetic Promotion Assistant, is based on Meitu’s facial-recognition and image-processing technologies and is. The system can also recommend suitable colors and styles based on the user’s facial features. It generates a virtual makeup effect within one minute, and also supports sharing and purchase functions, with multiple payment methods allowed.

    In providing free trials to potential customers, users of the service have seen increased sales of makeup products such as lip gloss, blush, eye shadow, and foundation.

    Enterprises and their beauty assistants are able to configure makeup effects on their own branded websites, which can then be shared to social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Purchase links provided on the trial page can redirect users to the vendor’s official website, or marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.

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  • Food, gaming and business app downloads soar during crisis

    Food, gaming and business app downloads soar during crisis

    App downloads have soared during the coronavirus crisis, with the business, food & beverage and gaming categories showing the highest growth.

    SaaS company Adjust has published in its App Trends 2020 report, in which it compares app downloads data from the first quarter of this year with the same period in 2019.

    Adjust says business app sessions have undergone a huge rise (an increase of 105 percent over last year), with app downloads surging 70 percent. Revenue events have risen 75 percent, as users select premium app versions to assist the transition to work from home.

    With many restaurants forced to offer takeout-only meals, F&B apps also saw a major increase in sessions (up 73 percent on this time last year). Installs of these apps have gone up by 21 percent.

    But the fastest-growing category for app downloads was Gaming, with a 132-per-cent increase during the last week of March alone. There was a 47-per-cent year-on-year increase in gaming sessions and a 75 percent increase in installs in the first quarter of this year compared to last year.

    “Beyond these increases in installs and sessions, the report shows little evidence to suggest that there’s been a fundamental shift in user behavior post-install,” said Adjust co-founder and CTO Paul H. Muller.

    “Users are still taking the same actions in-app, such as averaging a little above two sessions a day, to churning at predictable points in the customer journey.”

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  • Singapore locks down until June

    Singapore locks down until June

    The Singapore government has reduced the list of “essential services” as part of a tougher clampdown on social distancing as it tries to arrest the spread of Covid-19 in the city-state.

    The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on last night announced a trimmed list essential services applied during the “circuit breaker” period which has been extended for another four weeks and will likely not now end until June 1. Subsequently, more retailers including food and beverage outlets have to temporarily shut down its business – although this is initially going to be enforced only until May 4, subject to extension.

    Here are types of food and beverage retailers that must suspend their operations from today (April 22):

    • All food-and-beverage vending machines located in parks, regardless of what they sell, must be shut. Takeaway and delivery services located in parks are to close.
    • Stores predominantly selling beverages including bubble tea, fruit juice, alcoholic drinks and coffee.
    • Stores predominantly selling packaged snacks and loose snacks including nuts, potato chips, popcorn, bak kwa and cheese.
    • Stores predominantly selling desserts including ice cream, cakes, sweet pastries, grass jelly and red/green bean soup. However, these rules do not apply to hawker centres and food courts. Online retailing of these products is allowed, provided that they are from a licensed central kitchen, manufacturing facility or warehouse of the food-and-beverage company.
    • Optical shops can operate by appointment only, with walk-in customers banned.
    • Pet supplies stores and retail laundry services must close their physical stores, but are permitted to provide online sales and delivery.

    Other food-and-beverage outlets, including those selling hot or cooked snacks, bread or meals, are allowed to continue to sell, but only via takeaway or delivery services during the “circuit breaker” period. Dining-in is not permitted.

    However, the MTI contradicts itself in documentation explaining the new restrictions, possibly due to the rushed pace with which they were prepared. In an appendix, it says that “specialized stores and outlets that predominantly retail” coffee and tea must close. Immediately below that declaration, the MTI says “Only hawker centers, coffee shops and food courts are excluded”.

    So it remains unclear whether coffee chains such as Starbucks are allowed to continue to trade from today. Starbucks had not responded on its Singapore operations before deadline.

    Meanwhile, stores continue to serve hot meals (as well as coffee) may continue to trade – ostensibly selling coffee and meals, but not cakes or sweets (once existing stock runs out). But other media is reporting that stores will be classified by the predominant product they sell, which suggests coffee shops may not continue to trade, as they sell more coffee than meals.

    Inside Retail Asia is awaiting further clarification of this and other points and will update this story as further details come to light.

    Supermarkets and wet markets can continue trading as normal, however social-distancing practices must be observed.

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  • Four ways the Covid-19 pandemic will reshape shopping behaviour in Asia

    Four ways the Covid-19 pandemic will reshape shopping behaviour in Asia

    Shopping behavior in Asia will be redefined by the Covid-19 crisis: here are four key trends to expect in the post-pandemic world.

    Retail solutions provider Tofugear has just published the Digital Consumer in Asia 2020 report, based on a survey of 6000 consumers across 12 markets in Asia in February, including markets where the coronavirus pandemic had already impacted retail.

    Due to the timing of the research, the report offers a fascinating glimpse of what online and offline shopping behavior might look like in the region once the recovery sets in. With that in mind, here are some key retail trends we predict will come to define the post-Covid-19 world.

    Shift in spending towards essentials and ‘affordable luxuries’

    Consumer confidence in Asia is currently at an all-time low, with only 27 percent of all shoppers having a positive view about their personal finances over the year ahead. Unsurprisingly, the majority of consumers intend to cut back on big-ticket items such as luxury fashion and furniture.

    While demand for essentials such as groceries and household goods will remain firm, four in five Asian consumers also state that they will not be cutting back their expenditure on beauty and personal care items. Many fashion retailers have expanded into the beauty space in recent years, but this is certainly an area that others might want to follow. During times of economic crisis, beauty and cosmetics are seen as affordable luxuries that provide a form of escape from the doom and gloom.

    It has been mentioned many times now, but the pandemic is indeed resulting in a surge in e-commerce activity. Nearly half of all shoppers in Asia intend to increase their online spending versus physical retail over the coming year, while 38 percent will keep it at the same level. With so much spending set to shift to digital commerce, retailers will need to stand out from the competition by sharpening their fulfillment proposition.

    While consumers in Asia value a free shipping service the most (86 percent), in terms of costs this might not be feasible for all retailers. However, offering transparency in the fulfillment process – such as being able to track deliveries (83 percent) and picking a delivery time slot (76 percent) – trumps speedy fulfillment services such as same-day deliveries and delivery within two hours.

    Broader acceptance of retail formats that support the circular economy

    The notion that Asia is behind the curve when it comes to supporting for sustainability initiatives can be put to rest. Two-thirds of all consumers in Asia state that they will consider a brand’s sustainability credentials when making a purchasing decision.

    At the same time, nearly half of all respondents say that they shop for pre-owned and second-hand merchandise – perhaps a noticeably high percentage given the stigma of ‘bad energy’ that surrounds second-hand goods in some markets such as China.

    The report also finds that the acceptance of rental services – such as those offered by Style Theory and Covetella – are gaining traction.  With personal finances expected to remain under pressure, demand for circular business models like these look set to increase further in the next year.

    Technologies that aid social distancing in a physical retail

    Once lockdowns are lifted across Asia, it stands to reason that there will be renewed enthusiasm for simply going out to visit the shops. However, retailers need to take note that the consumer psyche has changed and shoppers will naturally be more hesitant about physical contact in a store setting.

    Brick-and-mortar retailers need to latch on to this sentiment and invest in the appropriate technologies to make shoppers feel more comfortable. Scan-and-go technology, whereby consumers’ mobile phones are used to scan products and pay at the end, would be a great way to achieve this as four in five Asian shoppers (79 percent) state that they are open to using this technology if available. Similarly, 71 percent would make use of automated check-outs – such as those seen in unmanned retail concepts.

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  • Facebook invest $5.7 billion in Reliance Industries to capitalise on India’s booming tech sector

    Facebook invest $5.7 billion in Reliance Industries to capitalise on India’s booming tech sector

    Facebook has committed to a multi-billion investment in Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, ensuring that Facebook has an increased presence in India at a time when digital technology is booming. That investment takes the form of a US$5.7 billion outlay by Facebook to acquire a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms, the digital technology branch of Reliance.

    This will give Mark Zuckerberg’s company access to Reliance Jio, the network that commands around 57% of the Indian broadband market, while providing a stronger platform to launch a new WhatsApp payment venture in a country where around 400 million people use the messaging service.

    This gives Facebook a foothold in India at a time when government regulations are making foreign investment increasingly difficult. This deal also benefits Reliance; Ambani may be India’s richest person, but the Facebook investment will deliver vital capital in his quest to eliminate all debt by March 2021.

    Possible effects of Facebook’s investment

    Amazon and Walmart have both cornered a significant share of India’s e-commerce trade, while Netflix committed to a $400 million investment on Indian content in 2019 and 2020. These companies have altered the retail and streaming landscapes respectively, with Facebook’s partnership with Reliance Industries likely to have a similar effect on technology and finance in India.

    https://www.facebook.com/Jio/posts/1949554658502959

    A rise in digital payments

    Financial digitization is something that the Indian government has striven for in recent years. One objective of the 2016 banknote demonetization was to reduce the prevalence of cash payments, although this strategy was poorly executed and poorly received. Facebook’s ability to integrate seamlessly into everyday consumer life may prove more successful than the government-driven push for digitization.

    Ambani has stated his intention for his commerce platform Jio Mart to combine with WhatsApp technology in order to assist with digital transactions for ‘mom and pop’ stores. The Reliance owner spoke of a desire to connect with 30 million of these shops to give them a platform to better cater to their clientele. Combining Facebook tech with the established interface of Jio will help small vendors to set up online stores with minimal fuss to facilitate deliveries and increase trade.

    More confidence with online financial services

    A corollary of digital payments becoming commonplace will be that an even larger proportion of the population will feel comfortable with using technology for financial purposes. This could manifest in a greater acceptance for a digital coin in India; this is something that the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) proposed at the start of 2020, with a digital rupee driven by blockchain tech more likely to be accepted by consumers familiar with virtual payments.

    Online trading could also benefit alongside cryptocurrencies. Digitized payments destroy the notion that transactions have to incorporate money changing hands, illustrating the appeal of online foreign exchange platforms where users can purchase and sell currencies at the click of a button. With many of the best forex bonuses geared towards beginners, an indirect result of Facebook’s investment could be inspiring a new wave of traders to further explore the links between finance and technology.

    More connectivity

    With a population of 1.38 billion, India is a massive market that warrants significant investments from global brands. Over 1 billion of those people own a mobile device, while around 615 million people have access to broadband. India boasts the lowest mobile data costs in the world; 1GB of mobile data can be purchased for just $0.26, whereas the same acquisition can cost over $12 in the United States.

    Consultancy firm PwC estimates that there may be 800 million internet users in India by 2022, so Facebook are gaining access to the market at a timely moment. Facebook will not just be collaborating with Jio to take advantage of low data costs and high internet access, but the two will also seek to expand and enhance the ways that the country is connected.

    In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg stated his intention to deliver reliable digital tools to help India’s 60 million small business provide for their customers. Digital payments may become more popular thanks to the WhatsApp Pay service, while Facebook’s involvement will support the vast tech services that Jio is already providing.

     

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  • WhatsApp doubles the limit of participants in group audio and video calls

    WhatsApp doubles the limit of participants in group audio and video calls

    We told you less than a week ago that WhatsApp plans to increase the limit of participants in group audio and video calls, but we didn’t know by how many and when exactly it will happen. If you’re using the beta version of WhatsApp, we’re happy to tell you that group audio and video calls feature has been upgraded to accommodate more participants.

    As the title says, WhatsApp has decided to double the number of users who can participate in a group audio and video call. WABetaInfo reports that the latest beta version of WhatsApp increases the limit of participants to 8, whereas the app would only accept a maximum of 4 participants previously.

    To start using the new feature, all your contacts must use the same version of WhatsApp. Then, you must tap the New Group Call option in the Call tab and choose up to 7 more contacts from your list who you wish to invite in a group audio or video call.

    Apart from increasing the number of participants that can join audio and video call groups, WhatsApp implemented some other small, but helpful changes. For example, the call button that you use in groups will now allow users to directly start a call with group members if the group has 4 or fewer participants.

    If the group has more than 4 participants, you will be able to choose the contacts you want to add to the group call immediately after tapping the call button. Once again, these improvements are only available in the WhatsApp beta for Android (v.2.2.128), but we suspect they will be rolled out to the general public very soon.

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  • AirAsia counters most active after flight resumption announcement

    AirAsia counters most active after flight resumption announcement

    AirAsia counters emerged as among the most active stocks on Bursa Malaysia today, after the low-cost carrier announced it will resume its scheduled domestic flights, beginning with Malaysia on April 29, 2020.

    As at 3.31 pm, AirAsia Group Bhd rose 8.5 sen to 87 sen with 151.61 million shares changing hands, while its long-haul arm, AirAsia X Bhd, increased by four sen to 12 sen with a sum of 440.99 million shares transacted.

    On Friday, AirAsia said beside Malaysia, the airline would also resume its domestic flight in Thailand and the Philippines on May 1, 2020, followed by India on May 4, 2020 and Indonesia on May 7, 2020, subject to approval from authorities.

    “The resumption of services will first be for key selected domestic routes, which will be increased gradually to include international destinations once the situation improves and governments lift borders and travel restrictions,” it said.

    AirAsia Group president (airlines) Bo Lingam said AirAsia has undertaken a thorough review of its guest handling procedures both on the ground and onboard in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We have been working closely with the airport authorities to ensure that all the relevant precautionary measures are in place to ensure a safe, pleasant and comfortable journey for everyone,” he said.

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  • Covid-19 is accelerating the use of automation

    Covid-19 is accelerating the use of automation

    Companies are rapidly turning to automation to keep business running during the coronavirus outbreak, according to new research by Bain & Company.

    The firm’s data shows that processes are being automated to manage payroll, diagnose customer experience issues while call centers are closed, and resolve IT service issues. It is based on survey responses from nearly 800 executives worldwide.

    “The ongoing crisis forced companies to move their operations remote within a matter of days, underscoring a greater need than ever for automation technology to help maintain business continuity,” said Bain & Company partner Michael Heric. “As companies adapt to new routines and prepare for a pending downturn, automation solutions that might have been years away a few months ago, are suddenly right around the corner.”

    Companies are reporting cost savings of roughly 20 percent over the past two years from the implementation of automation, while nearly 45 percent of respondents report that their automation projects have not delivered the expected savings.

    The report shows companies lacking a rigorous automation agenda risk falling behind in their respective industries.

    The firm estimates the number of companies scaling up automation technologies will double over the next two years as the Covid-19 crisis likely accelerates.

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  • The Global CBD Market: Will It Overtake THC?

    The Global CBD Market: Will It Overtake THC?

    CBD has come a long way since it was taken off the list of schedule 1 drugs a few years ago. It’s available online everywhere and in stores and dispensaries across the nation. It’s not only available in pharmacies like CVS and Walmart, but you can even buy it in stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters.

    There are also far fewer restrictions on growing and distributing CBD. Organically grown CBD from Oregon, for example, is becoming a widespread industry thanks to the integration of USDA regulations that help to monitor hemp growth and improve the final products. Colorado, Washington, Kentucky, and other states are also taking advantage of more lax industrial hemp laws to help turn the CBD market into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

    With the rapid growth and excitement around CBD, investors and fans alike are asking: Will CBD become more popular than THC?

    The answer to this question depends on who you’re talking to, but most of the evidence points to yes. CBD seems to be growing at an unstoppable rate, and the dollar signs just keep growing.

    2018 Began an Upward Swing for CBD Sales

    Market research shows that 2018 was the beginning of CBD sales as we know them now. The upward tick occurred even before the Farm Bill was passed at the end of the year, allowing more industrial hemp growth across the nation.

    During 2018, there was great political and media awareness of CBD, and that made consumers curious. When the FDA got involved and conducted a hearing on cannabis with more than 100 speakers sharing their opinions, that curiosity only grew. It increased sales just through simple curiosity.

    More than 10 percent of all dollars spent in a dispensary were spent on CBD in 2018, according to a BDS Analytics report. This was up 3 points from the previous year, a monumental growth in the industry.

    This was also the year that the creativity in the market started to explode. We went from having inhalable CBD and sublingual oil tinctures to having gummies, capsules, gel capsules, chocolates, coffees, and so much more.

    CBD to Be a $20 Billion+ Industry

    Multiple reports show that the CBD industry is slated to reach upwards of $20 billion within the next four years. BDS Analytics believes it will be worth $20 billion by 2024, which is 10 times what it was worth in 2018. Rolling Stone published a report recently stating that it would be a $22 billion industry, and other reports believe it will be worth even more

    Currently, the cannabis industry as a whole is worth about $52 billion with an anticipated growth rate of 18 percent. That means that CBD amounts to nearly half of all cannabis sales, and it could overtake current THC sales faster than you might think.

    Overall Consumers Seem to Prefer CBD

    When compared to the sales of CBD, THC seems to be far less popular than CBD. This could be because of the legal issues surrounding THC in certain states, but it’s more likely because CBD offers many of the benefits of marijuana without getting users high. For some, getting high is a nice perk, but for most, it’s very inconvenient to be high all the time in order to get the health benefits of the cannabis plant.

    CBD as an alternative form of medicine is very enticing to consumers. There are boundless claims to what CBD can do, and while we’re getting more research to play out the roles of CBD in human physical and mental health, the facts are still a little fuzzy on all CBD can do.But many consumers aren’t interested in the scientific facts about CBD. Rather, they like to hear what others are saying and how they feel with the substance in their systems. So far, the most common praises of the best CBD oil involve relief from the following ailments:

    • Anxiety
    • Pain
    • Inflammation
    • Depression
    • Epilepsy/seizures
    • Neuroprotection
    • Skin conditions
    • Overall health protection
    • Addiction recovery
    • Cancer symptoms treatment

    These claims are not groundless. We do have plenty of research on animals and some human trials that show positive results in these areas, and that’s enough for many consumers. They continuing buying CBD, whether or not it has a placebo or real effect on their systems. And these results are the reason why CBD has become so popular. Many people look for the best CBD balms, oils and other related products.

    The FDA’s Involvement Will Play a Large Roll

    Analytical reports on the state of CBD show that the FDA will be getting more involved in the future, and that could be a game changer for CBD. The FDA has been holding hearings and sponsoring research over the last couple of years to evaluate how best to get involved in the CBD market.

    The outcome of the FDA’s findings will be huge for the CBD market as a whole. If they deem CBD a useful medication and start regulating it like they do any other drug, the sales of CBD will skyrocket. Not only will consumers be more apt to purchase the products, but doctors will begin suggesting CBD to more patients.

    Big pharma will start buying up CBD and industrial hemp farms, laying out the groundwork for endless research on the product. They’ll develop medications and likely sell them at high price points, massively driving up the numbers for the CBD market. THC has played a role in pharmaceutical research, but the restrictions make it difficult for it to go mainstream, another way that CBD and THC markets differ.

    If the FDA determines that CBD should not be part of their federal regulations and that it’s more of a supplement, CBD sales will likely continue to grow at the same rate. Things will continue as usual.

    But if the government group decides that it’s harmful and starts marketing it as such, sales will no doubt plummet and CBD companies will be shut down all over the country. Thankfully for CBD users and those invested in the products, the chances of this occurring are very slim.

    This list of possibilities simply illustrates how the FDA has a great stake in the future of CBD. Any investors in the industry would do well to monitor the FDA’s stances on CBD during this coming year.

     

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  • Service robots prove popular at height of pandemic

    Service robots prove popular at height of pandemic

    With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to spread relentlessly around the globe, “untact,” or non-contact services are emerging as a new trend, and demand for service robots to replace humans is also growing.

    The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra) says interest in service robots has soared since they were employed in public-sanitation and service businesses to limit the spread of Covid-19 in China.

    According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, 54 percent of all voice robots introduced in China were used more than 1 million times per day during the Chinese COVID-19 quarantine period, which lasted until February 7.

    According to an analysis of some 500 cases collected by the coronavirus artificial intelligence (AI) quarantine support information platform, the most popular products were service robots, big data analysis systems and smart recognition (body temperature measurement) devices.

    Service robots are divided into “professional service robots” used at companies and in public places and “home and personal service robots” used in ordinary homes.

    Among them, the market for service robots stood at US$9.46 billion as of last year, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier. The average annual growth rate of service robots over the past five years also stands at 21.9 percent.

    China’s service robot market stood at US$2.2 billion last year, accounting for 25 percent of the global service robot market.

    It is a figure that grew 19.6 percent year on year, with an annual average growth rate of 28 percent over the past five years, exceeding the global average. Furthermore, it is expected to grow to $4 billion in 2021 as demand rises.

    Chinese service robots have been focused on housekeeping, guest reception, customer service (in retail stores, restaurants and banks) and education, led by start-up companies.

    However, with the outbreak of Covid-19, service robots have drawn more attention in areas such as delivery, quarantine disinfection and patrol.

    In particular, during the coronavirus quarantine process, multi-function products for disinfection, temperature measurement, and mask-wear monitoring, rather than products equipped with one function, were notable.

    “The market for service robots is expanding through rental services, easing the initial burden of introduction compared to directly selling hardware,” Kotra said.

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  • WhatsApp to increase group audio and video call limit in upcoming update

    WhatsApp to increase group audio and video call limit in upcoming update

    The current global crisis has led to an increase in communication services usage, but it looks like they’re able to cope with the demand for the time being. Even though it seems that there’s enough bandwidth to accommodate the spike in usage, many of these services require improvements.

    WhatsApp is in the process of upgrading its mobile apps with a couple of improvements that are meant to allow multiple users to participate in audio and video calls. WABetaInfo has learned that WhatsApp plans to extend group audio and video call limit on Android and iOS devices.

    Currently, WhatsApp users can initiate group calls with up to 4 participants, but a future update will increase the number of participants that you can invite in a group call to at least 6. It’s unclear what the final number will be, but we do know that WhatsApp will apply the same enhancements to the video call group feature.

    Neither of these improvements is available in the beta version of WhatsApp yet, but they are evident in some strings of code discovered by WABetaInfo. The changes are expected to be implemented in both Android and iOS versions of WhatsApp, but we don’t know when exactly they will be rolled out.

  • One in four Hong Kong retail stores set to close this year

    One in four Hong Kong retail stores set to close this year

    With sales decimated by the coronavirus crisis, and with little support coming from landlords, some 20,400 Hong Kong retail stores will close by year-end, according to research from the HKRMA.

    A study conducted amongst 152 retailers ranging from SMEs through to large chains shows most retailers will have insufficient resources to survive beyond June, even after the first round of government support.

    Respondents to the HKRMA (Hong Kong Retail Management Association) study collectively operate some 3350 stores and account for 23 percent of the territory’s retail workforce.

    So far this year, an estimated 5200 Hong Kong retail stores have closed permanently. With 62,400 retail stores still operating, the HKRMA predicts that a further 6600 stores will shutter between May and August, and another 8600 between September and December – totaling up to 20,400 stores by year-end, including those already closed since the crisis evolved.

    Just half of the retailers responding to the survey said they had received rental relief from their landlords – but four in five had found the support to be inadequate with rent reductions of less than 50 percent.

    Meanwhile, only 16.5 percent of retailers had found the government grant to be useful in their aid, with the amount not sustainable for continued operations in addition to restrictions on how the funds could be used.

    About 40 percent of survey respondents said they can sustain their businesses for only four more months at most, and only 20 percent of retailers for eight months.

    Thousands to lose their jobs

    Nine out of 10 retailers revealed a “severe to medium loss” in their business from the epidemic, more so than the initial impact from the social unrest in the past year. As the sector continues to struggle, two-thirds of retailers had forced workers to take unpaid leave and the majority of the remainder had laid-off workers or imposed pay reductions.

    While the Hong Kong government has implemented a HK$80 billion plan to subsidize employers to pay workers 50 percent of their salaries (capped at HK$9000 a month, or £930), in contrast, the UK government is offering a furlough scheme financing 80 percent of workers’ wages (capped at £2500 per month) during government-enforced lockdown periods.

    The HKRMA calculates that 10,400 employees in the local retail sector lost their jobs in the past three months alone.

    As the Hong Kong government prepares to launch a second round of pandemic-relief funds to businesses, the HKRMA warns that the amount of relief will be insufficient to cover the wages of all retail employees and lay-offs will continue.

    With Hong Kong retail sales already plunging 44 percent in February, the government subsidies have arrived too late, says the HKRMA, because retailers will be unable to continue trading through until the cash arrives in June.

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