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Tag: Singapore

  • Singapore retail sales up 0.4% in December

    Singapore retail sales up 0.4% in December

    Singapore’s retail sales rose 0.4 per cent in December 2016 compared to the same month in 2015, mainly due to higher sales of medical goods & toiletries.

    Stripping out sales of motor vehicles, retail sales went up by 0.3 per cent, the Department of Statistics said on Wednesday.

    Compared to November, the seasonally adjusted retail sales figure decreased by 1.9 per cent in December. Excluding motor vehicles, they rose 0.7 per cent.

    Notably, retailers of medical goods & toiletries reported 9.9 per cent increase in sales year on year. Surprisingly, motor vehicle sales rose only 0.9 per cent year on year.

    On a seasonally adjusted basis, motor vehicles sales recorded a dip of 11.9 per cent compared to November. Retail sales of computer & telecommunications equipment and department stores also fell 6.8 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively over the same period.

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  • Tourists give local businesses a big boost

    Tourists give local businesses a big boost

    Tourism spending was a silver lining for the struggling retail industry last year. Tourists spent $4.3 billion on shopping between January and September. That is nearly 50 per cent more than in the same period in 2015, according to figures released yesterday by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

    And local businesses are benefiting. These visitors are turning to “mass market” goods such as confectionery, gifts and souvenirs, and fashion and accessories, as opposed to globally available luxury items, STB said.

    One shop that has been pulling in the crowds is local souvenir shop Supermama.

    “Souvenir” brings to mind run- of-the mill keychains and magnets, but the shop, which opened in 2011, sells nothing of that sort.

    Instead, stocked at its four outlets are Singapore-themed porcelain items, with designs such as the HDB corridor and tembusu tree.

    Founder Lee Meiling said today’s savvier tourists avoid the “usually tacky souvenirs created to get a quick buck from the tourist”.

    “The visuals are designed by local Singapore designers telling very local aspects of the Singapore culture and lifestyle,”she said.

    Some items come with a write-up on the Singapore icons they feature. Tourist sales make up between 20 per cent and 35 per cent of sales, an increase from the 15 per cent two years ago, added Ms Lee.

    Explaining visitors’ interest in home-grown brands, deputy chief executive of STB Melissa Ow said during a press briefing yesterday: “People want to have some affinity with the destination, so something that is going to be intrinsic and unique, and speaks to the attributes of the destination will, I think, continue to have a lot of value among our visitors.”

    Another retail store, Megafash, which carries more than 600 independent local brands, has also gained traction among tourists, which comes as a bit of a surprise to the company, as it did not target this group.

    Items sold by the outfit include plates that are designed with recipes for local dishes such as nasi lemak, “rainbow agar agar” doorstops, and T-shirts with Singlish phrases.

    Several of its six stores are near tourist areas. The outlet in Tanjong Pagar shopping mall 100AM, for example, is next to a hotel.

    The Farm Store – which sells items such as chilli-crab aprons and supplies these items to other shops, including Megafash, Naiise and Tangs at Tangs Plaza – has seen a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in tourists looking for “uniquely Singapore” souvenirs.

    Head of retail and marketing at Singapore Polytechnic’s business school Amos Tan said such Singapore brands tend to do well because consumers are looking for novelty.

    “Consumers today, they have been there, done that, travelled all over, and seen the global brands elsewhere. So they look for something that is truly Singaporean, and these shops offer them.”

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  • Singapore CIOs taking action against BYOD threats

    Singapore CIOs taking action against BYOD threats

    CIOs in Singapore are stepping up their fight against the security risks posed by the widespread adoption of BYOD practices.

    More than one in three (36%) CIOs say a lack of employee knowledge and skills around data security is the most significant security risk their organisation will face in the next five years, according to a report from Robert Half.

    While traditionally, the response to IT security has been to find the optimum way to protect a business’ assets from external security attacks, a growing risk now faces organisations in the form of potential internal security threats.

    This threat is made evident by the fact that almost three in four (74%) CIOs allow their employees to access corporate data on their personal devices.

    Matthieu Imbert-Bouchard, managing director of Robert Half Singapore said that BYOD practices offer many advantages such as increased employee satisfaction, productivity and cost savings, so companies must take steps to balance both their employees’ needs and their security concerns.

    To combat the ongoing threat posed by BYOD, nearly all (97%) of CIOs are taking action to protect their company from potential data breaches.

    The most common response (58%) is to train personnel on cyber-security policies and corporate practices when using their personal devices. Signing an acceptable use policy also seems to be standard practice for more than half (57%) of the Singaporean companies.

    Technical applications are being implemented as 53% say they are deploying mobile device management technology and 52% are using authentication software.

    There is an increased demand for IT security specialists with the niche skills needed to protect companies against data security risks, including risks related to BYOD. But finding the right skillset is a challenge, with all of Singaporean CIOs saying it is difficult to source skilled technology professionals, with one in three (29%) saying professionals with mobile security skills are the most in demand.

  • Soo Kee Group forming JV in Thailand

    Soo Kee Group forming JV in Thailand

    Soo Kee Group has sealed a deal to form a company with Thai jeweller Aurora Design.

    With an initial paid-up capital of S$1.2 million (US$845,000), the JV will be set up in Thailand. Soo Kee will hold a 40 per cent stake in the company with Aurora holding the balance. The move will help Soo Kee launch its bespoke bridal jewellery brand, Love & Co, on the Thailand market. It is also in line with the group’s growth strategy to widen business networks and strengthen its market position in the region.

    Under the agreement, the JV will sell gold and diamond products under the Love & Co brand while Soo Kee will license and supply intellectual property rights, products and support to the company.

    “Thailand’s huge population and growing upper and middle classes provide a large target market for luxury spending,” says Soo Kee Group CEO Daniel Lim. “We believe the sheer size of the country also presents many untapped opportunities for the group.”

    Meanwhile, the group has entered the bullion business as part of its product diversification plan. It acquired a 70 per cent stake in DK Bullion for S$800,000 this month.

    Soo Kee, founded in 1991, has more than 60 retail stores across Singapore and Malaysia.

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  • Hermes sales rise 7 per cent in Asia

    Hermes sales rise 7 per cent in Asia

    Hermes sales rose 8 per cent last year for French high-fashion goods manufacturer Hermes International.

    In what it describes as a “difficult context”, the group’s consolidated revenue reached €5202 million (US$5.5 billion).

    Sales growth was sustained in the fourth quarter (up 8 per cent at current exchange rates, and 7 per cent at constant exchange rates), with all geographies progressing.

    Hermes continued to improve the quality of its distribution network, with four store openings and renovation and extension works.

    Japan (up 9 per cent) performed well thanks to its selective distribution network, despite the strengthening of the yen and a high comparison basis.

    Asia excluding Japan (up 7 per cent) pursued growth, particularly with extensions of the Liat Towers and Takashimaya stores in Singapore and store openings in Macau, at Hong Kong Airport and in Chongqing in China.

    In Mainland China, the group says it continued to develop even though the context remains challenging in Hong Kong and Macau.

    Growth over the year was driven by leather goods and saddlery products, which continue to be the mainstay of the group. Otherwise, sales benefitted from a positive momentum at year end in such sectors as silk and the ready-to-wear and accessories division.

    Growth “remarkable”

    Hermes says the 14 per cent growth in leather goods and saddlery was remarkable, thanks to the success of the collections and the diversity of models, particularly the Constance, Halzan and Lindy bags alongside the Birkin and Kelly.

    The ready-to-wear and accessories division was stable over the year, posting a 4 per cent increase in the fourth quarter driven by the latest women’s collections, particularly shoes.

    While sales eased 1 per cent for the silk and textiles business line in the fourth quarter, Hermes says it was a good result in the face of being penalised by events in Europe and slowing sales in Greater China during the first half of the year.

    A 9 per cent growth in sales of perfumes was driven by the success of Terre d’Hermes, the launch of Galop d’Hermes and the latest creations such as colognes Eau de Neroli Dore and Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate.

    Down 3 per cent, the watches division was penalised by a still challenging market and a high comparison basis at year end. Sales rose 2 per cent for other Hermes business lines, encompassing jewellery, Art of Living and Hermes Table Arts.

    Meanwhile, Hermes is pursuing its long-term development strategy based on creativity. This year it is celebrating the “Meaning of Objects”.

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  • Garmin sets up regional HQ in Singapore with eye on SEA

    Garmin sets up regional HQ in Singapore with eye on SEA

    Global manufacturer of fitness products Garmin has selected Singapore as its regional headquarters as part of the brand’s strategic plan to strengthen its presence in the region.

    Garmin’s consumer products have been sold in Singapore through distributors since the early 1990s. The company has a strong foundation in engineering products for aviation and marine since 1989.

    With the opening of its Singapore headquarters, Garmin will now directly manage sales and marketing of its consumer business devices in South-East Asia and India region.

    Leading Garmin’s Singapore business is its managing director for South Asia/ India region, Engelhard Al Sundoro, who will manage Garmin’s consumer business in six Southeast Asian (SEA) countries that include Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

    “Outside of US, China and Taiwan, it is a natural step for the brand to strengthen our presence in SEA with Singapore as our headquarters as consumers here tend to be early adopters of technology,” said Al Sundoro.

    Garmin had recently announced its partnership with EZ-Link to launch a special version of its vivosmart HR activity tracker with built-in NFC contactless payment capability. This would allow commuters to use their fitness band to pay for their train, bus, cab rides and even purchase items at selected retail stores in Singapore.

    “As a company, we need to be an enduring brand that consistently innovates. In order to do that, it is essential for us to be closer to our customers to understand what they need. Even as a global brand, Garmin sees each market differently as the customer needs in each region is diverse,” he added.

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  • iFashion Group acquires lifestyle marketplace Megafash

    iFashion Group acquires lifestyle marketplace Megafash

    Singapore-based lifestyle venture platform, iFashion Group, announced today it has acquired Singaporean independent designer brands marketplace Megafash for S$3.5 million (US$2.23 million), in a cash and shares deal.

    iFashion group also appointed Jeremy Khoo, the CEO and founder of Dressabelle – an O2O fashion marketplace that it acquired last year for S$7.5 million (US$5.5 million) – as its new CEO.

    This new development will strengthen iFashion Group’s position as a major lifestyle portal in Southeast Asia. Megafash has both a strong online and offline presence, with its 7 stores occupying over 15,000 sq ft. It works with over 2,000 indie brands globally to sell over 300,000 unique products on its marketplace. In 2016, Megafash’s annualised revenue was reported to be S$8 million (US$5.7 million).

    “It’s an exciting time for us at Megafash. The brand has grown significantly, from 3 stores in 2015 to 7 stores currently. In times of economic downtown, we are pleased to say that our revenue grew five times from 2015. Megafash continues to grow as Singapore’s leading lifestyle marketplace. In fact, in December we received as many as 2,000 orders a day,” said Megafash’s CEO and Co-Founder, Jiawen Ngeow, in an official press release.

    The acquisition of Megafash will also accelerate iFashion Group’s plans to go public. A press release said that the company is mulling an IPO at the end of April or May.

    Last year. besides Dressabelle, iFashion Group made two other acquisitions: online retail real estate booking platform INVADE, and Malaysian fashion brand NOSE.

  • Eight in ten Singaporeans shop online

    Eight in ten Singaporeans shop online

    Online shopping is fast becoming a favourite activity of Singaporeans, research shows, as the country’s bricks and mortar retail sector continues to struggle.

    A survey, conducted by Edelman Intelligence and Criteo, revealed that 84% of Singaporeans love to shop online and nearly a third of respondents – especially millennials and wealthier Singaporeans – make at least one purchase each week on e-commerce platforms.

    Nearly every Singaporean questioned (95%) had used their smartphone or tablet to browse for products or services online in the past month. But while Singapore enjoys the world’s highest smartphone penetration, locals were less likely to use their phone to make purchases, feeling that computers are better suited to purchasing high-value items.

    Almost two thirds (65%) said they would prefer to use their computers for big ticket items such as airfares or luxury goods, and 42% would be happy to spend more than SG$500 on a single purchase compared to 16% on their mobile.

    Personal income also has a direct correlation to where products are bought; those on a higher income tend to buy from Japan, the UK and Europe, whereas those on a lower income tend to buy from China. (For more 2017 retail trends in Singapore, read Warc’s report: Trend Watch 2017: Singapore seeks retail revival, economic resilience.)

    The data also reveals that showrooming, where shoppers browse in-store then buy online, is also a growing trend in the country. The primary incentive for showrooming is deals and promotions (69%) and cheaper products (66%) whilst free or cheaper delivery is a big consideration (43%). Almost two thirds of respondents had searched for a product online while being in a store to compare deals.

  • DHL Supply Chain appoints Jerome Gillet as CEO of its new Singapore cluster

    DHL Supply Chain appoints Jerome Gillet as CEO of its new Singapore cluster

    DHL Supply Chain, which is involved in contract logistics solutions, has named Jerome Gillet as CEO of the new Singapore cluster which includes Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

    In this role, Gillet will continue to report to DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific CEO Terry Ryan, while remaining as a member of the regional board.

    The appointment will bring synergy for the three markets and drive new growth for the region.

    The DHL Supply Chain businesses locally will continue to be led by the respective country heads – Jason Goh, managing director, DHL Supply Chain Singapore; Mike Davies, managing director, DHL Supply Chain Malaysia; and Suzie Mitchell, managing director, DHL Supply Chain Philippines — who now report to Gillet.

    “We see tremendous opportunity in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines to grow our business with even more focus on greater service quality in the markets. Jerome has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to customer needs, and, in a changing economic climate, he is well placed to help customers deliver greater value from their supply chains,” said.

    “An innovator and strategic leader, Jerome is well suited to lead the next stage of growth transformation in our Singapore cluster. With his track record of delivering accelerated growth and building strong customer relationships, I am confident he will drive this new cluster in achieving high and sustainable growth.”

    “I am looking forward to accelerating growth in the newly formed cluster with a strong focus on quality, innovation and customer centricity,” said Gillet.

    Gillet’s career in logistics spans over 20 years (the last 17 years in the Asia Pacific) and includes roles in general management, operations and business development. His last appointment as chief customer officer (CCO) of DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific saw him turn Asia Pacific into the fastest-growing region worldwide within DHL Supply Chain.

    The growth was driven by his business development efforts in key sectors such as Consumer & Retail, Technology and Life Sciences.

    Prior to his role as the CCO, Gillet was the vice president of Consumer sector for Asia Pacific, and increased annual new business gains by over 200% between 2008 and 2014.

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  • Singapore Airlines Q3 operating profit up 1.7%

    Singapore Airlines Q3 operating profit up 1.7%

    Singapore Airlines reported on Tuesday a 1.7 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit, helped by an unexpected growth from cargo and mail, while net fuel costs fell.

    Profit reached S$293 million ($207 million) for the three months ended Dec. 31, S$5 million up from the same period last year.

    The carrier, a barometer of the health of Asia’s airline industry, said “2017 is expected to be another challenging year amid tepid global economic conditions and geopolitical concerns, alongside other market headwinds such as overcapacity and aggressive pricing by competitors.”

    The company has come under pressure due to weakening demand for full-service long-haul travel amid competition from low-cost carriers and Middle Eastern network carriers.

    Operating profit in its main SIA brand fell 16.6 percent to S$151 million. Profit fell 9.1 percent in its Silkair regional airline, and was flat-to-slightly-higher for low-cost subsidiaries, Tiger Airways and Scoot.

     SIA Cargo posted an operating profit of S$53 million, its best third quarter performance in nine years, due to stronger-than-expected demand. In the same period of last year, SIA Cargo only managed a S$2 million profit.

    Net fuel costs declined $200 million, largely due to a $256 million reduction in fuel hedging loss, the company said.

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  • Fewer sales, but more profit for Courts Asia

    Fewer sales, but more profit for Courts Asia

    Electrical, IT and furniture retailer Courts Asia reports 24.4 per cent growth in net profit to S$5 million (US$3.5 million) for the third quarter to December 31.

    This is despite revenue falling 8.6 per cent year-on-year to $187.2 million, attributed to lower corporate sales for digital products, coupled with the recall of the Samsung Note 7 smartphone.

    Courts Asia executive director/group CEO Terry O’Connor says the growth in profitability despite a lacklustre retail environment underscores the sustainability of the company’s cost-savings initiatives and productivity measures.

    “We were also able to achieve better gross profit margin of 33.1 per cent, compared to 29.7 per cent for the previous third quarter.”

    He says Singapore will lead the way for the group’s vision to be a regional omnichannel player by investing in the continuous improvement and innovation of its stores, both offline and online. “We will use Singapore’s e-store as the benchmark for improving the front-end experience and back-end capabilities for our Indonesia and Malaysia online stores.”

    Singapore revenue, which made up 66.8 per cent of Courts Asia’s top line in the quarter, slid 12.3 per cent. Revenue in Malaysia, which contributes 29.3 per cent of the group’s turnover, fell 5.9 per cent, while in Indonesia, still a relatively new market, there was a 104.3 per cent jump in revenue mainly because of new stores. O’Connor says Indonesia represents an “insignificant portion” of the group’s overall revenue at just 3.9 per cent.

    Group gross profit margins increased marginally to 33.1 per cent from 29.7 per cent the previous third quarter.

    Meanwhile, O’Connor says Courts Asia is seeking to achieve the right store portfolio balance in terms of number of locations or store format. In Malaysia, the company expects to increase its store base from 67 to 70 by the end of this financial year, while in Indonesia one store opened during the quarter, with its ninth outlet on track to open this year.

  • Hooters of Singapore leads Asia expansion

    Hooters of Singapore leads Asia expansion

    Hooters of Singapore – Marina Bay has opened in Marina Boulevard, led by franchisee Destination Properties Group.

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    Covering 2336 sqft (217 sqm) and close to Marina Bay Sands and Marina Bay Financial Center, the restaurant features more than 22 large-screen televisions. The US chain is known for its hostesses, wings and live televised sports.

    “The growth of Hooters locations in Asia is continuing its momentum,” says Destination Properties Group CEO Gary Murray.

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    The new venue is part of a 35-location Southeast Asia development agreement between Hooters and the Singapore-based international franchisee. There are now 24 outlets in Asia, with plans to open more this year in Phnom Penh, Samui, Jakarta, Singapore (Fusionopolis), Taipei and multiple locations in Manila.

    Meanwhile, the brand is seeking further restaurant sites in Bali, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Kowloon, Jakarta, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Manila, Cebu and Davao, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei and Yangon.

    Hooters plans to open more than 30 restaurants globally this year.

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  • Singtel Q3 profit grows 2% to $686.6m

    Singtel Q3 profit grows 2% to $686.6m

    Singapore’s Singtel grew its net profit for its fiscal third quarter by 2% to S$973 million ($686.6 million) in the face of declining operating revenue.

    Revenue fell 2% to S$4.41 billion as a result of a regulator-mandated reduction in mobile termination rates in Australia, the home market of Singtel’s wholly-owned subsidiary Optus.

    The reduction led to a 10% decline in group consumer revenue from Australia to A$1.81 billion ($1.38 billion), but consumer revenue from Singapore grew 4% for the quarter to S$657 million, as home services revenue increased by 7%.

    Group enterprise revenue was mostly flat at S$1.65 billion, with revenue from cybersecurity up 10% to S$113 million. Group digital life revenue meanwhile grew 22% to S$167 million, driven by a strong performance from digital marketing arm Amobee.

    Singtel’s share of pre-tax earnings from its regional mobile associates meanwhile grew 2% – or 0.6% in constant currency – to S$660 million. Indonesia’s Telkomsel delivered a strong performance with pre-tax profits up 31%, but Bhari Airtel’s pre-tax profits fell 27% due to the ongoing price war in India.

    Thailand’s AIS likewise saw its pretax profit decline by 28% due to spectrum and financing costs, reducing its contribution to S$89 million. The Philippines’ Globe’s contribution grew 18% to S$66 million.

    This quarter also included contribution from the company’s new 21% stake in Intouch, acquired in November. Intouch contributed a pre-tax profit of S$4 million.

    “This is a resilient set of results. We have managed to hold good ground against the backdrop of a slowing Singapore economy and more challenging business environment all around,” Singtel group CEO Chua Sock Koong commented.

    “While there are concerns of a global economic slowdown, the growth story in the developing markets where we are invested remains compelling as mobile data usage continued to grow across all our mobile associates.”

    The Singtel group’s total mobile customer base across its operations and those of its affiliates meanwhile grew another 2% during the quarter to 640 million.

  • Singapore-based ecommerce enabler Shopmatic is striving to get Indians sell their wares online

    Singapore-based ecommerce enabler Shopmatic is striving to get Indians sell their wares online

    It took just one year for Anurag Avula to realise that India is an investment market. “That’s the top learning from India,“ confesses cofounder and CEO of Singapore-based ecommerce enabler Shopmatic, which forayed into the country in January 2016. However, investment for Avula doesn’t mean pumping in millions of dollars. “You need to invest in people, educate them and consult them,“ he says.

    For an ecommerce enabler like Shopmatic–which helps people set up online stores–investment in human resource appears to be its biggest weapon in cracking a market where people are still apprehensive transacting online in spite of a big digital push by the government. Out of an estimated 51 million small and medium enterprises in India, only 10 mil lion are technology ready, according to a recent Google-KPMG report.

    “The opportunity is massive,“ says Avula, adding that the fledgling startup is not confining itself to small enterprises. The target could be anybody. Take, for instance, an aunty that makes pickle, a mom that bakes cake, a student that gives guitar tuitions, a working professional who is also a photographer, or a retired uncle who can offer math tutions.

    “While everybody wants to take their business online, they need a lot of handholding to overcome latent barriers,“ he reckons, informing that the startup has tied up with Confederation of All India Traders, representing over 6 crore merchants.

    From providing free domain names to templates for building stores, to uploading pictures and text, enabling payment and shipping with domestic and international partners, and even helping list on Amazon and eBay, Shopmatic is pushing the envelope to accumulate as many users as possible. Last November, it launched a mobile app GO that enables sellers to build online sites using their mobile phones in just 2 minutes. “We are already clocking over 50,000 downloads, just weeks after launch,“ he claims. While for a first-time merchant who is tentative about the online world, GO is the best option as it helps recruit newbies into the digital world for free; for others Shopmatic offers a subscription model of $20 per month.

    But why would a seller listed on a marketplace or with a page on Facebook page want a bespoke online store? Shenaz Bapooji, chief marketing officer of Shopmatic, contends there are reasons aplenty.

    Some players are tired of parting with high commissions and playing second fiddle to `other brands’ on a marketplace.For them, Shopmatic offers best value.Others consider social media as a catalogue service but have trouble getting closure because the mediums are not ecommerce enabled. There is another category, points out Bapooji, who have built sites through other ecommerce platforms but are switching to Shopmatic as they need to hire experts to manage their sites. “Indians are eager to embrace digital but are waiting for someone to show the way,“ she adds.

    Industry analysts attest to massive business possibilities in making Indians come online. “What is positive about Shopmatic is that it is taking a `handholding’ approach,“ says marketing expert Jessie Paul. When we say `go online’ in India, most businesses would translate that to sell on Facebook, Flipkart and Amazon or more recently on Paytm. They are not likely to look at a specific tool to achieve this and are unlikely to consider a standalone online property, as that requires a lot of brand-building and trust.

    However, the Achilles heel for Shopmatic could be lack of awareness.Unlike more aggressive rivals such as GoDaddy, which has been aggressively advertising on TV, Shopmatic has been under the radar. Avula concedes awareness might be an issue but doesn’t believe in going all guns blazing.

    “It is tempting to put a big burst of money behind TV, but it’s not always possible,“ he says. Shopmatic is instead opting to be efficient about its presence online, by on-boarding `non-digital’ audiences through road shows and market storming activities that help spread awareness.

    “Other companies don’t enable the ecosystem for selling online like we do,“ he claims, adding that he believes in playing a smart and longterm game. “India is a priority market for us and will stay so,“ he signs off.

  • Last Mile Fulfilment Asia returns for the third edition from 2 to 3 March 2017

    Last Mile Fulfilment Asia returns for the third edition from 2 to 3 March 2017

    Last Mile Fulfilment Asia (LMFAsia), the region’s premier trade show for the retail, ecommerce, logistics and parcel industries, returns with the third edition on 2 to 3 March 2017. Themed “Go Global, Deliver Local”, the event aims to drive and strengthen a borderless fulfilment process, where in-market industry players fortify their business locally whilst expanding their foothold in the region through perfecting the last mile beyond borders.

    Amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainties today, Southeast Asia ecommerce market continues to grow to 16 times and will reach $88 billion by 2025 . The two-day conference and exhibition, organised by SingEx Exhibitions will deep-dive into the need to tap on the potential growth of ecommerce, and optimise the cross border fulfilment and delivery processes.

    The multi-track conference component of the trade show will focus on evolutionary topics such as turning fulfilment challenges into opportunities, designing cross-border fulfilment solutions across Asia. In recognising that the last mile of the fulfilment process costs almost 28 per cent of total cost of moving goods , achieving cost efficiency through innovative logistics solutions will be key to amplify the ecommerce market that is already expanding at rapid speed in the region. According to Frost & Sullivan, the global B2B ecommerce market alone will reach US$6.7 trillion by 2020. The 2017 conference will feature a new track “The Future of ecommerce is B2B ecommerce”, in which industry speakers from renowned retail, ecommerce and logistics leaders will share keynotes, highlighting the potential wins of adapting a successful B2C model into the B2B segment to conduct ecommerce business in a similar fashion.

    Separately, the exhibition component of Last Mile Fulfilment Asia will offer a convenient business matching platform for innovative companies to meet potential business partners, and showcase products and technologies that add value in the delivery chain. There will be three thematic zones dedicated to specific solution categories ranging from last mile, fulfilment centres, warehousing to automation.

    Adrian Sng, general manager of SingEx Exhibitions said, “Industry giants from China and US are pursuing significant ecommerce market shares in Asia and it will be a challenging year with headwinds affecting many in the fulfilment business. In order for companies to gain a competitive edge, there is a need to leverage technology to advance and conquer the last mile. This year’s overarching objective will be to bring this to the forefront. Through our focused strategy of curating trade events in emerging markets and industries with high-growth potential, Last Mile Fulfilment Asia will be a driving force for change that will see ecommerce and the fulfilment business playing a much more significant role in the region.”

    Charles Brewer, chief executive officer of DHL eCommerce, who will be sharing during the conference on leveraging opportunities presented in cross-border ecommerce, acknowledges the game-changing benefits last mile fulfilment will bring. “Perfecting logistics is the key to delivering the best ecommerce experience and a great chance to deliver a smile in the last mile. I am looking forward to sharing and connecting with other ecommerce players at the conference to discuss latest trends in this very exciting industry.”

    Joseph Yuen, board chairman of the Hong Kong federation of ecommerce and managing director of China Post Trade Development Company Limited, will also be speaking during the conference on paving the way into doing business in China through “11.11” case study. “Technology brings businesses closer to each other and around the world, but successful cross border ecommerce does need a mastery in the difference in culture, trade practices, government policy and others. On this note, Last Mile Fulfilment Asia 2017 provides a great opportunity for industry stakeholders to catch up with the latest trends and solutions in cross-border ecommerce.”

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