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Tag: Singapore

  • Changi Airport Group partners with Alipay

    Changi Airport Group partners with Alipay

    Alipay and Changi Airport Group (CAG) have signed a strategic five-year partnership agreement to roll out the Alipay mobile payment option on a wide scale at the airport.

    They have also agreed to share marketing activities by offering customised and targeted shopping and dining offers to Chinese passengers using Alipay.

    Run by Ant Financial Services Group, Alipay has more than 520 million active users and is the first Chinese mobile payment partner for Singapore’s airport.

    Changi Airport’s yearly concession sales grew 5 per cent to hit another new high at S$2.3 billion (US$1.7 billion) last year, with travellers from China accounting for a third of all retail sales. The new mobile payment option will offer travellers more convenience when shopping and dining at the airport, including duty-free shops for cosmetics and perfumes, and wines and spirits.

    Progressively introduced at the airport since May, the Alipay mobile payment service is now available at more than 78 shopping and dining outlets. Under the joint marketing agreement, Alipay and CAG will collaborate to create information and promotions for passengers, as well as location-based information about shopping and dining options at the airport.

    Alipay will also partnering CAG in the eighth season of the “Be a Changi Millionaire” anchor shopping promotion. Shoppers who use Alipay as a payment mode will double their chances of winning the $1 million cash prize or an all-new Volvo S90 luxury sedan.

    “Changi Airport provides a myriad of customised services for our Chinese travellers including our Mandarin-speaking shopping concierge services and Chinese version of the airport’s online shopping portal,” says CAG senior VP for airside concessions Teo Chew Hoon.

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  • Changi T4 to commence operations on 31 October 2017

    Changi T4 to commence operations on 31 October 2017

    Changi Airport Group (CAG) today announced that the new terminal four (T4) at Changi airport is scheduled to commence operations on 31 October  2017.

    This follows the recent successful conclusion of major trials, with a small number of checks and reviews to be completed in the final phase of the preparations.

    As reported, the new T4, hailed as a shopping and dining haven, will comprise more than 80 retail and food and beverage outlets featuring popular brands and unique experiential zones.

    The unique integrated duty-free zone, covering liquor and tobacco (DFS Group) and cosmetics and perfumes (Shilla Duty Free) — both companies triumphed in the hotly contested core category tenders in 2014, which covers T4 — allows shoppers to pay for purchases at common counters.

    To ensure a smooth transition of flight operations from the existing terminals, the operations of the nine T4 airlines—the AirAsia Group (of four airlines), Cathay Pacific Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Korean Air, Spring Airlines and Vietnam Airlines—will be shifted to T4 over one week.

    Cathay Pacific and Korean Air will move over on Tuesday 31 October 2017, Cebu Pacific Air and Spring Airlines on Thursday, November 2 and AirAsia Group and Vietnam Airlines on Tuesday, November 7.

    The first arrival and departing flights at T4 will be operated by Cathay Pacific—CX659 from Hong Kong and CX650 to Hong Kong respectively.

    Since October 2016, CAG has collaborated with its airport partners to prepare T4 for flight operations.

    This began with table-top exercises to develop the standard operating procedures and later progressed to ground deployment exercises to familiarize staff with the new terminal and processes.

    Volunteers from the airport community and members of the public were invited to role-play as passengers to test the critical airport systems and processes.

    These included the Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) self-service options at check-in, bag-drop, immigration and boarding, as well as security screening, baggage handling, flight information, ground transport, way-finding and transfer processes.

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  • In Good Company expands to the Philippines

    In Good Company expands to the Philippines

    Singapore-based fashion label In Good Company has expanded into the Philippines with its first shop in The SM Store Makati.

    The store, located on level 2, offers all seasonless clothing, classic silhouettes and accessories.

    In Good Company also brings its latest collection called Capsule 11. Using draping techniques, the collection is inspired by the 80s and 90s trends.

    “We explored new shapes and draping techniques that create more movement and dimensionality, as well as new hardware such as oversized grommets, hanging ties and d-rings that give the capsule a modern utilitarian look, in an ultra-wearable way,” said creative director and co-founder Sven Tan.

    Besides the Philippines, In Good Company has recently launched in Dubai at Robinsons Department Store.

    The brand also has standalone lifestyle stores in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand

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  • Singtel to close copper-based ADSL networks

    Singtel to close copper-based ADSL networks

    Singtel has revealed plans to progressively shut down its copper-based ADSL networks as part of a push to accelerate fiber based service adoption to business and residential customers.

    The operator will shut down copper-based ADSL that supports broadband, TV, digital voice and private network services in stages during a process expected to be completed by early 2018.

    In addition, Singtel plans to cease copper deployment to commercial buildings that obtain temporary occupation permit (TOP) status from April 2018, and instead serve customers in the buildings using fiber-based networks. The company stopped deploying copper to new residential buildings in 2013.

    “We are pleased to make this technology adoption push in support of today’s digital economy and tomorrow’s connected Smart Nation. Fiber-based networks today [are] capable of offering far greater speeds and supporting a much wider range of services than the prevailing copper-based networks,” Singtel VP of consumer products for consumer Singapore Wong Soon Nam said.

    “Singtel will work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure our customers will enjoy a smooth and fuss-free transition to the fiber network. We will also reach out to customers through various channels to make sure they are informed of the impending change and make available a range of affordable plans to cater to their varied communication needs.”

  • Orchard Road to gain design incubator

    Orchard Road to gain design incubator

    A “design incubator” to showcase home-grown brands and designers will open in the heart of Orchard Road by the end of next year.

    This was revealed by Trade and Industry Minister S Iswaran at the Singapore Retail Industry Conference on Friday.

    He said the design incubator, to be run by retailer Naiise, will house a retail showcase and incubation space under one roof. It is expected to feature more than 60 local brands covering fashion, lifestyle products and souvenirs, and is being supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, Spring Singapore and JTC. Helping local brands go global is one of the key strategies of the Retail Industry Transformation Map launched last year.

    Local brands and designers may soon also be able to use department stores as a launchpad to showcase their products, boost their profile and expand market access. Iswaran said Spring is working with department stores to explore the incubation of local and regional designers.

    Also, the Singapore Retail Association (SRA) is embarking on a project under Spring’s Local Enterprise and Association Development Plus (Lead+) program to transform and upgrade its capabilities, the minister said. It will undertake specific initiatives to drive the adoption of retail and backend technologies among retailers, including the use of the “endless aisle” which enables retailers to showcase all their products without having to stock them in their physical stores.

    SRA will develop a website mobile portal and enhance its GoSpree shopping app launched in June.

    Government agencies are also looking at ways to enliven Orchard Road as a shopping and lifestyle destination, said Iswaran. He said a steering committee overseeing this has been set up, co-chaired by three government ministers.
    Other initiatives on the table include enhanced programming along the pedestrian malls, pop-up and permanent activations at available spaces, and making the shopping belt more pedestrian friendly.

    Iswaran said the retail industry is an important part of the republic’s economy. The sector comprises 23,000 retail establishments that chalk up about S$35 billion (US$26 billion) in annual receipts and contributed 1.4 per cent to Singapore’s GDP last year.

    As another resource for retailers, the Retail Centre of Excellence will be launched at the Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business next month. It will partner retailers in addressing the gaps and challenges of the fast-changing retail landscape, Iswaran said.

  • Singtel adds HOOQ to OTT video portal app

    Singtel adds HOOQ to OTT video portal app

    Singtel has expanded its OTT video portal app CAST to incorporate the video on demand streaming service HOOQ.

    HOOQ, a joint venture between Singtel, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros, has a library of over 20,000 movies and TV series. It has launched across SEA and in India.

    Movies are available on the platform up to 90 days after cinema release, and TV series are telecast on the same day as the US.

    With its incorporation into CAST, the HOOQ content library can now be viewed on mobile devices, tablets or TV screens through Android TV or Chromecast.

    CAST users will be offered a three-month trial of HOOQ, after which they can subscribe on a 12-month contract for S$4.90 per month.  Access can also be purchased contract-free for S$7.90 per month.

    “Hollywood, Asian and kids’ content are extremely popular with our customers. We are pleased to offer HOOQ’s vast selection in the palm of their hands or comfort of their own homes,” Singtel managing director home consumer Goh Seow Eng said.

    “We will continue to expand CAST’s content library for our customers’ enjoyment.”

  • World debut for GrabPay retail payment in Singapore

    World debut for GrabPay retail payment in Singapore

    Grab plans to work with more than 1000 retailers in Singapore as it expands its business base from its ride-hailing app into e-payments, via GrabPay.

    The company has already expanded its payment services from allowing passengers to use GrabPay instead of cash when riding in Grab cars and taxis to letting friends and family members transfer cash to each other.

    Now it wants customers to buy goods, book cinema tickets and order food using the app.

    GrabPay chief Jason Thompson told the Straits Times that its primary target is hawker stalls and small retailers who do not currently accept cashless payments.

    “Rolling out peer-to-peer transfer first makes it easier for consumers. First, I am able to pay someone I trust, and the next step is paying a merchant with the same steps,” he said.

    “Our wallets already exist in Singapore and are already being used everyday here. We’re just allowing them to use it more,” he said.

    Singapore will be the first country in which GrabPay will operate outside its own ecosystem.  Payments will be facilitated by customers scanning QR codes on their mobile devices.

  • Digital Private Bank Hits Singapore

    Digital Private Bank Hits Singapore

    Another digital wealth manager is poised to enter the Singapore market. How does the newest entrant seek to grab market share off rivals?

    Kristal will launch in Singapore on Thursday, as reported. The city-state would be the wealth manager’s third market, after Hong Kong and India.

    The platform allows investors to pick and choose investment strategies – so-called Kristals – among independent advisers and portfolio managers.

    With the glut of digital efforts hitting the market, how is Kristal carving itself a niche?

    «Sandbox» Shield

    It is meant to service mass affluent clients who are not getting the service that they want today from their wealth managers and private bankers,» co-founder Asheesh Chanda said.

    Kristal will operate under a shielded «sandbox» permit offered as a regulatory light-touch testing ground for start-ups which allows them to take a limited amount of client money.

    DBS and Cyberport Ties

    Kristal already manages an undisclosed amount of funds from retail and affluent clients, and says it will keep working on a machine-learning algorithm to feed its own strategies for its portfolios.

    «We expect to exit the sandbox in nine months and then we have to decide what kind of licence we take,» Chanda said.

    Kristal completed a «pre-accelerator» program backed by DBS last year, and is part of Cyberport’s incubation in Hong Kong this year.

    Interactive Brokers, Saxo Bank

    Clients can invest as little as S$1,000 in exchange-traded funds for equities, bonds, foreign exchange, options and futures.

    Kristal’s fees hinge on investment strategies: bond portfolios are cheap, while an alternative investment-heavy one will cost more, Chanda said.

    Kristal uses Interactive and Saxo Bank in Singapore and Hong Kong for execution and as asset custodians. 

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  • Singapore Airlines: new first class, business class launch Nov 2

    Singapore Airlines: new first class, business class launch Nov 2

    Singapore Airlines will reveal its all-new Airbus 380 first class suites and business class seats on November 2, ahead of the delivery of the first of five new super jumbos to join the fleet.

    The Star Alliance member will unveil the new products at an international media launch held in Singapore.

    Also tipped for the grand reveal are new designs for premium economy and economy class, resulting in a tip-to-tail refresh for the decade-old design of the A380s.

    The new seats are expected to be retrofitted to most of Singapore Airlines’ existing A380 fleet.

    As previously reported, the new first class suites will be larger than their current counterparts, although there’ll be fewer of them – with between six and eight suites on the new birds, down from 12 today, although there’s speculation that the airline could also offer an oversized 1A ‘apartment’ suite.

    First class will also be relocated to the upper deck, instead of the nose of the superjumbo’s main deck.

    Arrayed behind those suites will be redesigned business class seats which will stretch all the way to the end of the upper deck.

    (This same business class seat will also appear on a new ultra-long range version of the Airbus A350 due in late 2018, which Singapore Airlines will use to restart non-stop flights from Singapore to Los Angeles, New York and a third as-yet-unnamed US destination.)

    Sydney is still believed to be earmarked as a launch route for the new Airbus A380, with London to follow.

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  • Virtual Closet offers interactive approach to fashion

    Virtual Closet offers interactive approach to fashion

    In a first for Singapore, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands has unveiled an interactive concept, the Virtual Closet.

    Located on the Grand Colonnade of The Shoppes, it is an interactive platform enabling shoppers to browse the latest collections from Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Tom Ford. Each brand showcases its collections for at least a fortnight, with the closet closing its doors on October15.

    Set up to resemble a walk-in wardrobe, the Virtual Closet has interactive digital mirrors offering a 360-degree view of selected products. Visitors can interact with the display cases and mirrors to switch colours and designs clothing items and accessories.

    A feature is a multi-sensory photo booth where shoppers can choose a projected background and audio soundtrack as they pose for selfies. Those who upload their image on social media can win treats from restaurants at The Shoppes or Marina Bay Sands’ celebrity-chef restaurants.

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  • StarHub offers unlimited data on weekends

    StarHub offers unlimited data on weekends

    Singapore’s StarHub has launched a range of new postpaid mobile plans offering free unlimited local data access on weekends.

    The range of plans will offer unmetered access from 12am on Saturdays to 11:59pm on Sundays.

    During the week the plans range from 3GB of bundled data for S$48 ($35.46) per month to 15GB for S$238. Additional allocations of between 5GB and 20GB depending on the plan can be purchased for S$10 per month, and 2GB can be purchased for roaming in multiple destinations for 30 days for S$15.

    Data can be shared with family members for a small additional fee.

    Voice allocations will be 200 minutes for the base plan and 400 minutes for the S$68 plan, with unlimited voice for the higher tier plans. SMS will be charged at 5.35 cents for all but the highest-tier plan, which comes with unlimited SMS and MMS.

    Customers with compatible smartphones will be able to take advantage of StarHub’s nationwide 400Mbps LTE-A coverage, and the operator has started deploying gigabit-class network upgrades in anticipation of 1Gbps capable handsets.

    “Fueled by more advanced phones and pixel-heavy content, Singapore consumers’ appetite for data continues to grow. With our new data-focused plans, we are enabling our customers to do more of what they love on their smartphones freely and at much faster speeds too,” StarHub head of product  Justin Ang said.

    “We will continue to innovate in step with our customers’ changing digital lifestyles to boost customer satisfaction.”

  • Hardy Hardy Singapore opening flagship in Ion Orchard

    Hardy Hardy Singapore opening flagship in Ion Orchard

    American youth fashion brand Hardy Hardy Singapore has chosen Ion Orchard to set up its first flagship boutique in Southeast Asia.

    Hardy Hardy’s second Singapore store (the first is at Bugis+) offers 1200 sqft (111 sqm) of retail space featuring marble flooring, rose-gold and black metal railings and industrial-style walls.

    Scheduled to open on September 16, the Hardy Hardy Singapore flagship will stock the latest men’s and women’s collections as well as the brand’s limited-edition skull t-shirt embellished with Swarovski crystals, exclusive to Ion Orchard. As well as the brand’s iconic skull motif, the shirt also features the words “Hardy Hardy Singapore” across its back.

    Known for its rock-and-roll style clothing designs, the brand will host a graffiti art performance for its grand opening with appearances by its brand ambassadors Fann Wong and Lee Teng.

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  • GSK Shopper Science Lab opens in Singapore

    GSK Shopper Science Lab opens in Singapore

    A new GSK Shopper Science Lab opened in Singapore will help drive business growth across Asia-Pacific, the company says.

    GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare describes the research centre as a “cutting edge facility” which will deliver unique shopper insights and collaborations with retailers.

    “The Shopper Science Lab is a world-class shopper insight facility, equipped with state-of-the-art digital technology. With virtual reality, eye-tracking, facial biometrics, and data visualisation as some of the tools employed in-house, GSK will invite its trade partners, internal business teams and researchers to use the Lab to recreate retail environments; evaluate shoppers’ responses to online and in-store initiatives; and identify winning strategies and initiatives to enhance the shopping experience,” the company said in a statement.

    “As more shoppers join the global middle class, there is an increased demand for trusted, global brands particularly in the emerging markets. The GSK Shopper Science Lab has close proximity to large emerging markets like India and China, enabling GSK and its retail partners to study diverse emerging shoppers closely, with local data collected on the ground.”

    The GSK Shopper Science Lab consists of three labs integrated seamlessly:

    • A 1215 sqft Retail Lab, an immersive retail environment that allows the re-creation of modern and traditional retail environments such as a pharmacy or supermarket, allowing GSK and its partners to quickly test and evaluate shopper responses.
    • A Digital Lab which is a collaborative space which has the ability to test stimuli such as pack designs, point-of-sale materials, brand assets, TVCs, or content across all platforms.
    • A Collaboration Room, which provides a space to convene key decision makers, enabling them to embark on virtual and fully interactive simulations that include relevant data for faster and more informed decision making.

    “Traditional market research is often time-consuming and expensive,” explained Sidharth Singh, VP of commercial excellence, GSK Consumer Healthcare Asia, Middle East and Africa. “By leveraging the latest advances in virtual reality and biometric technology, we are now able to gather insights more efficiently and effectively.”

    An example of such technology is eye-tracking glasses which can be transported to various cities to provide researchers with an indication of how shoppers shop locally. Technology such as virtual reality, tracking sensors and software that can decode the hotspots, can help analyse this highly localised data to understand shopper behaviour in diverse markets.

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  • Uniqlo Singapore introduces Click & Collect

    Uniqlo Singapore introduces Click & Collect

    Uniqlo Singapore has launched the casualwear brand’s Click & Collect service, allowing shoppers to pick up their online purchases at any of its Singapore stores.

    Customers can choose from the Japanese brand’s full line-up of products, including extra sizes, on its online store. They can then opt to pick up their purchase from a nominated store islandwide, except for the Changi Airport Terminal 1 outlet).

    Using the free service, customers have 14 working days to pick up their orders after receiving their notification email or SMS message.

    Already available in China and Japan, the service will also be launched in Malaysia next month.

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  • OCBC Bank Launches Mobile Keyboard to Enable Cashless Payments

    OCBC Bank Launches Mobile Keyboard to Enable Cashless Payments

    OCBC Bank has launched a mobile keyboard that allows customers to make peer-to-peer payments without having to exit their current mobile applications. The OCBC Keyboard can be used within any mobile app or browser – for instance, within Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram or Chrome – to send money instantly to anyone with a bank account in Singapore, including those who have not yet registered for PayNow. The payment rides on the OCBC Pay Anyone e-payment service and can be done using just the recipient’s mobile number.

    The OCBC Keyboard follows on the heels of OCBC Bank’s launch of e-payments integrated with Apple’s Siri and iMessage for iPhone users in 2016, enabling customers to make instant funds transfers with a voice command to Siri or within the iMessage app while engaged in a chat. With the OCBC Keyboard, the convenience of making an e-payment is extended to any app on Android devices running the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system or better. Payments are completely secure as they are authenticated with the sender’s mobile banking credentials.

    Making a payment via OCBC Keyboard

    Imagine being able to make an e-payment as easily as sending an “emoji” to a friend while chatting on Whatsapp, or while negotiating with a potential seller on the Carousell app. Users can automatically access the OCBC Keyboard on any app on their mobile phones once they have updated the OCBC Mobile Banking app to the latest version. They will need to perform a simple one-time set up to enable the OCBC Keyboard and make it the default keyboard on their phone.

    To send money, users simply tap on the OCBC Pay Anyone icon on the keyboard without exiting or switching from their current app activity.Once they select a recipient from their contact list – which is automatically synced with the keyboard – they will be guided to complete the transfer using OCBC Pay Anyone within the keyboard. Once payment is complete, the user can continue accessing the original app.

    Boosting cashless payments

    In alignment with Singapore’s Smart Nation agenda and its drive to go cashless, the OCBC Keyboard is the latest in a series of OCBC Pay Anyone e-payment services that OCBC Bank has introduced to encourage customers to embrace the move away from cash.

    The adoption of the recently launched PayNow service amongst OCBC Bank customers has been exceptionally strong, with over 200,000 signups to date. E-payments done via the OCBC Pay Anyone service have increased 35 per cent since the launch of PayNow, and one in every two PayNow transactions is via OCBC Pay Anyone.

    Mr Aditya Gupta, OCBC Bank’s Head of E-Business Singapore, said: “With OCBC Keyboard, we are embedding payments in our customers’ lives and making it completely frictionless for them to pay while they go about everyday tasks like chatting on Whatsapp, sending emails, buying items on Carousell or browsing the Internet. I’m confident that this added convenience will exponentially increase the adoption and usage of e-payments, including PayNow transfers. We will continue to push the boundaries on e-payments and move the needle in driving Singapore towards becoming cashless.”

    Evolution of OCBC Pay Anyone

    Launched in 2014, OCBC Pay Anyone was the first peer-to-peer mobile payment service offered by any bank in Singapore that enabled customers to make a payment directly into a recipient’s bank account using just a mobile number, email address or Facebook, without having to perform transaction signing using a security token or to add the recipient as a “payee”.

    In September 2016, the daily transfer limit on OCBC Pay Anyone was increased from $100 to $1,000, bringing greater convenience to customers and allowing payments for bigger-ticket items. In October 2016, OCBC Bank further enhanced OCBC Pay Anyone by enabling transactions using Apple’s Siri voice command feature and directly within iMessage.

    In May this year, OCBC Bank launched its first standalone mobile payments app – the OCBC Pay Anyone app – which now consolidates all OCBC Pay Anyone e-payment services into a one-stop shop for customers’ convenience: Peer-to-peer QR code payments via PayNow, QR code payments to NETS merchants, peer-to-peer e-payments and the integration of OCBC Pay Anyone with Apple iPhone’s Siri and iMessage.

    Enabling the OCBC Keyboard for e-payments

    The OCBC Keyboard is available to all OCBC Bank customers using Android 4.4 KitKat devices with the latest OCBC Mobile Banking app. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

    Customers can enable OCBC Keyboard by following these steps:

    • Tap ‘Pay now’ in the OCBC Mobile Banking app or ‘Send Money’ in the OCBC Pay Anyone app for a tutorial on setting up the keyboard
    • Users will be guided to turn on OCBC Keyboard in Settings and make OCBC Keyboard the default keyboard

    The OCBC Keyboard is now ready to be used as the primary keyboard.

    Making a payment using the OCBC Keyboard

    • Switch to the OCBC Keyboard if it is not the primary keyboard in use
    • Tap on the OCBC Pay Anyone icon on the keyboard to start payment
    • Select the contact you wish to pay to
    • Enter your online banking access code and PIN
    • Select the account to send money from. This step is automatically skipped if you have only one account.
    • Enter the amount to send
    • Create a six-digit passcode to be given to a non-PayNow registered recipient. If the recipient is PayNow-registered, no passcode is required. Confirm the recipient’s name and mobile number on the review screen to proceed.
    • Authenticate payment with a One-Time-Password

    You can then return seamlessly to what you were previously doing on your mobile device. PayNow-registered recipients will receive the payment directly into their bank accounts. If the recipient is not PayNow-registered, they will receive an SMS link. Share the passcode with them to collect the money.

     

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