Tag: Singapore

Singapore – SGInnovate has appointed MINISTRY as its media performance agency. Said mandate is slated for 15 months, and commenced starting this January.

Through the mandate, MINISTRY will develop and execute a comprehensive media strategy aligned with SGInnovate’s mission of nurturing Deep Tech startups and talent. 

Central to the agency’s role will be the implementation of targeted media campaigns and analysing campaign performance, aimed at boosting brand visibility and enhancing lead generation. 

Ken Ling, deputy director of community and marketing at SGInnovate, said, “MINISTRY’s robust data-driven approach and media strategy stood out during the selection process. This expertise is crucial as SGInnovate continues expanding its range of programmes and initiatives to catalyse talent growth at all levels, across the Deep Tech ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, Kelvin Koo, managing partner at MINISTRY, commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with SGInnovate in its mission to reach, engage and nurture the Deep Tech ecosystem and community in Singapore. We are confident our approach in combining compelling creative storytelling with a targeted media strategy will allow us to fulfil SGInnovate’s objectives and KPIs.”

Singapore – A new survey from YouGov notes that DBS Paylah! was the most viewed payment provider by Singaporean consumers over the past 12 months, followed by Visa; in terms of which payment brand has the strongest brand equity amongst consumers in Singapore.

According to the survey, DBS Paylah! achieved the highest index score (27.5) in contrast to other payment provider players. For context, the index score is an overall measure of brand health, calculated as the average of its impression, quality, value, corporate reputation, customer satisfaction and recommendation scores.

Visa is the next most favourably viewed insurance brand (25.3) by consumers – followed by Mastercard (23.6), American Express (9.9) and UnionPay (1.3).

The survey also noted that DBS Paylah! also saw the largest year-on-year improvement in Index scores (+0.5), ahead of UnionPay (+0.4). In contrast, Mastercard (-2), Visa (-1.9) and American Express (-0.9) saw its average Index score dip year-on-year.

In terms of advertising awareness amongst consumers, DBS Paylah! Still ranked first, with almost one in four (24.2%) consumers, on average over the past year, recalled seeing its ads. Meanwhile, Visa (12.3%) and Mastercard (10.1%), and had the next highest ad awareness, while less than a tenth of consumers recalled seeing advertisements from American Express (6.3%) and UnionPay (1.4%).

Continuing on ad awareness, DBS Paylah! was the only leading payment provider that saw a year-on-year improvement in its ad awareness (+2.8%). American Express saw no change in its annualised ad awareness scores across years, while other payment providers registered a year-on-year dip in their advertising awareness: Mastercard (-1.8%), Visa (-1.2%) and UnionPay (-0.6%).

Lastly, DBS PayLah! also enjoyed the highest Purchase Consideration across major payment providers in 2023. When asked about which providers they were considering to process their next purchases, about two in five (41.4%) consumers, on average over the past year, selected DBS PayLah!.

In comparison, around a quarter say they were considering Visa (26%) and Mastercard (24.5%), while less than a tenth said the same for American Express (8.9%) and UnionPay (1.8%).

Singapore – SQREEM Technologies has been named the official AI marketing partner for Saracens, an English rugby union club. Through the partnership, SQREEM will deliver consumer intelligence solutions for the rugby union club, allowing for a more in-depth understanding of the club’s supporters’ preferences, behaviours, and needs.

SQREEM has a data capture infrastructure that collects market data and transforms it into useful real-time consumer knowledge bases. SQREEM’s automated digital supply chain leverages AI-driven capabilities to utilise consumer insights and customer cohorts for omnichannel activation, resulting in improved cost efficiency, engagement, revenue, and brand uplift.

Moreover, SQREEM will also be the presenting partner for the ‘Inside Training’ films posted on Saracens’ channels before every game, reaching out to an audience of more than a million supporters.

Speaking about the partnership, Ian Chapman-Banks, CEO of SQREEM, said, “Saracens and SQREEM are a natural fit. Both organisations thrive in highly charged environments and are driven by a collective determination to succeed that surpasses the sum of our parts. This partnership enables us to elevate each other, fostering brand and business growth within a sports-centric business ecosystem involving players, commentators, spectators, and investors.” 

He added, “Through this partnership, we are proud to represent Singapore’s vibrant AI ecosystem on the global stage.” As part of the partnership, the SQREEM logo featured on the kits for both Saracens Men and Women during their match against Bordeaux Begles in the Investec Champions Cup.” 

Meanwhile, Lucy Wray, CEO of Saracens, expressed, “We are excited about our partnership with SQREEM Technologies and the unique AI capabilities they bring to Saracens as we continue to build in performance, stature and geography. SQREEM’s approach to technology and artificial intelligence will allow us to harness world-leading technology to drive our audience growth, engage more meaningfully with our existing fans and reach potential new fans for the Saracens Group.”

Singapore – Quantcast, the worldwide advertising technology business, has announced three new senior positions for its Singapore office. In response to consistent expansion across its APAC businesses. The three appointments will take effect immediately. 

Lavin Vaswani becomes commercial director, Asia; Jayaram Gopinath Nagaraj becomes group agency lead, Asia; and Joyce Seah joins the firm as head of client success, APAC. All three will work out of Quantcast’s Singapore headquarters. Seah and Vaswani will be members of the Singapore-based team, reporting to Sonal Patel, vice president APAC.

Vaswani takes on the role of head of sales for Quantcast in Asia, where his main objective is to increase the company’s market share in the area. 

Vaswani, who recently held the role of sales account director at Twitch, comes to Quantcast with over 15 years of expertise in media sales throughout Asia. He has held sales executive positions with Microsoft, Admax, and Adara during his career.

Nagaraj joins Quantcast from Meta, where he worked for four years as an agency partner and as the APAC agency development lead. Previously, he held roles as head of digital at Astro Radio and general manager at Blaze Digital in Malaysia. 

With nearly 15 years of experience in social media, programmatic, and ad tech, Seah is a professional in digital marketing. In the past, she has worked for Facebook as a regional solutions partner and for Amnet and Publicis Groupe as an account director. 

Speaking about the appointments, Patel, Vice President of APAC, expressed, “I’m delighted to continue our growth and expansive operations with these new hires. With both Vaswani and Gopinath and Seah overseeing client success, we are well-positioned to carry out our growth plans in 2024.” 

Meanwhile, Konrad Feldman, CEO of Quantcast, said, “We’re thrilled to be heading into 2024 with a new leadership team for our Asian client base. All three new appointments bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record in programmatic, sales and tech to Quantcast, We’re excited to continue our growth in the region this year.” 

Talking about his appointment, Vaswani, “I’m excited to be joining Quantcast as it continues to gain market share in Asia. As someone who has worked for nearly two decades in the Asian media sales sector, I’m looking forward to bringing my expertise to the Quantcast team.” 

Furthermore, Nagaraj stated, “2024 is set to be a huge year for digital in Southeast Asia, and Quantcast is poised to be at the forefront of this expansion. I’m delighted to be joining the business during this growth phase and look forward to driving both new business and elevating the Quantcast offering for our clients.” 

Lastly, Seah said, “Having worked in both Australia and Asia, I have a deep understanding of the digital and programmatic space across APAC. It’s a dynamic market, where strong client relationships, driving revenue and delivering ROI are critical. Quantcast has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering for its clients; I’m thrilled to join the business and further its mission of providing more effective, efficient digital advertising.” 

Philippines – The Jollibee Group has announced the opening of the first Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) branch in the Philippines at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City. 

With a mission to promote specialty coffee and all-day brunch, Common Man Coffee Roasters has expanded from Singapore to Malaysia and, more recently, the Philippines. Additionally, the business sells and roasts coffee beans. Besides that, it oversees the Coffee Barista Academy in Singapore and Malaysia, which provides thorough coffee education to both baristas and coffee lovers.

For context, in August 2023, the Jollibee Group disclosed that it was working with Food Collective Pte. Ltd. (FCPL) through FCJB Foods Inc. to manage Common Man Coffee Roasters’ and Tiong Bahru Bakery ownership and management in the Philippines. The Jollibee Group owns 60% of FCJB Foods Inc. in this business partnership. 

The café offers a wide range of specialty coffee options on its menu in the Philippines, with selections like the Nitro Honey Oat Latte and Filter Brew. The brunch menu, the Common Man Full Breakfast—which includes sausage, bacon, portobello mushrooms, hash browns, baked chorizo beans prepared in-house, and greens—also comes with handmade sourdough. Common Man Beef Brisket Benedict, which offers a dish of soft braised beef topped with creamy hollandaise and poached eggs.

Speaking about the launch, Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group’s president and CEO, expressed, “We’re excited to bring the Common Man Coffee Roasters in the country and give the community an elevated café experience. Common Man’s consciously sourced coffee and numerous deliciously healthy brunch options contribute to this experience and help fulfil our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone. We invite everyone to come visit our first ever Common Man Coffee Roasters café.” 

Meanwhile, Koon Beng Chua, CEO of the Spa Esprit Group, “Having a roastery on site for us to showcase the roasting method will not only help the customers understand the coffee process better, but it will also offer a unique dining and sensory experience for them.” 

Speaking about the partnership, Joseph Tanbuntiong, Jollibee Group chief business officer, said, “This is the first café from our partnership with the Spa Esprit Group and we’re looking forward to expanding the Common Man Coffee Roasters experience to more people. The strong collaboration between the two partners is very evident and is greatly rewarded by the enjoyment we see from people upon entering the café and upon tasting our menu selections. We recognize the increasingly discerning palate of Filipinos and we’re here to delight them.” 

Singapore – Global multinational fast-moving consumer goods company Unilever has announced a slew of layoffs and role reorganisations across its team in Singapore. It is worth noting, however, that the number of employees affected by this has yet to be disclosed.

A spokesperson for Unilever’s press office in London has confirmed the news to MARKETECH APAC, stating that they are doing everything they can to support their colleagues during these times.

“As we continue to respond to the needs of our consumers faster, we have taken the strategic decision to relocate some Personal Care roles, currently based in Singapore, to our markets across Asia. A number of roles will remain in Singapore, while some roles will be impacted. We are doing everything we can to support our colleagues during this time,” a Unilever spokesperson from its Unilever press office in London told MARKETECH APAC.

Unilever has made significant layoffs in the past years, including 1,500 management jobs around in January 2022 as well as several retrenchments across its plants in New York in November 2023.

The company joins Lazada as one of the companies whose layoffs this year have also affected teams in Singapore.

Singapore – The AI Verify Foundation (AIVF) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore have developed a draft model AI governance framework for generative AI. This framework expands on the existing model governance framework that covers traditional AI, last updated in 2020.

For both entities, this proposed framework aims to facilitate international conversations among policymakers, industry, and the research community, to enable trusted development globally.

“Generative AI has significant transformative potential – above and beyond what Traditional AI has been able to achieve. This also comes with risks. While it remains a dynamically developing space, there is growing global consensus that consistent principles are needed to create a trusted environment – one that enables end-users to use AI confidently and safely, while allowing space for cutting-edge innovation,” both parties said in a press statement.

The core elements for the framework are based on the principles that decisions made by AI should be explainable, transparent, and fair. Beyond principles, it offers practical suggestions that model developers and policymakers can apply as initial steps.

Lastly, the proposed model governance framework for generative AI takes this one step further by covering the latest developments in generative AI. This in turn will inform Singapore’s next steps, as the country adopt a practical approach to maximise both trust and innovation.

Singapore – The Singaporean arm of multinational advertising and public relations company Publicis Groupe has recently announced the acquisition of Singaporean integrated communications agency AKA Asia.

The acquisition marks a significant step in expanding and diversifying Publicis Groupe’s capabilities in the Southeast Asian market, with AKA Asia bolstering the group’s strategic communications, PR and influence offering in the region.

Speaking on the acquisition, Amrita Randhawa, chief executive officer for Publicis Groupe Singapore and Southeast Asia, said, “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of AKA Asia, which has a stellar reputation in Singapore and will complement our existing agency capabilities to deliver exceptional solutions for our clients.”

“The AKA founders, Kate O’Shea and Amy Wright, have built an incredible operation with a solid track record for conceptualising and delivering fearless creative communications campaigns to a broad range of consumer and corporate clients. We are excited to welcome them and the team into our family,” she added.

Meanwhile, Leya Teo, CEO of AKA Asia, also commented, “This is an exciting time for our agency, our growing team and our clients. Together we have worked tirelessly to build an agency dedicated to putting its people first, empowering them to deliver innovative work that’s fearlessly creative and anchored in an earned-first approach. We look forward to leveraging Publicis’s Power of One philosophy and its diverse ecosystem for clients across Asia, and the opportunities this provides our talented team.”

AKA Asia will also be joining Publicis Groupe’s regional Influence practice, led by Margaret Key, alongside full-service PR consultancy MSL Asia Pacific.

“We are both excited and proud to partner with AKA Asia. Kate and Amy have built an enviable workplace culture, evidenced by talent they have nurtured from within over the last 15 years. This union will enable us to offer more value to our clients in Singapore and across our global network”, mentioned Margaret Key, chief executive officer at MSL Asia Pacific.

Singapore – In the fast-evolving digital realm, businesses must continually seek new technological advancements to fortify their marketing strategies and gain a competitive edge in the industry. Among these technological innovations, generative AI stands out with its remarkable ability to autonomously generate new and contextually relevant content in a short span of time. But with its vast potential for creativity, how can companies integrate and utilise this transformative technology to stay competitive in the digital landscape?

To explore the potential of generative AI in revolutionising marketing operations, MARKETECH APAC presents its latest workshop on January 30. Titled “What’s NEXT 2024: Generative AI in Singapore,” the workshop aims to impart valuable and actionable insights into cultivating experience-driven growth and explore the advanced capabilities of Adobe’s state-of-the-art advancements in generative AI for businesses.

The workshop will host a presentation from Adobe on how to empower marketing teams with GenAI-powered content. The workshop will also feature a fireside chat, panel discussion, and a hands-on activity, creating a valuable event for participants to acquire knowledge and skills on how to integrate and harness the power of generative AI technology to drive growth and create innovative solutions in a dynamic digital space.

Teddy Cambosa, regional editor at MARKETECH APAC, said, “In the realm of marketing, where imagination meets data-driven insights, harnessing the generative power propels your brand into a realm of limitless possibilities, crafting compelling stories and forging authentic connections that resonate with your audience, ultimately shaping the future of brand success. Don’t miss this opportunity on integrating the latest in generative AI to your marketing strategy this 2024.”

What’s NEXT 2024: Generative AI in Singapore is made in partnership with computer software company Adobe. This workshop is free-to-attend for select brand marketers. Catch this workshop on January 30, 2024, at InterContinental Singapore by registering HERE. See you there!

Singapore – The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has unveiled its newest ‘School for Innovators’ advertising campaign, which features a massive 3D installation advertisement in Singapore’s local bus service.

Partnering with ComfortDelGro’s advertising arm, Moove Media, SUTD has installed a pair of 3-dimensional robotic arms, measuring 4.2 metres in length and 0.7 metres in height, sticking out on the roof of the bus and another pair on the window and the door.

The entire 3D bus installation spans about 6.3 metres, covering more than half the bus rooftop. It is also about three times bigger in volume than a typical 3D bus, requiring a total of about 600 man-hours of conceptualization, design, and production to bring the idea to life.

The robotic arms used on the installation were created in SUTD’s Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab), which boasts high-performance machines such as 3D printers, laser cutting, and engraving systems, as well as a water-jet machining centre that students use to turn their ideas into tangible products.

Meanwhile, Moove Media handled the production of the complicated structures, with a total of six fibreglass production experts spending about 28 days working on the project.

SUTD’s new campaign aims to show that tertiary institutions can be more than just pen and paper. The installation art highlights their creative and hands-on engagement in making innovative solutions to real-world problems.

A total of six buses were employed for the campaign, three of which featured robotic arms. The second series, on the other hand, will roll out on February 8 and will feature a replica of SUTD’s high-performance two-seater electric race car made from 3D printing and AI technology. The replica bus will show two gigantic robotic arms installing tyres on each side.

SUTD’s campaign comes as part of its annual Open House, which is set to take place in February.

Speaking on the campaign, Tammy Tan, chief communications officer at SUTD, said, “This campaign showcases SUTD as a university that debunks traditional concepts of what a tertiary institution looks like. Instead of just using pen and paper, our students use robots as stationery.”

She added, “In place of these, they design and build creative and innovative solutions for real-world problems. And in lieu of lectures, they engage in creative, hands-on discussions with fellow students, faculty, and enterprises to find innovative and meaningful solutions for a more sustainable future. Put simply, they are the next generation of design innovators.”

Nelson Low, head of creative at Moove Media, also shared, “These robotic arms are by far one of the most difficult 3D installations that Moove Media has had to fabricate, and we are excited to have been able to pull them off despite their complexity in the fastest time possible. To better capture the intricate details of the robotic arms, we had them 3D printed for mock-ups. The actual 3D installations are then fabricated in fibreglass for durability.”