Retail News CRM

Tag: data

  • UBS Faces Major Darknet Data Breach Exposing Personal Details of 130,000 Employees

    UBS Faces Major Darknet Data Breach Exposing Personal Details of 130,000 Employees

    A significant cybersecurity breach has rattled UBS, as sensitive data concerning 130,000 of its employees has surfaced on the darknet following a hacker attack on its procurement service provider. But UBS isn’t the only one feeling the heat from this incident.

    Chain IQ: The Breach Exposed

    The breach traces back to Chain IQ, a procurement service provider and former UBS spinoff, which has also served other prominent clients such as Pictet, Manor, and Implenia. The troubling news was first reported by the Swiss daily Le Temps, shedding light on a severe data theft that occurred in June.

    Among the leaked information are names, email addresses, landline numbers, and, in some instances, mobile numbers—one of which belongs to UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti. Other details include job levels, languages spoken, and office locations within the bank.

    Service Provider in the Spotlight

    Chain IQ, headquartered in Baar with additional offices in Geneva and Zurich, has established itself firmly in the procurement sector, delivering services that cover human resources, IT systems, waste management, and more.

    The Victorious Hacker’s List

    The data leak is not just a concern for UBS. Chain IQ’s client list is also up for grabs on the darknet; a troubling revelation. The firm has previously engaged with over 400 partners, and now exposed are the details of contracts, service types, and the internal contacts for each partner. Noteworthy clients include Pictet, insurance giants like Swiss Life and Axa, and global entities such as FedEx and IBM.

    UBS’s relationship with Chain IQ includes support in managing supply chain due diligence and company credit card administration. The leaked dataset spans 137,192 rows, each representing an employee.

    Darknet Deals and Criminal Risks

    Concerns escalate as reports confirm that the leaked file has been sold multiple times on the darknet. Such information poses a risk of being exploited for criminal activities, including identity theft and fraud.

    In response, Chain IQ is treating this situation with the utmost seriousness. The company has activated its security protocols, assembled a dedicated team of internal and external experts, and contacted the Zug cantonal police. They also aim for transparency, having informed all stakeholders promptly.

    A UBS spokesperson confirmed their awareness of the cyberattack on Chain IQ, assuring that they are monitoring the developments closely.

    Pictet’s Invoice Data Under Scrutiny

    In an additional twist, the leaked data allegedly includes information from Pictet, detailing “tens of thousands of invoices.” While the invoices themselves are not part of the leak, the records describe various expenditures by companies and employees, including groceries, dining, travel, and security services.

    A representative from Pictet stated that the compromised data does not include sensitive employee information or customer data, but mostly concerns invoice details from select suppliers. Precautionary measures are being implemented to mitigate further risks.

    As the world turns more digital, will we see a rise in such cyber capers, or can the industry step up its defenses to combat these digital bandits?

    Questions & Answers

    What type of data was leaked in the UBS incident? The data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, and job-related details for 130,000 UBS employees.

    Which companies are involved in the breach? Chain IQ, former UBS spinoff, is the main service provider affected, alongside other clients like Pictet and Manor.

    What actions are being taken in response to the breach? Chain IQ has activated security protocols, mobilized a dedicated response team, and contacted law enforcement while keeping stakeholders informed.

  • Cartier tells customers some data stolen in cyberattack

    Cartier tells customers some data stolen in cyberattack

    Cartier, the luxury jewellery brand owned by Richemont, recently experienced a cyber attack that led to the theft of some customer data. This information was relayed to clients through an email.

    Cyber Attack on Cartier

    This incident is the latest in a string of cyber attacks on companies, with several retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Victoria’s Secret, reporting similar occurrences. Cartier, known for its watches, necklaces, and bracelets, which have been sported by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie, and Michelle Obama, stated that an unauthorized party had gained temporary access to their system.

    The compromised data included limited client information, such as names, email addresses, and countries. Cartier reassured customers that more sensitive data, including passwords, credit card details, or other banking information, were not accessed during the breach. The company has since resolved the issue.

    Enhanced Security Measures

    In response to the attack, Cartier has taken measures to strengthen the protection of its systems and data. The company has informed the relevant authorities about the breach and is also collaborating with leading external cybersecurity experts to prevent future incidents.

    Julius Cerniauskas, CEO of web intelligence firm Oxylabs, highlighted that no brand is immune to cybercrime. According to him, cyber criminals are becoming increasingly opportunistic and sophisticated, targeting brands that hold valuable customer data.

    Other Retailers Affected

    Victoria’s Secret, a U.S. lingerie company, also recently reported a security incident related to its information technology systems. This forced the company to temporarily shut down its website for a few days. Victoria’s Secret claimed that the breach did not significantly impact its financial results for the first quarter but warned that its second quarter could be affected by the additional expenses incurred following the incident.

    Last month, British retailer Marks & Spencer revealed that a highly sophisticated and targeted cyber attack in April would cost the company about 300 million pounds (US$405 million) in lost profits.

    Fashion brand The North Face also reported a small-scale attack in April. The hackers used a method known as “credential stuffing,” in which they try usernames and passwords stolen from other data breaches, hoping that customers have reused the credentials across multiple accounts.

    Last month, Harrods, a London department store, reported attempts to infiltrate its systems, following similar incidents at Marks & Spencer and the Co-op Group.

    Questions & Answers

    What type of data was stolen in the cyber attack on Cartier?
    Names, email addresses, and countries of some customers were stolen in the cyber attack on Cartier.

    What measures has Cartier taken in response to the cyber attack?
    Cartier has enhanced the protection of its systems and data, informed the relevant authorities about the breach, and is working with leading external cybersecurity experts.

    Have other retailers been targeted by cyber attacks recently?
    Yes, Victoria’s Secret, Marks & Spencer, The North Face, and Harrods have all reported cyber attacks recently.

  • System errors spare T-Mobile customers their price surge

    System errors spare T-Mobile customers their price surge

    T-Mobile recently announced what it called “pricing updates” that were applied almost universally and made customers’ bills go up. However there is a subset of T-Mobile users that have been spared these price hikes — probably not for long — due to system errors that have failed to push billing updates.

    These price hikes were, understandably, unanimously disliked. This is especially true for legacy customers who saw pricing changes on their old plans that T-Mobile had once marketed as price locked.

    After people walked out of T-Mobile stores in protest of the T-Life app these pricing updates served as another irritant for customers. In response users dug up old T-Mobile ads about price locked plans and some people left T-Mobile for alternatives. All in all the entire situation has been a difficult time to be a T-Mobile customer or employee.

    But there are apparently T-Mobile customers who are receiving the same bill despite having been informed of a price increase. These people are relatively very few but system errors on T-Mobile’s end seem to have worked brilliantly in their favor. If they’re very lucky then T-Mobile will never spot their outdated billing information though that seems very unlikely to me.

    Since the whole pricing updates fiasco T-Mobile has introduced a new price lock guarantee. Unlike previous guarantees that promised lifelong price locks this new one is only valid for 10 years. However after everything that has happened I’m not falling for T-Mobile’s new price lock plan and neither should anyone else.

    The “un-carrier” is hardly the only telecom company currently facing controversy. AT&T soured relations with employees recently and is having a service outage in Los Angeles that will last a whopping two months. On the other hand Verizon is having a pricing crisis as the company struggles to define a strategy for itself after a year of very few new signups compared to competitors.

    If you’re one of those lucky few T-Mobile customers whose bill has remained unchanged despite a notification to the contrary, consider yourself blessed. And keep your fingers crossed that your plan doesn’t get updated too soon.

    Lees ook:

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  • THAICOM-9A Secures 50.5°E Slot

    THAICOM-9A Secures 50.5°E Slot

    The satellite arrived at its designated slot on November 22, 2024, just days before Thailand’s rights to the orbital slot were set to expire on November 27.

    The relocation forms a crucial part of Thaicom’s mission to safeguard Thailand’s claim to the orbital position. TC Space Connect Company Limited (TCSC), a Thaicom subsidiary, secured a 20-year license for the slot through the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) selection process. The move underscores efforts to preserve Thailand’s orbital rights while enabling long-term satellite operations.

    Faced with time constraints that make building a new satellite unfeasible—an average process of over three years—Thaicom has collaborated with an international partner to reposition an existing in-orbit communication satellite to the 50.5 degrees east orbital slot.

    Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Chief Executive Officer of Thaicom, noted that this achievement would enhance Thailand’s competitive standing, open new market opportunities for Thaicom, and support the growth of the country’s space industry.

    The satellite, now named THAICOM-9A, is set to begin operations in the first quarter of 2025.

    The satellite’s service coverage spans Europe and Asia, including Thailand. Thaicom’s initial focus will be on providing satellite services to Thailand and select Asian markets, with plans to explore business opportunities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in the near future.

  • Jollibee data breach may impact almost 11 million customers

    Jollibee data breach may impact almost 11 million customers

    Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) has reported a potential unauthorised access to its data, which might affect approximately 11 million customers.

    The breach compromised sensitive personal information, including dates of birth and senior citizen identification numbers, according to the company’s report to the Philippines’ National Privacy Commission (NPC).

    “Approximately 11 million data subjects are affected, the majority of whom are Jollibee customers,” the NPC said. “Other impacted brands include Mang Inasal, Red Ribbon, Chowking, Greenwich, Burger King, Yoshinoya, and Panda Express.”

    The company has requested an additional 20 days to complete its internal investigation.

    By law, companies processing personal data must notify the NPC and individual affected subjects within 72 hours of discovering a breach.

    JFC said that its e-commerce platforms, including its subsidiaries, were unaffected by the incident and remained operational.

    “JFC recognises the value and importance of the confidentiality of its stakeholders’ personal information,” said the company.

    “The company assures the public of its commitment to prioritise the protection and confidentiality of such personal information, including customer data, by continuously fortifying its defences against future threats,” it added.

  • What is Zero-party Data and Why Will it Become so Important?

    What is Zero-party Data and Why Will it Become so Important?

    Data is being collected on individuals and exchanged everyday between systems and third parties, but soon the tools to collect this data are radically changing.  In order to understand why zero-party data is so important we must first understand the various ways that data is currently being collected.

    • Third-party data – Data purchased from outside sources that aren’t your own. This data is typically purchased from data aggregators, advertisers or platforms such as Meta or Google. This is very valuable in connecting brands with customers they have no previous interactions with, but third-party data is also the most unreliable of all data types as it is typically pulled from a large pool of data and openly sold.
    • Second-party data – obtained by a company via first party data collection methods and then is sold to another company. The key difference between second- and third-party data is second-party data is usually specialized as it often obtained through strategic partnerships and specific deals instead of openly sold like third-party data.
    • First-party data – directly obtained from a user via their behavior on a company’s website or mobile app. Examples of this are sections clicked, scrolling/hover time, active time spent in session, purchase history, and browsing data.
    • Zero-party data – obtained directly from your users. This data is often most valuable and accurate amongst all data types. The reason being is your customers are willingly giving up this information to you so you can trust the source more implicitly. New methods of zero-party data collection are evolving everyday but currently this information comes from surveys, customer profile information, and pop-up questionnaires.

    While third-party data can sometimes be unreliable, first and zero-party data can typically be very trusted as the information is coming directly from your customer in both cases. The main advantage of zero-party data over first-party data is that your customer is knowingly and freely giving you that information to act on so generally they are excited to receive something related to that information. On the other hand, since first-party data is not implicitly given, there may be more apprehension among consumers to respond to any marketing campaigns or promotions that was derived from the first-party data. This is just one reason why zero-party data is so valuable.

    Why is zero-party data important?

    With all thse various methods of collecting data, you might wonder why we need to focus on zero-party data so much as it seems simple to get data you need without doing the collecting yourself. It is imperative you are sourcing your own data in addition to any outside sources you are receiving for a variety of reasons:

    • The data collection landscape is changing

    We are entering a new phase of data collection due to new privacy regulations which have been a hot topic of debate after scandals such as Cambridge Analytical and documentaries such as “The Social Dilemma” have begun to open consumers’ and legislators’ eyes about how valuable data is and how it can also be misused. This trend of data protection will likely only continue so the time to develop your own methods of zero party data collection is now.

    • Third-party data tools are disappearing

    In response to this these trends, companies like Google and Apple are completely revolutionizing the way they collect and share data. Google is focused on removing the infamous “cookies” from its web browser that has been the leading tool in third party data collection. Of course, they won’t be eliminating data collection entirely, but most of their data will be stored in house and outside parties will not have nearly the same level of access available to them. Apple on the other hand is putting the ball back into the consumer’s court and giving them the option to allow information to be exchanged between apps

    These are just the start of the changes to data collection and with each change third-party data becomes more and more unreliable so you as a company must be proactive in your data collection and develop some tools for collecting zero-party data.

    How to collect zero-party data

    According to the Pareto principle, 20% of your customers provide 80% of the value, so if you can keep your best customer’s happy, engaged and feel rewarded your business will have a solid foundation. Customers are inclined to give up their information to a company if they feel they are receiving a more personalized and tangible benefit. Customers also prefer this route than the other data collection methods as its less likely to appear like they are being spied on or listened to by their devices. How you collect zero-party data can depend on your member base and their preferences but there are quite a few established methods which have generated great success.

    • Member attributes

    The most basic is capturing data from a member’s profile either upon enrollment or after the fact. This gives you the chance to collect some preferences from your customer beyond their basic demographic and contact information.

    • Pop-up quizzes

    Another great method of catching and instantly utilizing a new user’s attention is giving a small pop-up questionnaire to your customers that contains just a few questions that once answered will direct them to specific products that fit their interests.

    • Questionnaires

    Once you have a strong customer base you can also send your customers direct surveys which can range from details of level of service, specific products or preferences they are interested in, or general overall feelings of your brand.

    • Online polls

    Another popular feature being implemented today are online polls where members can vote on their choices for things like next month’s special release, their favorite designs, etc. This helps to give members a feeling of belonging and participation in the company’s direction.

    • Contests/competitions

    One way to drive engagement in your campaigns and promotions is to create an online competition amongst your customers where the top participants are granted an extra bonus on top of the regular promotion. These contests can be centered around certain information submitted or actions taken by your customers and can be incorporated into your zero-party strategy.

    All of these methods have their advantages, but the true road to success lies with utilizing a combination of these methods. Not all of your customer base will respond with the same level of enthusiasm to each method, so it is always wise to diversify your zero-party data marketing amongst your entire platform.

    How to use zero-party data

    Now that you have obtained a new higher level of data via your zero-party data strategy it is important that this data is not wasted. Make sure you understand your objectives before you launch your data collection, or it will be worthless. You are less likely to have customers repeat your data collection methods if they aren’t seeing a tangible benefit. Customers are tired of their data being harvested without being rewarded. There are also many ways of utilizing this data to reward your customers.

    • Quick and easy enrollment process

    Zero-party data should be used to ease enrollment by collecting the necessary minimal data points but also can be paired with a reward incentive if they complete a quiz that gives additional member profile answers. This combination can help lower customer acquisition price and start off your customer with a quick and easy signup as well as feeling rewarded for providing additional data points. This in turn helps to transform your program into a zero-party data platform.

    • Targeted messaging

    Once customers start giving you their preferences you can tailor your communications to each member in the form of newsletters, informational videos/blogs that are sent out, invitations to live events/workshops, new product campaigns and promotions, etc. to the customers who are most interested in those areas which should increase your acceptance and participation rates among customers.

    Benefits from zero-party data

    As we’ve highlighted, your time to utilize third-party data is running out as third-party data becomes harder to capture and, overall, more unreliable. Your ability to capture and utilize zero-party data from your customers will reap immense benefits. With zero-party data you know the data quality is reliable so you can act on it with more confidence and can translate into tangible results:

    • Building more personalized campaigns – your customers are telling you exactly which products and services they care for more, so you know exactly what to offer them. A clothing retailer, for example, can target customers by their favorite season or article of clothing and target new releases specifically for that segment. Once your campaigns become more personalized your customers will no longer see those as spam, but instead will be eager and excited to see the new campaigns and engagement will rise.
    • Improved forecasting – when you are collecting zero-party data from customers, you have the ability to employ your data collection for future events as well instead of just reporting on data from past behavior. This allows you to gauge interest on future releases or events to see what your members really desire going forward. For example, sending out a survey to your members on potential new products launching next year.
    • Simplified enrollment – when customers feel valued for their data they are more willing to give it up. This can play into easing your enrollment process by requiring fewer mandatory data collection points upon enrollment. Instead of being bogged down by a long enrollment process your members can give bare minimum details to get started in the program and then enter that information after the fact as they find out how much these answers benefit them and their experience.
    • Improve rewards – when you receive direct customer feedback your members can let you know how they want to be rewarded so you can tailor your promotions to hit those desired rewards and increase engagement & satisfaction. These rewards can also be applied to your referral program and turn your members into brand ambassadors.

    How Comarch can help guide you through the new era of zero-party data

    As a leader in the loyalty industry, Comarch has kept a close eye on the evolving landscape of data collection, processing and regulation. As we have seen and discussed where this landscape is heading, zero-party data collection, in GDPR compliance, has been a key cornerstone of our Loyalty Platform. Within our loyalty platform you will have access to a wide range of first party data such as transaction details, rewards redemption, participation within your program which combined with our zero party data collection tools will surely help gain and retain customers at a much higher rate. Some of these tools include:

    • Custom attributes – every program has member details it collects such as name, age, home location, etc. Our program gives you the option to create custom data points you want to collect from your members in a date, text or number format. These data points can be optional or mandatory depending on your preference and can be required for enrollment or adjustable within the member profile area. Once your members have submitted answers for these attributes, your member will automatically be assigned to any segments related to those attributes. Ideally, those segments would include personalized targeting for promotions and campaigns.
    • Surveys – we have gone a step further and are expanding on the custom attribute methodology. Instead of simple data collection points, surveys allow you to send out more in-depth questionnaires to your members which can be used to gauge interests in new products or services ahead of time. These answers can also be fed into your segmentation tool for increased personalization and communication to your members.
    • Tailored content – after employing these data collection tools you must now utilize that data properly or your customers will be less likely to volunteer their personal information. In combination with your platform’s data analytics and marketing automation tools you will be able to personalize discounts, newsletters, campaigns, invitations to your customers on an entirely new level. You will even be able to tailor your communications to their preferred medium and timing. Our artificial intelligence and machine learning are working in the background to determine your customer’s lifetime value and the source of this data is integral to the results.

    Our strategy and consulting experts are constantly learning the newest methods of data collection and helping our system evolve to meet those needs. Learn more about this process and if the Comarch Loyalty Management System is right for you, here.

     

    Lees ook:

  • What is Zero-party Data and Why Will it Become so Important?

    What is Zero-party Data and Why Will it Become so Important?

    What is zero-party data?

    Data is being collected on individuals and exchanged everyday between systems and third parties, but soon the tools to collect this data are radically changing.  In order to understand why zero-party data is so important we must first understand the various ways that data is currently being collected.

    • Third-party data – Data purchased from outside sources that aren’t your own. This data is typically purchased from data aggregators, advertisers or platforms such as Meta or Google. This is very valuable in connecting brands with customers they have no previous interactions with, but third-party data is also the most unreliable of all data types as it is typically pulled from a large pool of data and openly sold.
    • Second-party data – obtained by a company via first party data collection methods and then is sold to another company. The key difference between second- and third-party data is second-party data is usually specialized as it often obtained through strategic partnerships and specific deals instead of openly sold like third-party data.
    • First-party data – directly obtained from a user via their behavior on a company’s website or mobile app. Examples of this are sections clicked, scrolling/hover time, active time spent in session, purchase history, and browsing data.
    • Zero-party data – obtained directly from your users. This data is often most valuable and accurate amongst all data types. The reason being is your customers are willingly giving up this information to you so you can trust the source more implicitly. New methods of zero-party data collection are evolving everyday but currently this information comes from surveys, customer profile information, and pop-up questionnaires.

    While third-party data can sometimes be unreliable, first and zero-party data can typically be very trusted as the information is coming directly from your customer in both cases. The main advantage of zero-party data over first-party data is that your customer is knowingly and freely giving you that information to act on so generally they are excited to receive something related to that information. On the other hand, since first-party data is not implicitly given, there may be more apprehension among consumers to respond to any marketing campaigns or promotions that was derived from the first-party data. This is just one reason why zero-party data is so valuable.

    Why is zero-party data important?

    With all these various methods of collecting data, you might wonder why we need to focus on zero-party data so much as it seems simple to get data you need without doing the collecting yourself. It is imperative you are sourcing your own data in addition to any outside sources you are receiving for a variety of reasons:

    • The data collection landscape is changing

    We are entering a new phase of data collection due to new privacy regulations which have been a hot topic of debate after scandals such as Cambridge Analytical and documentaries such as “The Social Dilemma” have begun to open consumers’ and legislators’ eyes about how valuable data is and how it can also be misused. This trend of data protection will likely only continue so the time to develop your own methods of zero party data collection is now.

    • Third-party data tools are disappearing

    In response to this these trends, companies like Google and Apple are completely revolutionizing the way they collect and share data. Google is focused on removing the infamous “cookies” from its web browser that has been the leading tool in third party data collection. Of course, they won’t be eliminating data collection entirely, but most of their data will be stored in house and outside parties will not have nearly the same level of access available to them. Apple on the other hand is putting the ball back into the consumer’s court and giving them the option to allow information to be exchanged between apps.

    These are just the start of the changes to data collection and with each change third-party data becomes more and more unreliable so you as a company must be proactive in your data collection and develop some tools for collecting zero-party data.

    How to collect zero-party data

    According to the Pareto principle, 20% of your customers provide 80% of the value, so if you can keep your best customer’s happy, engaged and feel rewarded your business will have a solid foundation. Customers are inclined to give up their information to a company if they feel they are receiving a more personalized and tangible benefit. Customers also prefer this route than the other data collection methods as its less likely to appear like they are being spied on or listened to by their devices. How you collect zero-party data can depend on your member base and their preferences but there are quite a few established methods which have generated great success.

    • Member attributes

    The most basic is capturing data from a member’s profile either upon enrollment or after the fact. This gives you the chance to collect some preferences from your customer beyond their basic demographic and contact information.

    • Pop-up quizzes

    Another great method of catching and instantly utilizing a new user’s attention is giving a small pop-up questionnaire to your customers that contains just a few questions that once answered will direct them to specific products that fit their interests.

    • Questionnaires

    Once you have a strong customer base you can also send your customers direct surveys which can range from details of level of service, specific products or preferences they are interested in, or general overall feelings of your brand.

    • Online polls

    Another popular feature being implemented today are online polls where members can vote on their choices for things like next month’s special release, their favorite designs, etc. This helps to give members a feeling of belonging and participation in the company’s direction.

    • Contests/competitions

    One way to drive engagement in your campaigns and promotions is to create an online competition amongst your customers where the top participants are granted an extra bonus on top of the regular promotion. These contests can be centered around certain information submitted or actions taken by your customers and can be incorporated into your zero-party strategy.

    All of these methods have their advantages, but the true road to success lies with utilizing a combination of these methods. Not all of your customer base will respond with the same level of enthusiasm to each method, so it is always wise to diversify your zero-party data marketing amongst your entire platform.

    How to use zero-party data

    Now that you have obtained a new higher level of data via your zero-party data strategy it is important that this data is not wasted. Make sure you understand your objectives before you launch your data collection, or it will be worthless. You are less likely to have customers repeat your data collection methods if they aren’t seeing a tangible benefit. Customers are tired of their data being harvested without being rewarded. There are also many ways of utilizing this data to reward your customers.

    • Quick and easy enrollment process

    Zero-party data should be used to ease enrollment by collecting the necessary minimal data points but also can be paired with a reward incentive if they complete a quiz that gives additional member profile answers. This combination can help lower customer acquisition price and start off your customer with a quick and easy signup as well as feeling rewarded for providing additional data points. This in turn helps to transform your program into a zero-party data platform.

    • Targeted messaging

    Once customers start giving you their preferences you can tailor your communications to each member in the form of newsletters, informational videos/blogs that are sent out, invitations to live events/workshops, new product campaigns and promotions, etc. to the customers who are most interested in those areas which should increase your acceptance and participation rates among customers.

    Benefits from zero-party data

    As we’ve highlighted, your time to utilize third-party data is running out as third-party data becomes harder to capture and, overall, more unreliable. Your ability to capture and utilize zero-party data from your customers will reap immense benefits. With zero-party data you know the data quality is reliable so you can act on it with more confidence and can translate into tangible results:

    • Building more personalized campaigns – your customers are telling you exactly which products and services they care for more, so you know exactly what to offer them. A clothing retailer, for example, can target customers by their favorite season or article of clothing and target new releases specifically for that segment. Once your campaigns become more personalized your customers will no longer see those as spam, but instead will be eager and excited to see the new campaigns and engagement will rise.
    • Improved forecasting – when you are collecting zero-party data from customers, you have the ability to employ your data collection for future events as well instead of just reporting on data from past behavior. This allows you to gauge interest on future releases or events to see what your members really desire going forward. For example, sending out a survey to your members on potential new products launching next year.
    • Simplified enrollment – when customers feel valued for their data they are more willing to give it up. This can play into easing your enrollment process by requiring fewer mandatory data collection points upon enrollment. Instead of being bogged down by a long enrollment process your members can give bare minimum details to get started in the program and then enter that information after the fact as they find out how much these answers benefit them and their experience.
    • Improve rewards – when you receive direct customer feedback your members can let you know how they want to be rewarded so you can tailor your promotions to hit those desired rewards and increase engagement & satisfaction. These rewards can also be applied to your referral program and turn your members into brand ambassadors.

    How Comarch can help guide you through the new era of zero-party data

    As a leader in the loyalty industry, Comarch has kept a close eye on the evolving landscape of data collection, processing and regulation. As we have seen and discussed where this landscape is heading, zero-party data collection, in GDPR compliance, has been a key cornerstone of our Loyalty Platform. Within our loyalty platform you will have access to a wide range of first party data such as transaction details, rewards redemption, participation within your program which combined with our zero party data collection tools will surely help gain and retain customers at a much higher rate. Some of these tools include:

    • Custom attributes – every program has member details it collects such as name, age, home location, etc. Our program gives you the option to create custom data points you want to collect from your members in a date, text or number format. These data points can be optional or mandatory depending on your preference and can be required for enrollment or adjustable within the member profile area. Once your members have submitted answers for these attributes, your member will automatically be assigned to any segments related to those attributes. Ideally, those segments would include personalized targeting for promotions and campaigns.
    • Surveys – we have gone a step further and are expanding on the custom attribute methodology. Instead of simple data collection points, surveys allow you to send out more in-depth questionnaires to your members which can be used to gauge interests in new products or services ahead of time. These answers can also be fed into your segmentation tool for increased personalization and communication to your members.
    • Tailored content – after employing these data collection tools you must now utilize that data properly or your customers will be less likely to volunteer their personal information. In combination with your platform’s data analytics and marketing automation tools you will be able to personalize discounts, newsletters, campaigns, invitations to your customers on an entirely new level. You will even be able to tailor your communications to their preferred medium and timing. Our artificial intelligence and machine learning are working in the background to determine your customer’s lifetime value and the source of this data is integral to the results.

    Our strategy and consulting experts are constantly learning the newest methods of data collection and helping our system evolve to meet those needs. Learn more about this process and if the Comarch Loyalty Management System is right for you, here.

     

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • M1 Onboards ZΩH as New MVNO Partner

    M1 Onboards ZΩH as New MVNO Partner

    M1 has announced ZΩH as its latest Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) partner. As a telecommunication service offering from enterprise network and ICT provider Lifeway Singapore, ZΩH will leverage M1’s advanced mobile network infrastructure to offer mobile services specifically to enterprise customers.

    ZΩH provides a diverse range of mobile and data roaming plans to corporate as well as SMEs. For M1, the collaboration gives it access to ZΩH’s customer base and enables the telco to expand its reach within the enterprise ecosystem.

    “M1 is proud to be the platform of choice for MVNOs in Singapore. We are delighted to be hosting ZΩH’s services on our network and ensuring that their customers are able to receive excellent coverage, reliability and speed. With our 5G roll-out, we look forward to supporting ZΩH’s enterprise customers and bringing state-of-the-art features to them,” said Alen Ng, head, corporate development, M1.

    “Partnering with M1 is an exciting step forward for Lifeway Singapore, to broaden customer reach and footprint as well as to improve customer experience in today’s digital world. Beyond that, the partnership gives us an opportunity to provide exciting offers and innovative bundles to meet customers’ specific needs,” added head of sales & marketing, Chris Loh, Lifeway Singapore.

    M1 continues to support MVNOs with new and unique value propositions that add to the telco industry’s overall development and infrastructure. M1 is the first telco in Singapore to establish a series of successful partnerships with MNVOs, beginning with Circles.Life in 2015 and more recently with Changi Recommends, MyRepublic and Geenet, enabling the MVNOs to deliver quality network services and experience.

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  • SES and AXESS Networks Partner for Smart Mining

    SES and AXESS Networks Partner for Smart Mining

    SES and AXESS Networks (AXESS), a leading provider of satellite connectivity solutions, are accelerating the digital transition of the mining industry with SES’s second-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) system O3b mPOWER. Under this multi-year, multi-million agreement, the mining sector users will be able to benefit from the cutting-edge low-latency Onshore Energy & Mining mPOWERED connectivity service.

    SES’s Onshore Energy & Mining mPOWERED service will provide the highest throughput available from a satellite system and deliver dedicated and carrier-grade networks to AXESS’ customers reliably, regardless of their remote locations. O3b mPOWER can deliver multiple gigabits per second per site, enabling AXESS’ customers to accelerate the digitalization of their operations and sites globally, boosting profitability through access to new applications and efficiency, as well as improving staff safety and welfare. SES’s second-generation MEO connectivity service also brings the cloud closer to end customers and can enable edge computing to support the use of 5G and IoT in the mining industry.

    Simon GattySaunt, Vice President of Networks Sales, Europe, at SES, said, “Transition towards smart mining is already turbocharging profits, and revolutionizing industry’s environmental and societal impact. We are proud of the success our partnership with AXESS has already had in facilitating this change, thanks to our multi-orbit GEO and MEO network, and are excited to further accelerate it with the O3b mPOWER service.”

    Guido Neumann, President AXESS EMEA, said, “This agreement builds on a long and successful relationship with SES, which has helped us to provide our customers with the best-in-class, reliable and resilient connectivity for their operations. As we are seeing a considerable uptake in demand for the carrier-grade solutions globally, but especially in the EMEA and APAC region, we are honored to play an active role in scaling the digital transition in the mining sector through introducing O3b mPOWER and the Onshore Energy & Mining mPOWERED service.”

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  • ZTE and Pakistan’s Zong Launch Dual-Band FDD Massive MIMO

    ZTE and Pakistan’s Zong Launch Dual-Band FDD Massive MIMO

    ZTE, together with Zong, Pakistan’s digital services front-runner, has commercially launched the dual-band FDD Massive MIMO in Zong’s existing 4G network, well satisfying the expansion requirements necessary for increasing 4G users and traffic.

    With ZTE’s FDD Massive MIMO solution, the deployment area’s 4G data traffic capacity has jumped by 21% while the average user throughput has increased by 40%, resulting in a 60% reduction in high-loaded cell counts.

    Zong has been leading the data market in Pakistan with its rapid growth in 4G users and data traffic. Total 4G data traffic in the year 2021 increased nine times over that of 2018, while the proportion of high-load cells increased from 3% to 17%. Therefore, Zong’s network effective solutions to meet its expanding network requirements.

    Zong is also a pioneer of exploring new technological solutions. It is known that FDD Massive MIMO is one of the key 5G technologies. It has now been successfully applied in the 4G network, bringing about great advantage. In September 2021, Zong together with ZTE successfully commercialized the first FDD Massive MIMO site in Peshawar. The FDD Massive MIMO has been operating well on 4G for both 1.8GHz and 2.1GHz dual bands, with the highest output power of 320W in the industry. In addition,, it has enabled the industry’s unique Smart Spatial Cell Groups (SSCG) technology, which realizes intelligent cell coverage adjustment based on user distribution, and improves cell capacity and spectrum efficiency.

    “Digital everything” is becoming a new priority of the telecommunications industry. FDD Massive MIMO is a much-needed technology to support global telecommunications operators in a highly-competitive market.

    By the end of May 2022, more than 170 sites were on air. Such large-scale commercialization of FDD Massive MIMO is becoming a new way of improving capacity and spectrum efficiency in 4G networks. Moving forward, Zong and ZTE will be committed to expanding the large-scale commercialization of the FDD Massive MIMO to further improve the capacity and spectrum efficiency of 4G networks.

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  • Vietnamese buy Bitcoin in hope it has bottomed

    Vietnamese buy Bitcoin in hope it has bottomed

    Many investors are buying Bitcoin after the cryptocurrency’s price fell to US$20,000, its lowest level since December 2020. Thanh Binh of HCMC says he turned off notifications on his crypto trading app after buying it at $38,000 and losing over VND40 million ($1,720).

    But he has returned and bought a 10th of a token after prices dropped below $20,000.

    “The market has bottomed out and will recover by the end of this year, and so this is the right time for buying in,” he says hopefully.

    Hai Ly of the southern province of Dong Nai has invested VND70 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest tokens by market cap. She wanted to diversify her portfolio and thinks their current prices are reasonable.

    She says Bitcoin operates in four-year cycles, and prices fall sharply at the end of each cycle before scaling new peaks.

    “The current cycle started in January 2019 and ended between May and July this year. Considering other factors, the current crypto slump is not abnormal.”

    Prices will recover and hit a new peak by mid-2023, she says.

    Many investors see an opportunity in the current fall in cryptocurrency prices though the recent sell-offs wiped billions of dollars from the market.

    Search related to Bitcoin has surged to the highest levels in a year according to data from analytical website Google Trends.

    Hope is also fueled by rumors that Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, has quietly bottom fished a large amount of Bitcoin.

    Over 100,000 tokens have been added to the exchange’s cold wallet (physical device that keeps cryptocurrency completely offline), crypto-focused site Coingape has discovered from on-chain data.

    They amount to 0.5 percent of all mined Bitcoin and are worth over $2 billion at current prices. But CEO Changpeng Zhao denies it, saying the increase “means more users deposited in Binance.”

    Money is also coming into crypto-centric investment funds. They have raised over $125 million in the week ended June 6 and $506 million in the year-to-date, asset management company CoinShares reported.

    Short-term Bitcoin funds, mainly used for speculating on the cryptocurrency’s slump, received $1.3 million. Bitcoin is being traded the fastest in a year, Yahoo Finance said.

    But there are risks associated with bottom fishing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, experts warn.

    Le Sy Nguyen, ASEAN regional manager of crypto exchange Bybit, says current prices are not attractive.

    The collapse of cryptocurrency Luna and its paired stablecoin Tether, and recent interest hikes in the U.S. have greatly affected market sentiments, with many investors opting out trading on extreme fear.

    “Anything can happen in this [volatile] period, which poses great risks to investors who try to benefit from bottom fishing in the short term.”

    He says investors should invest for the long term or wait until the market stabilizes. “But no one can be sure whether it has hit bottom.”

    The slump could prolong until the end of this year, he says.

    The founder of a digital assets startup, who does not want to be named, says it is impossible to give advice on whether to buy or not at the “current sensitive time.”

    “It is inappropriate to evaluate digital assets using methods used for stocks, as they do not generate income like companies The number of wallets, users and transactions are key indicators of this market.”

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  • Leaked document warns that Facebook has no clue how it handles your data

    Leaked document warns that Facebook has no clue how it handles your data

    For years, the community’s main gripe with Facebook has been that it collects a lot of personal data, which it later sells to advertisers. And now, a leaked internal document obtained by Motherboard warns that the social media platform has no idea where all of its acquired user data is going or what it is being used for.

    The report was written last year by Facebook’s privacy engineers on the Ad and Business Product team, and its goal was to inform about the gaps in the way the platform processes personal information and to encourage a change in an attempt to protect the company from problems with privacy regulators in Europe, the US, India, and other countries.

    According to the engineers, the company will be unable to fully comply with regulator-imposed privacy laws that come from everywhere as a “tsunami” of new laws that impose restrictions. They stated, “We do not have an adequate level of control and explainability over how our systems use data, and thus we can’t confidently make controlled policy changes or external commitments such as ‘we will not use X data for Y purpose.’ And yet, this is exactly what regulators expect us to do, increasing our risk of mistakes and misrepresentation.”

    The reason for Facebook’s data privacy problem is that its systems mix first-party user data, third-party user data, and sensitive data together. To be even more understandable, the engineers used the metaphor of pouring a bottle of ink into a lake and then trying to return it to the bottle.

    The ink is a mix of all kinds of user data, and once “poured,” there are no ways to organize it to “only flow to the allowed places in the lake?”

    As the engineers pointed out, there is a “short-term” solution in the form of a new, unreleased service called “Basic Ads,” which, if implemented, will allow Facebook to comply with international regulations. The document reads, “When launched, Facebook users will be able to ‘opt-out’ from having almost all of their 3P and 1P data used by Ads systems – page likes, posts, friends list, etc.”

    The sad part is that the report also states that Basic Ads must be “launch-ready in Europe by January 2022.” January has come and gone, but this service hasn’t been released yet.

    Although Facebook declined to comment on this “short-term” solution, a representative of the company shared that Basic Ads is “an internal codename, and that the product will show that Facebook can build advertising that is relevant to users while preserving their privacy.

    In a statement to Motherboard, a Facebook spokesperson stated that the company is complying with privacy regulations. Also, it can’t be determined that the report shows non-compliance because it doesn’t describe the platform’s extensive processes and controls used to comply with privacy standards.

    The spokesperson also stated that regulations across the world introduce different requirements for the company to fulfill and that the document simply shows what measures the company is working on to be able to implement them.

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  • Samsung allegedly fell victim to a data breach

    Samsung allegedly fell victim to a data breach

    There has been a new security breach in the tech industry. This time, the victim was reportedly Samsung Electronics. The hackers taking responsibility for the data breach are from the Lapsus$ hacking group. Lapsus$ has leaked around 190GB of what it claims to be confidential data from Samsung, which includes source code and biometric unlocking algorithms.

    As proof of the data breach, Lapsus$ has also provided a screenshot of C/C++ code directives, alleging that they came from Samsung. In a description of the 190GB of stolen data the hacking group teased before the big leak, they wrote that these 190GB contain “confidential Samsung source code” and listed exactly what the hacking group managed to steal from Samsung.

    With its hack, Lapsus$ got its hands on the source code for every Trusted Applet (TA) installed in Samsung’s TrustZone. Samsung TrustZone is a secure environment utilized for operations such as hardware cryptography, binary encryption, and access control.

    Lapsus$ also managed to steal algorithms for all biometric unlock operations, the source code used for booting all recent Samsung devices, and confidential source code allegedly originating from Qualcomm. With its attack, Lapsus$ also stole the source code for Samsung’s activation servers, аs well as that used for authorizing and authenticating Samsung accounts, including APIs and services.

    Although the information above is what Lapsus$ listed as the stolen data, it is unknown if Lapsus$ stole additional secret information from Samsung. What is known, however, is that the hacking group has split the leaked data into three compressed files and made it available for download via a torrent.

    As for a comment from Samsung about the data breach, Samsung officials told the media outlet that they ‘are now assessing the situation.’

  • SpaceDC to build largest hyperscale data center in the Philippines

    SpaceDC to build largest hyperscale data center in the Philippines

    SpaceDC, a Singapore-based visionary data center provider, is working with JLL, a global real estate services firm, to build a secure, resilient, network-rich, data center called <MNL1, which will be situated in Cainta, part of Greater Manila. The green data center will be fully powered with renewable energy – wind, geothermal – and is slated to open in 2022. 

    At 43,000 square meters, MNL1 will be the largest hyperscale data center campus in the Philippines, and will deliver 72 megawatt of critical power. With an outstanding PUE of 1.3, MNL1 will also lead in terms of energy efficiency and design, to minimize carbon footprint.

    SpaceDC CEO, Darren Hawkins said, “The Philippines ranks second in terms of data center growth in Southeast Asia. With only 47 megawatts of available capacity in the country it is a dramatically underserved market. We are excited to be a first mover in a new market where we see our customers are investing heavily in.”

    “SpaceDC is in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the strong customer interest we are seeing in the Philippines. MNL1’s design is setting new standards in terms of technology, quality and operational excellence in the Philippines.” commented Ralph Davidvon, executive director, data center services for JLL, the appointed project construction manager.

  • China Tells Firms To Boost Cyber, Data Security Oversight On Connected Vehicles

    China Tells Firms To Boost Cyber, Data Security Oversight On Connected Vehicles

    China’s industry ministry published a notice on Thursday telling companies to step up cyber and data security oversight over connected vehicles, saying that security risks in the industry had become increasingly prominent.

    All relevant companies should establish data security management systems and regularly assess risks from network attacks, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a statement.