Retail News CRM

Tag: asia

  • Inside Alibaba’s Home Store of the future

    Inside Alibaba’s Home Store of the future

    Home Times, a furniture store supported by Alibaba Group technology, has opened for business in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

    Attracting between 1,500 and 3,000 daily visitors since opening, the furniture store is another example of Alibaba’s  New Retail model. In recent months, Alibaba has expanded that model out to a variety of sectors, following the success with its hyperlocal Hema Supermarkets, which have shown how analytics and technology can transform traditional grocery stores into a seamless online-offline customer experience.

    Over 20,000 items are available for purchase at Home Times, including furniture, kitchenware, home décor, stationery and travel essentials—a majority of which are sourced from merchants already selling through Alibaba’s B2C shopping platform Tmall.

    And a phone in hand is all it takes for seamless shopping. Shoppers scan each item’s QR code with their smartphones to see the product name, price, description, and instantly purchase using Alibaba’s mobile payment service Alipay.

    “We have the hardware and know-how to build New Retail-driven stores, and we work with partners that have access to offline channels and expertise in operating physical storefronts,” said William Chen, who heads the Home Times project at Alibaba’s Cloud Retail division. “We provide the technology and Tmall’s pool of consumer insights.”

    Tmall analyzes the behavior and preferences of users within a five-mile radius of the shop. Products are then handpicked from these users’ top preferred categories and added to store shelves. This system cuts the time required to source products worldwide for traditional retailers down to a single day, while store offerings will change every 10 to 15 days, added Chen.

    Each product has an electronic price tag that can automatically sync prices with the latest seen online, removing the need for staff to manually print and replace the labels.

    Large screen displays on the wall allow customers to see their desired furniture and décor in a virtual home setting. This also indicates that Home Times requires significantly less display space, compared to traditional furniture sellers, since products can be displayed virtually.

    Home Times is set to open two new branches in Hangzhou by the end of 2017, including one at the In77 shopping center in the Hubin business district and another at an undecided location in West Hangzhou. It plans to open 15 to 20 new stores in 2018.

    “We definitely want to open this system to more businesses. Plans to apply our New Retail infrastructure to industries beyond home furnishing are underway,” said Chen.

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  • CEO confirms Ikea Philippines expansion

    CEO confirms Ikea Philippines expansion

    The first Ikea Vietnam store is in planning, with the Swedish furniture and homewares retailer revealing the country as one of its next two Asian markets.

    In an interview with Bloomberg, Inter Ikea CEO Torbjorn Loof said expansion in Southeast Asia and South America are priorities for the brand, which already has stores in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand in this part of the world.

    Philippines is the other country he named in Asia. Both countries will host Ikea stores within five years.

    Ikea is not currently in South America, but the company sees the continent as “an important growth market” in the long term. Bloomberg named Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Chile as the most likely priority countries in South America for Ikea.

    “We haven’t zoomed in or decided on any particular markets, but we’ve said that within the next five years we should have opened our first Ikea in South America,” Loof said. “When we open in South America, because it’s a new continent and a new region, we can’t just open one warehouse.”

    The expansion plans follow Ikea’s entry into India and Latvia this year as it continues its slow global roll-out. After opening 22 new stores this year – eight more than last year – Loof said it expects to open about 25 a year moving forward.

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  • Luxury retailer Coach rebrands to ‘Tapestry’

    Luxury retailer Coach rebrands to ‘Tapestry’

    To better incorporate all of the brands it now owns, luxury goods company Coach of New York is changing its name to Tapestry.

    The company that came to prominence in the Mad Men era now owns brands like Stuart Weitzman and Kate Spade & Co as well.

    Chief executive Victor Luis said on Wednesday the name Tapestry is more inclusive.

    Coach acquired Stuart Weitzman in 2015 in a deal valued up to US$574 million. It spent US$2.4 billion for Kate Spade this year, seeking to broaden its appeal.

    The Coach brand of bags and other goods is alive and well, but it becomes one of three brands sold by the company that will be called Tapestry.

    “Three years ago we laid out our vision to transform Coach and announced our intention to grow beyond the Coach brand,” said Victor Luis, CEO of the luxury firm in a statement.

    “Through the execution of our strategic plan and with the acquisitions of Stuart Weitzman in 2015 and Kate Spade & Company just this summer, we have realised these goals.

    “We are now at a defining moment in our corporate reinvention, having evolved from a mono-brand specialty retailer to a true house of emotional, desirable brands, all leveraging our strong operational foundation.”

    Luis said each of brand under the new Tapestry label has a unique proposition and fulfils “different fashion sensibilities and emotional needs within the very attractive and growing $80 billion global market” for premium handbag and accessories, footwear and outerwear.

    “In Tapestry, we found a name that speaks to creativity, craftsmanship, authenticity and inclusivity on a shared platform and values.

    “As such, we believe that Tapestry can grow with our portfolio and with our current brands as they extend into new categories and markets.

    “Most importantly, we are establishing a strong and distinct corporate identity, which enables our brands to express their individual personalities and unique language to consumers.”

    A website with the new name, which becomes official at the end of the month, is up and running.

    The change is part of Coach’s pursuit of younger shoppers who may not feel the same draw to store windows on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue.

    Coach began as a small workshop in Manhattan in 1941, and became a fashion powerhouse in the early 1960s though innovate designs.

    Coach Inc will also be changing its ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange from “COH” to “TPR”.

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  • Lalamove raises US$100m in series-C funding

    Lalamove raises US$100m in series-C funding

    Same-day delivery and logistics provider Lalamove has completed a US$100 million series-C funding round.

    Aside from market expansion, the cash injection will also be used to invest into talent across the organisation, to add product features and to allow businesses more direct access to Lalamove’s fleet of drivers. One example is new integration technology to help SMEs include the company’s on-demand delivery as part of their own business services.

    “We foresee strong growth in last-mile delivery, and this has been reflected in Lalamove’s growth and performance,” says partner Cheng Tian of venture capital firm ShunWei Capital, which led the round..

    “In only a couple years, Lalamove’s standardisation, speed of service, lean operations and execution strategies have all drastically improved efficiency, lending to its excellent reputation across Asia.”

    “Delivery of information takes seconds, but delivering physical goods is still relatively slow,” says Lalamove founder/CEO Shing Chow. “We want to change that, and want delivery to be measured in minutes, not days. Our average order-to-delivery time is very quick at 46 minutes, but we want to achieve even more.”

    In July, the Hong Kong-based company added its 100th city for deliveries. It has more than 15 million users and is supported by more than 2 million drivers while continuing to expand across China and Southeast Asia.

    It currently operates in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam.

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  • Leading logistics networks strike groundbreaking deal

    Leading logistics networks strike groundbreaking deal

    Elite Global Logistics Network (EGLN) has announced to its membership during its annual conference in Vietnam this week, that it has reached a formal agreement for WCA Ltd to acquire a majority interest in the rapidly-growing network. Formed in 2015, EGLN has seen its membership around the world flourish to now encompass 332 memberships in 131 countries. The acquisition by WCA will enable the network to move to the next stage of its development and provide member companies with increased opportunities for business expansion and organic growth.

    Roy Stapleton will remain as president of EGLN and will continue to set the network’s strategy as well as overseeing day-to-day operations. “This new agreement is unprecedented in the history of freight networks. EGLN is proud to become a part what we believe is a ‘win-win’ solution for our members and the network,” said Stapleton.

    “The suite of benefits evolved by WCA has allowed it to stand out as a networking leader, and EGLN members will benefit from these obvious synergies offered by this unique partnership.”

    WCA Chairman and founder David Yokeum stated that 2018 will prove to be an exciting year for EGLN, following the formal commencement of the agreement on 1 January.

    “Roy has, over many years, built a deservedly strong reputation for providing independent forwarders with high quality environment in which members feel secure and confident that their business will grow,” said Yokeum.

    “EGLN will retain its unique ethos and management style, but by adding many of WCA’s valued benefits and attributes, alongside strong backroom and financial support, EGLN has the tools to embark on an exciting new phase in its development.”

  • Orange Business, Microsoft sign IoT partnership

    Orange Business, Microsoft sign IoT partnership

    Orange Business Services and Microsoft have teamed up to deliver large-scale, end-to-end Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for the manufacturing sector.

    The Orange modular IoT solution, Datavenue, accompanied by Microsoft Azure IoT Suite, aims to help enterprises transition to Industry 4.0 and optimize the entire manufacturing value chain.

    Through this collaboration, companies can take advantage of the combined expertise of Orange and Microsoft regarding data protection, as well as device and data management.

    This includes the opportunity to leverage Orange Business Services’ many IoT connectivity options, in particular LoRa. Use cases range from supply chain and smart inventory management to digital operations, such as predictive maintenance, employee safety and facility and equipment management.

    For its long-term customer e.l.m. leblanc, Orange delivered a customized IoT platform on Microsoft Azure, which provides a tailored solution for remote monitoring, along with curative and predictive maintenance.

    A subsidiary of the Bosch Group, e.l.m. leblanc manufactures gas boilers and water-heaters since 1932. The company is a major player in the French housing and industrial markets for heating and cooling systems and hot water for sanitary use.

    “Using the Azure Cloud allows for high-level scalability and efficient machine learning solutions with reasonable costs,” of e.l.m. leblanc CEO Philippe Laforge said.

    The remote monitoring solution collects the boiler’s data and alerts technicians of any malfunction. This allows for more efficient maintenance intervention, with fine-tuned predictions on the probable causes of failure based on real-time data analytics.

    Preemptive alerts can also be raised by the platform through predictive maintenance algorithms. Benefits include optimization of intervention processes, and increased end-customer satisfaction, thanks to innovative and responsive customer support.

    In order to accelerate the roll out of industrial projects, Azure IoT Suite provides pre-packaged solutions and allows companies to swiftly get familiar with the set-up and explore the most common IoT project scenarios, including remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and connected factories.

    The software environment provided by Microsoft will allow for the use of advanced solutions such as Cortana Intelligence Suite (advanced analytics and AI), Power BI (data visualization) and Mobile Apps (Xamarin) to ensure a flawless mobile user experience.

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  • ZTE, Huawei sign circular design commitment with KPN

    ZTE, Huawei sign circular design commitment with KPN

    ZTE and Huawei have both committed to producing telecoms equipment for Dutch operator KPN that is circular by design by 2025, to reduce waste and emissions and improve energy efficiency.

    A circular design involves minimizing waste, emissions and energy leakage by recycling, repairing and reusing components and employing a long-lasting design.

    Huawei, ZTE and five other KPN suppliers have now signed the KPN Circular Manifesto, agreeing to implement a circular design for products manufactured for the operator by 2025.

    “Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges in our society and it’s time for action, not words.  As the Netherland’s largest ICT provider, we recognize that we have a leading role to play to enable the necessary transition towards a sustainable and increasingly circular economy. That’s why we’re implementing our own circular economy target with a demanding timeline,” KPN CEO Eelco Blok said.

    Huawei said that to achieve its commitment, the vendor plans to incorporate design principles of easy take-bake, maintenance, recycling reuse and maximizing product lifespan.

    “For years Huawei and KPN have been working together successfully to improve KPN’s energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Now we need to transition from a linear to a circular way of working,” Huawei Netherlands CEO Steven Cai said.

    “It is very commendable that KPN is taking a lead and involving partners in the process. Together with KPN, we’ll take joint responsibility to proactively drive an energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon society.”

    KPN was recently recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as the world’s most sustainable operator, after having lowered its annual energy consumption over the past six years. The operator is on track to reduce its energy consumption by 50% by 2030 compared to 2010, despite the anticipated continued exponential growth in data traffic.

  • Magna joins BMW-Intel self-driving car project

    Magna joins BMW-Intel self-driving car project

    Canadian auto parts producer Magna International Inc said on Tuesday it had joined a consortium including BMW and Intel Corp to develop a self-driving vehicle platform for the use of auto makers by 2020.

    The move comes as automakers are increasingly seeking alliances to share the high costs of developing self-driving vehicle technology, which requires extensive research and development and software expertise outside the traditional domain of carmakers.

    Magna is the latest addition to the BMW-Intel alliance, which aims to develop new technology that could put self-driving cars on the road by around 2021. (reut.rs/2y9llha)

    The consortium also includes Mobileye, Fiat Chrysler and auto suppliers Delphi Automotive and Continental AG.

    Earlier this year, Intel bought Mobileye, the world’s largest supplier of systems used in automotive collision detection systems, for $15 billion.

    Magna will also help automakers industrialize the platform designed by the consortium, the Canadian company in a statement.

  • SIA, Grab integrate mobile apps

    SIA, Grab integrate mobile apps

    Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Grab have integrated their respective mobile apps to offer enhanced convenience to travelers.

    The partnership will benefit customers who are travelling to the airport in six countries across Southeast Asia – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

    SIA customers can now book Grab rides through the SingaporeAir mobile app. Customers using the app will see an option to book a Grab ride to the airport seven days before their scheduled flight.

    Selecting this option will direct customers to the Grab app, where they can choose to order a Grab ride to the airport on-demand or in advance. The airport will be automatically listed as the destination, so the user simply fills in the pick-up point and desired time.

    The first 5,000 customers will receive GrabPay Credits worth S$10 ($7.38) in their Grab account for bookings made through the SingaporeAir mobile app for Grab rides in Singapore.

    “We are constantly seeking to enhance our SingaporeAir mobile app and KrisFlyer program to ensure that we provide more benefits to our customers,” said Campbell Wilson, SIA SVP for sales and marketing.

    Jason Thompson, head of GrabPay, said that with GrabRewards, a dollar spent on Grab is more valuable than a dollar spent in cash. “By integrating Grab’s and SIA’s loyalty programs, customers can look forward to using their points when they plan for their next holiday.”

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  • Myanmar’s Global Technology to deploy LTE

    Myanmar’s Global Technology to deploy LTE

    Myanmar broadband service provider Global Technology Group has revealed plans to roll out LTE-based wireless broadband services in 30 cities starting in April.

    The operator plans offer high-end wireless broadband services to both residential and business customers.

    The rollout will cover cities in the Nay Pyi Taw, Magway, Bagon, Mon, Kayin and Tanintharyi regions, to cater to an anticipated spike in demand for data traffic as a result of the growing popularity of streaming based services.

    Global Technology Group secured a network facilities service license in 2015 and a fiber network license in March. So far the operator has deployed FTTx based broadband services to the Yangon, Mandalay and Bago regions.

    The company competes with state-owned operator Myanmar Post and Telecom (MPT), which commenced an FTTH deployment in August and currently serves over 80% of the nation’s FTTH customers.

    MPT has announced a target of expanding the reach of its FTTH network to cover the entire country in 2018.

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  • Smart to double LTE capacity in two cities

    Smart to double LTE capacity in two cities

    The Philippines’ Smart Communications plans to upgrade its cell sites in Marikina and Quezon City in the latest phase of its network expansion and modernization program.

    The PLDT subsidiary plans to double its LTE cell sites in the two areas, and aims to boost the coverage of its 700-MHz and 1800-MHz based network to both improve indoor coverage and enhance each cell site’s capacity.

    Smart has to date finished its LTE rollout in major urban hubs Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, in the island resort of Boracay, and in Rizal province. Deployment is underway in Metro Manila, and the operator plans to speed up its LTE network deployment to cater to growing demand.

    Smart is conducting the upgrade in stages to minimize disruption, according to PLDT and Smart SVP for network planning and engineering Mario Tamoyo.

    “By continuously upgrading our networks, we are leading the way toward improving internet and digital services for Filipinos,” he said.

    “From the work that we’ve already completed, our customers are already reporting much improved LTE and 3G experience. They will enjoy progressively better mobile data services in the next few months, particularly for those using LTE devices.”

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  • Alibaba chairman Jack Ma to speak at e-payment forum in Hanoi

    Alibaba chairman Jack Ma to speak at e-payment forum in Hanoi

    Now in its third year, the forum is the country’s biggest e-payment event. World famous billionaire and Alibaba chairman Jack Ma is expected to visit Hanoi next month to attend a forum on e-payment services.

    Now in its third year, the annual Vietnam E-Payment Forum, provides an opportunity for the government, experts and businesses to sit down together and discuss the latest trends in e-payment services and the best ways to apply them in Vietnam.

    This year, mobile payment will be in the spotlight.

    As a speaker at the event, Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, will talk about his experiences of developing e-commerce and mobile payment services in China.

    According to iResearch, the leading provider of online audience measurement and consumer insights in China, the mobile payment market was valued at $5.5 trillion last year in China, nearly 50 times greater than that of the U.S., and Ant Financial Service, a subsidiary of Alibaba, contributed a lion’s share of 54 percent.E-payment has gradually replaced cash in Vietnam’s northern neighbor, and these days, most Chinese people pay for products and services using their smartphones.

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  • AirAsia X eyes expansion in China, Japan and South Korea

    AirAsia X eyes expansion in China, Japan and South Korea

    AirAsia X considers North Asia, namely, China, Japan, and South Korea, as its new market for growth, said AirAsia. Due to the scarcity of resources, the long haul budget airline will also be rationalising its routes by reallocating some of the current Australian capacity to its other destinations next year.

    “We have to be very selective of our routes, seeing that our aircraft is limited and we will only get more aircraft next year.

    “Demand is starting to pick up from Thailand and Indonesia, and we believe that the next market of growth will be in North Asia. Kamarudin was speaking after the launch of AirAsia X’s launch of four times weekly direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Jeju, South Korea.

    AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail targets to achieve a passenger load factor of 80% in 12 months’ time, for the Kuala Lumpur-Jeju route.

    AirAsia is the only airline to operate direct flights to Jeju, from Kuala Lumpur, connecting the island with Malaysia, the rest of Asia, and beyond.

    “South Korea is an important market and we have seen tremendous growth from our existing routes to Seoul and Busan, which will now be complemented by our new service to Jeju, saving our guests the hassle of domestic transit to the island province.

    “This new route will provide additional annual capacity of over 150,000 and will be a significant boost to strengthen business and tourism ties between Malaysia and South Korea,” said Benyamin.

    He added that Malaysia was the second largest tourist market in South Korea, after China.

    An estimated two million passengers travel between South Korea and Malaysia each year.

    The group has plans to increase flight frequencies to Seoul from 14 times weekly to 18 times weekly, beginning December.

    Meanwhile, AirAsia X flight frequencies to Busan shall also be increased from four times a day to five times a day, beginning November.

    The Kuala Lumpur-Jeju route shall commence on December 12, 2017, with promotional all-in fares from RM199 one-way.

    The special promo of all-in fares from RM199 one way on standard seat and RM899 one-way on award winning Premium Flatbed will run from October 10 to October 15, for travel between December 12, 2017 and March 25, 2018, available for booking on airasia.com.

    Jeju Island, also known as the “island of the gods”, is a beautiful volcanic island located 64 kilometres south of the Korean peninsular.

    It is the country’s most popular holiday island, with more than 70% of visitors being domestic travellers seeking out what has become known as the “Hawaii of South Korea”.

  • Wines and spirits contribution to LVMH luxury business

    Wines and spirits contribution to LVMH luxury business

    It has been a bubbly nine months for the LVMH luxury business – with the exception of its wines and spirits division, which was hampered by supply constraints.

    Revenue grew by 14 per cent for the period to reach €30.1 billion (US$35.4 billion).

    With organic revenue growth of 12 per cent, the third quarter continues the trend for the year, says the group. The revenue increase was despite a negative currency impact of 5 per cent and a positive structural impact of 7 per cent, reflecting the integration of Christian Dior Couture.

    All business groups recorded double-digit organic growth, with the exception of wines and spirits where growth was 8 per cent. Champagne volumes were up 4 per cent, with particularly strong demand in Europe and Japan. Hennessy cognac had a volume increase of 9 per cent despite a third-quarter decline related to limited supply.

    LVMH’s selective retailing business group had organic revenue growth of 12 per cent. Online sales grew at a steady pace, and DFS had sustained growth, particularly in Hong Kong and Macau. The T Galleria store in Cambodia has also developed well, says the group.

    Organic growth of 14 per cent was recorded by the fashion and leather goods business group. It attributes this to innovation, such as the launch of Louis Vuitton’s first smartwatch.

    “The qualitative development of the distribution network continues, as illustrated by the opening of the Maison Louis Vuitton Vendome in Paris, which brings together under one roof all the savoir-faire of the maison,” says the group.

    Highlights during the period included Fendi opening stores in the US and Rimowa being consolidated. Donna Karan was sold at the end of last year.

    There was also 14 per organic growth in perfumes and cosmetics. Perfumes benefitted from the launch of the eau de parfum Miss Dior. Guerlain rolled out Mon Guerlain fragrance internationally, and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna had an “exceptional” start.

    Watches and jewellery had 13 per cent organic revenue growth, with Bulgari achieving “a remarkable performance” with the rapid growth of its signature jewellery collections Serpenti, Diva and B.Zero1.

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  • Deliveree raises cash for expansion

    Deliveree raises cash for expansion

    Thai-founded Deliveree has raised US$14.5 million in a series A funding round, the cash earmarked for further Southeast Asian expansion.

    Since its launch in Bangkok three years ago, Deliveree has moved into Manila (operating as Transportify) and Jakarta. It will now expand into other markets in the region, likely to include Malaysia.

    The concept links private drivers with businesses moving small parcels, tapping into the growing e-commerce economy, and is also moving into larger consignments, targeting online retailers receiving inventory prior to sale.

    The latest funding round was led by Gobi Partners, which has a stake in Deliveree’s rival GoGoVan. Asia Summit Capital and foundation shareholder Inspire Ventures also invested.

    “Over the past few years, there has been a substantial investment in small-parcel, last-mile

    consumer logistics,” said Deliveree CFO Gagan Singh.

    But, he said but the industry suffers from poor operating economics. He believes Deliveree’s technology is more easily scaled than that of rivals, like Hong Kong headquartered Lalamove and GoGoVan.

    Deliveree claims to have 15,000 vehicles on its roster.

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