Australia – Woolworths Group plans to close the MyDeal customer website by 30 September, shifting its retail marketplace strategy to focus on BIG W Market and Everyday Market on woolworths.com.au. In a recent disclosure at ASX, the company said that the move is aimed at expanding product range for Woolworths and BIG W customers while consolidating traffic growth on its core digital platforms.

Woolworths Group CEO Amanda Bardwell said the decision followed a strategic review of the company’s portfolio. “In February we said that we would assess the shape of the Group portfolio to address areas where there was not a clear path to profitability or the prospect of a reasonable return on capital,” she said.

MyDeal, which Woolworths acquired a majority stake in in 2022, has provided marketplace technology and capabilities through the Group’s Woolworths MarketPlus platform, supporting rapid gross merchandise value (GMV) growth. 

However, Woolworths said the competitive environment and better economics of marketplaces integrated directly into retail brands led to the decision to shut down the MyDeal site. The closure is expected to reduce operating losses in Woolworths MarketPlus once finalised.

Despite closing the customer-facing website, Woolworths MarketPlus will continue to use the MyDeal technology platform and seller relationships to support BIG W Market and Everyday Market. Woolworths also thanked MyDeal CEO Sean Senvirtne and his team for their contributions to establishing MarketPlus.

The company estimates the cash cost of the closure will be between $90 million and $100 million, covering payments to outside investors, redundancies, and other expenses. In addition, non-cash costs, primarily due to impairments of MyDeal assets, are expected to be around $45 million. Woolworths said it will provide an update on these one-off costs with its full-year results in August.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia has temporarily paused the enforcement of a controversial regulation that would have mandated Bahasa Malaysia for all product listings on major e-commerce platforms. The delay allows authorities time to gather feedback from sellers and rethink the rollout.

According to Malay Mail, under the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transactions) Regulations 2024 (CPETTR 2024), platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop were required to ensure that all product titles, descriptions, and seller information were in Bahasa Malaysia, while allowing brand names and additional languages alongside. 

Failure to comply could lead to severe penalties—RM50,000 fines or up to 3 years’ jail for individuals, and up to RM100,000 for companies. Repeat offenders risked even steeper consequences.

The rollout announcement drew immediate backlash, with sellers expressing frustration at the short notice and the complexity of translating listings overnight. E-commerce communities decried the move as rushed and burdensome. 

In Sarawak, the SUPP youth wing called it “rushed, confusing, and unfair to small businesses,” pointing out the lack of translation support or implementation guidelines. 

In response to the pushback, KPDN—the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living—temporarily suspended enforcement, stating it will convene meetings with platform operators and collect seller feedback before setting a new enforcement timeline. However, the regulation remains legally valid; only the deadline is under review. 

Moreover, platforms including Shopee and Lazada have begun offering automatic Malay translation tools to assist sellers adapt to the upcoming requirement. 

This deferral comes amid a larger overhaul of Malaysia’s e-commerce laws. Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali revealed that a review is underway and expected to be finalised by August 2025, potentially bringing clearer and more balanced policies.

Australia – Correllink, a Sydney-based technology company, today announced the launch of its shipping management e-commerce platform Shipperfy, that consolidates order processing and shipping across multiple sales channels into a single interface.

Shipperfy allows small and medium online retailers to manage orders from eBay, Amazon, Shopify and other marketplaces through one platform, eliminating the need to switch between multiple systems to process shipments.

The platform connects directly with merchants’ existing carrier accounts and displays shipping quotes from multiple providers on a single screen. Users can generate shipping labels, automatically notify sales channels when orders ship, generate order invoices and create packing slips. Shipperfy also offers merchants with access to competitive negotiated rates through Shipperfy’s partnership programme without needing separate courier accounts.

The solution was developed by tech entrepreneurs Juan Velasquez and Shahriar Jamshidi, who experienced firsthand the frustration of managing multiple shipping interfaces to deliver products to customers. 

This personal experience with outdated, operational friction points, drove the development of a unified solution that addresses real pain points faced by online retailers.

“Shipping orders from multiple sales channels shouldn’t be the hard part of running a business online,” said Juan Velasquez, Correllink’s principal solutions engineer, co-founder of Shipperfy and e-commerce business owner.

“We’ve built a solution that streamlines the entire fulfilment process, from order import to final delivery notification. It saves so much time for online retailers who traditionally have to log in and out of multiple interfaces just to manage the fulfilment process.”

Moreover, with advancements in technology, “there should be better and more efficient ways to integrate with sales channels and shipping carriers than the traditional existing solutions,” said Shahriar Jamshidi, Correllink’s principal solutions architect and co-founder of Shipperfy

Key features

Shipperfy supports order management across multiple sales channels with single-click import of unfulfilled orders and automatic address validation. The shipping management system generates labels and end-of-day manifests while automatically updating sales channels when items ship.

The platform also handles inventory tracking across all connected sales channels, supplier management, and purchase order generation. Business automation features include customer tracking notifications and real-time reporting with low stock alerts. It also supports order invoice and packing list generation.

For businesses using Amazon FBA, Shipperfy can connect online stores and automatically create Multi-Channel Fulfilment orders to allow Amazon to handle fulfilment using the business FBA stock, while managing sales channel notifications.

Manila, Philippines – Digital-native retail platform Etaily has announced a strategic partnership with GroupM in a bid to help global and regional brands navigate and thrive in complex digital environments across marketplaces, direct-to-consumer platforms, social commerce, and offline retail.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Alexander Friedhoff, founder and CEO at Etaily, the Etaily-GroupM partnership is designed to address one of the most pressing challenges faced by marketers today: maintaining brand consistency in a highly fragmented and fast-evolving retail landscape.

“Through this partnership, Etaily and GroupM bring together their complementary strengths to offer a fully integrated, end-to-end solution. Etaily contributes its commercial expertise, proprietary technology, fulfilment infrastructure, omnichannel operations, and influencer networks. GroupM, on the other hand, provides deep capabilities in data-driven media planning, buying, and performance optimisation.

In the context of the Philippine market, Alexander says that this partnership means that a one-stop shop is available for marketers that connects media, content, commerce, and operations, powered by real-time analytics and AI-driven decision-making.

“The result is a more unified and efficient approach to customer engagement, enabling brands to deliver consistent experiences, drive conversions, and build loyalty in a highly competitive and emotionally driven marketplace,” he said.

Alexander added, “This partnership not only streamlines execution across the funnel but also gives brands the strategic agility to scale effectively in a region where omnichannel behaviours are increasingly the norm.”

A unified offering to ease juggling of contracts and stacks

Alexander also detailed that with GroupM’s full-funnel audience planning, media buying and creator activation, a marketer’s flow now go straight into Etaily’s marketplace, livestreaming and D2C store management, inventory-driven promotions, fulfilment and pre- and post-purchase care.

“We cannot [continue] to treat traffic and conversion separately. In fact, for years, Philippine brands have treated media investment and commerce enablement as two separate jobs, run on separate platforms by teams that rarely exchanged data in real time,” he noted, remarking on the divide between media and commerce strategies amongst local marketers.

He also stated that in practice areas where both partners are active: retail-media activation, live-commerce production and affiliate tracking—the lead shifts fluidly to whichever side is best placed for the moment, so every move is guided by a shared, real-time view of the shopper.

“Because both teams read the same SKU-level signals, money spent on awareness is linked within minutes to gross merchandise value, margin, and customer-lifetime metrics. A spike in search clicks can prompt Etaily to surface stock, adjust a price, or push a voucher, and the resulting cart data loops straight back into GroupM’s campaigns,” he said.

For now, the Etaily-GroupM partnership will be first rolled out in the Philippines, where both companies share deep on-the-ground expertise. Alexander added that as Etaily grows its footprint across Southeast Asia, the intent is to extend this playbook market by market.

“In short, the Etaily-GroupM alliance replaces a relay race between media and commerce with a fully synchronised pit crew, keeping shoppers moving smoothly from “I just saw it” to “I just bought it”, and eventually to “I’m buying again”, he quipped.

The role of an effective commerce funnel

For Alexander, an effective commerce funnel is seen as crucial to enhancing e-commerce strategies, particularly in the rapidly growing and diverse Southeast Asian market, where capturing consumer attention is increasingly challenging. 

He also stated that a well-designed funnel goes beyond just driving conversions—it also fosters customer loyalty and encourages advocacy. When implemented successfully, such journeys have the potential to transform into a kind of informal affiliate network, with satisfied customers naturally promoting the brand within their own circles.

“What marketers need to understand is that brands with a clear story and well-defined pathways to communicate that narrative gain a distinct edge. They’re able to tailor tactical marketing and sales executions across the funnel, reaching everyone from first-time users and brand loyalists to competitor switchers. This structured approach enables brands to move consumers seamlessly from awareness to repurchase, and eventually to advocacy,” he explains.

Alexander added, “In a region where peer influence and digital word-of-mouth are incredibly powerful, this kind of commerce-driven storytelling becomes a core growth engine. It’s not just about performance. It’s about turning transactions into relationships, and relationships into lasting brand equity. GroupM and Etaily bring proven strengths in these areas, and through this partnership, we aim to help brands optimise and elevate their commerce funnel.”

What’s next for commerce marketing in SEA

When asked what lies ahead for the industry in Southeast Asia, Alexander stated that the future of commerce marketing in the region is increasingly being shaped by the merging of media with commerce, and content with conversion, as the lines between sales and storytelling continue to blur. 

He also noted that with the rapid evolution of digital platforms, the traditional linear journey from brand awareness to purchase is being replaced by more immediate, in-platform engagement and transactions. 

“Etaily and GroupM see this as more than a trend; it’s the new standard. We’re responding by building a closed-loop commerce infrastructure where discovery, engagement, conversion, and fulfilment are seamlessly integrated. This anticipated shift and the challenges it presents prompted our partnership. Through this collaboration, we are embedding AI, real-time analytics, and full-funnel execution into one unified operating framework,” he explained.

Alexander stated that social media platforms like TikTok is often cited as a key driver of this change—what started as a channel for brand education has quickly transformed into a space where brand relatability and real-time purchasing are fueled by livestreams and short-form videos. This trend underscores a shift in consumer behaviour, where users now expect to discover, interact with, and shop from brands without leaving the platform.

“This blurring of lines between sales and marketing marks an exciting future, one where every brand interaction becomes part of a larger commerce-driven experience. For marketers and enablers alike, it’s no longer about driving impressions; it’s about delivering instant, measurable outcomes in every moment of the journey, and Etaily and GroupM are at the forefront of this movement,” he concluded.

India – Myntra, a leading fashion e-commerce in India, is set to enter the Singapore market as it launches Myntra Global. Bringing Indian fashion to Singapore, the move aims to cater to thousands of Indians residing in the country.

As part of its growth strategy, Myntra Global aims to reach new customer segments and strengthen its brand affinity internationally.

Myntra Global will offer Indian fashion styles to a larger customer base, ensuring a seamless shopping experience. It is bringing apparel, footwear, and accessories from brands like Aurelia, Global Desi, AND, Libas, Rustorange, and Mochi, among others.

The company has seen a growing number of Singapore users on its platform, driving the launch.

With Myntra Global, customers in Singapore can receive their orders in four to seven days on average, with the company collaborating with third-party cross-border logistics services.

Nandita Sinha, CEO at Myntra, said, “Our journey of nearly two decades has been paved by the love of millions of customers and thousands of brands who trust us to make their fashion dreams possible. The launch of Myntra Global marks a milestone moment for Myntra.”

“With our expertise in serving customers at scale and the exceptional offerings from some of the most loved brands, we are confident that Myntra Global will delight Indians living abroad and keep them connected to their roots, in style. We will also continue to build and scale the platform to cater to Singapore seamlessly, propelling the growth of our brand partners,” Sinha added.

Philippines – The Philippines is rapidly emerging as a pivotal force in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, with its retail and e-commerce sectors undergoing significant transformation. Consumers are increasingly seeking personalised experiences, seamless payment options, and omnichannel convenience. To meet these evolving demands, businesses must harness the power of automation, predictive analytics, and partnership marketing.

In response to this dynamic landscape, MARKETECH APAC, in collaboration with its sister publication UpTech Media, is thrilled to present the ‘Retail & E-Commerce Innovation Marketing & Tech Summit: Philippines 2025.’ Happening on 14 August 2025, at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, this summit aims to redefine the future of e-commerce in the Philippines. The event will bring together industry leaders, marketing experts, and tech innovators to explore the latest trends, strategies, and technologies driving the evolution of e-commerce.

Building on the success of ‘E-Commerce Marketing Philippines 2024,’ this year’s summit promises to be bigger and better, offering attendees valuable insights, cutting-edge ideas, and ample opportunities for learning, networking, and inspiration.

The conference will feature top-notch keynote presentations, dynamic panel discussions, engaging fireside chats, and curated networking sessions, each designed to elevate retail and e-commerce strategies.

Leading the conversation will be top industry leaders and experts, including:

  • Emmanuel Cruz, Omnichannel Director at Avon Cosmetics Inc.
  • Sriharsha Vavilala, Director of Revenue & Strategy at edamama
  • Nancy Almasco, Marketing Director at FlowerStore.ph
  • Marx Benedict So, Associate Director, Digital & Commercial Insights at Mega Prime Foods Inc.
  • Tiffany Batungbacal, Assistant Vice President at Primer Group of Companies
  • Neelam Gopwani, President at Vision Express Philippines
  • …and more to be announced!

Joven Barceñas, founder at MARKETECH APAC, said, “This summit isn’t just about trends—it’s about enabling the tech backbone of retail and e-commerce in the Philippines. From AI to marketing automation, we’re here to facilitate the conversations and collaborations that will define the future of commerce.”

The Retail & E-Commerce Innovation 2025 Series is also set to expand to Malaysia, with an event scheduled for 17 July 2025.

To learn how to be part of this summit, click HERE for further details.

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

For speaking opportunities, contact Kathleen Murata at [email protected]; and for registrations, reach out to Rosalie Cruz at [email protected].

Indonesia – The United States government has recently included regional e-commerce platform Shopee and local Indonesian player Bukalapak have been cited in a recent review by the US government of online platforms that promote counterfeit goods. The review also mentioned a list of platforms that are impactful in the growing piracy industry.

The review, posted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), mentioned how these platforms, despite increased investment for IP protection in their platform, the platforms still see significant numbers of counterfeit goods in their respective platforms.

In the report, it was noted that while right holders have welcomed reports of greater investments by Bukalapak in its anti-counterfeiting measures, they continue to report high volumes of counterfeit products, particularly counterfeit apparel and footwear, consumer electronics, and pharmaceutical products.

Moreover, right holders noted the limited effectiveness of filtering and other proactive tools and that site penalties for selling counterfeit goods are insufficient to deter repeat offenders.

Meanwhile, Shopee stakeholders continue to report high volumes of counterfeit goods across some of Shopee’s country platforms where Shopee has not implemented its latest IP enforcement systems, and where its teams operate with different levels of resources, responsiveness, and local challenges.  

A persistent complaint that applies to all of Shopee’s country platforms is that Shopee’s points-based repeat infringer policy allows sellers of reported counterfeit goods to continue operating their Shopee storefronts despite multiple reports. This is despite the fact that the platform has introduced several strategies to combat counterfeit goods in their platform.

The USTR has also mentioned that although Indonesia has recently taken steps to improve intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement, including expanding an IP enforcement task force and increasing efforts to address online piracy, significant concerns remain. In a separate report, it mentioned that the Mangga Dua Market in Jakarta continues to be listed in the 2024 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (Notorious Markets List), along with multiple online Indonesian marketplaces.

Other Southeast Asian flea markets have also been mentioned as notorious hubs for counterfeit goods, including Petaling Street Market in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Greenhills Shopping Center in Manila, Philippines.

Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and TikTok Shop have teamed up to launch the ‘Unlad Lokal’ program. The newly launched program empowers Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they venture into e-commerce.

DTI and TikTok Shop’s partnership aims to equip MSMEs with the tools and skills they need to thrive and succeed in e-commerce through the program.

The ‘Unlad Lokal’ program offers training in content creation, live-selling, and other e-commerce strategies. It aims to provide MSMEs critical skills to scale the digital economy, enhancing their digital marketing capabilities.

Through a two-day training session, the program will cover product listing optimisation, live-selling techniques, and regulatory compliance among others.

It also offers a training session on TikTok Shop, reinforcing its ‘Buy Local, Shop Local’  campaign to promote Filipino products and craftsmanship. It provides MSMEs with a platform to increase the visibility of their products, allowing them to connect with more audiences through engaging content.

The program is set to roll out in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and Davao.

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, said, “Our partnership with TikTok Shop strengthens our commitment to providing Filipino MSMEs with the tools and resources they need to thrive in a dynamic global market. By strengthening their capabilities, we are opening more opportunities for business growth and market expansion.”

“Unlad Lokal builds on the foundation of our DTI initiative which bridges traditional enterprises with digital innovation. By providing MSMEs with hands-on training in e-commerce, content creation, and live selling, we are ensuring that our local businesses can adapt and lead the digital marketplace,” Roque added.

The partnership reinforces TikTok Shop’s commitment to driving digital transformation, sustainability, and wider reach for Filipino MSMEs. Through its accessible and inclusive digital tools, the platform enables entrepreneurs to scale the digital marketplace.

As it partners with DTI, TikTok Shop is contributing to job creation in the Philippines, stimulating its economy.

“At TikTok Shop, we believe in the power of community-driven commerce. TikTok Shop has also evolved into a dynamic digital marketplace, one that allows MSMEs to reach customers in innovative ways. Unlad Lokal is designed to equip Filipino entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and digital skills needed to thrive in e-commerce,” Franco Aligaen, marketing lead at TikTok Shop Philippines, commented.

“We’ve seen many small businesses grow on TikTok Shop, reaching thousands, sometimes millions, of customers. Through Unlad Lokal, we want to help even more MSMEs achieve that same success. Beyond the training sessions, we are offering post-program mentorship, continued support in content creation, and access to advertising opportunities that will help local businesses continue to scale and succeed long after the workshops,” Aligaen added.

Roque said, “Our collaboration with TikTok Shop reinforces the DTI’s commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs. By providing them with the right digital skills and market access, we are realizing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of building a more inclusive, resilient, and technology-driven economy where no entrepreneur is left behind.”

Australia – E-commerce personalisation platform Bloomreach has announced the continued growth of its global footprint as it expands its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, welcoming Kris Fagan as its new vice president for APAC

Kris brings years of enterprise and account experience from mParticle, PagerDuty, and Dropbox in Australia. Kris most recently led a team that drove sales, partnerships and operations and was focused on enhancing customer satisfaction and market presence in APAC.

Speaking on his new role, Kris said, “I’m thrilled to lead our talented team in helping businesses across APAC deliver personalised, AI-driven experiences that truly connect with their customers. As we start the new year, the opportunities ahead of us are tremendous. The APAC region is a beacon of digital innovation and commerce growth, and I am dedicated to sustaining that momentum and ensuring our customers have access to top-tier technology and support to surpass their business objectives.”

As Bloomreach continues to increase its global reach, it underscores its commitment to delivering deeply personalised customer experiences — and driving measurable growth — for businesses worldwide.

With the power of its proprietary LoomiTM AI, Bloomreach already supports leading businesses within the APAC region today. This includes customers such as SM Retail, Bluebell, Repco, Spotlight Retail Group, and MILKRUN, a grocery delivery service owned by Australian grocery chain Woolworths. 

Jamie Gagliardi, head of marketing & growth at MILKRUN, said, “Using Bloomreach, our team can build out the personalised experiences we know will differentiate us to customers and drive results — not only on the app, but across email, SMS, and push. With the help of Bloomreach and our partners, we’re driving forward the future of grocery, one customer and order at a time.”

Indonesia – AnyMind Group has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with ACRO Inc. to expand the reach of its Japanese lifestyle cosmetics brand, THREE, in Indonesia.

Previously available in Indonesia through department stores, THREE faced challenges with stringent import regulations, regulatory approvals, and local distribution networks. The brand now aims to strengthen its presence and tap into the country’s growing beauty market.

Through this partnership, THREE will harness AnyMind Group’s BPaaS solutions to drive data-driven cross-border e-commerce expansion, encompassing technology and operations for import handling, e-commerce management, marketing, and logistics.

AnyMind Group will support THREE’s expansion in Indonesia by providing e-commerce, logistics, and marketing solutions tailored to the local market. The company will manage sales and operations through platforms like Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Tokopedia, using its e-commerce management system, AnyX, for data-driven insights.

For logistics and distribution, AnyMind will handle importation and product fulfilment through its global logistics platform, AnyLogi, and local warehouse network. It will also support customer engagement through its conversational commerce tool, AnyChat, and influencer marketing via AnyTag, with AI-powered live commerce initiatives enabled by AnyLive.

Toshiaki Miyazaki, president of ACRO Inc., said, “We are excited to reintroduce THREE to Indonesian consumers with the support of AnyMind Group. We hope that THREE’s signature fragrances and colours will contribute to enhancing the well-being of many customers.”

Akinori Kubo, managing director of global e-commerce at AnyMind Group, added, “We are thrilled to support THREE’s Indonesian market expansion. By leveraging our technology and local presence, we aim to drive e-commerce success through a data-driven approach and innovative marketing strategies tailored to the region.”