Retail News CRM

Tag: Philippines

  • PayMaya Philippines, JCB team up to widen JCB cards acceptance in the Philippines

    PayMaya Philippines, JCB team up to widen JCB cards acceptance in the Philippines

    PayMaya, the Philippines’ pioneering financial services provider, and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., have forged a new partnership for JCB Merchant Acquiring and Card Issuing business in the Philippines. The partnership deals with the acceptance of JCB cards at online merchants that use PayMaya Checkout as the payment gateway. PayMaya and JCBI also plan to issue co-branded cards in the future.

    PayMaya Business is focused on delivering solutions that power businesses of all types and sizes to accept all kinds of payments. The services PayMaya Business provides are PayMaya Checkout, a system that enables online shops to accept card payments, PayMaya Swipe, a mobile point-of-sale device that can simply be attached to any mobile device so merchants can accept card payments, and PayMaya Touch, a payment solution which allows businesses to accept swipe, dip, and contactless card payments.

    The partnership will benefit all JCB cardmembers in the Philippines and overseas. JCB is a pioneer in the Japanese payment card industry with over 70M cardmembers and 95M in total worldwide. JCB cardmembers will be able to use their JCB cards at online merchants that use PayMaya Checkout as their payment gateway.

    In 2017, JCB cardmembers will also be able to transact in big retail outlets in the Philippines but also in micro- and small-medium enterprises including local boutiques, food carts, and community stores which offer a unique shopping experience through PayMaya Swipe and Touch. These outlets prefer more affordable and easier payment acceptance solution like PayMaya Swipe, Checkout, and Touch.

    Kimihisa Imada, Deputy President of JCBI, said, “The Philippines is one of the most important markets for JCB’s global business expansion and we are pleased to welcome our new partner to the JCB network. I am certain that this partnership with PayMaya will bring more benefits and convenience to all JCB card members, especially in the e-commerce space. We are also looking forward to exploring further business opportunities such as ‘PayMaya-JCB Card’ issuance soon.”

    “At PayMaya, we strive to shape the future of commerce and drive local business growth through digital payment innovations. We are strengthening this commitment by collaborating with strategic partners such as JCBI, which help us enable merchants to accept payments from more consumers here and abroad. We are thrilled to see the progression of our alliance with JCBI as we continue our mission in redefining the payment landscape in the Philippines,” said Orlando Vea, President and CEO of Voyager Innovations and PayMaya Philippines.

    The JCB “Uniquely Yours” Experience

    JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 31 million merchants and over a million cash advance locations in 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 21 countries and territories, with more than 95 million card members. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide.

    The unique benefits of PayMaya Business

    PayMaya handles the requirements of merchants in enabling their online and card payment acceptance–no need to talk to banks, expert programmers, or payment aggregators separately.

    For online payment, PayMaya Checkout API is easy to integrate in websites or apps. The process involves three simple steps: integration to sandbox environment, testing, and production.

    PayMaya provides simple pricing and fast settlements. Merchants are not required to settle monthly fees or present bank statements. They will only pay for the transactions they make. The package comes with access to a dashboard of transaction reports for sales performance tracking.

    The Philippine Airline’s mobile website and its recently launched online boutique, and the online gadget store Kimstore are powered by PayMaya Checkout.

    Lees ook:

  • Milk tea chain plans Asian expansion

    Milk tea chain plans Asian expansion

    After early success in the Philippines, Khun Thai Tea is now eyeing three more Asian markets.

    The milk tea concept was co-founded by Bronze Media LLP Singapore owners Jeremy Lee and Elis Chai.

    Lee says the company is about to open its third store in Metro Manila, at MegaMall, with plans for a new kiosk every month moving forward. It is looking for partners in other Southeast Asian markets.

    “We are going to take Khun Thai Tea to Jakarta in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Taipei in Taiwan,” he says. “Plans to start outlets in these cities are already underway.”

    Local Filipino partner Nancy Padilla says the chain’s drinks are based on an original recipe for a refreshing black iced-tea (‘cha-yen’ in Thai) that dates back to 1955. First created by a Thai native fondly known as Auntie Marlee, the strongly brewed Ceylon tea has since been modernised with a switch from Ceylon to a Thai-grown assam tea known as ‘Bai Miang’. Infusion with spices maintains the headiness of the original recipe and bring out its complex flavours.

    The traditional sugar, condensed milk and evaporated milk-heavy Cha-Yen recipe has also been updated to better suit the tastes of modern health-conscious consumers.

    In addition to the original recipe, says Padilla, Khun Thai Tea outlets also offer variations of the concoction inspired by drink recipes from around Asia, such as a mix of coffee and tea (‘Yuan Yang’), which was first brewed in Hong Kong.

    Drawing inspiration from Taiwanese bubble milk tea recipes, Khun Thai Tea also comes with small chewy tapioca balls (‘boba’, or bubbles) added, to infuse new textures and experiences to the drink.

    The newest menu item, Ice Bandung, is inspired by the original popular Malaysian beverage recipe which combines the alluring taste of rose syrup with the velvety smoothness of milk.

    Lees ook:

  • SM Prime results boosted by strong economy

    SM Prime results boosted by strong economy

    SM Prime boosted net profit by 15 per cent to PHP4.9 billion in third quarter of 2016.

    Overall revenue rose by 14 per cent to PHP18.5 billion.

    The SM Prime results show year-to-date net income rose 13 per cent year-on-year to PHP17.5 billion, on sales up by 11 per cent to PHP57.8 billion.

    The company says the improved performance was down to sustained growth of its key rental operations and real estate sales businesses.

    “SM Prime sustained its overall performance as it benefited from the continued growth of the economy,” said SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim. “The synergy and contribution of our business units are reflected in our strong results. We expect SM Prime’s success to continue over the medium-term as economic growth spread to the rest of the Philippines, which should bode well with our expansion in other key cities and provinces.”

    Overall Philippine mall revenues increased by 9 per cent to PHP32.1 billion. Rentals posted an 11 per cent growth to PHP26.9 billion, driven by a 7 per cent growth in same-mall-sales, as well as new retail spaces of 1 million sqm in gross floor area (GFA) that were added in the past two years.

    Cinema and event ticket sales are at PHP3.44 billion, slightly higher from last year’s performance of PHP3.4 billion. Revenues generated from amusements and merchandise sales posted the same amount of PHP1.8 billon from same period last year. Operating income increased by 10 per cent to PHP17.8 billion from PHP16.1 billion in the same period last year as margins slightly improved to 55.3 per cent from 54.9 per cent.

    China rise

    Meanwhile, SM Prime’s China mall revenues rose by 5 per cent to PHP3.1 billion, while its operating income grew by 6 per cent to PHP1.5 billion, maintaining the previous year’s operating income margin of 49 per cent.

    Currently, SM Prime has 58 malls in the Philippines and six in China with a GFA of 8.5 million sqm. SM Prime is scheduled to open SM East Ortigas this December while SM City Tianjin will open in phases towards the end of the year. By the end of 2016, SM Prime will have a combined GFA of almost 9 million sqm.

    Lees ook:

  • Dyson plans to enter India

    Dyson plans to enter India

    UK company Dyson, known for its innovative vacuum cleaners and air purifiers, plans to open its own retail stores in India by the middle of next year.

    It has already sought permission from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to import and sell products in India.

    “If we get the permit, we’ll set up middle of next year,” says founder James Dyson, in New Delhi for the India-UK Tech Summit.

    “Over the first five years, we’ll invest about £154 million [US$190.8 million] in India. Our investment will be in building infrastructure (retail), taxes (to the government), marketing and promotions.”

    India will be the 76th market for Dyson, which in its last overseas foray entered China three years ago.

    “India is an interesting market, but it may take time to develop – unlike China, which has emerged as the third-largest market for Dyson after the US and Japan,” says Dyson.

    Online portals

    The company’s plan is to set up a retail store in each of the top 20 cities in India, as well as selling through other retailers and online shopping portals.

    “Online helps our business,” Dyson says. “We sell through Amazon in some countries and may sell through Amazon in India as well.”

    The company will import products from Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines for the Indian market. Depending on volume, Dyson may look at making products in India after a few years.
    As well as vacuum cleaners, the company will also look at the beauty and hygiene market with hair dryers and hand dryers, as well as LED lighting products.

    Dyson is a family-owned technology company that employs more than 7000 people globally—a third of whom are engineers and scientists.

    “India produces 1.3 million engineers every year – that’s very exciting. We’ll look at working with Indian universities soon,” Dyson says. The company spends £5 million a week in research, design and development, and has more than 200 live technology projects and 50 active research programs with 40 universities around the world.

    Dyson’s revenue rose 26 per cent to £1.7 billion last year while profit increased 19 per cent to £448 million.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Philippines to hold auction for 3rd telco in mid-2017

    Philippines to hold auction for 3rd telco in mid-2017

    The Philippines’ telecoms regulator NBTC plans to hold a spectrum auction for a third entrant into the mobile market in mid-2017.

    The spectrum surrendered by incumbents Globe and PLDT as a condition of their acquisition of San Miguel’s telecoms assets will be bundled together for the auction.

    According to the report, spectrum in the 700-MHz, 2500-MHz, 800-MHz and 3500-MHz bands will be put on the block.

    Several groups have already expressed an interest in potentially participating in an auction to create a third operator. Conglomerate San Miguel had originally intended to fulfil this role, but negotiations with Australia’s Telstra to form a joint venture for the purpose fell through earlier this year.

    San Miguel subsequently sold off all its telco assets to the two incumbent operators for around $1.5 billion. The main motivation was to gain a part of the 700-MHz spectrum band, which San Miguel held the exclusive rights to.

    But as a condition of the acquisition Globe and PLDT were required to relinquish part of the 700-MHz band – as well as spectrum in the 850-MHz, 2500-MHz and 3500-MHz bands – to allow for the potential entry of a third competitor.

    Advocacy groups have expressed concern that the bundle of spectrum due to be put up for auction will not be enough to sustain a major third player, noting that PLDT and Globe between them own nearly 80% of the total available spectrum. Parts of the remaining 20% will be unusable due to the presence of guard bands.

  • Philippines Inspect Plane Order at PT Dirgantara Indonesia

    Philippines Inspect Plane Order at PT Dirgantara Indonesia

    Under Secretary for Finance and Material, Department of National Defense of the Philippines (General Retirement) Raymundo Elefante, said that his country is currently interested in purchasing Indonesian defense products to modernize the Philippines’ weapons and combat equipment.

    Raymundo said that two NC212i airplanes he had inspected at PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is part of the Philippines’ airplane procurement program. The planes will be delivered to the Philippines’ early next year. “Aircraft produced by PTDI will be used in various conditions such as natural disaster, medical evacuation, and other conditions,” Raymundo said while inspecting the two airplanes at PTDI’s aircraft factory complex in Bandung, November 4, 2016.

    Raymundo said that his country decided to choose NC212i because of its competitive prices. In addition, the Philippines also currently wait for its ship order from PT PAL.

    Raymundo however, did not provide detailed information on the ship orders. PT PAL had delivered one of the Philippines’ ship order and another one will be finished next year.

    Budiman Saleh, Director of Commerce and Restructuring of PT Dirgantara Indonesia said that the two NC212i plane was the first airplane purchase by the Philippines in the last 20 years. “We have to respect [the Philippines] and its modernization program. This is the first purchase by the country after 20 years,” Budiman said.

    Lees ook:

  • LANDBANK introduces mobile lending for medicines

    LANDBANK introduces mobile lending for medicines

    The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has introduced a new mobile lending program for the purchase of essential drugs.

    LANDBANK, a  government financial institution, has teamed up with branded generic drugs company RiteMed to expand the use of its electronic salary loans program.

    The LANDBANK Mobile Loan Saver (LMLS) launched in September 2014 and has since gained a large following among government employees, farmers and fishers, small and medium enterprises, overseas Filipinos and private sector employees.

    Under LMLS, customers can easily apply for a loan using their mobile phone and get quick credit decision from LANDBANK regarding their application. As of August 2016, total loans released under LMLS amounted to over 12 billion pesos.

    The RiteMed partnership will allow loan borrowers to allocate a portion of their approved net loan proceeds for the purchase of medicines. RiteMed will also make available a range of maintenance medicines at discounted prices.

    Medicines ordered via LMLS will be delivered for free in sealed packs to the concerned government agency or company office where the borrower is employed, within a week from the time of loan approval and release.

    “We understand the financial burden of high medicine costs on many Filipinos, which is why through this initiative, we hope to provide LMLS borrowers with access to affordable and quality medicines. This is yet another showcase of the endless possibilities in terms of financial technology and digital lending, especially as we hope to reach out and provide financial and other services to more Filipinos across the country,” said LANDBANK Officer-in-Charge and Executive Vice President Cecilia C. Borromeo.

    Started as an initiative in response to the Philippine government’s call for private companies to reduce the prices of essential drugs, RiteMed started manufacturing and marketing 20 off-patent, low-cost essential drugs that were 20% to 70% cheaper than their equivalent counterparts in 2002.

    Today, its product has grown to include almost 200 medicines for diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, infection, pain, kidney, gastro-intestinal, asthma and allergy, cough and colds and vitamins.

    Vincent Patrick Guerrero, general manager of RiteMed, said in a media statement that the company is optimistic that with the technology behind LMLS and the nationwide network of LANDBANK, they would be able to fulfill the objective of RiteMed to provide access to quality healthcare for all Filipinos.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Nokia to supply Globe Telecom in the Philippines

    Nokia to supply Globe Telecom in the Philippines

    Nokia and Globe Telecom, a leading telecom operator in the Philippines, on 24 October signed two Memoranda of Confirmation frame agreements – one for wireless technologies and the other for IP, Optical and SDN technologies – under which Nokia will transform Globe Telecom’s current fixed and mobile networks into a more robust network that will help Globe meet the country’s burgeoning and future digital demands.

    This will enable Globe Telecom’s move to Cloud and IoT-ready networks and 5G.

    Under the agreements, Globe Telecom will transition to a flexible cloud-based network infrastructure, with Nokia’s 5G-ready AirScale radio access and IP, optical and carrier SDN technology solutions providing seamless connectivity to consumers and enterprise customers. The modernized Globe network will also allow it to support the Philippine government’s initiative to further expand the availability of broadband services in the country.

    The mobile network frame agreement between Nokia and Globe Telecom follows the operator’s recent access to new LTE spectrum. Nokia will deploy its 4.5G Pro technology using the 5G-ready AirScale Base Station and Flexi Zone small cells, managed by NetAct, in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, providing broadband access to some areas in these regions for the first time. Globe will also be enabled to use Mobile Edge Computing and advanced carrier aggregation techniques to deliver virtually unlimited scalability and dramatic improvements in speeds and capacity that will deliver compelling new services. The technology will also enable lower power consumption, reduced operating costs, more network automation and enhanced network performance as it transforms Globe Telecom’s customer experience for a subscriber base growing at 10 percent annually, as well as meeting increasing demand from IoT devices.

    In the second frame agreement, Nokia will deliver its integrated IP and optical networking and carrier SDN technologies across the Philippines to enhance the agility, quality, performance, coverage and capacity of Globe Telecom’s enterprise data services network. This will allow Globe to deliver coverage to more regions including in the ARMM, such as Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Using Nokia’s carrier SDN platform, Globe will also be able to provide flexible data services such as bandwidth-on-demand nationwide, and expand its offer to thousands of enterprise customers, global service providers and local government agencies as well as those serving the Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO), hospitality, education, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, logistics and finance industries.

    “As the Philippines’ leading fixed and mobile service provider, we are devoted to improving people’s connected lives day-by-day. With Nokia’s innovative technologies, we are confident to lead the 5G and cloud network evolution,” said Ernest L. Cu, president and CEO of Globe Telecom.

    “This is a significant agreement with a longstanding technology partner, and strengthens Nokia’s position as Globe Telecom’s premier provider of end-to-end technology solutions. We are committed to delivering technologies that allow operators to transition smoothly to intelligent, future-proof networks, offering seamless connectivity and changing how people communicate and connect,” said Mike Wang, head of the joint management team in China at Nokia.

    Lees ook:

  • Jollibee Foods counts down to 1000

    Jollibee Foods counts down to 1000

    Jollibee Foods (JFC) has opened the 991st branch of its flagship brand Jollibee in the Philippines, in the Ma-a area of Davao.

    It marks the start of its countdown to its 1000th store, to be unveiled in the first quarter of next year. Its expansion is spread around Cebu, Luzon and Metro Manila “so all the regions will be well represented”, says Jollibee corporate PR and events manager Dennis Reyes.

    “The 1000th store is symbolic, but we cannot divulge yet the exact location,” he says.

    The company opened its first branch in Cubao, Quezon City, and its latest story is the 26th in Davao and 115th in Mindanao.

    Reyes says the countdown campaign is part of Jollibee’s way of thanking its patrons, celebrating its continued expansion as well as the contribution to the local economy with an average of 70 jobs created for every new branch.

    JFC is investing P10.4 billion (US$214.8 million) for capital expenditure this year, with P7.5 billion set for the opening of 200 outlets as well renovations.

    For its latest six months, JFC netted P3.06 billion, or 13.4 per cent more than the same period last year, following a 14.9 per cent increase in system-wide retail sales to P71.45 billion.

    At the end of June, the company had 2528 restaurant outlets in the Philippines under the brands Burger King (62), Chowking (457), Greenwich (237), Jollibee (939), Mang Inasal (455) and Red Ribbon (378).

    JFC also has a 50 per cent interest in 12 Hotpot, Highlands Coffee and Pho 24 (Vietnam), plus a 40 per cent interest in Smashburger (US).

    Outside the Philippines, Jollibee has 80 stores including Vietnam (32) and Hong Kong (1).

  • Smartfren launches carrier billing with Fortumo

    Smartfren launches carrier billing with Fortumo

    Indonesia’s Smartfren has launched direct carrier billing for the operator’s 12.5 million subscribers, in collaboration with mobile payments company Fortumo.

    The partnership will allow Smartfren to support carrier billing from Google Play and the Windows Phone Store, as well as select digital media and gaming companies.

    The World Bank estimates that only around 5 million of Indonesia’s 250 million citizens have a credit card, limiting most customers’ access to online content. By contrast over 65 million Indonesians own a smartphone.

    “With direct carrier billing supported by Fortumo, our subscriber will be able to purchase their in-app items and premium memberships as easy as deducting their own Smartfren balance or bill, and this is fully supported by our widest 4G LTE network for the best experience to enjoy the services,” Smartfren SVP of digital services Revie Sylvaina said.

    In August, Smartfren rival Indosat Ooredoo made a similar deal to bring Fortumo’s direct carrier billing services to its own mobile customer base. Fortumo has also recently announced partnerships with Tri in Indonesia and Globe Telecom in the Philippines.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Globe Telecom expands Cartoon Network app in Philippines

    Globe Telecom expands Cartoon Network app in Philippines

    Globe Telecom in the Philippines is providing a major enhancement to its Cartoon Network Watch and Play app, allowing customers to livestream Cartoon Network and on-demand content via a new authenticated service.

    Globe customers will soon be able to log in to the free app using their username and password to unlock an array of value-added services, which includes livestreaming the channel on devices, games and access to full episodes on demand.

    In addition, Cartoon Network Anything – a micro-network that presents short-form content – is now offered as part of the Globe app bundle.

    “This partnership creates a truly unique and enjoyable second-screen brand experience for kids to enjoy and for parents to trust,” said Phil Nelson, Turner’s managing director in Southeast Asia.

    Both apps let kids enjoy their favorite characters and shows whenever. Fueling their imagination, they allow them to be a hero with Ben 10 and the Omnitrix, rule the Candy Kingdom with Princess Bubblegum, flip out with The Powerpuff Girls, or embark on mathematical adventures with Finn and Jake whenever they want.

    “Together with Turner, we are able to give our customers a more wonderful digital entertainment experience on mobile,” said Dan Horan, Globe senior advisor for consumer business.

    Dedicated data usage for the apps will be offset via a data wallet system, available via users’ subscription plans, meaning they won’t have to worry about eating into their monthly allowance.

    Lees ook:

  • Philippine Airlines innovates in-flight retail

    Philippine Airlines innovates in-flight retail

    It used to be that some 20,000 feet above the ground, you browse a catalogue of duty-free merchandize to take home, chose some pretty standard stuff – cosmetics for the ladies, wine for the gentlemen, some cute airplane replicas for the kids, and maybe local goodies for the parents – and you have an instant take-home gift, paid for in cash and delivered to your seat with a smile by the friendly, in-flight crew.

    screenshot-2016-10-28-10-58-03

    Not anymore. In-flight retail has seen some highly innovative transformations in recent years – from offering huge discounts on luxury items to selling cars, bikes and even tractors inflight to home delivery to using the rewards cards for purchases.

    The Philippine Airlines recently embarked on its own transformation journey and re-imagine the retail experience in-flight and on the ground, starting off with turning the PAL Boutique, it’s in-flight catalogue, into a 24×7 online shopping site.

    With the newly launched website, shoppers can choose from a variety of products – from clothing and apparel, to electronics, travel essentials, beauty items and food. The site allows everyone to shop in the PAL Boutique store, not just those in the skies. It also features lifestyle merchandise such as hotel deals, car rentals, tours and recreation packages.

    Some of the items on sale at the online store are Sport 75, Heart 75, Southern shirts, Honeycomb polo shirts and hoodies as well as purse and tote bags by Team Manila. Press canvas wallets, heavy canvas Tote & Jotter notebooks, also by Team Manila, are likewise available.

    City Weekend, City Satchel, City Tourist, City Reach & City Envelope bag all by Fino, Amenity Kit by Bath Origins and Travel Wallet by Jacinto & Lirio as well as luggage tags and key chains are part of the product selection. Completing the line-up for travel aficionados is the myPALRoam, the global mobile hotspot that provides mobile data anywhere in the world.

    Collectible items include the Boeing 777 die-cast model, PAL bears by Natalya Lagdameo, PAL 75 anniversary fans and the PAL coffee table book. Chef Tony’s Butter Icing, Kesong Puti at Kondensada, Royal Peanut Butter and Tablea Tsokolate popcorns are also available for gourmet food lovers.

    The online shopping site is also linked to Mabuhay Miles, the company’s in-house rewards card and loyalty program. Every time a user shops at the online store, he or she earns corresponding rewards points. A 100-peso purchase ($2.07) at the PAL Online Boutique is equivalent to one mile.

    The online portal currently accepts Visa and Mastercard payments, but the online Boutique will soon accept Mabuhay Miles as payment.

    Marketplace solution

    PAL’s digital store is powered by the Voyager E-Commerce Marketplace (VEM) Solution, a cloud-hosted software-as-a-service (SAAS) platform with features catering to the needs of enterprises that want to bring their transactions online.

    The VEM Solution is a platform developed by Voyager Innovations, the digital innovations company of the PLDT Group and Smart Communications, the country’s biggest telecommunications company.

    Voyager Innovations VP for Digital Commerce Mitch Padua said VEM enables mid- to large-sized operators to build, manage and run world-class multi-merchant marketplaces. It provides platform that allows companies to easily sell online.

    “PAL Online Boutique is the product of a successful collaboration between PAL and Voyager Innovations. With just one click, a shopper can choose from premiere exclusive and co-branded items. If you are on the go, this online store is your shopping haven,” PAL Ancillary Business Unit VP Kevin Hartigan-Go said in a media statement during the launch of the service a few months back.

    Padua said the platform provides PAL an end-to-end solution – from the mobile app so that customers can view flight schedules, check in and purchase tickets to order management and customer care for their in-flight catalogue and online store to payment acceptance, which was provided by Voyager’s own payments company, PayMaya.

    “Airlines are the most progressive in terms of e-commerce,” he said at a recent media roundtable. “I think everyone buys tickets online. It makes sense for them (PAL) to not just sell tickets online but other things as well because they have a huge amount of traffic.”

    Citing a recent Google-Temasek study that within Southeast Asia, $88 billion is forecast on B2C transactions by 2025, Padua is optimistic there is a big opportunity for Philippine merchants, including online boutiques stores like PAL’s. “We are seeing about a billion dollars (in B2C transactions) now for the Philippines,” he said, adding that another study conducted by Visa hows nearly 9 out of 10  Filipinos connected to the Internet actually do online shopping.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Nissan Philippines opens new Sucat dealership

    Nissan Philippines opens new Sucat dealership

    Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) continues to expand their dealer network in the country with the opening of their latest showroom in Paranaque. Located along the stretch of Dr. A. Santos Avenue, the new Nissan Sucat dealership features the brand’s new global retail visual identity called Nissan Design Initiative (NREDI) 2.1.

    “This new visual identiy is intended to become more inviting to our customers and at the same time showcase Nissan cars at its most attractive and exciting way. It also gives our dealers a fresh, new look that projects a reinvigorated, stronger Nissan,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI president and managing director.

    According to Nissan, NREDI 2.1 aims to unify different markets / dealerships under one visual identity. Its philosophy centers on enchancng the Nissan customer experience through premium comfort and innovative services.

    nissan

    Managing the new dealership is Tetra sales and Services Inc. (TSSI), who considers the opening of the new dealership a major milestone for Nissan and their company.

    “With the implementation of NREDI 2.1 for the first time under our group, we at TSSI are proud to continue upholiding the driving spirit of innovation and excitement that is inherent in the Nissan DNA. We are also proud to say that, as the largest dealer group, we are committed to help boost a stronger consumer trust and confidence for the Nissan brand,” said Felix Limcaoco III, TSSI president.

    felix-k

    The new showroom, according to the company, is twice the size of a normal dealership with a total area of 781 square meters. It gets a variety of consultation areas along with a spacious lounge with a bar. Also present is an exclusive delivery area where clients can receive their brand-new car for the first time.

    The new Nissan Sucat Dealership is located at 8390 Dr. A Santos Ave., BF Homes, Paranaque City

    Lees ook:

  • Nokia to transform Globe’s fixed, wireless networks

    Nokia to transform Globe’s fixed, wireless networks

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has contracted Nokia to transform the operator’s fixed and mobile networks into a flexible cloud-based infrastructure ready for 5G and the IoT.

    Globe has signed two frame agreements  with the vendor – one covering wireless networks and the other for IP, optical and SDN technologies – to set the stage for the upgrade.

    Under the collaboration, Nokia will deploy its 4.5G Pro technology including 5G-ready base stations and small cells, in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Some of the areas in these regions will be receiving broadband for the first time as a result of the deployment.

    Nokia will also set Globe up to support mobile edge computing and advanced carrier aggregation technologies on its network.

    The fixed agreement will involve the deployment of IP, optical and carrier SDN technologies across the Philippines, allowing the operator to deliver coverage to more regions, and to provide flexible data services over Nokia’s SDN platform to enterprise customers nationwide.

    “As the Philippines’ leading fixed and mobile service provider, we are devoted to improving people’s connected lives day-by-day. With Nokia’s innovative technologies, we are confident to lead the 5G and cloud network evolution,” Globe CEO Ernest Cu said.

    Last week, Globe’s rival PLDT announced that its wireless division Smart achieved data speeds of 1.4Gbps over LTE-A during a trial conducted with Huawei. The trial used five-carrier aggregation technology to achieve the blazing fast speeds.

    “It will take time for carrier aggregation on five frequencies to be deployed, largely because capable handsets are not yet commercially available. But the excellent results of these tests have encouraged us to roll out LTE-A using two or three component carriers which can already be utilized by several handset models in the market,” PLDT and Smart CTO Joachim Horn said.

    Lees ook:

  • Singapore, Manila rise in retail rent rankings

    Singapore, Manila rise in retail rent rankings

    The data may be a little dated, but Asian cities are holding their own in the retail rent rankings.

    New York’s Fifth Avenue still tops the list with an average rent of US$3500 per sqft per year. Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay is cemented in second place at $2399 and the Champs Elysee in Paris a distant third at $1372.

    (It should be noted, the list ranks the single most most expensive shopping strip in each country, not overall.)

    Data released by Cushman Wakefield this month – albeit more than a year out of date – shows the Philippines making the biggest gain: retail rental rates in Manila’s Bonifacio Global City High St were a mere US$56.40 per sqft per annum, but that is enough to make Manila 51st on the top 65 list – up eight places.

    Singapore’s Orchard Rd ranked 14th – up two places – at $336.80 and Taipei’s ZhongXiao East Rd 20th, up three places, at $273.20.

    The Ginza in Tokyo,  Japan, ranks a modest eighth at $881.90 in a virtual tie with Myeongdong in Seoul, Korea at $881.80.  The Ginza has fallen from sixth in last year’s survey, while Myeongdong has dropped from eighth.

    Cushman & Wakefield stresses that the global rankings focus on high street locations. This excludes mall rental rates – and in cities like Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, malls dominate the premium retail landscape, not high street strips.

    Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City CBD retail rents are more expensive than in Bangkok at $150.50 for 32nd place, and $125.40 for 35th respectively. Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ranked 40th (up one place) at $111.