Singapore – As COVID-19 restrictions are in place, more and more Singaporeans are shifting towards patronizing digital gateways, a report from customer experience management company Qualtrics shows.

About 57% of the respondents said they have made more online purchases at this time, and shifted towards using online banking; while the study also found a 44% increase in online grocery shopping was also evident among respondents.

“After months of disruption, we are beginning to see new behaviors and preferences emerge that are likely to remain post-pandemic. There is no doubt that there has been a massive shift towards digital, making it critical for brands to ensure they are able to optimize the experience they deliver on their digital channels including mobile applications,” said Harish Agarwal, Qualtrics’ head of CX strategy for Southeast Asia.

The study also probed on Singaporeans’ concerns during the pandemic, where the majority of respondents, 92%, shared that they are still worried about the global pandemic and its effects on normal activities.

Despite growing pandemic concerns, some Singaporeans were shown to be optimistic about resuming routine activities such as  using public transport (61%), eating out at restaurants (58%), visiting a park (51%), and going to the mall (50%) in the next six months.

“Simultaneously, even though Singaporeans are beginning to go back to some previous habits, high levels of ambiguity remain, meaning businesses must be able to understand and quickly respond to changing environments,” Agarwal added.

Manila, Philippines – Amid ongoing restrictions for COVID-19 travel,  Airline AirAsia in the Philippines has procured additional assistance for faster contract tracing, announcing its adoption of the Traze contact tracing app. 

The app is developed by the country’s Department of Transportation (DOTr) and will now be required for use among AirAsia passengers. 

“We laud this effort from the DOTr as it is aligned with AirAsia’s objective to continuously improve the layers of safety for the health and wellbeing of all guests and employees. We expect 100% compliance and cooperation from all our stakeholders to ensure the success of this contact tracing efforts,” stated AirAsia CEO Ricky Isla.

The implementation of the app use will start on November 28 this year, and requires users to secure installation of the app before entering airport premises.

Upon downloading the Traze app, users will register on the app as an ‘individual’. Upon entering needed information, the account is activated and a personal QR code is generated. This QR code is then used for scanning by airport authorities and other designated places. 

For users that don’t have mobile devices, they can secure their QR code by approaching the Malasakit Helpdesk at their respective airports. 

The recent move is in line with AirAsia’s stringent measures in making air travel secure in compliance with national and aviation travel restrictions.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Air Asia’s travel and e-commerce platform Airasia.com has announced its newest digital platform, AirAsia Health, focused on providing end-to-end medical services.

The newest platform is in response to aggregating medical-related services into one platform. Professional consultation, booking treatment, wellness and fertility sessions are some of the prime services the platform has to offer.

Following its initial launch, the said platform is allowing bookings for COVID-19 RT PCR tests. Priced at RM260 ($62.58), the bookings are done in partnership with Lifecare Diagnostic Medical Centre and Sunway Medical Centre.

Other medical partners include Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists, Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre, and Sunway Medical Centre, as well as Genesis IVF & Women’s Specialist Centre, Sunway TCM Centre, and Pure Touch Clinic.

“Healthcare is essential, and its affordability and accessibility should be a right for everyone. We want to help facilitate that. From the initial consultation to post-treatment services, we aim to make it as seamless as possible for everyone through the AirAsia Health online platform. Furthermore, AirAsia Health is where healthcare meets travel, complemented by the strength of airasia.com’s ecosystem encompassing travel logistics such as flights, accommodation and mobility options, enhancing the convenience factor for any medical traveller’s end-to-end journey,” Karen Chan, CEO of airasia.com said.