Retail News CRM

Tag: asia

  • UBS Plans to Up Pay for Junior Bankers and Directors

    UBS Plans to Up Pay for Junior Bankers and Directors

    UBS Group is reportedly planning to raise the salaries of global banking analysts, associates, and directors, marking the latest global bank to increase pay for talent.

    In their first year, analysts will earn about $100,000 annually, according to a «Reuters» report citing unnamed sources, followed by $105,000 in the second year and $110,000 in the third year.

    Associates will earn $175,000 to $225,000 and directors will make around $275,000.

    The salaries increases will come into effect from August 1, the report added.

    UBS is the latest global bank to increase salaries in order to attract and retain talent, particularly for non-senior positions.

    This follows similar moves by Wall Street banks to incentivize younger financial workers, particularly after first-year analysts at Goldman Sachs complained about a gruesome work-life of long hours and cutthroat deadlines in an internal survey leaked earlier this year.

    Lees ook:

  • New helpful features are added to Google Maps

    New helpful features are added to Google Maps

    Google continues to work on Google Maps as the app matures from one that gets you safely and quickly from point “A” to point “B” to one that not only gets you to point “B” but also shows you where to go, stay, eat and more once you do arrive at point “B.” Today, Google announced some new features for Maps that are designed to help users deal with some of the pains of travel whether it is the daily commute to the office,  a vacation, or just a jaunt to the local supermarket to stock up.

    The new features for Google Maps include one that will come in handy for commuters and others. If you happen to rely on public transit for the majority of your trips, you can now get the lay of the land and discover how crowded your subway car, bus, or train will be. This is important if you hate getting squeezed inside a subway car with sweaty, irritable commuters.

    If Google Maps informs you that you should expect a cramped ride, you can always wait for the next subway car, bus or train so that you can enjoy some space and perhaps more importantly, some peace and quiet on your journey. The information is computed using machine learning AI and will soon be expanded to cover more than 10,000 transit agencies in 100 countries around the world.

    In New York and Sydney, Google is testing the release of this information for the individual car levels on trains. This will allow Google Maps users to choose where to stand on the platform in order to find the least crowded part of the train.

    With new variants of COVID like Delta and the deadly Lambda versions keeping the pandemic alive, Google knows that it is still important for people to know the latest news about COVID-19. The COVID layer on Google Maps will provide information about what is happening in your area about COVID including restrictions that you need to know about and local resources that you might find helpful.

    Google suggests that before you leave for your destination, go to Google Maps, search for your destination and scroll down to the Business Profile to see how busy the place is right now. This way you can adjust your plans if your destination is mobbed. Some businesses allow you to schedule an appointment through Google Maps. All you need to do is search for the business, check availability, and reserve your time. You can make changes and manage your appointments via the app’s Saved tab.

    Google Maps will soon allow you to look back in order to plan ahead. All Android users can use the Trips tab to revisit past trips. Google notes that you can export this information and share your past travels with others.

    The Business Profile will also show a location’s operating hours, current COVID-19 safety precautions, trending dishes, and reviews. Speaking of dishes, tapping on prompts inside Google Maps will allow you to share information for any restaurant in the U.S. including the eatery’s average price range or whether you ate in or took the meal home to consume.

    Lastly, Google Maps will allow users to pay for things like street parking or public transit directly from the app. For the former, type in the meter number and then hit pay and refill to make the contactless payment. When you arrive at any public transit, your phone will show an option to make a payment which you can tap to initiate.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Philippines AirAsia to revive Clark hub end this year

    Philippines AirAsia to revive Clark hub end this year

    Philippines AirAsia plans to strategically restore its hub at Clark International Airport, northwest of the capital Manila, in October 2021, pending the easing of travel restrictions and an increase in travel demand, says Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla.

    “Once travel restrictions ease and demand picks up soon, we are eyeing to strategically restore AirAsia’s Clark hub hopefully by Q4 of 2021,” he said in a statement, after joining Philippines President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte and other government and industry representatives in witnessing the inspection and dry-run of the airport’s new second passenger terminal (Terminal 2) building on July 19, 2021. Isla said the new terminal would boost the airline’s drive towards a stronger rebound post-COVID-19. Government representatives echoed his sentiment saying they hoped AirAsia Philippines would make a strong come-back in 4Q21.

    According to the ch-aviation schedules module, the AirAsia Group unit will restore flights from Clark on October 1, 2021, to the following domestic destinations:

    • 4x weekly to Cagayan de Oro Laguindingan;
    • daily to Caticlan;
    • daily to Cebu;
    • 4x weekly to Davao, increasing to daily frequencies by January 1, 2022;
    • 4x weekly to Iloilo (from October 2);
    • 4x weekly to Puerto Princesa; and
    • 4x weekly to Tacloban.

    AirAsia began its Philippines operations at Clark in March 2012, a move that helped push connectivity in northern and central parts of Luzon, the country’s largest and most populous island that also includes Manila. Before the pandemic, AirAsia Philippines flew to 10 destinations from Clark, including the domestic points being restored, and internationally to Seoul Incheon (South Korea), Kaohsiung and Taipei Taoyuan (Taiwan).

    Punted as Asia’s next premier gateway for North and Central Luzon, the new terminal is expected to relieve congestions at Manila Ninoy Aquino Int’l (NAIA), which has an annual capacity of eight million passengers. The new terminal will increase capacity at Clark to 12 million passengers annually and boost air transport capacity for the Greater Capital Region, including the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat within the Clark Freeport Zone in the province of Pampanga.

    Operated by the Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, the second terminal has been constructed at a cost of PHP12.55 billion peso (USD243 million). It forms part of the so-called “Build, Build, Build (BBB)” program of the Philippines government. Under the model, the infrastructure was built by the government using its own funds, while the operations and maintenance are handed over to the private sector.

    Spread across 110,000 sqm, the new terminal features 18 passenger boarding bridges, 3,881 parking spaces, and 20 bus parking bays. It also facilitates an end-to-end contactless passenger experience from the bus ride, check-in, bag drop, and even when ordering meals.

    Clark International Airport currently serves 27 destinations in 10 countries, involving six airlines, according to ch-aviation data. The airport has two runways (02R/20L and 02L/20R) both measuring 3,200 x 60 metres at an elevation of 148 metres MSL.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • India’s Zomato raises US$1.26 billion in IPO

    India’s Zomato raises US$1.26 billion in IPO

    Indian food delivery startup Zomato Ltd ` will raise US$1.26 billion by pricing its shares at 76 rupees each in its initial public offering, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

    The sources could not be named as the information has not yet been made public.

    Zomato did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The company, which is backed by Ant Group, will be valued at up to US$8 billion following the IPO which is the first for a food delivery group in India.

    The pricing is set at the top of the flagged range of 72 rupees (US$0.9649) to 76 rupees each at the start of the booking building process.

    Zomato, launched in 2008, collates restaurant reviews and offers home delivery of food, making it a competitor to the Swiggy and Amazon.com’s food delivery service.

    Swiggy was reported had raised US$1.25 billion in a private funding round from the likes of SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 and Prosus.

    Zomato’s IPO was strongly backed by investors attracting bids worth US$46.3 billion as it was more than 38 times oversubscribed when the books closed on Friday, signalling confidence about the fast-growing sector.

  • Last Mile Mobility Solutions Firm eBikeGo Reports Rapid Revenue Growth

    Last Mile Mobility Solutions Firm eBikeGo Reports Rapid Revenue Growth

    One of India’s leading electric two-wheeler mobility platform, eBikeGo has reported rapid expansion during the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s revenue has grown from ₹ 15 lakh to ₹ 2.5 crore per month, while the electric two-wheeler fleet has growh from 300 scooters to 2,100 scooters, the company said in an announcement. eBikeGo has also expanded its workforce, and recruited over 70 professionals at leadership and managerial levels since the outbreak of the pandemic. The e-scooters of eBikeGo are currently operating in seven cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Pune, Indore and Bengaluru and has shown a vertical growth in all spheres of operation in all these cities.

    “As per the current demand in online delivery, we have expanded our capacity in terms of fleet and manpower during this pandemic. While we are building this up, we’re also planning on improving our infrastructure, technology and existing facilities to provide ultimate convenience to all networked professionals, trained riders, our key partners, and stakeholders. With the existing tie-ups and increase in the volumes of fleets, we are targeting to fulfill 10,000 electric scooters within next financial year,” said Irfan Khan, Founder & CEO of eBikeGo.

    Earlier this year, the electric vehicle logistics start-up had raised ₹ 10.91 crore in pre-Series A funding from a group of Indian and foreign investors. In 2020, the start-up raised its first funding of ₹ 5.09 crore through an angel round. The company intends to scale up operations across 30 cities by FY 2022. eBikeGo partners with franchise owners, NBFCs, and OEMs through asset leasing models, and commenced operations in 2019. The company is a micro-mobility platform for last-mile logistics in e-commerce, food delivery, groceries and urban mobility.

  • Toys ‘R’ Us to open immersive Australian experience centre

    Toys ‘R’ Us to open immersive Australian experience centre

    Tru Kids Brands and Candytopia have worked together to create a new, innovative play experience – the Toys R Us Adventure.

    The immersive experience will celebrate the fun surrounding toys and play, and is scheduled to open mid-October at Brookfield Properties in Chicago and Edens Lenox Marketplace in Atlanta.

    The Toys R Us Adventure will feature full sensory brand and play experiences with interactive playrooms and installations featuring the Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe and toy suppliers including Melissa and Doug, Spin Master with the Paw Patrol brand and Schleich. Consumers will have the chance to interact and take pictures with both classic and new toys.

    “The Toys R Us brand was built upon celebrating the joys of childhood and we are thrilled to partner with the creatives behind Candytopia to introduce an exciting new way to play for guests of all ages,” said Richard Barry, CEO of Tru Kids.

    “As we focus on bringing a re-imagined Toys R Us to the US we believe this live experience, coupled with our new experiential retail stores, will attract families from around the world and create a unique opportunity to rediscover the magic of this beloved family brand.”

    The limited-run engagements will remain in Chicago and Atlanta throughout the holiday season, before moving to other major US cities in 2020.

    Tru Kids Brands also recently named toy industry veteran Jamie Uitdenhowen as president of Toy Retail Showrooms, the new joint venture that operates and manages Toys R Us stores in the US.

    In addition to the Candytopia partnerships, two new Toys R Us stores will open in Houston, Texas and Paramus, New Jersey.

    Lees ook:

  • Singapore’s Reopening Takes a Step Back

    Singapore’s Reopening Takes a Step Back

    Covid-19 measures will be tightened again from Thursday (July 22) to Aug 18, as the city-state tries to stem a spike in community cases.

    Singapore is scaling down social gatherings to a maximum of two and banning dining out amid a spike in Covid-19 infections in the city-state that emerged from karaoke lounges and the city’s main fishery port, which has spread to 26 markets and food centers.

    Based on the assessment on the way the cases have developed and the many clusters we are seeing, and how it is likely to have transmitted into the community, we have to put in place something to slow down the transmission, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who chairs the country’s Covid-19 task force, said in a press conference on Tuesday.

    The number of new cases in the community has increased from 19 cases the week before, to over 500 cases in the past week, according to the Health Ministry.

    A review of the long-awaited air travel bubble (ATB) between Singapore and Hong Kong was also pushed back to late August.

    Both parties will remain in close contact and monitor the public health situation in both places before taking stock in late August on the ATB, Singapore’s Transport Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The ATB was slated to launch in November 2020, but has been beset by numerous delays. Last week, Hong Kong lawmakers urged the government to scrap the arrangement, citing Singapore’s shift from a «Covid zero» strategy towards learning to live with the virus.

    Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the country is on track to achieve its target of having two-thirds of the population vaccinated before National Day, which falls on August 9.

    Currently, 50 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, but 200,000 seniors have yet to take the jab.

  • Nokia secures first 5G contract in China

    Nokia secures first 5G contract in China

    Nokia secured a 5G RAN contract for China Mobile on Monday, making this the company’s first 5G contract in the country.

    Nokia was awarded a 10% share in one of three contracts tendered by China Mobile, while Ericsson obtained 9.6% of another contract. The total tender for all three contracts reached about $6 billion, with Nokia being awarded 4% of the overall tender. Comparatively, Ericsson was awarded 2%, dropping from about 11% last year.

    Together, Huawei and ZTE won the majority share in all three contracts to build 5G 700 MHz base stations for China Mobile and China Broadcasting Network. This is followed by a smaller local company Datang Corporation.

    China Telecom and China Unicom will also be disclosing awards of their respective 5G contracts.

    Currently, China is ahead of other countries in 5G deployments. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China had deployed 820,000 5G base stations by the end of March.

    Lees ook:

  • Nike could run out of Vietnamese sneakers

    Nike could run out of Vietnamese sneakers

    The shutdown of two contract manufacturers in Vietnam due to Covid-19 could worsen Nike’s sneaker supply problems, a market research company has warned.

    The fact that South Korea’s Changshin Vietnam and Taiwan’s Pou Chen Corp in HCMC have stopped operating since last week “may exacerbate the supply chain disruptions that the company has had to deal with,” S&P Global Market Intelligence said in a report.

    Vietnam accounted for 49 percent of U.S. seaborne imports linked to Nike and its products in the second quarter, it said.

    Nike said in fiscal 2020 contract factories in Vietnam made roughly 50 percent of its branded footwear.

    There is a refocusing on China, the report said, pointing out that in the second quarter of this year, growth of U.S. seaborne imports linked to Nike from Vietnam was 6.6 percent year-on-year while it was 54.6 percent for China.

    A Nike spokeswoman said in an emailed statement: “We continue to work with our suppliers to support their efforts in response to the dynamic and unprecedented nature of Covid-19.”

    HCMC has recorded over 39,500 Covid-19 cases since April 27.

    Lees ook:

  • New Hyster UT Series 4-5t forklifts target driver comfort and low total cost of ownership

    New Hyster UT Series 4-5t forklifts target driver comfort and low total cost of ownership

    A new range of the Hyster® UT Series is being introduced to Australasia and the Asia-Pacific, to provide enhanced driver comfort and a low total cost of ownership for the forklift operator.

    The new H4.0-5.0UT internal combustion counterbalance pneumatic tyre forklifts, with lift capacities from 4,000-5,000kg, complement the broader range of Hyster UT Series forklifts in providing cost-effective performance for everyday materials handling tasks.

    “The H4.0-5.0UT range features the toughness and backup Hyster is known for globally, with simple and easy to use features that are catered to utility applications, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership,” says Mr Cornelius Tan, Area Business Director, Asia, Hyster-Yale Group.

    “Industries that may sometimes have low intensity applications – such as food and beverage, frozen produce, manufacturing, distribution and truck and transport – don’t need the advanced features as compared to 24/7 operations, but they still need a high quality forklift with outstanding sales and service backup, which is what Hyster can deliver, through its dealership network,” says Mr Tan.

    “The Hyster H4.0-5.0UT range delivers an ideal solution to utility materials handling needs, without compromising on performance,” he says.

    Driver-focused features

    The new H4.0-5.0UT forklifts – in 4,000kg, 4,500kg or 5,000kg models – have a number of features to further enhance driver comfort, visibility and ease of operation, including:

    • A small diameter steering wheel with adjustable steer column. The 300mm steering wheel is easy to manipulate, responsive, with optimum manoeuvrability when working in confined spaces. The ideally positioned steering wheel allows up to 8 degrees of tilt adjustment, to suit a variety of different operators.
    • A high-strength profiled steel overhead guard to provide enhanced operator protection and structural reliability.
    • Excellent through-mast visibility of the load and the operator’s forward field of view, which optimises comfort, safety and productivity.
    • A large access area for service and repairs, including large access space to the engine compartment to minimise downtime when servicing the forklift.
    • A suspension seat for excellent comfort.
    • Interchangeable components, including overlaps with other forklifts in the same range, which further optimises maintenance and spare parts inventories.
    • Improved lift speed, which enhances productivity.

    Features of the new H4.0-5.0UT series. From top left, moving clockwise, small diameter steering wheel, high-strength overhead guard, large access area for service and repairs, and excellent through-mast visibility

    The new machines’ value proposition – “Meets the Need. Makes the Move.” – relates to customers who prefer simple and easy to use functionality features, with proven materials handling solutions backed by a supplier that they can trust, together with a reputable dealership service network extending across Asia Pacific, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Korea and Taiwan.

    Simple serviceability and low cost of ownership

    The use of high quality, robust components, and an efficient system of filtration and cooling helps contribute to optimizing operations and reducing wear and tear. This, together with the fast availability of cost-effective replacement parts, reduces service maintenance requirements and costs.

    “Due to the simplicity of components and specifications, servicing can be carried out swiftly and cost-effectively. Large access areas combined with simple, interchangeable components across the product range further optimises maintenance and minimises total cost of ownership,” says Ben Newey, Hyster-Yale Group Vice-President Sales, API (Asia, Pacific and India).

    Strong distributor network

    Hyster already has a strong and long-established professional dealer and service network extending across Asia-Pacific. This strength is in turn backed by Hyster globally, which has been building relationships and partnering with customers, suppliers, dealers, and employees over many decades. www.hyster.com

    The new Hyster UT series range embodies the quality features that have been at the heart of the Hyster brand for nearly 90 years, including intelligent design, product testing, quality of manufacturing, quality of suppliers and environmental emphasis.

    Rather than offer one-size-fits-all solutions, the UT Series philosophy opens a discussion with customers to ask, “What are your specific needs and what are your operating hours on a daily basis?”

    “Then our established Asia-Pacific dealer network can bring their extensive expertise to deliver cost-effective, quality solutions for each individual customer,” says Mr Tan.

    For Information about Hyster-Yale Asia-Pacific, please contact:

    Natalie Allatt

    Regional Marketing Officer, Asia-Pacific

    Hyster-Yale Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd

    Email: [email protected]

    Mobile: +61 403 469 424

    T +61 2 9795 3810

    Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services a comprehensive line of lift trucks and aftermarket parts marketed globally primarily under the Hyster® and Yale® brand names. Subsidiaries of Hyster-Yale Group include Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, an alternative-power technology company focused on fuel-cell stacks and engines, and Bolzoni S.p.A., a leading worldwide producer of attachments, forks and lift tables under the Bolzoni®, Auramo® and Meyer® brand names. Hyster-Yale also has significant joint ventures in Japan (Sumitomo NACCO) and in China (Hyster-Yale Maximal). Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ approximately 7,700 people worldwide.

    For Media Release inquiries, Please Contact:

    Brent Whyte or Jack Mallen-Cooper

    Whyte Public Relations

    T: +61 2 9901 4306

    E: [email protected]

    W: www.whytepr.com.au

    © Hyster-Yale Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd. 2021, all rights reserved. HYSTER is a registered trademark of Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.

     

  • Aqua Pura adds sparkle to its Fruit Splash range

    Aqua Pura adds sparkle to its Fruit Splash range

    Mineral water brand Aqua Pura has added two new flavors, Citrus and Melon, to its Fruit Splash range, which contain natural fruit flavoring and have less than fifty calories per serve.

    Fruit Splash Brand manager Amelia Wright says the new flavors are based on the already-established Fruit Splash Range.

    “When brainstorming range extensions for Fruit Splash, we came back to what has served us well, being our original Fruit Splash products, Tropical and Wildberry,” said Wright.

    “These are the flavours our consumers know and love from Fruit Splash, so building upon that, we knew we had to maintain this offering in different flavors whilst catering to those who prefer sparkling water.”

    With non-alcoholic drinks on the rise, consumers are increasingly looking for a healthier alternative from carbonated soft drinks.

    “From the popularity and growth we see on the Wildberry and Tropical products, we know this is what Aussies like”, Wright added.

    All Fruit Splash Sparkling flavors are available nationwide for RRP $2.50 per bottle.

    Lees ook:

  • WineDepot expands to Melbourne, buys distributor Parton

    WineDepot expands to Melbourne, buys distributor Parton

    WineDepot Market has launched its direct-to-trade platform in Melbourne – and sealed a deal to acquire Parton Wine Distribution.

    After serving venues and retail outlets across Sydney since May, the subsidiary of ASX-listed Digital Wine Ventures has already brought on board more than 400 brands. WineDepot CEO Dean Taylor said local customers are responding positively to the proposition.

    “The evolution of the wine distribution model in Australia is long overdue. Technology has brought vast changes in the way we produce wine and sell to consumers, but in the middle, supply chains and wholesaling are still plagued by inefficiency,” he said.

    WineDepot describes itself as an integrated trading, logistics and payment solution designed to streamline wine and beverage distribution. The direct-to-wholesale marketplace allows suppliers to list their products for sale on consumer marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay and Vivino and provides a smart logistics solution allowing suppliers to fulfill orders from various depots, to allow same- and next-day delivery to most capital cities. In addition, an online ERP system allows suppliers to manage orders, inventories and technology integrations and offers a payment management solution through which suppliers can offer customers credit terms yet get paid three days after sale.

    “The chance to move more of their wine purchasing to a single platform, with a single invoice and single credit account, has been highly attractive to venues and retailers,” said Taylor.

    “Customers are trialing the platform and finding a large range of products they already purchase, all in one place, along with a selection of new and interesting wines from some of Australia’s top producers.

    “We identified the need for a comprehensive direct-to-trade platform in the local wine market years ago, and launching in our second major city shows we’re closing in on that goal.

    WineDepot acquires Parton Wine Distribution, 

    Meanwhile, WineDepot yesterday announced it would buy specialist wine and beverage logistics provider Parton Wine Distribution.

    Taylor said Parton’s long track record in the industry, 23,000 sqm of warehousing, and 100-strong team would provide a significant boost to WineDepot’s operational capability.

    While WineDepot’s outsourcing of third-party logistics was working well, as the business continued to scale it would become necessary to further develop its own capacity to maintain service levels – especially during times of peak demand, said Taylor.

    “Having our own dedicated fleet of delivery vans and drivers will ensure we provide an exceptional experience for suppliers using WineDepot Logistics and trade buyers using WineDepot Market.

    “In addition, direct management of our own warehouses allows us to offer on-demand picking, late cut-off times and temperature-controlled, cold chain and bonded storage to our customers right up and down the supply chain.”

    Richard Raddon, who founded Parton, will join WineDepot’s senior executive team as GM of the logistics division and his son David will become national operations manager.

    Parton’s 150-strong existing customer base will be transitioned across to the WineDepot platform.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • India’s Reliance Retail to buy Just Dial for $469 million

    India’s Reliance Retail to buy Just Dial for $469 million

    Reliance Retail is to buy nearly 41 percent of search and database firm Just Dial for US$468.84 million.

    Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Retail will also make an open offer to public shareholders of Just Dial to acquire an additional 26 percent, according to regulatory requirements.

    Reliance has been on an acquisition spree to ramp up its online retail offerings and, over the past three years, has bought British toy retailer Hamleys, music streaming service Saavn, online furniture retailer Urban Ladder and e-pharmacy Netmeds.

    The deal with Just Dial, subject to shareholder and other approvals, will help Reliance get access to the company’s massive merchant database that spans across the country.

    The deal will boost “the digital ecosystem for millions of our partner merchants, micro, small and medium enterprises,” Isha Ambani, a director at Reliance Retail, said in the statement.

    Just Dial has a database of about 30.4 million listings as of March 31 and gets consumer traffic of about 129.1 million unique users each quarter.

    The capital infusion from the deal will help Just Dial expand discovery on its platform and boost transactions for millions of its products and services.

    Just Dial’s MD VSS Mani will continue to lead the company, the statement said.

    Lees ook:

  • UBS Reports Strong Second Quarter Performance

    UBS Reports Strong Second Quarter Performance

    Swiss bank UBS reports second-quarter 2021 net profit attributable to shareholders of $2 billion, up 66 percent from a year earlier.

    Operating Income was up 21 percent while expenses rose 10 percent, helping the cost/income ratio to fall 4.1 percentage points year-on-year. The bank saw continued momentum in investment flows and volume growth in conjunction with favorable market conditions and investor sentiment, according to a media release on Tuesday.

    Invested assets in Global Wealth Management (GWM) and Asset Management rose 4.4 percent from the first quarter to $4.4 trillion, with GWM recorded $25 billion in net new fee-generating assets. The group reported $0.55 diluted earnings per share and a 14.5 percent CET1 ratio.

    UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers provided commented: «Momentum is on our side and our strategic choices and initiatives are paying off. And we are eager to make the most of our future.

    Lees ook:

  • Comviva’s customer value management platform drives breakthrough growth for Indosat Ooredoo

    Comviva’s customer value management platform drives breakthrough growth for Indosat Ooredoo

    Fueled by an intensely competitive operating environment in Indonesia’s mobile sector, Indosat Ooredoo partnered with Comviva in delivering a front-to-end real-time marketing management platform, as well as subscribers’ loyalty and rewards program to yield increased customer retention and revenue within months from implementation.

    In a country where 98% of mobile phone users fall back on prepaid subscriptions, telecommunications operators in Indonesia’s competitive mobile market face the gargantuan challenge of retaining customers. In a heterogeneous market already characterized by low loyalty and high churn rates, matters are made worst when high costs deter telecommunications operators from reaching out to and acquiring new subscribers in under-served populations in far-flung areas.Indosat Ooredoo taps on Comviva’s expertise in innovation-driven growth marketing

    It is costlier to replace churned customers than retaining them. Amid intense competition and dismal financials, Indosat Ooredoo recognized that the path to profitable growth is an improved customer value management (CVM) platform that manages customer lifecycle holistically to uncover customer insights and drive meaningful engagements.

    Having collaborated on other deployments with much success, Indosat appointed Comviva, a global leader in mobile solutions for telecommunication operators, as a strategic partner to spearhead its Big Data CVM 2.0 program in April 2019.

    Aimed at improving customer lifetime value to achieve incremental revenue, Comviva developed a three year digital roadmap with front-to-end digital strategies. The suite of solutions spans different stages from implementing, operating, optimizing and providing timely, in-depth post-implementation analysis to transforming customer experiences critical to the success of the program.

    Overcoming key challenges with technology

    Before partnering with Comviva, Indosat Ooredoo was missing out on opportunities to influence customers’ micro-moments at critical junctures in the customer journey. To maximize the value of individual customers and micro-moments of interactions, Comviva’s first step was adding real-time capabilities to the operator’s CVM platform.

    A machine learning (ML), real-time interaction management platform, Comviva’s MobiLytixTM Real Time Marketing capitalizes on actionable analytics to steer CVM excellence. It integrates data across multiple sources to build intelligence and act on real-time events to orchestrate engagements with customers.

    Adding complexity to critical decision-making was the lack of federated data across Indosat Ooredoo’s various departments. To get to the root of this problem, Comviva developed a big data Hadoop-based centralized management system that effectively captures over 800 attributes about Indosat Ooredoo’s prepaid and post-paid subscribers to create a single view of its subscribers. This system brings focus to descriptive, predictive and prescriptive attributes of subscribers to serve as a unified customer data system accessible to the operator’s campaign management, business and applications teams.

    Comviva also identified the absence of a pervasive artificial intelligence (AI) technology to measure campaign effectiveness as another shortfall. To this end, Comviva developed models founded on AI and ML to accurately predict customers’ behaviors.

    Finally, Indosat introduced imPoin, a loyalty and rewards program to extend instant gratification to loyal customers and reward loyal customers preferentially. Powered by Comiva’s MobiLytixTM Loyalty and Rewards Platform, this program allows Indosat Ooredoo to predict customer engagement activities and positively influence customer behavior through reward-based engagements. To yield the best outcomes, a framework was developed to measure, monitor, and optimize the program.

    Comprising a 4-tier membership model – namely Red, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with Platinum being the highest tier – better benefits are rolled out for higher tiers. Members are motivated to earn benefits for all their engagements, which can be accumulated and redeemed via the myIM3 mobile app. Members can look forward to receiving a mix of lifestyle and experiential rewards such as fuel, shopping, dining as well as gaming vouchers.