Tag: Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia – Telkom Indonesia, through its Metra Digital Media (MDMedia) subsidiary, has announced the launch of its ‘programmatic advertising platform which will leverage telco data to deliver more targeted digital ads.

The new platform, called ‘AdXelerate,’ is a demand-side platform (DSP) service that enables digital advertisers to buy ads more quickly and automatically match them for optimum placement across multiple publishers.

According to Telkom Indonesia, another advantage of the ‘AdXelerate’ service is the ability to optimise ads directly in real-time and based on performance, thus providing flexibility and efficiency for advertisers. 

In addition, said DSP platform also provides the advantage of a re-targeting process by sharpening the segmentation of the target audience through a big data analytic learning process that can increase conversions according to the advertiser’s expected goals. 

In terms of data security, this platform is designed with the main priority of compliance with privacy regulations that refer to the Personal Data Protection Act.

During the platform’s launch, Arif Prabowo, president director at MDMedia said the platform also benefits by using datasets from Telkom’s fixed and mobile operations.

“This service can help advertisers face modern challenges in today’s digital marketing by analysing insights from diverse telco data. Through the use of AdXelerate, advertisers can provide optimal, effective, and efficient results,” Prabowo said.

Meanwhile, Honesti Basyir, business development director at Telkom Group, commented, “AdXelerate is the result of Telkom Group’s collaboration between MDMedia and Telkomsel which is able to accelerate advertising promotions from customers to be more targeted and efficient through the application of big data analytics.”

Many recent technology developments such as generative AI and enhanced customer engagement strategies. are greatly improving the marketing and advertising environment and providing several advantages in a variety of fields. For instance, businesses are analysing customer data in a new way thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which allows for accurate targeting and personalised content distribution. 

With the use of these technologies, marketers can better target their ads to specific audiences, anticipate their behaviour, and increase engagement and conversion rates. Large data sets must be swiftly processed and interpreted in order for marketing tactics to be both more successful and flexible enough to respond to shifting consumer patterns.

Moreover, as these technologies develop further, they give marketers strong tools to design dynamic, captivating, and tailored campaigns that increase consumer loyalty to brands and broaden their consumer base. In the future, incorporating these state-of-the-art technologies is expected to further enhance the efficacy and originality of marketing campaigns, establishing new benchmarks for success in the sector.

To further explore more industry insights on the future of marketing and advertising this 2024 and beyond, MARKETECH APAC has announced new updates to its industry-leading What’s NEXT series, with more expanded plans targeted to reach more marketers in the Asia-Pacific region, giving industry leaders a platform to highlight their insights and advice on the latest trends in marketing and advertising.

What’s NEXT in Marketing: Indonesia 2024

Kicking off this year’s instalment is MARKETECH APAC’s debut conference in Indonesia with its What’s NEXT in Marketing: Indonesia 2024 which will be held on November 7 at Pullman Jakarta Indonesia. This inaugural flagship event will offer industry leaders with a platform to exchange experiences, knowledge, and foresights that will shape the future of marketing in Indonesia.

Our initial roster of speakers include:

  • Bharat Buxani, Senior Vice President, Marketing at 99 Group Indonesia
  • Kelvin Hong, Director of Brand Marketing at A&W Restaurants Inc
  • Gita Rostika, Group Head of Marketing at bank bjb
  • Mediko Azwar, Chief Marketing Officer at Blue Bird Group
  • Ilham Pratama, Head of Marketing at Chery Motor
  • Irfansyah Kurnia Putra, Country Head of Marketing at IKEA
  • Rajesh Grover, Group VP – Digital and Omnichannel at Kanmo Group
  • Yosua Tanuwiria, VP of Marketing at Pluang
  • Ryan Dawa, Head of Marketing at Reku
  • Asnawi Jufrie, VP & GM of Southeast Asia at SleekFlow

What’s NEXT in Marketing: Malaysia 2024

Later this year, What’s NEXT in Marketing: Malaysia 2024 will also kick-off on December 3-4 at Sheraton Petaling Jaya. This conference is the second time a What’s NEXT conference has been held in Malaysia following the successful launch of the 2023 conference back in December 5, 2023.

Our initial roster of speakers for this 2024 conference includes:

  • Andrea Chuang, Campaign Marketing Head at AirAsia MOVE
  • Huey Ying Leong, Head of Marketing at Burger King
  • Xing Jun Khoo, Head of Digital, Media & Insights at Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad
  • Evelyn Lee, Head of Marketing at Secret Recipe Cakes & Cafe
  • Asnawi Jufrie, VP and GM of Southeast Asia at SleekFlow 
  • Mun Yee Lau, Head of Branded Content and Social at TIME dotCom
  • Jason Yong, CEO and Founder of Unicom Marketing
  • Alyaa Ramlan, Head of Social at Unifi

What’s NEXT in Marketing: Singapore 2025

Kicking off in 2025 as well is our What’s NEXT in Marketing: Singapore 2025 which will be held from February 19-20. This is the second What’s NEXT conference in Singapore following the 2024 edition on March 7 and saw an attendance of 150 delegates.

What’s NEXT in Marketing: Philippines 2025

For 2025, MARKETECH APAC kicks off its first What’s NEXT conference of that year with What’s NEXT in Marketing: Philippines 2025 which will be held on March 26 to 27, 2025 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. This is the third time What’s NEXT will cater to the Philippine market following huge success on its first instalment of the conference in 2023 with more than 200 in-person attendees, while the second one earlier this year had 219 in-person attendees.

What’s NEXT in Marketing: Hong Kong 2025

For the first time ever, MARKETECH APAC will also be bringing the What’s NEXT conference in Hong Kong with its What’s NEXT in Marketing: Hong Kong 2025 happening in April 24, 2025. More details will be announced.

Joven Barceñas, founder and CEO of MARKETECH APAC, said, “Since its launch, What’s NEXT has always set its vision to ignite powerful conversations that will shape the future of marketing in Asia-Pacific. From emerging technologies to shifting consumer behaviours, What’s NEXT is where industry leaders, visionaries, and trendsetters will come together to explore new frontiers, redefine strategies, and inspire groundbreaking ideas. These conferences are more than just events—they are catalysts for change, empowering us to stay ahead of the curve, anticipate trends, and lead the charge in transforming the way we connect with consumers. We are thrilled that this year’s series, we are expanding the conversations in Indonesia and Hong Kong.”

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joven Barceñas at [email protected].

For speaking opportunities for these conferences, contact Katherine Sy at [email protected]; and for registrations, reach out to Hans Policarpio at [email protected].

Paris, France – French accessible luxury fashion group SMCP, the parent company of fashion brands Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac, is delighted to announce the signing of two new distribution partnerships with two major APAC countries: the Philippines and Indonesia. 

Following the announcement of its expansion in India over a year ago, the Group has signed two new distribution partnerships with SSI Group (Philippines) and Map Group (Indonesia). For the group, these two key countries in the APAC region are key drivers of development and influence, with strong economic growth and a flourishing middle class. 

SMCP has already opened its first Sandro Indonesian store in Jakarta (Plaza Senayan). In the Philippines, it plans to open 4 shops in Greenbelt and Central Square, two key districts of metropolitan Manila, as well as 3 corners in the Rustan’s Makati department stores. 

Other openings are planned over the next 5 years in the most prestigious shopping malls in these two countries. 881 Group is a specialist luxury and ready-to-wear retailer in the Philippines. SSI Group operates 570 stores throughout the Philippines on behalf of 90 brands, including long-term partnerships with leading fashion houses (Cartier, Hermes, Givenchy, Zara etc). 

Meanwhile, Map Group, a distributor in Indonesia since 1995, has become a leader in several segments over the years (fashion, cosmetics, sport, etc.). Today, Map Group operates nearly 3,000 shops (Ind itex Group, Loewe, Max Mara, Lacoste, Starbucks, etc.) in almost 80 Indonesian towns and cities. 

Jakarta, Indonesia – AIA in Indonesia has recently launched its latest ‘Rethink Healthy’ campaign, which aims to change how common folks view health and make it a bigger part of their daily lives by offering a new definition of health, encouraging more people to live healthier lives through enjoyable and easily integrated daily activities.

The ‘Rethink Healthy’ initiative from AIA seeks to advance a new, more relevant, and inclusive notion of health for all. It promotes a more sustainable and all-encompassing approach to health and emphasizes routine tasks that, when completed consciously, can enhance health in a more comprehensive and doable way.

The new campaign places a strong emphasis on the idea of “Berbeda-beda tapi sehat juga (different, but healthy too),” which suggests that everyone has a different definition and approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Everyone may find their own method to reach their health goals with the support of easy-to-integrate simple activities like walking, singing, resting, taking public transit, and spending time in nature.

Kathryn Parapak, chief marketing officer at AIA Indonesia, said, “Everyone has a unique way of taking care of their health. Through ‘Rethink Healthy’, we want to show that healthy living can be achieved with multi-dimensional activities. The important thing is to find activities that suit each person’s lifestyle and preferences. We believe that by providing space for individuals to explore and tailor healthy activities to their needs, they will be more motivated to achieve their health goals.”

She added, “With simple and diverse daily activities, we hope that this campaign will involve more people in Indonesia to jointly realise a healthier, longer, better life. This campaign is also carried out in various AIA Group markets and is expected to contribute to AIA’s One Billion ambition to engage one billion people in healthier lives by 2030.”

As part of this local campaign rollout, AIA will also host a ‘Sing A Thon’ to bring the idea to life, inviting everyone to join in on group singing and karaoke. The purpose of the activity is to demonstrate that singing has advantages for both physical and mental health in addition to being enjoyable. The public is welcome to attend the ‘Sing A Thon’, which is scheduled for the end of 2024. 

Meanwhile, Dion Wiyoko, an AIA vitality ambassador, commented, “As someone who has a busy schedule, with this ‘Rethink Healthy’ I am rethinking my health and my family and I have found a new way to maintain a healthy lifestyle through AIA Vitality which helps me to maintain my health in a simple way even by walking. I became aware that these small, consistent steps can bring great benefits and changes to my health.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – UOB Indonesia and Telkomsel have launched a co-branded credit card to support the growing needs of customers’ digital and aspirational lifestyles. By combining the strengths of both companies’ brands and services, the UOB Telkomsel Card enables customers to enjoy a more connected digital lifestyle with a seamless and rewarding experience, embodying the essence of ‘Lifestyle Connected.’

The UOB Telkomsel Credit Card is tailored to complement the modern, connected lifestyle of today’s customers through a range of special benefits, from triple UOB Points for every IDR2,000 spent on Telkomsel Halo Bill Payment and Cinema XXI; as well as retail transactions in Dining, Fashion, Dept. Store, Foreign Transactions merchant categories. 

Additional exclusive benefits include Bonus Telkomsel RoaMAX Package covering ASEAN, ASIA, Australia, America, and Europe, along with Buy 1 Get 2 Cinema XXI tickets every Saturday. The card also provides additional travel inconvenience and overseas medical protection. Moreover, cardholders can take advantage of exclusive promotions with major e-commerce and online merchants, such as GrabFood, Tokopedia and Traveloka. 

To celebrate the launch, new cardholders can enjoy Welcome Bonus of up to IDR2.2 million, including special price on new Telkomsel Halo+ bold package starting from IDR1.

Cristina Teh Tan, consumer banking director at UOB Indonesia, said, “Customer centricity is at the core of what we do. With our strategic partnership with Telkomsel, the largest telecommunication provider in Indonesia, we look forward to provide customer experience and offer a diverse range of offerings to cater to today’s digitally connected urban lifestyles. This underscores our ambition to be the bank of choice for Indonesia’s aspiring individuals.” 

Meanwhile, Derrick Heng, chief marketing officer at Telkomsel, commented, “As the leading digital telecommunications service provider in Indonesia, Telkomsel is committed to delivering innovative and superior connectivity, services, and solutions to its customers.”

He added, “Through the convenience of seamless digital connectivity and hassle-free bill payment and various remarkable lifestyle offerings that support a more connected digital lifestyle with the UOB Telkomsel Credit Card, we hope that this ongoing partnership with UOB Indonesia can continue to provide added value, opening more opportunities for the people to create better today and excellent future.”

It is worth noting that over the years, Indonesia has witnessed significant growth on digital connection, driven by the increased internet penetration, a thriving middle class, and a rising preference for online shopping. The number of internet users reached 185.3 million, with mobile internet usage up by 0.6% from the previous year. Meanwhile, there is a notable lifestyle trend where 11.7%, mainly Gen Y and Gen Z segments, prioritise staying up-to-date with electronic gadgets and spending in entertainment and leisure services (49.4%), leading to modern lifestyles focused on connectivity, comfort, and mobility. In the country’s e-commerce landscape, 59.3% of internet users make purchases online weekly, demonstrating the widespread reach of digital marketplaces nationwide. This increased connectivity has created opportunities for e-commerce platforms to reach a wider customer base. 

Given this trend, the UOB Telkomsel Card offers exclusive benefits such as increased data allowances, cashback on online purchase and rewards for everyday spending, making banking and communication more convenient and rewarding. 

Jakarta, Indonesia – GoTo Group has taken a significant step forward in enhancing productivity across its engineering teams by collaborating with Microsoft Indonesia to adopt GitHub Copilot, an AI developer tool.

GoTo’s move in integrating AI into the company’s workflow underscores its commitment to driving innovation while empowering its workforce to deliver impactful technology at scale. 

Hans Patuwo, chief operating officer at GoTo said, “Since June 2024, almost a thousand GoTo’s engineers have adopted GitHub Copilot, with full rollout expected by mid-October 2024. The adoption of this AI-powered coding assistant has enabled our engineers to enhance code quality and to accomplish more in less time.”

He added, “GoTo engineers have reported significant time savings averaging over seven hours per week, allowing them to innovate with greater speed and to bring more value to our users.”

GitHub Copilot aims to boost engineers’ productivity and happiness in daily coding tasks with its AI capabilities, from real-time code suggestions, chat assistance in the integrated development environment, to breaking down complex coding concepts using daily conversational language.

Andrew Boyd, general manager of digital natives and startups at Microsoft Asia, said, “We are proud to support GoTo in their mission to empower progress by offering technology infrastructure and solutions that enable everyone to thrive in the digital economy. By integrating GitHub Copilot into their engineering processes, GoTo equips their teams with the tools to innovate faster, enhance productivity, and ultimately deliver greater user value.”

He added, “Trust and technology go hand-in-hand, and this collaboration underscores our shared commitment to harnessing AI technology, creating meaningful opportunities for all Indonesians, and accelerating an inclusive digital transformation agenda as part of Microsoft’s Empowering Indonesia initiative.”

Meanwhile, Nayana Hodi, engineering manager at GoTo shared, “GitHub Copilot has significantly reduced syntax errors and provided helpful autocomplete features, eliminating repetitive tasks and making coding more efficient. This has allowed me to focus on the more complex elements in building great software.”

Lastly, Sharryn Napier, vice president for APAC at GitHub, stated, “We are thrilled to empower GoTo with GitHub Copilot, equipping their engineers with AI across the software development lifecycle. GoTo has implemented an impressive evaluation strategy, collaborating directly with engineers to collect first-hand measurements that showcase real impact. By quantifying the value of Copilot from the start, GoTo is building strong momentum for widespread adoption and accelerated learning across their engineering team. We’re excited to continue this journey, helping GoTo ship software ahead of the curve and accelerate the pace of innovation.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – Despite improvements from the previous year, only 46% of MSMEs have fully separated their business and personal finances, which could impact cash flow and business sustainability. This is according to the latest data from PT Bank OCBC NISP Tbk (OCBC) and NielsenIQ (NIQ) Indonesia’s Business Fitness Index (BFI).

The data showed that MSMEs registered as business entities tend to have a better understanding of financial management systems and business risk planning. This results in a healthier financial score of 60.2, compared to those without an entity, who score 47.4. 

This is attributed to having clearer and measurable business plans, targeted business strategies, and proper, regular, and orderly financial recording, which can serve as an accurate basis and benchmark for business continuity.

Moreover, with separate business accounts, financial record-keeping can become more organised and well-documented. The good news is, the awareness amongst MSMEs in Indonesia regarding meticulous financial record-keeping has increased, evidenced by 77% of MSME operators who have already conducted financial accounting or bookkeeping. However, of those who have done financial record-keeping, 77% still perform it manually.

The report also showed MSMEs in Indonesia are improving in financial management as seen from the increase in scores for maintaining cash reserves, influenced by higher income compared to expenditure. Hence, generally, this year the financial health score of MSMEs has increased to 48 compared to last year’s 43.8. Although there has been an increase, this score is still in the ‘caution’ category and far from the ideal score of 75.

MSMEs have also begun to harness digitalization in their marketing efforts. Up to 81% of MSMEs already have social media accounts, yet only 35% understand and maximize its features. Regarding the intensity of usage, 46% of MSMEs with social media accounts are not active enough in their use. 

The utilisation of e-commerce/online platforms is also not optimal, with only 17% of MSMEs using this platform. This means MSMEs must be more proactive in exploring digital platforms that can connect them with customers and potentially expand their business scope.

Sari Kartika, SME proposition division head at OCBC, said, “Separating business and personal income is an essential first step for MSMEs to advance to the next level, especially by utilizing a business entity identity. However, many entrepreneurs face challenges in opening business accounts, mostly related to processing time and documentation requirements.”

Lastly, the research shows that currently, both female and male entrepreneurs are increasingly optimistic about their business capabilities. Interestingly, 23% of male entrepreneurs agree that female entrepreneurs are better at managing business finances and securing business capital, compared to 10% who stated males are better. Meanwhile, male entrepreneurs are considered more capable in critical aspects, such as making business decisions, facing business challenges, and allocating more time for business.

Inggit Primadevi, director of consumer insights at NIQ Indonesia, commented, “Research results show that 80% of MSMEs are not registered as business entities, and only 3% of Indonesian MSMEs are registered as single shareholder limited companies. Among those registered, small enterprises are the majority, while micro enterprises are significantly lower. These results indicate a need for improvement to elevate MSMEs to the next level.”

Indonesia – Popular Chinese retail brand MINISO has unveiled its largest global flagship store at Central Park Mall in Jakarta, Indonesia. The store, covering approximately 3,000 square meters, features eight product categories and three themed IP zones, blending entertainment with retail.

As a key element of MINISO’s global brand strategy, the Jakarta Central Park flagship store embodies the “Super IP + Super Store” concept, integrating known intellectual properties (IPs) with a contemporary retail environment.

To celebrate the store’s opening, a special perfume event was held at Central Park Mall, featuring the launch of MINISO’s Lucky 7 Perfume series. Indonesian actress and MINISO Perfume Ambassador Prilly Latuconsina attended, interacting with attendees. 

The event also showcased AR installations inspired by IPs such as Barbie, Lotso, Sanrio, and Stitch, offering visitors an additional layer of engagement.

The new flagship store also represents a critical milestone in the brand’s expansion strategy, further solidifying its position in the Indonesian market and setting the stage for future growth.

Since entering the Indonesian market in 2017, MINISO has rapidly expanded, now operating over 300 stores nationwide. This growth reflects the significant opportunities in Indonesia, one of Southeast Asia’s largest economies, with a youthful and dynamic population that resonates with MINISO’s product offerings.

Jack Ye, CEO of MINISO, said, “Since opening our first international store outside Mainland China in 2015, MINISO has consistently pursued its global expansion strategy. We now operate over 6,800 stores across five continents, bringing our innovative and appealing products to customers worldwide.”

He added, “Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on key markets like Indonesia and the United States, enhancing our global presence through our Super Store strategy and strategic IP partnerships. Over the next five years, MINISO aims to open 900 to 1,000 new stores annually, with the goal of becoming a world-leading IP design retail group.”

Meanwhile, Bella Tu, vice president of overseas directly operated markets at MINISO, commented, “With the opening of the Jakarta Central Park flagship store, Miniso takes another solid step towards realizing its vision of becoming the world’s leading IP design retail group. We hope to continue leading the trend of interest-based consumption through our Super Stores, providing consumers worldwide with emotional value and an exceptional shopping experience.”

Jakarta, Indonesia – Coffe chain startup Flash Coffee is doubling down its expansion to the Indonesian market despite the startup’s recent exits in the region, including in Singapore. It has also welcomed Jakob Angele, the former CEO at foodpanda, to the role of executive chairman and will operationally support the growth of Flash Coffee by leveraging his extensive expertise in F&B and the online food delivery industry.

According to Flash Coffee, it has increased its revenue per store by over 50% since early 2024 and reached operational profitability thanks to its new menu. As of this writing, Flash Coffee operates 67 stores in Indonesia and is progressing with further expansion across the market.

David Brunier, founder and CEO of Flash Coffee, said, “We have been excited about Indonesia and its potential since we opened our very first Flash Coffee store in Jakarta in January 2020. Thanks to the support of our loyal customer base and our strategic refocus on Indonesia as the group’s most mature market, we are now expanding our footprint in the country, with plans to add many new stores to our portfolio within the next 12 months. We’re just getting started.”

Each new store is designed to offer a unique coffee experience, featuring Flash Coffee’s signature drinks like Seasalt Palm Sugar Latte or Whipped Strawberry Matcha, user-friendly digital ordering on its proprietary app, and its new larger store concept with welcoming sit-and-stay design encouraging customers to stay and socialise.

Meanwhile, Angele–who also serves as a venture partner at White Star Capital–commented on his appointment, “We’re extremely pleased to see the recent changes and our hyper-focus on Indonesia to translate into tangible business success. I am very excited about what the future will hold for Flash Coffee. Indonesia is one of the most exciting and vibrant coffee markets worldwide. Flash Coffee is uniquely positioned to serve its growing demand for high-quality coffee.”

Indonesia – Lifebuoy, Unilever’s iconic hygiene soap brand, has enlisted the expertise of creative agencies MullenLowe Singapore, MullenLowe Lintas India, and MullenLowe Lintas Indonesia for its 90th anniversary campaign, which honours Indonesia’s rich history and celebrates everyday heroes.

Coinciding with Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day celebrations, Lifebuoy’s campaign presents a heartfelt film that pays tribute to the nation by featuring real-life national and everyday heroes, including Indonesia’s first Olympic Gold medallist Susy Susanti, the country’s first world boxing champion Ellyas Pical, ‘Disability Womenpreneur’ Nicky Clara, and sculptor Fransisca Ardiyusanti.

The campaign is part of Lifebuoy’s celebration of 90 years of protecting the dreams of generations of Indonesians. By shining a spotlight on the country’s national icons, the campaign aims to inspire Indonesians with the stories of fellow citizens who have pursued their dreams. 

The campaign film weaves in the powerful message that no dream is realised in a day but must be nurtured and protected daily—starting with maintaining a healthy body and safeguarding ourselves from illness.

Khim Yin Poh, global vice president at Lifebuoy, said, “Lifebuoy has been serving generations of Indonesians by helping them stay protected from illness since 1934. Our 90th anniversary milestone was the perfect occasion to not only reaffirm Lifebuoy’s commitment to protecting people’s good health and dreams in Indonesia for now and for the next 90 years, but also to express our gratitude to thank Indonesians for the privilege of being a part of their lives for many years. 

“We wanted to feature renowned individuals who have achieved greatness, who are also real people with real aspirations and families behind them. Some of the featured celebrities also turned out to be long-term Lifebuoy users, bringing in a sense of their own family’s history with the brand, which enriched the campaign further,” Poh added. 

As part of the campaign, Lifebuoy hosted a press conference featuring Susy Susanti and Nickly Clara, both of whom are highlighted in the film, as speakers. The campaign received further amplification through mainstream media coverage and social media content shared by influencers and celebrities. Additionally, 30-second versions of the video were created and distributed across various digital and e-commerce platforms, including TikTok.

Vinay Vinayak, global business director of MullenLowe Singapore, said, “Lifebuoy is a pioneer for the prevention of illness through a germ protection soap. In its 90th year in Indonesia, we thought it would be fitting to create a heartfelt reminder for people with the message that dreams are not realised in a day, but in fact they need to be nurtured and protected every day, just like good health. Preventing the outbreak of infectious diseases is becoming more important than ever, but we know that dry statistics are usually not very compelling in helping people proactively adopt good hygiene habits, so we wanted to find an emotional way to get Lifebuoy’s message of hygiene across. Early reactions to the campaign have been positive, and we believe this trajectory will continue over the coming months.”