Singapore’s M1 has joined StarHub in looking to carve out a share of Singapore’s new open electricity market.
M1 has announced a collaboration with Keppel Electric, a participating electricity retailer in Singapore’s Jurong open electricity market (OEM) soft launch, to offer electricity bundled with telecoms services.
New and re-contracting mobile customers are being offered the ability to sign up for discount electricity plans at the M1 Shop In Jurong, as well as either S$80 off the price of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ or six months worth of extra data allocations.
“We are delighted to partner Keppel Electric to offer our customers greater value and flexibility in the liberalized energy market,” M1 chief marketing officer P. Subramaniam said.
“We look forward to working closely with Keppel Electric to provide new service development and product bundling for its provision of its electricity offerings in this town and nationwide in time to come.”
Earlier this month StarHub announced a joint initiative with renewable energy startup Sunseap to enter Singapore’s open electricity market to offer joint electricity plans, collaborating on areas including sales, customer service and billing.
Singapore plans to liberalize the nation’s electricity market to allow customers to seamlessly switch electricity retailers with no disruption to supply. The new open market has been soft-launched in Jurong and will be rolled out city-wide later this year.
A Shake Shack Singapore store is reportedly planned for the Jewel Changi Airport shopping centre.
Singapore food blog 8 Days, quoting an “industry source” says the chic American gourmet burger chain is in the final stages of preparation to launch in Singapore. Elsewhere in Asia, the brand is preparing to open in Hong Kong, where it has appointed local licensee Maxim’s Caterers, a division of Dairy Farm International, which also owns the Starbucks license for Hong Kong and Singapore.
However 8 Days is tipping the Shake Shack Singapore eatery to be run by Korean food and beverage company SPC Group, which operates Paris Baguette and has the Korean rights to Shake Shack.
The burger chain’s founder Danny Meyer was in Singapore to address a Restaurant Association of Singapore event and while “coy” about plans for Singapore, he reportedly told 8 Days he wants to see the brand launched in the city state.
“It’s a possibility,” he told 8 Days. “My guys have visited Singapore thrice for site trips and they loved it here. It’s all about finding a good licensee.”
Jewel Changi Airport is a shopping centre to be managed by CapitaLand, attached to the airport’s Terminal 1 and scheduled to open early next year.
No confirmation was forthcoming from Changi Airport or SPC.
Shake Shack, which started out as a food cart in New York City, now has more than 170 outlets internationally.
Besides burgers, it is known for milkshakes, ice cream and other staple US dishes, but with more focus on flavour and serving size than is traditional in US fast-food restaurants.
Indian custom-clothing brand Creyate plans to open stores in Singapore, the US, UK and Dubai after a successful foray into Japan.
Owned by Arvind Internet, the company recently opened its first luxury store in the Indian city of Bengaluru and is considering ramping up its expansion through a franchise model. It has 13 stores operating in its home market already.
Described as an emerging brand, Creyate customises apparel products to people who buy online or in-store. Online, they can submit measurements and select designs in advance of picking up the products in store – or having them delivered.
In Japan,Creyate already has 50 stores-in-stores specialising in denim.
Arvind Internet COO Tejinder Singh said that the company wants to double its retail network within 18 months.
“With our omni-channel approach, we may cap it at two stores per city, so we are looking to explore Tier-II cities, as well. It is an inventory-light model, which suits the all stakeholders at a macro level,” said Singh.
NTUC FairPrice has relaunched its e-commerce platform, renaming it FairPrice On.
A revamped mobile app and online portal provide a user-interface the grocery describes as “more robust and intuitive” and an automated storage and retrieval system that increases order fulfilment efficiency by four times.
NTUC FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng, says the company was one of the first supermarkets to launch online shopping more than a decade ago “and today we take another leap forward to enhance our online customer experience with FairPrice On”.
A new logo and brand identity was also launched today. “The new identity for FairPrice On was developed to capture the spirit of thoughtfulness, innovation and familiarity through the use of vivid colours, clarity and casual everyday language,” said the grocer.
Behind the online interface of FairPrice On is a high-tech distribution centre at FairPrice Hub in Joo Koon, and the company’s new online fulfilment system, AutoStore, an automated goods-to-man storage and retrieval system that uses robotics to provide high-density storage, optimise manpower and boost productivity. AutoStore is able to handle up to 3000 orders per day and is four times faster compared to radio frequency-assisted picking, with the ability to fulfil 220 order-lines every per hour. The high-density storage system consists of over 20,000 bins spread over multiple layers, occupying a space over one and a half times the size of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Each bin can be configured to hold any quantity of products depending on size and weight, with the ability to hold multiple types of products within the same bin to provide greater flexibility and scalability. Order fulfilment is managed through a computerised system with robots retrieving the items needed and shifting bins around to maximise space. The system is also scalable to accommodate for future growth of FairPrice On.
“In line with Singapore’s Retail Industry Transformation Map, we continue to innovate and harness technology to boost productivity and customer service while adapting to constant shifts in the e-commerce industry,” says Peng.
Customer engagement focus
FairPrice says that apart from operational efficiency, FairPrice On features a revamped online portal and mobile app to provide a more robust and intuitive shopping experience for customers. For example, the online customer journey from searching and selecting products to choosing a delivery slot and making payment has been streamlined to make it faster and easier for shoppers.
FairPrice On offers more than 13,000 products ranging from groceries and fresh produce to personal care and electronics. Over 400,000 subscribers are registered on FairPrice On. To cater to varied customer needs, FairPrice On also uses data analytics to send targeted personalised promotions based on their profile, interests and consumption habits. Free home delivery is offered with spending of more than $59, or free collection from 71 click-and-collect locations on orders of more than $29. Exchanges or refunds may be made at 138 brick-and-mortar FairPrice stores located island-wide.
DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, successfully hosted its seventh annual Masters of Wines and Spirits event on Saturday March 24 and Sunday March 25 at The Warehouse Hotel on the banks of the Singapore River.
The highly anticipated event, held in partnership with Changi Airport Group, was staged for the first time over two days, bringing together almost 800 local and international guests who explored a variety of unique tasting experiences from the world of whiskies, wines and Cognacs. The historic atmosphere of the meticulously renovated venue, a former trading warehouse, was a perfect backdrop for the event, with each of the hotel’s rooms playing a part in the theme – “Bespoke. Speak Easy. Secret Society.”
Guests were given the opportunity to meet leading spirit brand ambassadors through a unique and interactive panel, hosted by DFS Group’s Director of Spirits Frederik Vanden Bulcke and featuring experts from John Dewar & Sons, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich and The Kyoto Distillery. Two “Classes with the Masters” were also hosted by The Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE, and Rufus Beazley from Chateau Latour Asia Pacific.
In another first for DFS, this year will see the Masters of Wines and Spirits collection transported beyond Singapore for the enjoyment of customers in Hong Kong and Macau.
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“Each year, our talented merchants at DFS bring together the world’s most sought-after wines and spirits and their brand ambassadors, in an event dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of the finest products. As with past events, the Masters collection will be available for purchase first at Changi International Airport. This year, we are also very excited to bring this incredible collection to our customers in Hong Kong and Macau later in 2018, with some fabulous events and activations that are sure to surprise and delight,” said Brooke Supernaw, DFS Group’s Senior Vice President Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Food and Gifts.
Along with leading whiskies, wines and Cognacs, including the Louis XIII Le Jeroboam with T.T. Trunks Paris, the Jean-Paul Camus 1945 Private Reserve, the Harlan Estate Double Magnum 100 Point Trifecta and the Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 2010 Double Magnum, an extended collection of 54 premium products available in the Masters series includes the Octomore 8.2 by Bruichladdich, the DFS exclusive Rare Cask Reserve Araid 18 Years Old 0.7L by William Grant & Sons, the Cask-aged Kyoto Dry Gin 2nd Edition by Ki Noh Bi, the Carigellachie 24yo Small Batch Exceptional Cask by Craigellachie, the Dalmore Luceo, the DFS exclusive Highland Park Single Cask Series 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the Single Cask #1476 Mizunara Heads by Malt Chichibu.
The Octomore 8.2, meaning “The big eight” in Scots Gaelic, by Bruichladdich, is an enigmatic spirit and a cult classic amongst whisky aficionados. Its release was a landmark moment for head distiller Adam Hannett. The DFS exclusive Rare Cask Reserve Àraid 18 Years Old 0.7L by William Grant & Sons, meaning “unique” in Scots Gaelic, is an exclusive bottling of a blended scotch from the distillery’s Rare Cask Reserves collection. The blend comprises malt and grain from whiskys accumulated by the Grant family over the past 50 years and have been expertly brought together by Master Blender Brian Kinsman.
The Cask-aged Kyoto Dry Gin 2nd Edition by Ki Noh Bi is the first of its kind; a Japanese gin created, blended and bottled at Ki Noh Bi’s dedicated artisanal distillery in Kyoto using local ingredients and inspired by the history and culture of the ancient Japanese city. This DFS exclusive limited edition of Ki Noh Bi gin is aged in casks that previously held Japanese Single Malt whisky and labeled using mask images from the Kamiasobi Noh Troupe.
The Craigellachie 24yo Small Batch Exceptional Cask by Craigellachie is a part of the John Dewar & Sons Fine Scotch Whisky Emporium and showcases the rare release of some of the finest and most delectable single cask and single malt expressions. Handpicked by Dewar’s Master Blender and Malt Master Stephanie MacLeod, the Exceptional Cask series features a collection of extraordinary single cask bottlings, double-cask and small batch releases. Selected for their finesse and remarkable qualities, the Craigellachie 24Year Old limited release is one of a kind, providing the opportunity to try something truly unique.
The Dalmore Luceo is part of a selection of releases finished in different types of Sherry casks. The Luceo was finished in “first fill” Apostoles Sherry casks, resulting in decadent waves of sweetness.
The DFS exclusive Highland Park Single Cask Series 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For more than 217 years, the distillery has combined old tradition with the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Products from Highland Park use only top layer peat, that helps contribute to its honey-infused flavor. The Single Cask #1476 Mizunara Heads by Malt Chichibu has a strong, earthy aroma, yet maintains a sweet fragrance similar to rich brown sugar. This exceptional malt trails off in a long, profound finish with hints of prune and dried fig.
The 2018 Masters of Wines and Spirits Collection will be available for purchase at Singapore’s Changi Airport
from March 25, and later in the year at T Galleria by DFS in Hong Kong and Macau DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits is part of the DFS Masters Series, a signature program of exhibitions that also includes the highly anticipated Tenth Masters of Time set to take place in Macau this December. The Masters Series is a showcase of the pinnacle of DFS’ leadership and innovation in curating and creating exceptional experiences across its five pillars of luxury: Wines and Spirits, Beauty and Fragrances, Watches and Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories, and Food and Gifts.
US retailer Ashley Furniture HomeStore has opened its first Singapore outlet, in Kallang Way.
On the ground floor, the 7000sqft store offers items for the living room, dining room, bedroom, family spaces and home office. These include beds, clocks, sofas and vases from five lifestyle collections: Contemporary Living, New Traditions, Family Spaces, Vintage Casual and Urbanology.
The showroom offers the entire range of King Koil mattresses, as well as made-to-order sofas and sofa beds exclusive to Singapore. It also sell three types of the Sleepace sleep-tracking device. All products are also available online.
A second Ashley Furniture HomeStore will open in Sungei Kadut Drive next month.
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Over the next three months, Ashley will set up augmented and virtual-reality headsets to help customers better visualise how various items of furniture might fit into their homes.
Founded in 1945 in Wisconsin, Ashley Furniture has more than 800 stores in 45 countries, including China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Food-delivery company Foodpanda Singapore has launched a 30-seater restaurant, Favourites by Foodpanda.
In Woodlands Avenue, the 3100sqft (288sqm) restaurant allows customers to pick and match dishes from nine restaurants such as Ichiban Bento, Crystal Jade Kitchen and Wingzone.
At the same time, the restaurant acts as a collective kitchen where customers in the nearby districts of Sembawang and Yishun can place delivery orders for the nine restaurants with a single delivery fee.
Foodpanda Singapore MD Luc Andreani says there was a demand in the northern part of Singapore for more delivery options, but many restaurants were unable oblige because of their more central locations.
“Favourites by Foodpanda offers brands an opportunity to expand output and reach a new customer base.”
This move follows Foodpanda competitor Deliveroo opening its first central kitchen last year. While not available to the public for dine-in, Deliveroo Edition gathers chefs from six different restaurants at a 2110sqft kitchen space in Katong to prepare delivery orders.
After setting up at Deliveroo Edition, New Ubin Seafood had a 600 per cent jump in delivery sales, says a Deliveroo spokesman.
Beyond R&B, furniture retailer HipVan is another online business that has opened its first permanent 11,000sqft flagship store at The Cathay in Dhoby Ghaut. Luxury e-commerce retailer Reebonz also opened an eight-storey, 200,000sqft outlet in Tampines last year.
Meanwhile, Foodpanda says it is looking to open another two outlets in Singapore by the end of the year.
Will Group Sdn Bhd, the master franchisee for Chatime in Malaysia, is eyeing the rights for Chatime in Singapore a year after it opens its first outlet there.
Chatime Malaysia group managing director Aliza Ali said it has obtained the green light from Chatime franchisor La Kaffa International Co Ltd to enter the Singapore market, where it will open two Chatime outlets in shopping malls this year and an outlet in Jewel Changi Airport in 2019 to gauge the market there.
“It (Singapore master franchisee) is something that we’re eyeing but let us prove ourselves to the principal (La Kaffa) first. If they see that we can manage the market in Singapore and if they’re happy with our performance, we will talk about the possibility (of being the Singaporean master franchisee),” she told SunBiz.
Aliza noted that there are existing bubble tea players that are doing well in Singapore, such as Koi, Gong Cha and LiHo. There is no Chatime in Singapore yet. Its rival Tealive is also not in Singapore, but has ventured into Vietnam and announced plans to go into Australia.
“This (Singapore) is a new market, we can’t just go in and want the master franchisee rights without showing that we are going to do it well. We have to open (outlets) first then only we can see how the market is. For us to jump in to be the master franchisee and put our investments there without knowing how we want to move ahead, wouldn’t be a smart move either,” she explained.
Aliza added that franchisors will usually save the exclusivity of a territory for a franchisee, while it markets the brand there. Once the franchisee has opened a certain number of outlets for a period of time, the franchisor will then award the master franchisee rights to the selected franchisee.
While Singapore is a feasible venture for Will Group, the bubble tea company is also entering the Middle East market, with plans to open Chatime outlets in Mecca and Medina this year.
There is already a Chatime master franchisee in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) hence Will Group is aiming for Mecca and Medina where Chatime is yet to be present, under a sub-franchisee arrangement.
“We would like to have some exclusivity there (in the Middle East) but we’re aware that there is already a master franchisee so any planning would have to be done out of respect for the master franchisee there. It has to be something that the master franchisee is comfortable to grant us. With the help of La Kaffa, we would like to get our interest across to the master franchisee there,” said Aliza.
Its expansion plan into Singapore and Middle East comes after Chatime Malaysia obtained the halal food certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia for its menu, paving the way for new avenues of business. It has outlined a five-year RM100 million expansion plan targeting over 150 outlets in Malaysia and internationally.
Will Group was offered the role of master franchisee for Chatime in Malaysia following a dispute that escalated between La Kaffa and ex-master franchisee Loob Holding Sdn Bhd last year, that saw the franchisor terminating the master franchisee contract with Loob.
Pizza Hut Singapore has introduced a robot that takes orders and processes payments.
In a five-day trial ending on Sunday, diners at the Safra Punggol Pizza Hut outlet will be the first in Southeast Asia to be able to try out the new technology. After the trial, Pizza Hut will consider customer feedback before deciding if the robot will stay.
Patrons are greeted with “Hello” in a female voice from the robot, and to place an order first must greet the robot and pair their Mastercard Masterpass account embedded in the Pizza Hut Singapore mobile app.
They can then tell the robot their orders and show a QR code that will provide their table information. The robot is not exposed to payment instruments or customer credentials, which minimises the chance of sensitive information being compromised.
“This initiative gives people more choices without ever compromising security, and provides more reasons for people to go cashless,” says Labs at Mastercard Asia Pacific VP Tobias Puehse.
The robot was developed by Japan’s SoftBank Robotics, which makes the Pepper robot used in customer service and retail. “We are focusing on how robots can help how people live,” says SoftBank marketing director Kan Kiyota. “The humanoid robot is an add-on to the value provided.”
Thousands of food and beverage (F&B) establishments in Singapore and the region dedicate themselves to serving freshly brewed cups of java or tea and delightful pastries every day. While many Asian countries have enjoyed the café culture phenomenon for many years, new markets like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia are now starting to witness the growth of the café industry in their countries.
To support the diverse needs of these thriving businesses, key players of the coffee, tea, and bakery industries converged at Café Asia 2018 today to foster new collaborations, explore opportunities, and to present the latest trends and developments to trade professionals and members of the public. The event was launched this afternoon by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance, Trade & Industry and Member of Parliament, Holland – Bukit Timah GRC Café Asia 2018, the International Coffee & Tea (ICT) Industry Expo 2018, and Sweets and Bakes Asia (SBA) 2018 concurrently offer a one-stop convenient sourcing hub for the industry. Spanning a gross exhibition area of 5,000 square metres, the shows are expected to attract over 10,000 baristas, café and coffee purveyors, coffee roasters, tea and baking ingredients suppliers, equipment distributors, and members of the public over the next three days.
A key highlight of the show this year will be the gathering of coffee industry experts at the inaugural ASEAN Coffee Symposium 2018. The symposium to be held tomorrow, will present and discuss important issues faced by the industry. These include thought-provoking topics such as role of women in coffee, social enterprise and sustainability of coffee in a changing climate, and how financial institutions can ensure a sustainable and traceable coffee supply chain to help small-scale coffee farmers. The panel discussion will be led by Mr Victor Mah, President, ASEAN Coffee Federation & Singapore Coffee Association and include key members of the ASEAN Coffee Federation.
Since it was first introduced to the market in 2013, Café Asia has featured distributors and suppliers of equipment, machinery, accessories, and other products for coffee and tea businesses, while ICT has presented the upstream sector of the coffee and tea industries to offer a complete showcase of supplies such as raw coffee beans and tea leaves, to processing and packing services for wholesale purchases and trading. With 142 exhibitors from 25 countries, the shows mark Southeast Asia’s largest annual gathering of the coffee, tea, and bakery industries, dedicated to the celebration of the burgeoning café scene across the region.
Since the emergence of hundreds of specialty cafés in Singapore over the past few years, consumers have been eager to keep up with the latest trends and innovations in the café industry, from nitro cold brews to siphon coffees, tea pairings to visually delightful desserts. According to Euromonitor in 2017, the bakery and confectionery sectors have been enjoying stable growth in Singapore. This includes internationally renowned bakeries setting up shop in Singapore, responding to the rising demand for quality bread, cakes and pastries. The appreciation for products with functional and health benefits is no surprise. This reflects consumers’ changing lifestyles, spurring innovative creations from F&B businesses in their bid to stay competitive.
The shows will be packed a comprehensive programme designed to impart deeper understanding of and appreciation for the trade and café industry. Businesses entering the booming digital economy will appreciate the e-commerce clinic presented by RedMart to help businesses understand the challenges of expanding online.
Visitors to the shows will also meet international experts including renowned cake designer Molly Eleonora Coppini and the Australian Tea Masters, the leading organisation for tea master and tea sommelier training in Australasia.
Five national-level coffee championships will see Singapore’s home-grown baristas, brewers, latte artists, and students contend in the Singapore National Barista Championship, Singapore Latte Art Championship, Singapore Brewers Cup Championship, Singapore Cup Tasters Championship, and the second edition of the Singapore Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. Winners of the respective national titles will represent Singapore on the international stage at the world championships later this year.
Café Asia 2018, the International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2018, and Sweets & Bakes Asia 2018 are organised by Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd (CEMS). Café Asia 2018 and International Coffee & Tea Industry Expo 2018 are hosted by Singapore Coffee Association.
One Raffles Place Shopping Mall, a six-storey retail mall located in the heart of Singapore’s central business district (“CBD”) in Raffles Place and part of the iconic integrated commercial development One Raffles Place, is set for a revamp as it undergoes asset enhancement works scheduled to start in mid-2018.
The AEIs include improving the circulation areas of the mall, as well as creating more inviting and open retail space with better visibility. These upgrades will help provide a better shopping experience while simultaneously driving the per-squarefoot productivity of the mall.
The revitalised One Raffles Place Shopping Mall will create an exciting retail environment that addresses the changing needs and lifestyle preferences of the working population in the CBD. Another exciting change is the opening of a coworking space occupying more than 35,000 sq ft of space across a few levels at the
mall.
Spaces, a co-working concept by IWG, the world’s leading provider of flexible workspace solutions, will launch its flagship site at One Raffles Place Shopping Mall delivering a strong lifestyle-led workspace for a creative way of working for entrepreneurs and established businesses alike. The venue will provide a professional working environment founded on the principles of collaboration and inclusivity, while its authentic, European and considered design will reflect the company’s “Inspire to Work” philosophy.
Spaces at One Raffles Place is envisaged as a focal point for flexible workspaces given its vantage location in the heart of Raffles Place. A unique aspect of Spaces will be its ability to host and launch retail and fashion-related events within a mall setting. Its multi-level layout is expected to improve vertical traffic at One Raffles Place Shopping Mall, whilst direct access to Raffles Place Park and the incorporation of a strong F&B offering on the first level will make it a preferred choice for corporate gatherings and for catching up with colleagues and friends
after work.
Ms Tan Shu Lin, Chief Executive Officer of OUE Commercial REIT Management Pte. Ltd. which manages OUE Commercial REIT (“OUE C-REIT”), said, “Coworking spaces have been proven to create bustling work communities, and we are delighted that our partnership with Spaces by IWG will create more diversity and vibrancy for One Raffles Place Shopping Mall.
As the mall attracts high shopper traffic of close to one million each month, necessity services and food & beverage tenants will remain the mainstay of the retail offering. The presence of a co-working space will further enhance the
business traffic and synergy for One Raffles Place as an integrated commercial development.”
“For us, opening a Spaces site at One Raffles Place is such a wonderful moment. This area is well-known for its very high quality and standards; a perfect fit for our community who will expect excellence in the design of Spaces and in our level of hospitality. We also plan to support an energised business community of different industries, which will include the creative industries and fin-tech groups,” says Martijn Roordink, Co-founder of Spaces.
One Raffles Place Shopping Mall will remain operational during the asset enhancement period and the implementation phases are carefully planned to minimise disruption to both tenants and shoppers. The cost of the AEIs is not expected to have a material impact on OUE C-REIT’s gearing.
Singtel expects the service to launch mid-2018 in 20,000 points in Singapore and Thailand.
Travellers with Singtel’s mobile wallets could soon continue to use their home wallet app to make payments when overseas.
Singtel will link its mobile wallets across different ecosystems through an interoperable platform. It will begin with the mobile wallets of the company and its regional associates through the first commercial launch between Singtel and AIS, it said in an announcement.
“This will be the first time that different mobile wallets across different markets are connected to offer seamless cross-border payments at physical merchants,” Singtel said, “The initiative to expand the Group’s mobile wallet services underscores the continued commitment of Singtel and its regional associates to enhance the mobile payments experience for customers.”
The telco also noted that this will enable its 590 million mobile customers to securely and conveniently pay with their mobile wallets when they travel in Asia. “Other mobile payment apps can, in future, plug into the platform and gain ready access to the Group’s merchant and customer bases across the region,” it added.
Singtel International Group CEO Arthur Lang noted that the mobile payments scene in Asia today is fragmented with many different systems and this poses a challenge to the adoption of mobile payments. “As a Group, we believe we can bring about change through our cross-border interoperable platform and collaboration with like-minded partners. Our vision is to unlock the growth potential of mobile payments in the region by providing customers with a convenient, seamless experience, and helping small merchants widen their reach to millions of consumers.”
In 2017, there were more than 80 million tourist arrivals into Singtel Group’s markets in Asia. “As many small merchants are still unbanked in this region but smartphone penetration is high, mobile payments provide a simple and secure alternative to travellers who might not want the hassle of carrying large amounts of foreign currency with them,” Singtel said.
“With our customers’ digital lifestyles and the growth in intra-region travel, it is a natural progression for us to take our local mobile wallets regional first, by leveraging the strengths and reach of the Singtel Group in Asia,” Lang added.
The commercial launch of the service is planned for mid-2018 between Singapore and Thailand where Singtel and AIS have obtained regulatory clearance. This will enable over 1.5 million visitors travelling between Singapore and Thailand each year to use Singtel Dash and my AIS apps at a total of more than 20,000 retail merchant acceptance points in Singapore and Thailand.
The Group plans to progressively expand this service from the second half of 2018 to other regional associates, which include Airtel, Globe and Telkomsel, taking into consideration the respective country’s regulations.
Telkomsel CEO Ririek Adriansyah said, “Once we obtain regulatory clearance, we can provide TCASH customers greater convenience whether they are transacting locally or overseas, and give our local merchants new income opportunities from regional travellers.”
When Tan Tie Wee, 40, heard complaints from his colleagues in China about the hassle of filing for tax refunds overseas, he was motivated to start up something that can help simplify this process.
“Some said it was language difficulties. Some said they were pressed for time because they were in a tour group. So I suggested an app that could help them with the claims and they said if there was one, they would definitely use it,” Tan said.
He was working as PwC’s senior manager for indirect tax practice then, and he had spent two years working in China.
Tan was impressed by the country’s prevalent use of mobile payment apps and QR codes and figured that he could integrate it into his own venture.
He ended up quitting his job in 2015 so he could work on realising this ambition amidst other big players such as Global Blue, Premier Tax Free, and Global Tax Free in Singapore.
He then worked on developing Tourego (short for ‘tourist refund on the go’), an all-in-one app that acts as a mobile passport and e-wallet that stores tax refund tickets.
Launched just three months ago, the mobile app allows retailers to simply scan the QR codes which in turn generates digital tax refund tickets for tourists, replacing the current paper-based system.
This means that retail staff no longer need to take down the particulars of tourists when they issue tax refund tickets, which helps to effectively save time and manpower.
Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Sim Ann mentioned Tourego in her speech during the recent Committee of Supply debate, and said that such productive technologies allow staff to spend less time on routine or tedious tasks, and more time to provide better customer service.
On the other hand, tourists can also easily submit claims by scanning these e-receipts at the tax refund kiosks upon reaching Changi Airport.
With the digitisation of such process, tourists no longer need to worry about losing receipts when keeping track of their Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund claims.
Challenges On Starting Up
The traction of the mobile app has been enjoying positive traction so far.
Although exact user numbers weren’t disclosed, Tourego said that it has gotten 150 retailers – such as Robinsons, Zara, 1872 Clipper Tea Co, and RISIS – onboard since its launch.
But starting up the business wasn’t easy.
The process was much more tedious than he expected.
For starters, the startup needed to go through stringent checks before being given its license by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) last November.
According to IRAS, all central refund agencies that participate in the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) have to meet necessary requirements to ensure that the GST refunds are properly administered, and that their systems are robust.
These include a technical certification process and IT audit.
But the start-up also managed to tap on Government schemes for support.
For instance, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Pro-Enterprise Panel facilitated cooperation with Government agencies to ensure Tourego’s solution complemented existing systems, said Ms Sim in her speech in Parliament.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also featured Tourego on its VisitSingapore website and inbound trade newsletter, as well as displayed the start-up’s brochures at the Singapore Visitor Centre.
“With electronic payment platforms growing increasingly popular in Singapore, STB is pleased to support Tourego’s mobile application as it allows visitors to claim tax refunds in a more seamless and hassle-free manner in Singapore,” said STB.
The eTRS system in place right now already seeks to make Singapore’s tourist tax refund system less reliant on paperwork.
Since its roll-out in 2011, tourists no longer have to fill in different GST refund forms and queue at different counters to get the claims done.
Now, visitors can choose to swipe their chosen credit card at the self-help kiosks to retrieve records of their purchases. Alternatively, they can scan the eTRS tickets individually before indicating their preference for the tax refund method.
Competing Against Other Big Players
Other technology players also seem to have set their sights on this space.
China’s Alipay, for one, partnered Global Tax Free last year to allow Chinese tourists to make claims and have their tax refunds deposited directly into their Alipay accounts.
This instant tax refund service through the Chinese mobile and online payment platform, was made available in Singapore earlier this year.
Tourego App
As such, Tourego is working to roll out its other features that would eliminate the need for its users to present their passports at the point of purchase and allow them to skip the queue at the airport.
“We want everything to be done on the mobile phone,” said Tan.
“For registration, all you have to do is to scan your passport using our app. At the retail store, flash your QR code and a digital receipt will be generated automatically.
“Joining the queue at the airport is probably the most painful part of the refund process and we think this can be changed. My full solution will be to move the declaration process on to the app so that there will no need to stand in line at the various counters or in Singapore’s context, queue to scan your passport at a kiosk,” he added.
The start-up founder is also aiming to expand beyond Singapore though the navigation of various tax systems could be a hurdle.
“We have global ambitions to be a homogeneous global tax refund solution. It may be challenging but we will take one step at a time and first, we will show that it’s going to work here in Singapore.”
DBS announced the launch of the DBS Electricity Marketplace which will allow all households in Jurong (residents with postal code of 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64) to seamlessly switch to other retailers with the liberalisation of the retail electricity market in Singapore.
Around 108,000 households in Jurong will stand to benefit in this pilot phase.
As a start, DBS is working with two electricity retailers – iSwitch and Keppel Electric. During the pilot phase, all households in Jurong can search for various price plans that best suit their electricity needs on the DBS Electricity Marketplace. For DBS/POSB customers, they can apply directly with just a few simple clicks via DBS/POSB digibank and choose their preferred payment options. Once the switch is done, customers can look forward to their selected electricity plans provided by their new electricity retailer, without any service disruption.
Said Jeremy Soo, DBS Head of Consumer Banking Group (Singapore), “DBS Electricity Marketplace exemplifies how we are reimagining banking, using digital technology and innovation to make life simpler for our customers. Through our partnerships with alternative electricity retailers, we want to enable our customers to enjoy savings on their bills easily. Our insights also indicate that consumers want a fuss-free process to sign up for other electricity retailers, and we have made it easier and convenient for them to make the switch with just a few simple clicks on DBS/POSB digibank.”
Since 2001, the Energy Market Authority has been liberalising the electricity market in Singapore in phases and the pilot phase for residents in Jurong will start from April 2018. DBS is also working with other electricity retailers which will be made available to consumers at a later date.
Citi has launched its first natural language chatbot for Facebook Messenger in Singapore ahead of a wider roll out around the world.
The bot uses natural language processing to communicate with customers in an intuitive way, addressing their everyday questions about things like real-time account and transaction information.
Citi says that it has been piloting the bot with 600 customers and employees to refine the service, which also covers credit card bill summaries, rewards and points balances and frequently asked questions.
The bank has previously said that it plans a second phase to introduce more features such as card activation, ability to lock and unlock credit cards and transaction alerts for cards among others.
“Facebook Messenger is an exciting new way to access Citi and will greatly enhance our overall customer experience’” says Anand Selva, head, Asia Pacific consumer banking, Citi.
