Tag: Singapore

Singapore – In an ongoing effort to educate the public, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, in collaboration with Ogilvy Singapore, has recently unveiled its latest nationwide campaign emphasising the importance of cyber awareness.

Known as “The Unseen Enemy,” this initiative sheds light on the pervasive and often unnoticed nature of these threats, urging the audience to maintain constant vigilance against the dynamic landscape of the said threats and advocating the adoption of the four cybersecurity tips for a more secure online experience.

Now in its fifth edition, the national cybersecurity campaign also brings together the traditional informational style of public education communication. By using a 60-second spot, the campaign employed a suspense thriller genre with no dialogue to spook audiences about the dangers of cyber threats. 

It also used visuals that were developed across touchpoints such as platform screen doors, wallscapes, bus stop shelter ads, social and digital platforms, as well as a concept train.

Among the key visuals of the campaign are dedicating each to CSA’s four cyber tips, particularly (1) enabling two-factor authentication and using strong passphrases; (2) being aware of phishing scams; (3) updating software promptly; and (4) adding scamshield and anti-virus apps.

Talking about the campaign, Connie Lee, deputy director at communications and engagement office CSA, said, “Our approach to the campaign was to contextualise the pervasiveness of cyber threats and scams for our audiences, nudging them to pay closer attention to how their actions can leave them vulnerable to unseen cybercriminals.

“We also want to reach out to users through our roadshows and engagement efforts to encourage everyone to develop good cyber hygiene habits in our daily lives to protect what is valuable to us,” she added.

Shirley Tay, chief client officer at Ogilvy Singapore, also shared her thoughts, stating, “We wanted to position the cyber tips as digital self-defence that everyday audiences can adopt to protect themselves against cyber threats and scams. Creatively, we wanted to do so in a manner that would leave a lasting impression in the minds of audiences, exposing how vulnerable we all are to cybercriminals.”

Meanwhile, Troy Lim, group creative director at Ogilvy Singapore, said, “Threats that are unseen are always more insidious than those that are conspicuous; bringing the feeling of unease and paranoia of an unseen enemy is how we will motivate potential victims to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and those they care about.”

CSA also conducted a two-day roadshow, which was conceptualised and executed by Ogilvy at the end of September at the Suntec City Convention Centre.This event encouraged attendees to join the campaign dubbed “Home In On Cybersecurity,” which featured a hacked home and welcomed guests to learn practically how to implement the four cyber tips to protect themselves from cyber dangers and scams. 

The Unseen Enemy campaign is set to run with various mini-roadshows and partnerships until March 2025.

Singapore – A new survey from YouGov notes that six out of ten Singaporeans claim to have purchased things through social media sites. Facebook looks to be the most popular social media buying network, with four out of ten users admitting to using it for purchases (40%). 

As a result, a quarter of respondents (26% each) claim to have made purchases via TikTok and Instagram, while a fifth (20%) have done so via YouTube. 

Notably, a substantial 40% of consumers in Singapore state that they have not made any purchases through social media platforms.

A comparison of different age groups reveals interesting differences. Facebook appears as a preferred platform among older generations, particularly with 44% of Generation X users. In comparison, Generation Z has a lower proclivity to use Facebook for purchases, with only 22% using the platform for this reason.

Instead, Generation Z consumers have a stronger preference for TikTok, accounting for 46% of users, exceeding the usage percentages of other generational groups, such as 30% for Millennials and 23% for Generation X. Furthermore, both Generation Z (41%) and Millennials (37%) are more likely to use Instagram for purchases than Generation X (18%).

Consumers in Singapore tend to fall into distinct categories when it comes to buying frequency. The majority, 52%, are classified as occasional customers, meaning they make purchases on social media sites less than once a month. 36%, on the other hand, are classified as frequent purchasers, suggesting that they shop on social media more than once a month. A significant 11% are unsure about their shopping frequency.

Those who have engaged in such transactions may lack the commitment that leads to frequent buying behaviour, according to earlier statistics revealing that 40% of Singaporeans have refrained from making purchases through social media. Millennials are once again the most frequent purchasers, with 44% purchasing on social media more than once a month. In Singapore, however, the Generation Z population prefers occasional purchases, with 63% expressing a preference for this shopping frequency.

Within the category of frequent customers, Facebook is the most popular app for purchases, with 74% preferring it, followed by TikTok (58%), and YouTube (51%). In contrast, among occasional buyers, the distribution of usage shifts slightly, with 61% preferring Facebook, 41% preferring Instagram, and 38% preferring TikTok.

According to the study, the top reasons for prospective consumers to make purchases through social media platforms are cheap price points in comparison to other options and appealing discounts and promotions, both of which register at 52%. Other important factors influencing purchasing’ decisions include 41% convenience, 38% the capacity to analyse products in detail, and 35% the certainty of dependable customer service.

Singapore – Global retail company Muji has recently reopened its Singapore flagship store, MUJI Plaza Singapura, which also comes back as the current largest global flagship store for MUJI in the SEA region.

Spanning 38,400 square feet, the expansive store will feature MUJI’s increased product range across various concepts, scales, and varieties, including the Singapore-first MUJI Renovation.

Comprising over 15 departments and more than 3,000 products, MUJI Plaza Singapura’s new services and ranges include ‘Everyday Good Price’, which are daily essentials priced under $10, and maternity wear. Existing MUJI concepts will also be broadened to show a more complete range.

Specifically, the new flagship store includes clothes and fashion items, health and beauty items, travel goods, stationery, kitchen tools, a food section, a cafe, home related items and appliances, a renovation showcase, a community market with local goods, a bicycle section, refresh zones to relax, and the Everyday Good Price section. 

Speaking about the reopened store, Katsushi Onishi, managing director of MUJI Singapore, said, “We deeply appreciate the opportunity to expand and present our increased product range in our revitalised flagship store, situated in the heart of the city.”

“We are eager to introduce MUJI’s new product line and services to Singapore through the new MUJI Plaza Singapura, and hope to extend these offerings to our other stores in the future,” he added. 

Singapore – In an effort to establish meaningful connections with guests, global hospitality group Accor has recently partnered with Accenture to spearhead its forthcoming digital content strategy. This follows their commitment to increase the brand’s content production scalability and consistency in the local and international marketing communications scene.

Following this initiative, Accenture Song developed a modern data-driven content supply model known as ‘Content Atelier.’ This service platform employs customised, adaptable, effective, and high-quality marketing and communications material across all customer touchpoints with a reduced cost.

In particular, it encompasses both physical and digital communications, allowing its availability to all Accor marketing professionals worldwide. It also includes managing content development from the first brief to performance monitoring and content optimisation. 

Interestingly, the ‘Content Atelier’ also utilises a data-led approach to enable Accor brand marketers to focus on their most important activities while aiming to increase the effectiveness of its digital marketing programmes, drive more traffic to its branded website, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. 

This service has been developed with leading design principles and utilises Accenture’s SynOps platform for marketing and content operations while being integrated into Accor’s infrastructure. 

Talking about the project, Stéphanie Jaffré, SVP digital marketing and eCommerce, Premium, Midscale, and Economy Brands at Accor, said, “Accor is committed to extending hospitality and inspiring new opportunities and experiences for our guests. So, it is crucial we have the right framework in place to reach our guests in the right way at the right time on the right channels, to inspire and support their travel needs and desires.

“Consumer attention is not agnostic; it spreads across multiple digital channels, and we need to be able to communicate with our guests on all relevant platforms, particularly at the research and inspiration stage of the customer journey. Hospitality is all about connecting with people, and through our new digital content strategy, we can better connect with, inspire, and serve our guests,” added Jaffré.

Meanwhile, Martial Viudes, managing director at Accenture Song, said, “Together with Accor, we have redesigned the experience for Accor marketing professionals, aiming to optimize efficiency on a global level and ensure locally relevant, ultra-personalized experiences for its guests. We are proud to support Accor in creating a new generation of content production, harnessing our deep industry, creative, and technical expertise. 

“The development of the ‘Content Atelier’ serves each brand within the group according to their marketing ambitions, delivering bespoke and creative points of delight worldwide,” he ended.

Singapore – Full sensory experience agency The Company We Keep (The CWK) has expanded its SEA team and offerings with the addition of Tam Xu as project director and Nicole Pow and Deon Tan as project managers.

In her new role, Xu will spearhead the delivery of bespoke projects for clients across the SEA region. She will nurture and train the team of producers that will be based on the newly-opened Singapore hub to ensure a stellar production powerhouse.

Xu will also be responsible for day-to-day project management across multiple departments, ensuring operational and financial discipline, delivery excellence, and resource optimisation.

Prior to her appointment at The CWK, she played a pivotal role in setting up the events and project management teams from scratch at MOI Global. As an event director, she led a growing team to manage end-to-end event planning and execution, building strong client relationships with companies such as Fujifilm, Google Cloud, Oracle, Red Hat, and UBS.

Meanwhile, in their new roles as project managers, Pow and Tan will be overseeing the CWK projects within the Singapore hub.

Pow, who brings with her 8 years of experience managing various events ranging from conferences, meetings, award ceremonies, and travel incentives, will also leverage her tech-savvy expertise in her new role.

On the other hand, Tan will take on a social and creative-heavy role. She brings 10 years of experience across events, sales, and marketing.

With the opening of the agency’s Singapore office earlier this year, they are now officially in operations and are working with clients such as Credit Suisse, WalkMe, Salesforce, and DocuSign.

Victor Darmawan, business director for Asia at The CWK, said, “I am incredibly excited about Tam, Nicole, and Deon joining the company, and I look forward to working closely with them to elevate Singapore as the next hub for The CWK. Together, we will continue to provide world-class service to our clients, fostering growth and success.”

Nigel Ruffell, CEO at The CWK, also shared, “The addition of Tam, Nicole, and Deon to our growing team is a testament to The Company We Keep’s remarkable success in the SEA region. Each of them brings a wealth of invaluable experience that will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities across APAC. With our expanding team and reinforced presence, we’re embarking on an exciting journey filled with limitless opportunities, and we eagerly anticipate the amazing work they will do.”

Meanwhile, commenting on her new role, Xu said, “The CWK has an envious reputation, and I’m thrilled to be part of the SEA team during an exciting growth phase. Together with Victor, I look forward to scaling new heights, building a team, and achieving new milestones for The CWK’s Singapore Hub.”

Singapore – AnyMind, a technology company specialising in business supply chain, has recently unveiled the launch of its latest influencer marketing solution tailored for mobile app publishers, developers, and marketers. 

Known as AnyTag, this new platform is designed to combine performance-driven influencer marketing with mobile application marketing. 

In particular, it utilises a performance-based model that measures the application’s download counts, making it a primary indicator for influencer marketing campaigns. 

Among its key features, users may also search through and choose from a global network of more than 610,000 influencers across the Asia Pacific to work on their app marketing initiatives. 

Leveraging accumulated campaign data and individual influencer performance data, on the other hand, influencers can also be identified and chosen for performance-driven influencer marketing campaigns and optimise designed creatives that are in line with end-user purchase volumes.

With this, they can now participate in the said influencer marketing campaigns by using Any Creator, the creator growth platform of the company. 

Talking about the launch, Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder at AnyMind Group, expressed his enthusiasm about the project, saying “We’re now at an exciting inflection point in influencer marketing, where we’re seeing a convergence between influencer marketing and digital commerce. This presents a new range of opportunities for innovation in influencer marketing, such as tying influencer marketing to app marketing, further attribution opportunities in social and live commerce, and more.” 

“It is now up to vendors to further innovate and for marketers to embrace these changes,” he ended.

India – Mumbai-based digital business-to-business (B2B) payments company PayMate has announced its expansion into the Asia Pacific region as part of its global growth journey.

With this expansion, PayMate is now launching its operations in Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia to provide digital payment solutions tailored to the specific needs of each market while maintaining a unified global strategy.

Businesses from the aforementioned markets will now also be able to access PayMate’s solutions, which include digitization and automation of financial processes, invoice discounting, and API-as-a-service for financial institutions.

PayMate’s platform offers seamless integration with existing systems and facilitates expedited payments and efficient cash flow analysis, which businesses can now leverage to improve their working capital management.

The B2B payments firm is also looking to explore potential expansion opportunities in other APAC markets, including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, in Australia and South Africa, PayMate operates under the name “DuNoMo” as a wholly owned subsidiary.

The B2B payments firm now has established subsidiaries in APAC and the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) regions.

Ajay Adiseshan, founder and CEO at PayMate, said, “We are delighted to introduce PayMate’s innovative B2B payment solutions in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. Our rapid expansion into these countries highlights our commitment to enabling frictionless and highly secure B2B transactions for enterprises. We look forward to contributing to the thriving fintech ecosystems in these markets and to collaborating with local partners to drive the digital transformation of B2B payments.”

Amirreza Sawal, general manager for APAC at PayMate, also added, “PayMate is committed to expanding its footprint in the APAC regions, delivering local businesses with the means to elevate supply chain payments, minimise expenses, and optimise working capital. Our versatile APIs offer effortless integration with third-party functionalities, fostering innovation, scalability, and a competitive advantage. These B2B Payments APIs transcend industry boundaries, serving as an adaptable solution across diverse sectors.”

Singapore – Havas Market, the e-commerce arm of the Havas Media network, has recently announced the appointment of Shermaine Lau as its new head for Singapore.

This appointment follows her decade-long expertise in the e-commerce landscape, leveraging the company’s digital transformation, brand acceleration, and data-driven strategies.

In her new role, Lau will primarily concentrate on the improvement of purchasing experiences in the Havas Market by highlighting end-to-end, omnichannel solutions as well as harnessing the transformative power of cutting-edge generative AI.

Through this initiative, the company then seeks to streamline operations, maximise resources, and deliver exceptional value to brands across all business segments of the Havas Market. 

Speaking about this appointment, Lau said, “In today’s retail landscape, brands must go beyond product sales; they need to connect meaningfully with shoppers. Our AI-powered omnichannel solutions enable brands to efficiently create great shopping experiences, fostering customer loyalty and driving sustainable business growth.”

Meanwhile, Deanson Lee, head of digital at Havas Media Network Singapore, added, “With Shermaine’s extensive experience, I’m confident that we will not only empower our clients to navigate the dynamic omnichannel retail and media landscape but also venture into new frontiers of commerce, unlocking greater market potential together.”

Tapping into Lau’s proficiency for these comprehensive strategies, Havas Market is now poised to empower brands further, facilitating the creation of meaningful shopping experiences that resonate with consumers.

Singapore – Singapore Airlines has unveiled their latest campaign, which features a new stop-motion animation across social media, aiming to capture the essence of a wanderlust experience with their sonic identity comprising three instrumental tracks played on board SIA flights and in SilverKris Lounges.

Titled ‘The Sound of Singapore Airlines: A melodic journey awaits’, the new 30-second film captures the SIA Business Class cabin in a charming, handmade music box that takes the shape of a suitcase, bringing viewers on a trip through scenic landscapes and vibrant cities, accompanied by the airline’s signature melodies to evoke fond memories of travelling with Singapore Airlines.

Created in collaboration with Copenhagen-based director Marcus Møller Bitsch, the film’s handmade music box is inspired by the airline’s Business Class cabin. Each prop, including the iconic SIA cabin crew sarong kebaya uniform, was carefully hand-crafted and integrated into the film’s storyline.

Speaking about the project, Bitsch shared, “When I got the brief, I immediately thought it was a fantastic opportunity to use stop-motion animation to show the attention to detail and dedication that Singapore Airlines strives to bring to their customers.”

Meanwhile, Loo Yong Ping, deputy executive creative director of TBWA\Singapore, commented, “With the world embracing the wonders of AI, we wanted to do things differently by reviving the art of craft making to weave a sensory experience through music. We’re thrilled to witness this film come alive.”

Singapore – Leading multi-attraction pass provider Go City has officially signed a memorandum of understanding with Weixin Pay, a widely recognised payment function in the Weixin app, in an event today at the Capitol Kempinski Hotel, Singapore.

Such first-of-its-kind collaboration marks a significant milestone for the two as it will boost the global tourism sector in the country, allowing Chinese tourists to immerse themselves in a wide variety of visiting places across 30+ cities in Go City’s portfolio.

This also includes a three-year joint marketing plan in which both parties will allocate resources to adopt the usage of both the Go City Weixin mini programme and Weixin Pay.

Neville Doe, group chief financial officer of Go City, shared his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, “This exciting partnership with Weixin Pay is a testament to Go City’s commitment to revolutionising the travel experiences for our customers. We’re incredibly excited to team up with a world-class leader in digital payment solutions to better serve our Chinese customers.

“Our mini program is already enhancing the purchase and usage experience for these customers, and this partnership takes this incredible proposition to greater heights. Together, we’re set to open up a world of fresh possibilities, such as special deals and unique experiences, for these travellers across Southeast Asia and beyond,” he added.

Following this remarkable feat, Etienne Ng, regional director, Southeast Asia for Weixin Pay, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with Go City, a pioneer in the tourism industry. This partnership aligns with our aim to provide Chinese users with seamless and secure payment options, enriching their travel experience in Singapore and the rest of the region, and represents a significant step towards achieving that vision for our users.”

Meanwhile, Dawn Jeremiah, vice president, marketing and e-commerce at Go City, also said that the establishment of Go City last September has already brought exponential revenue growth from Mainland Chinese consumers month after month.

“We’ve seen a 1.5x growth in September and October versus 2019 and a 2x growth this month versus 2019. exponential growth particularly to Singapore, followed by London, Sydney, Bangkok, Oahu, New York, Barcelona, and Paris. This year’s Golden Week saw our pass volume sales grow to 4x, average basket size grow by 25%, and lower refund rates, all compared to that of 2019,” she ended.

For the next few months, this strategic partnership is expected to revolutionise the exploration of Singapore’s top destinations, ensuring affordability, accessibility, and an authentically enhanced experience.