Tag: Marketing

Philippines – Mobile payments service GCash has released a short film featuring the journey of Paralympic medalist Adeline “Adz” Dumapong, highlighting the financial challenges experienced by para-athletes in the Philippines. 

The film is the latest addition to GCash Stories, a digital series that tells the modern-day narratives of Filipinos with the aim of inspiring others.

Having experienced challenges in raising funds for her international competition, Dumapong finds solutions with the help of GCash, as reflected in the short film.

”Adz is a true inspiration. Her story is a powerful reminder of the potential in every individual, regardless of their abilities. We hope this film sparks a conversation about the need for inclusion and progress for all, especially the greater support needed for the community of persons with disabilities,” Neil Trinidad, chief marketing officer of GCash, said.

GCash continues to support persons with disability by signing a memorandum of understanding with the National Council for Disability Affairs to promote an inclusive workspace. It has also partnered with women-led organisation WOW LEAP in support of its programs. 

“We are proud to partner with organisations like the NCDA and WOW LEAP, Inc. to support the PWD community. Adz’s story embodies our mission of financial inclusion and is just the beginning. We are committed to working closely with the PWD sector to provide financial education and support, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to thrive,” Winsley Bangit, group head of New Businesses and Wealth Management at GCash, said.

Australia – Inherited Cancers Australia, an organisation formerly known as Pink Hope, has rebranded with a new campaign in partnership with advertising agency Cocogun to promote understanding and open discussions on the risk of hereditary cancer.

The campaign, which features photographs of high-risk community members taken by Nic Walker, aligns with the organisation’s advocacy to promote life-saving conversations on family health history and break the cycle of hereditary cancer.   

”We believe that knowledge is power. It’s important that the way our brand shows up in the world reflects the intelligence, autonomy and empathy running through our DNA, and that of the community we work with. Cocogun’s strategic and creative approach, and Nic’s photography, have perfectly captured this balance,” Sarah Powell, chief executive officer of Inherited Cancers Australia, said.

“At Cocogun, we believe creativity is the most powerful force in the world – and with the Inherited Cancers Australia team – we’re using it to help them achieve their mission of breaking the cycle of inherited cancer in Australian families. It has been an honour working with a team so knowledgeable and passionate about the generational impact of inherited cancer risk,” Kirsty Reynolds, business director and copywriter of Cocogun, said.

Chris Clausen, design director of Cocogun, added, “Inherited Cancers Australia’s curved lines and organic colours draws inspiration from nature, representing the ongoing journey people who live with an inherited cancer risk face throughout their lives. The colour palette was inspired by the community, who wanted colours more representative of the diversity of its members. The bright yellow combined with photography by Nic Walker contrasts vulnerability and strength within the community, to help ‘break the cycle’.”

Inherited Cancers Australia provides scientific and evidence-based information for those at risk of cancer, aiming for early diagnoses, risk reduction, and better treatment options.

Singapore – AirAsia, in collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Gardens by the Bay and Mandai Wildlife Group has unveiled the ‘Love, Singapore’ aircraft livery today. The launch comes as part of a joint campaign to promote inbound travel to Singapore from visitors in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, riding on the year-end travel peak in the region.

This Airbus A320 aircraft livery features a special design showcasing Singapore’s iconic attractions, including Gardens by the Bay and Mandai Wildlife Group’s wildlife parks such as Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise, alongside Merli, Singapore’s energetic and outgoing brand character inspired by the Merlion. 

Moreover, this livery aims to inspire regional travellers to rediscover the diverse and vibrant experiences that Singapore has to offer.

Terrence Voon, executive director for Southeast Asia of Singapore Tourism Board said, “We are delighted to partner AirAsia and our tourism stakeholders, to bring Singapore’s offerings to life in our regional skies. Our exciting lineup of events and experiences will give travellers plenty of reasons to visit or revisit Singapore this year, and we encourage them to take advantage of the great deals that will launch with the “Love, Singapore” aircraft livery to book their next holiday to Singapore.”

Meanwhile, Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, managing director of AirAsia Malaysia, commented, “We are proud to partner with the Singapore Tourism Board, especially as we mark 20 years of operations in Singapore this year. Currently, we operate 454 flights weekly in and out of Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Amongst all, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, being the world’s busiest, is vital for boosting tourism and this partnership is a perfect opportunity to leverage our extensive flight network to strengthen our ties between the neighbouring countries.”

Moreover, Addison Goh, senior director of business development at Gardens by the Bay said, “Gardens by the Bay is honoured to be featured in this collaboration between AirAsia and Singapore Tourism Board. As a horticultural show garden that was most recently voted the top attraction in Asia and eighth best attraction in the world in TripAdvisor’s 2024 Traveller’s Choice Awards, our chief mission is to spread our love for the plant world in new and creative ways to reach out to a broad audience beyond just nature lovers. There is so much that we have to offer visitors to Singapore, and we are excited to be able to share what we do with travellers from around the region.”

Lastly, Jean Choi, chief sales and marketing officer at Mandai Wildlife Group, stated, “We are excited to bring the magic of our wildlife parks to the skies, and in a truly unique way. With ever-evolving experiences from close animal encounters to seasonal events like Night Safari’s 30th Anniversary, there’s always something new to explore in our parks. As part of the “Love, Singapore” campaign, AirAsia customers booking flights to Singapore can enjoy a special promotion on park admissions or take advantage of our value-packed ParkHopper bundle where you can access four parks for the price of two. It’s a perfect time to visit Singapore and immerse in meaningful wildlife experiences.” 

Thailand – State-owned Thailand Post has released an online film in collaboration with advertising agency Grey Thailand in an effort to shift its vision from a postal service provider to an information logistics company able to undergo digital transformation. The film also expresses the company’s 141 years of operations as a competitive edge rather than a disadvantage amid the increasing need for technological efficiency. 

Inspired by a true story, the three-minute film titled ‘You’re My Destin(y)ation’ adopts a humanistic approach as it tells the story of a young man who found new opportunities to reconnect with his grandfather after receiving a parcel shipped from him. 

Charged with visual metaphors, the film also portrays Thailand Post’s growth and its new beginning through the miniature bonsai being taken care of by the young man. 

The campaign’s key visuals also show the company’s shift from using animated figures to realistic design, incorporating natural colours and elements aimed to invoke emotional ties with its viewers.

“For a complex topic, visual metaphors can be a powerful tool to help convey complicated ideas in a more relatable way. At the same time, key visuals can also be effective with minimalistic design to simplify human recognition in a too-much-information world,” Thanyaluck Pongacha, creative director of Grey Thailand, said.

Malaysia – Insurance company AIA Malaysia encourages Malaysians to reevaluate how they perceive “healthy” in a new campaign made in collaboration with Mediabrands Content Studio (MBCS).  

The AIA #RethinkHealthy campaign launched in July challenges the one-size-fits-all perspective when it comes to health, expressing that healthy choices may come in different forms for each person. 

Featuring four Malaysians of different backgrounds, the campaign focuses on their stories and how they represent physical, mental, financial, and environmental health.

Chee Foong Wai, chief marketing officer at AIA Malaysia said, “The Asian health crisis is real, and Malaysia is no exception. Despite increasing wealth, concerns over non-communicable diseases and mental health are on the rise, spurred by environmental and lifestyle factors – and yet, the idea of being healthy seems so inaccessible to many. #RethinkHealthy addresses this need by reframing the journey to health and wellness and making it more inclusive.”

She added, “We want people to approach health by committing to simple, everyday actions. By changing the way we view health, and understanding that everyone has their own unique journey – we are reframing the narrative around health to be more inclusive, holistic and accessible. We believe that through this campaign, we will engage many more Malaysians to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives,” 

Meanwhile, Rudy La Faber, creative director at MBCS, commented, “Society still has a very specific image in mind when they think of ‘the picture of health’. While this is slowly changing for some, most people still feel that being healthy means having a slim physique or looking fit. However, this end-goal imagery can have us feeling that good health is unattainable, even when you’re actually putting in the work.”

Faber added, “In conceptualising this campaign, we asked ourselves what goes into this equation of being healthy and how we could inspire more Malaysians to get on board. We realised that more than anything, mindset and preconceptions were the biggest issues. There are many ways one can achieve better health; all we have to do is to #RethinkHealthy.”

Singapore – Broadcasting & media production company electriclime° has added British American filmmaker Indigo Bates to their director roster to represent ANZ, APAC, and MENA.

Bates previously worked on campaigns for Western Union, Union, Moët & Chandon, NordicTrack, and Adidas, among others. 

“I’ve admired electriclime°’s work for a while – it all feels super cohesive to me; exuding a true love of the craft. I’m excited to start working together in new markets alongside such an A-team of filmmakers,” Bates said. 

Her interest in music and languages has influenced her filmmaking approach.

“I love the little things – the human moments caught on film that feel truly relatable,” Indigo added. “I don’t believe in spelling things out for people; if I’m trying to tap into some universal truth then it’s going to come across in the minutiae. Drama and humour live and die in the details. Movement excites me, flickers of expressions that convey so much with so little, cheeky humour that makes a scene memorable – quotable even. Inspiration can come from anywhere. I feel most inspired when I’m travelling, seeing and feeling new things. The stories that get me the most are always love stories. Ideally when there’s some unrequited element, or past regret or impossibility to them,” Bates said.

Bates’ has balanced both commercial and narrative work, with her short films being screened in various international festivals.

India – Creative agency Virtue Worldwide, powered by VICE Media Group, has unveiled the 2024 Virtue Guide to Culture, an in-depth report on Gen Z culture and behaviours. The guide is based on research conducted across Asia Pacific markets, analysing various cultural codes that influence Gen Z in Asia. 

According to the report, the demographic embeds absurdity and chaos into their unique self-expression. Using unconventional norms in art, fashion, technology, and culture, Gen Z showcases eccentricity and authenticity. In Asian countries that are considered to be traditionally conformist, including India, embracing the absurd is a new norm. This is reflected in the popularity of homemade, lo-fi, and slapstick social media content. 

The guide also shows more substantial fan authority among Gen Z, which gives them a sense of belongingness and collective identity. It has resulted in a shift in power from media celebrities to the fans themselves, where the fans have the authority to shape the success or downfall of public figures.

Meanwhile, the rise of empathic technology is also apparent. Technological advancements have become more influential in social interaction between young people. 

Another emerging cultural code is feminism’s soft revolution, which comprises new ways of assertion and protest. This includes fun and leisurely ways to embody the feminist movement. 

“For brands to have conversations with audiences that matter to them, it is critical for them to seat themselves in culture codes relevant to those audience groups. The Virtue Guide To Culture unlocks such codes that can enable communications that can be both short term, specific and dynamic, as well as long-standing and consistent,” Saumya Baijal, Virtue Worldwide Strategy Lead in India, said. 

The guide aims to provide brands and marketers with valuable insights to help them engage with the Gen Z demographic. 

Singapore – Home furnishing retailer IKEA has launched the pillow-like RESTEN bag as a symbol of rest in Singapore, categorised as the third most sleep-deprived country in the world. It is a recreation of the blue FRAKTA bag made in partnership with creative agency The Secret Little Agency.

Featuring a padded design with comfortable fabrics and stuffing, the bag doubles as a makeshift pillow to help Singaporeans find rest on the go.

“With the entire country running on overtime, rest is often sought in unconventional places, and we saw the opportunity to bring comfort to the busy lives of Singaporeans by creating the world’s most “rest-able” bag for one of the world’s most rest-less countries.” Nicholas Ye and Mavis Neo, chief creative officers of The Secret Little Agency, said.

The RESTEN bag will debut during the RestFest at IKEA, a three-day event in IKEA Jurong, Alexandra, and Tampines in Singapore featuring sleep, rest, and relaxation activities.

Commenting on the campaign, Caroline Ng, country marketing manager of IKEA Singapore, said, “We know sleep is important, and rest is a vital yet often overlooked part of Singaporean lives. IKEA has a wide range of well-designed and affordable products to help you get there, and what better way to launch it than with our new ‘Leave the rest to IKEA.’ year-long campaign that kicks off with our first-ever RestFest and the RESTEN bag. It reminds us of our busy lifestyles, the importance of finding opportunities for rest, and that Singaporeans can simply leave the rest to us.”

Customers can get their RESTEN bag through the giveaway hosted on IKEA Singapore’s Instagram page and at the RestFest event on Sept. 6 to 8, 2024.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Paint company Asian Paints has tapped Moonfolks for an end-to-end integrated campaign for its ‘Infinito System’ product lineup–a comprehensive five-product range designed to fix an array of wall problems, ensuring long-lasting beauty.

Moonfolks developed the name, branding, packaging, shopper and communication materials and managed the media planning and buying. The PR campaign is also led by Moonfolks. 

In addition, the entire ‘content to commerce’ framework will ensure achieving upper and lower funnel metrics for the brand, meeting objectives of leads and conversion. This will ensure that the campaign reaches the right audience through the most effective channels, including social media for which there’s a robust content strategy. 

Regular updates and interactive content will keep the campaign vibrant and engaging on social media. Besides, the campaign involves an influencer strategy, using credible sources to drive authenticity for the value proposition of the ‘Infinito System.’

Through this collaboration, the aim is to ensure that Indonesian homes achieve long-lasting beauty, extending beyond the campaign and enduring for infinity.

The branding ‘Infinito’ itself is derived from the Italian word for infinite, with the logo incorporating the infinity symbol within the letter ‘N,’ emphasising the concept of endless beauty and durability while positioning Infinito as the central solution for maintaining beautiful walls in Indonesia.

Moreover, Moonfolks also created the packaging, digital videos, and visuals for the product lineup. Its 30-second and two 15-second videos aims to bring the brand’s belief to life in a story about the never-ending saga of repaints throughout the years, illustrating the need for a proper solution—hence the ‘Infinito System’.

Abhilasha Kannan, managing director at Asian Paints Indonesia, said, “Asian Paints understands the pain points of the consumer, around which we base all our innovations. The creation of Infinito System is no different from that perspective. The Indonesian homeowner needs to be rescued from painting woes they need to go through every year. And so we created a long-lasting solution to have perfect walls that gives homeowners peace of mind for at least 5 years. Communicating a complex system was a difficult business challenge, and Moonfolks was able to simplify every aspect of the brand for us to be able to communicate the benefits of the Infinito System effectively.”

Meanwhile, Anish Daryani, founder and CEO at Moonfolks, commented, “At Moonfolks, we believe every brand deserves a “Moonshot” – our proprietary approach to brand building. We drive commerce for brands combining brand purpose (brand identity and advertising), brand content (digital), brand experience (shopper and activation), brand reputation (PR and influencer marketing) and brand reach (media solutions and content distribution). Birthing the Infinito System, and co-parenting it with the Asian Paints team has been a deeply transformative experience for both the teams. The coatings category in Indonesia has seen little innovation, which makes it disruptive for Asian Paints, while offering genuine value to consumers.”

In the futuristic sci-fi thriller Minority Report, Tom Cruise’s character walks through a shopping mall equipped with retinal scanners that immediately serve up holographic advertisements tailored to his personal needs and tastes. It’s intrusive, unnerving, yet feels incredibly believable. That day has finally come, beginning in e-commerce.

With the explosive growth of Large Language Models (LLMs), AI has become the buzzword of the decade, promising revolutionary changes across industries. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of e-commerce, where AI holds the tantalising promise of hyper-personalised experiences that can dramatically boost customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, as we stand on the precipice of this AI-driven revolution, it’s crucial to recognise that beneath the hype lies a landscape fraught with hidden challenges and ethical considerations.

The potential is undeniably exciting. It offers unprecedented capabilities to analyse vast amounts of customer data, identify patterns and preferences, and deliver highly tailored experiences. Through sophisticated data analysis and predictive modelling, AI can anticipate customer needs and behaviours with uncanny accuracy. This allows for real-time personalisation of content, recommendations, and even user interfaces, creating a seamless and engaging customer journey.

Natural language processing, another key AI capability, is revolutionising customer interactions through chatbots and voice assistants, making brand engagement more conversational and intuitive. AI’s ability to optimise pricing based on individual customer value and willingness to pay opens up new avenues for dynamic pricing strategies. Moreover, AI-powered sentiment analysis can gauge customer emotions, enabling brands to provide appropriate responses and experiences that resonate on a deeper level.

An Overview of AI in E-Commerce

AI plays a crucial role in enhancing personalisation across various e-commerce domains, including traditional e-commerce, social commerce, retail media, and q-commerce. In e-commerce, AI-powered recommendation systems analyse vast amounts of customer data, such as browsing history, purchase patterns, and demographic information, to provide highly personalised product recommendations that are tailored to each individual’s preferences. This not only improves the customer experience but also drives increased sales and loyalty. 

In the realm of social commerce, AI algorithms enable brands to create engaging and personalised shopping experiences by analysing user behaviour on social media platforms. By understanding individual preferences and interests, AI can deliver targeted content, product recommendations, and personalised promotions that resonate with each customer, fostering deeper connections and driving conversions.

Retail media, which refers to the use of a retailer’s owned media assets to deliver advertising, also benefits from AI-powered personalisation. AI algorithms can analyse customer data across multiple touchpoints, including the retailer’s website, mobile app, and in-store interactions, to deliver personalised ad experiences that are more relevant and effective for both the customer and the advertiser.

In the emerging field of q-commerce, or quick commerce, AI plays a crucial role in enhancing personalisation. By leveraging real-time data on customer location, purchase history, and immediate needs, AI can provide hyper-personalized product recommendations and seamless checkout experiences, ensuring that customers receive the right products at the right time, ultimately improving satisfaction and driving repeat business.

These applications paint a picture of a future where marketing becomes an almost magical experience, anticipating our desires before we even articulate them. However, this rosy vision comes with a significant caveat: the ethical implications of such powerful personalisation tools are profound and cannot be ignored.

Understanding Hyper-Personalisation Perils

The collection and use of vast amounts of personal data, essential for AI-driven personalisation, raise serious concerns about privacy and data security. The potential for this data to be misused, either through breaches or unethical practices, is a real and present danger. Moreover, the opacity of many AI algorithms creates a “black box” problem, where neither consumers nor regulators fully understand how decisions are being made about them.

There’s also the risk of creating filter bubbles, where AI-driven personalisation narrows the range of experiences and information presented to consumers, potentially reinforcing biases and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. The use of AI in dynamic pricing, while potentially beneficial for businesses, raises questions about fairness and could lead to price discrimination.

Given these challenges, it’s clear that the path forward for AI in marketing must be one of responsible innovation. We need to strike a delicate balance between leveraging the powerful capabilities of AI and upholding ethical standards that protect consumer rights and maintain public trust.

Transparency and Responsible Use

Transparency should be at the forefront of this approach. Companies need to clearly communicate what data they’re collecting and how it’s being used. Privacy policies should be easy to understand, not buried in legal jargon. Customers should have control over their data, including the right to access, correct, and delete it. Robust consent processes and clear opt-out mechanisms for personalised marketing are essential.

Data minimisation is another crucial principle. Companies should only collect data necessary for specific, stated purposes and implement retention policies to delete unnecessary information. This not only respects consumer privacy but also reduces the risk and potential impact of data breaches.

Algorithmic transparency, while challenging to implement fully, should be a goal. Where possible, companies should provide explanations of how their AI systems make decisions. Regular audits of AI systems for bias and fairness are crucial to ensure that personalisation doesn’t turn into discrimination.

Ethical considerations need to be baked into the AI development process from the start, not added as an afterthought. This includes establishing clear ethical guidelines for AI use in marketing and ensuring diverse teams are involved in AI development to mitigate bias.

Don’t Lose the Human

Human oversight remains crucial. While AI can make rapid decisions, human supervision and review processes are necessary to catch errors, address nuanced situations, and ensure alignment with brand values and ethical standards.

Strong data security practices are non-negotiable. As AI systems handle increasingly sensitive customer information, regular updates and testing of security protocols are essential to protect against evolving threats.

Accountability needs to be clear and concrete. Organisations should assign clear responsibility for AI systems and establish processes for addressing AI-related issues or complaints. Regular ethical impact assessments can help companies understand and mitigate the broader societal impacts of their AI systems.

Education is key, both internally and externally. Staff need to be kept updated on AI ethics and best practices, while customers should be educated about how AI is used in marketing. This transparency can help build trust and enable consumers to make informed choices about their engagement with AI-driven marketing.

Collaboration with regulators and industry bodies is essential to develop appropriate guidelines and standards. As the AI landscape evolves rapidly, ongoing dialogue between businesses, policymakers, and consumer advocates is crucial to ensure that regulations keep pace with technological advancements.

The Way Forward

While the challenges are significant, there’s reason for optimism. The conversation around ethical AI is gaining momentum, with more companies recognising that responsible AI practices are not just ethically necessary but also good for business in the long run. Consumers are becoming more aware and demanding of their digital rights, pushing companies towards more transparent and ethical practices.

The future of AI in marketing is not a binary choice between innovation and ethics – it’s about finding ways to pursue both simultaneously. By embracing transparent and responsible AI practices, companies can unlock the full potential of personalised marketing while building and maintaining the trust of their customers.

As we move forward, it’s crucial to remember that the goal of AI in marketing should not just be to sell more effectively, but to create genuine value for consumers. When implemented ethically and responsibly, AI has the potential to create marketing experiences that are not just personalised, but truly personal – experiences that respect individual preferences, protect privacy, and contribute positively to people’s lives.

The path ahead is challenging, but it’s also filled with opportunity. By navigating this path thoughtfully and ethically, we can harness the power of AI to create a future of marketing that is both innovative and responsible, serving the needs of businesses and consumers alike. The journey towards ethical AI in marketing is not just a technological challenge, but a human one – and it’s a journey we must undertake together.

This thought leadership is written by David Ko, Managing Director at Ruder Finn Interactive Asia, the digital arm of Ruder Finn Asia.

MARKETECH APAC is leading the conversation on the future of e-commerce marketing strategies this 2024 and beyond with the E-Commerce Marketing in the Philippines 2024 conference on August 14, 2024 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. Join us and become an integral part of a dynamic community committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and fostering unparalleled growth in the e-commerce domain.