Tag: asia

  • ShopBack users can now enjoy extra savings on all GrabFood orders

    ShopBack users can now enjoy extra savings on all GrabFood orders

    GrabFood has officially launched on ShopBack, enabling 1.5 million ShopBack users in Singapore to enjoy cashback on their GrabFood orders. Users can now save a little extra when they are placing a food delivery order from their favorite F&B outlets, including McDonalds, Playmade, and Din Tai Fung.

    • New GrabFood customers will get 8% cashback (capped at $1.50)

    • Existing GrabFood customers will get 2% cashback (capped at $0.40)

    To access these rewards, users have to first launch the ShopBack app, then type in “GrabFood” in the search bar or click on “GrabFood” under the New Stores on ShopBack section. This will redirect the user from the ShopBack app to the GrabFood app, allowing for the cashback to be tracked. The user should have the latest version of Grab installed.

    “We are thrilled to add GrabFood to our growing line-up of merchants. The pandemic has resulted in many preferring to consume their meals from the safety of home, and this partnership will help to facilitate the shift in consumer behavior from restaurant dine-in to pick up, takeaway, and delivery. We have also received many requests from our users to on-board GrabFood, and today, we are happy to be able to make this a reality and bring even more cashback options for our users,” said Joel Leong, Co-founder of ShopBack.

    A recent report by Facebook and Bain & Company found that there has been a shift to value-for-money purchasing across Southeast Asia as conservatism sets in, as 57% of survey respondents cited ‘value’ among their top-three purchasing considerations. This is more pronounced in Singapore, where around 70% cite ‘value’ as a top consideration.

    “Singaporeans are passionate about food and appreciate the convenience. Also, true to our kiasu nature, we never want to miss out on a good deal and we are constantly seeking out value. As such, this partnership with GrabFood has all the right ingredients for success,” added Leong.

    “As one of the leading digital lifestyle apps in Singapore, we are always finding new ways to create more value for our customers with every dollar they spend on our products and services. We are therefore pleased to be able to launch GrabFood on ShopBack. At a time when consumers increasingly seek out apps and platforms that empower their digital lifestyles, we are confident that this partnership can serve their evolving needs,” said Gillian Ang, Head of Marketing for Grab Singapore.

    ShopBack is available for download on the App Store and Google Play for free.

  • Ooredoo and Ericsson Reach a Record System Throughput of 4.2Gbps over a Bandwidth of 200MHzs

    Ooredoo and Ericsson Reach a Record System Throughput of 4.2Gbps over a Bandwidth of 200MHzs

    Ooredoo Qatar, working with technology giant Ericsson, has successfully tested the 200MHz spectrum and achieved a record system throughput of 4.2Gbps, as part of the growing shift towards complete 5G delivery.

    The technology, deployed within Ooredoo’s network, uses advanced 5G and 4G carrier aggregation functionality, increasing the data rate per user by assigning multiple frequency blocks to the same user. This innovation is expected to play an important role in the build-up to achieving 90 percent 5G coverage throughout Qatar by the end of 2020.

    Increasingly, Ooredoo Qatar is positioned as a key digital enabler. With this recent breakthrough in both speed and delivery, customers will be able to maximize the benefits of streaming services, virtual learning environments, cloud gaming and augmented and/or virtual reality applications. Likewise, it will allow businesses to pursue new customer bases, while potentially streamlining their contribution to such endeavors as smart cities, telemedicine, and logistics.

    Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, CEO at Ooredoo Qatar says: “5G is a phenomenal evolution that opens doors to a world of new possibilities — many of which we have already tested — and we are proud to be at the forefront of the 5G revolution amongst global telecom operators. Keeping our customers connected and enabling them to enjoy the best of the internet is at the core of what we do, and this partnership with Ericsson will enable us to achieve our strategic goals in network development and expansion. We are making use of the latest innovative technology to apply 5G in existing frequency bands and deploying the latest 5G radios to shift our subscriber experience to a whole new level; with the addition of 5G, we are committed to offering Qatar the best mobile digital infrastructure, which will result in enhanced user experience ahead of the major world sporting events set to be held in Qatar.”

    Fadi Pharaon, President of Ericsson Middle East & Africa, says: “We are pleased to be working with our long-standing partner Ooredoo Qatar helping them achieve the full potential of 5G. Today’s trial cements Ooredoo’s commitment to bring the latest technology and prepares its network for the new era of 5G use cases. This announcement highlights Ericsson’s 5G leadership enabling wider opportunities, innovative solutions, and applications that 5G will bring.”

    By reaching this milestone, Ooredoo Qatar is taking a crucial step forward for an efficient and seamless roll-out of the latest mobile technology, offering enhanced network performance.

  • Budget airline AirAsia’s future in ‘significant doubt’

    Budget airline AirAsia’s future in ‘significant doubt’

    The future of Asia’s biggest budget airline, AirAsia, is in “significant doubt”, auditor Ernst & Young has said. Shares in the Malaysian-based airline fell by more than 17% on Wednesday after being halted earlier in the day.

    The airline’s founder and chief executive is tycoon Tony Fernandes, who also co-owns Queens Park Rangers (QPR) football club in the UK.

    The world’s airlines have been hit hard by the sharp fall in passengers due to strict coronavirus travel restrictions.

    Ernst & Young highlighted the airline’s huge debts in a statement to the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange late on Tuesday.

    It said AirAsia’s current liabilities already exceeded its current assets by 1.84bn ringgit ($430m; £340m) at the end of 2019, before the start of the pandemic.

    The Asian carrier’s financial performance and cash flow have been further hit by the grounding of its planes amid tight travel curbs and lockdowns.

    This slump and AirAsia’s financial performance “indicate the existence of material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” Ernst & Young said in its unqualified audit opinion statement.

    On Monday, AirAsia reported a record quarterly loss of 803.8m ringgit. The budget airline started suspending flights in late March.

    “This is by far the biggest challenge we have faced since we began in 2001,” Mr Fernandes said in a statement.

    “Every crisis is an obstacle to overcome, and we have restructured the group into a leaner and tighter ship.”

    “We are positive in the strides we have made in bringing cash expenses down by at least 50% this year, and this will make us even stronger as the leading low-cost carrier in the region,” he added.

    AirAsia said it was in talks over joint ventures and collaborations that may result in additional investment. It has also applied for bank loans and is weighing proposals to raise additional capital.

  • Masan fails to buy out Vinacafe

    Masan fails to buy out Vinacafe

    Conglomerate Masan has not been able to buy out instant coffee producer Vinacafe Bien Hoa JSC due to unfavorable market conditions. Its subsidiary Masan Beverage Company Limited could only purchase a 0.3 percent stake in the coffee producer via order matching between June 17 and July 16, against a plan to purchase 1.51 percent to fully own the company.

    Masan Beverage owns 98.79 percent of Vinacafe, in which it has been buying stakes since 2011.The most recent transaction occurred in February 2018 when it bought nearly eight million shares for VND1.6 trillion ($69 million) to increase its holding to 98.49 percent. Ticker VCF of Vinacafe on Friday closed at VND208,000 ($9), up 16.8 percent from the start of the year.

    The company, established in 1968 and among the most popular instant coffee brands in Vietnam, targets net revenues and net profits this year of VND3.3 trillion ($142 million) and VND780 billion ($33 million), respectively.

  • Owndays partners with Wagyumafia to launch new eyewear range

    Owndays partners with Wagyumafia to launch new eyewear range

    Eyewear retailer Owndays has launched a new sunglass range branded Chateaubriand in collaboration with restaurant brand Wagyumafia.

    The collaboration model is all about portraying the theme handmade in Japan with simple and basic in mind, the company says.

    The Chateaubriand collection has two types of sunglasses, both with a bold “Chateaubriand” logo on the temple. The normal type features a heavy- duty acetate black frame made from thick fabric and transparent green lens. The sporty type has a light gray frame and a polarised lens.

    Meanwhile, the restaurant has created a special VIP set menu where customers can “enjoy this collaboration of sunglasses and a gorgeous meal” with Wagyumafia and Owndays.

    Wagyumafia is an exclusive restaurant brand set up by Takafumi Horie and Hisato Hamada. Wagyumafia operates eight restaurants around the world with its mission to educate consumers and the restaurant industry on the appropriate application of high-end Japanese Wagyu beef.

    Bookings are strictly limited.

  • Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25 Production Model Revealed

    Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25 Production Model Revealed

    Just nine months after announcing the project, the production iteration Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25 by R-Reforged has been revealed alongside confirmation that customer car build will commence in September. Designer Ian Callum has evolved the concept shown in 2019 with a revised interior, more trim options and definitive chassis and powertrain set up. In fact, Callum talked about this venture even in our exclusive episode of Freewheeling With SVP and gave us a hint that the car is on the way.

    The Vanquish 25 now features over 350 engineerings, material, and design changes that transform the much-loved car into a more practical and relevant GT. Having covered over 32,000 kms of rigorous testing on UK’s broad range of road types and qualities, as well as multiple sessions on both the wet and dry tracks at Michelin’s Ladoux proving ground, engineers carefully determined a crisper set up to amplify the driving experience of a classic GT. Highly tuned rebound and compression of the Bilstein dampers provides composure with noticeably more agility and control. Careful bush selection, stiffer anti-roll bars, a 10mm lower ride height, up to 60mm wider track, and specific Michelin Pilot Sport tire compounds assure linearity in roll and composure without resorting to a rock-solid track feel that contemporary GTs often lean towards. Steering feel, aided by the fitting of a more slender wheel rim, lower seating position, and the suspension improvements, is sharper with more feedback to reward the enthusiast driver. The overall result is a more versatile GT eminently suitable for everyday use.

    Ian Callum, Founder, Callum Designs, said, “The designers, engineers, and craftspeople have poured all their energy into breathing new life into the car, pushing the boundaries of every detail: flawless surface finishes, tight shut lines and a crafted interior I believe you’ll enjoy spending time in. I’m particularly impressed with how it drives. From the lower, more sculpted, and cossetting seat, the crisper steering with enhanced feel to just the glorious way it sounds, I think we have created something quite special.”

    The Vanquish 25 by R-Reforged is offered with eight trim colors, three transmission variants – manual, auto and semi-automatic – as well as three bespoke 20-inch wheel choices. The car’s leather trim is provided by Bridge of Weir Leather Company, while Bremont’s removable pocket watch, an industry-first, remains prominent in the interior that now includes brushed or polished dark chrome details, and a walnut veneer option instead of carbon. Mulberry has developed the luggage to fit snugly in the rear of the cabin.

    R-Reforged has now also revealed revisions to the engine and the engineers have detailed the area with carbon and leather dressing alongside the bespoke carbon intake system and tuned equal length stainless steel primary collectors that create a sonorous V12 howl from the 580bhp engine. The car will be built starting September with initial cars destined for Europe and Latin America.

  • Covid-19 drives broad shift in shopping behaviour

    Covid-19 drives broad shift in shopping behaviour

    The coronavirus pandemic has had a lasting impact on the shopping behavior of global consumers, according to new research by Adobe.

    The figures show that despite the lifting of lockdown restrictions in many countries worldwide, customer shopping habits and brand interactions have not returned to pre-coronavirus norms.

    According to the survey, 67 percent of responding consumers remain concerned about the pandemic’s impact on personal health (73 percent), jobs (40 percent) and the economy (36 percent). Millennial consumers registered far greater levels of concern than any other respondent age group.

    “The outbreak of Covid-19 has accelerated a broad shift in APAC consumer behaviors and attitudes that have been in the making for some time,” said Adobe MD Southeast Asia Simon Dale. “It is clear from the results of the study that brands that are nimble in pivoting to this digital ‘new norm’ will be able to create deep and enduring brand resonance while helping their customers feel truly supported. Marketers will need to pay close attention to their customers and ensure that they adapt their CX strategy to address different groups with relevant messages, more so now than ever.”

    Close to 100 percent of consumers expressed patience with those restrictions that remain in place, while just 61 percent agree with full lockdown measures – Chinese consumers being notably content to wait things out.

    Other findings showed increasing consumer concern with the way businesses treat staff (77 percent), while just 54 percent of consumers think firms care for the wellbeing of their employees. A high proportion of consumers think it important for brands to mirror the state of the world in their marketing collaterals in response to Covid-19 and have a duty to proactively offer help or provide special offers to customers in this era.

    Despite a sharp growth in online shopping and widespread anticipation of a permanent shift in consumer behavior towards e-commerce adoption, 70 percent of consumers reported a preference for purchasing grocery items in person, particularly in Australia.

    To respond to these and other nuances in customer preference, the majority of organizations are transforming their long-term strategy in case this period lasts for more than a year (79 percent), and are also changing their approach to future marketing efforts (82 percent).

  • WhatsApp upcoming feature lets you use the same account on multiple devices

    WhatsApp upcoming feature lets you use the same account on multiple devices

    WhatsApp is testing new features all the time and we often learn about them before release. One of the important features that we hope to see coming to WhatsApp is the option to use the same account on multiple devices.

    A new report coming from WABetaInfo confirms WhatsApp is now testing this new feature that allows users to have the same WhatsApp account on up to four devices. In that regard, a new UI that will manage all linked devices is now in the works at WhatsApp.

    The new UI is meant to enable users to add new devices to their WhatsApp account or remove them if they need to. To add new devices to your WhatsApp account, you must use a code that will sent to you via SMS or WhatsApp Chat. The procedure hasn’t been finalized since the feature is still in the works, but it’s probably the easiest and most secure way at the moment.

    The new option to add multiple devices on the same WhatsApp account is not yet available in any of the beta versions of the app, but the new Linked Devices UI does show up in one of the beta iterations.

  • Carrefour launches new pet-store concept

    Carrefour launches new pet-store concept

    French supermarket chain Carrefour has launched a new pet store concept in Paris, in collaboration with Invivo Retail’s pet care brand Noa.

    The new 190sqm shop-in-shop opens at the Saint-Brice-sous-Foret hypermarket to the north of the city, featuring a broad selection of pet care products (including specialist brands) sold by expert vendor-advisers responding to an increasing trend in owner investment in pet health and wellbeing coupled with rising demand for personal advice and support from experts.

    Visitors to the store can elect to have their pet’s wellbeing checked in the “paravet” area as they shop.

    “The Noa concept is in line with Carrefour’s desire to provide new in-store shopping experiences through special offerings and bespoke advice for dogs and cats,” said Carrefour Hypermarkets in France executive director Marie Cheval. “It’s a unique retail initiative.”

    “This project is in line with our plan to transform, accelerate and give impetus to our new Noa pet care brand as part of an original shop-in-shop concept,” said Invivo Retail CEO Guillaume Darrasse, “enhancing the customer experience and more specifically serving animal lovers”.

  • Opening date revealed for Apple Thailand’s second Bangkok store

    Opening date revealed for Apple Thailand’s second Bangkok store

    Apple Thailand’s second retail store in Bangkok will open at the CentralWorld shopping center this week. A reliable local source says the opening date is scheduled for Friday, July 31. However, Apple’s Thai website has posted a colorful version of the brand’s logo with Thai lettering inside, teasing that the Apple CentralWorld store is “coming soon”.

    The website also features a tagline ‘Intersection of the creative idea and inspiration’, which refers to the Ratchaprasong intersection where Apple’s new space is located.

    Earlier this year, photos of the Apple Thailand’s second store were leaked on Twitter, showing a preview of what the store will look like. Apple Thailand’s second store features a unique design with a whirling cylinder of glass and curved timber radiating in concentric circles. It is located on part of a large courtyard outside the mall.

    The Apple CentralWorld store reflects the brand’s confidence in the Thai market, despite the Covid-19 situation in the country.

    Apple Thailand opened its first store at the IconSiam shopping center in Bangkok in November 2018.

  • Skechers China growth drives optimism for global sales recovery

    Skechers China growth drives optimism for global sales recovery

    Skechers China sales growth has fuelled optimism for the shoe brand after it reported a huge slump in sales for the June quarter due to stores being closed in other regions under Covid-19 lockdowns.

    The company reported group-wide sales of US$729.5 million, a 42 percent year-on-year decrease, and a net loss of $68.1 million during the three months to June 30.

    But sales in China rose 11.5 percent and sales on Skecher’s company-owned online store soared by 428.2 percent as buyers in some markets, unable to shop at physical stores, moved online.

    “Skechers, like most businesses around the world, has never faced a more challenging time than during the pandemic, which caused the closing of nearly every market worldwide,” said CEO Robert Greenberg. “Covid-19 continues to be a serious concern globally, and the health and welfare of our team, partners, and customers remain our number one priority.”

    Skechers stores were closed for varying periods of time in almost every market outside Asia.

    “However, we remain optimistic about the early signs of recovery we witnessed during the quarter, including a return to growth in China, consistent improvement each month in some markets outside of China,” said COO David Weinberg.

    “While every country’s recovery has been unique, we began to see a similar recovery trend, first reflected in China and now extending into other markets globally including Australia, Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan. We believe the positive sales trends in markets that have reopened, as well as the efficiency with which we addressed the pandemic challenges, are strong indicators that when the global health crisis stabilizes, Skechers will remain a global footwear leader.”

    Greenberg said the company was a “resilient organization” driven by a dedicated and flexible team determined to do whatever it takes to not only survive but position itself for a return to profitability.

    “Now, with more than 90 percent of our Skechers stores safely re-opened and some markets in the early stages of recovery, we believe that we will remain a brand consumers and retailers trust to deliver comfort, quality, and style. We are hopeful that global economies will continue to improve, and as they do, we will continue to operate efficiently and judiciously during this pandemic,” he said.

  • ShopBack teams up with Shopee Malaysia to launch Shopee Affiliate Marketing Solutions

    ShopBack teams up with Shopee Malaysia to launch Shopee Affiliate Marketing Solutions

    ShopBack, Asia-Pacific’s top rewards, and discovery platform, together with Shopee, Malaysia’s no.1 e-commerce platform, has jointly launched Shopee Affiliate Marketing Solutions (AMS) today. This initiative is aimed at helping brands accelerate the growth of their e-commerce stores while bringing more value to consumers in the form of product discovery and savings.

    This partnership enables participating brands to list their Shopee Official Stores directly on the ShopBack Malaysia platform, thereby allowing them to determine the cashback amount to reward customers. Previously, users received sitewide cashback when purchasing from Shopee through the ShopBack platform. Now with Shopee AMS, users will earn additional storewide cashback on their purchases from participating brands, on top of receiving the usual sitewide cashback.

    In Malaysia, ShopBack generated around 1.5 million monthly orders for over 500 merchants in Q2 of 2020. Since its launch, ShopBack Malaysia has rewarded its users with over RM60 million in cashback. Starting today, the brands participating in Shopee AMS will be able to leverage ShopBack Malaysia’s extensive reach and promote their Shopee Official Stores to over 3 million users.

    “We are thrilled that Shopee has trusted ShopBack to be one of their key partners in Malaysia. This collaboration will see two industry leaders coming together to work towards the common goal of driving value to merchants and users. ShopBack can help to bridge the gap between online shoppers and their favorite brands on Shopee, while allowing them to earn extra cashback on their purchases. This partnership is also a great way to expand our merchant line-up to give our users more options to discover and earn cashback. We look forward to working closely with Shopee to help more brands grow their digital presence and sales,” said Eddy Han, Country General Manager, ShopBack Malaysia.

    Shopee took a data-led approach in selecting the first 13 brands from various categories to participate in Shopee AMS. The shortlisted brands are Amazfit, Anker, Anlene, Anmum, Aukey, DirectD, Fernleaf, fitbit, Jabra, Realme, Skullcandy, Tefal, and tronsmart, which are popular among local shoppers. ShopBack users will be able to earn up to 7.5% cashback when they purchase from any of these brands.

    “We are delighted to be taking our partnership with ShopBack to the next level. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the rate of digital adoption, and as a result we have seen an increase in the number of new businesses joining Shopee to bring their product offerings online. Through this partnership, brands will be able to leverage ShopBack’s extensive user base in Malaysia to drive traffic to their Official Stores on Shopee and promote their products. This will be especially useful for brands that do not have their own online stores. ShopBack will serve as an additional marketing tool for them to cut through the noise and drive awareness and sales in a targeted way,” said Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director, Shopee.

  • Google Messages gets new features including some from Apple’s Messages app

    Google Messages gets new features including some from Apple’s Messages app

    On Wednesday, Google finally announced a feature we told you was being tested for Google Messages since back in May. Now when Android users receive a chat message, a video, or a photo, they can respond to it in a second. A long press on the message will show a box with animated love, laughter, surprise, sadness, anger, and dislike emoji. The reactions are available on those handsets that have chat features enabled. That is just one change out of a series of five new features now available for the Google Messages app.

    For example, if you have Smart Reply enabled, you can now send an animated sticker instead of using your words. The stickers will show up as you are texting so the perfect one will be ready right away for your use. The suggested stickers are currently available in English only.

    Ever want to personalize a conversation by including a photo that you marked up just for the occasion? Google has a media editor built into Messages. Simply take a photo using the in-app camera and type text or use brushes to paint on the image. You can share these with friends and family so you need to do your best to make them witty.

    Why type a message when you can say it better? Holding down the microphone button inside the compose bar will now allow you to record and send a voice message instead of having to type out a text.  Now let’s say that you’re engaging in an exchange of texts with someone and you want the conversation to continue as a video. Tapping the video call button at the top right of the app will activate Google Duo and allow you to see in real-time the person you have been chatting with.

    Make sure that you have the Google Messages app installed if you want to use all of these new features. Some carriers have their own messaging app, so check to see whether your phone has Google Messages installed. It can be downloaded on your Android phone. To make it your default messaging app, install it on your device, and go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps. Make sure that Google Messages is listed as the default SMS app on your phone.

  • Samsung Money arrives in the US, here are all the perks

    Samsung Money arrives in the US, here are all the perks

    Samsung has just introduced Money by SoFi in the United States, as part of the Samsung Pay mobile payment system. Samsung Money offers both physical and virtual perks for those who order the plastic chip card that enables them to use the service.

    Launched in partnership with the fintech startup SoFi, Samsung Money supplements the online aspect of Samsung Pay by adding several perks that you would otherwise get. First off, in order to get the Mastercard debit card accompanying Samsung Money, one must first sign-up and access the service via the dedicated website.

    After opening and funding an account, customers will be eligible for a chance to win $1,000 in Samsung Rewards points toward a Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, QLED 4K TV, or any other product made by the South Korean company.

    Also, Samsung revealed that all Money users in the US will soon get access to an exclusive discount on various products such as Galaxy smartphones, tablets, wearables, TVs, laptops, washers, refrigerators, and more. This special discount can be combined with any other offer from Samsung. Apart from that, you can see below all the other perks that come with being a Samsung Money user:

    • Instant Activation: As soon as you fund your new Samsung Money by SoFi account, your digital debit card will be provisioned in your Samsung Pay wallet, with your physical card arriving shortly by mail.
    • No Account Fees: Samsung Money charges zero account fees, overdraft fees, or transfer fees.
    • Added Savings and Benefits: Samsung Money rewards users for saving, earning up to 6x higher interest rate relative to the national average of transactional accounts. Also, Samsung Money users will earn Samsung Rewards points for every purchase they make within Samsung Pay.
    • Money Management: With Samsung Money, you can use the Samsung Pay app to check your balance, review past statements and search transactions, as well as pause or restart spending, freeze or unfreeze your card, change your pin and assign your trusted contact
    • Security: Since Samsung Money by SoFi isn’t a credit card, you can only spend the cash you have on hand. If an unauthorized transaction occurs, you’ll receive an alert and assume zero liability. Not to mention that the physical debit card will not display the card number, expiration date, or CVC.

    Samsung Money is available to Samsung Pay users in the United States starting today. To access the service, you’ll need to tap on the Money tab in the Samsung Pay app on your phone.

  • Off-White opens doors in Bangkok’s EmQuartier

    Off-White opens doors in Bangkok’s EmQuartier

    Italian luxury fashion label Off-White has opened a new monobrand store in Bangkok’s EmQuartier.

    Located on M Floor, the Off-White EmQuartier store occupies a 174sqm space, offering a selection of Off-White’s menswear and womenswear collections.

    The store facade features gray walls with the Off-White’s logo in yellow. The store’s interior is dressed in curved wood, creating a soft and elegant design.

    Off-White’s products are displayed under the wooden wall, which according to the company works as “racking systems and modules for product display”, a feature specially created for this location.

    Several grey granite tables with hole detailing stand in the centre of the store, reflecting the Off-White’s fresh, new logo concept. Velvet benches and carpets add a touch of sophistication to the design.