Tag: Singapore

Singapore – The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) has launched its latest campaign in collaboration with The Secret Little Agency. This campaign, dubbed “Break the Silver Ceiling,” aims to fight ageism, modify contemporary perceptions of ageing, and stimulate a positive transformation in society’s attitudes toward seniors. 

The campaign will be featured on digital and social media platforms. It is set to run from January 9, 2024, until February 5, 2024. To support the project, people can take part in a public walk on January 28, 2024, to show their support, or they can join the existing TikTok challenge, which starts on January 15.

In Southeast Asia, discrimination based on age affects 86.4% of the population, a substantial majority. Particularly in Singapore, 47% of adults over 55 say they have encountered discrimination because of their age. This impedes the pursuit of a satisfying and active lifestyle for this generation by exacerbating negative self-perceptions.

Devoted to establishing a lively senior living community, AIC partners with The Secret Little Agency on “Break the Silver Ceiling.” With a distinctive logo made of shards, the campaign encourages Singaporeans to rethink their views on life and ageing and confront ageing stereotypes.

Speaking about the campaign, Eva Lim, director of the integrated communications and marketing division at AIC, said, “Break the Silver Ceiling campaign calls for a new, positive narrative on ageing by tackling ageist stereotypes. It is a call to action, encouraging Singaporeans to redefine what it means to grow older. Through online and localised on-ground activations, we hope to increase mindshare on the topic of senior empowerment.” 

Meanwhile, Mavis Neo and Nicholas Ye, co- chief creative officers at The Secret Little Agency, said, “This campaign is a celebration of resilience, strength, and the limitless potential that comes with age. Our seniors aren’t just challenging prejudices; they are redefining the narrative around ageing in Singapore. ‘Break the Silver Ceiling’ is a call to action, urging everyone to embrace a new mindset and recognize the extraordinary capabilities of older adults.” 

Singapore – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has recently launched the first of a three-part series of films with The Secret Little Agency to demonstrate electric vehicles as a reality of Singapore’s mobility. 

While awareness of electric vehicles is high amongst Singaporeans, the campaign seeks to educate Singaporeans about the ready infrastructure supporting the adoption of electric vehicles that exist today and into the near future.

The campaign aims to ensure that electric vehicle readiness is hyper-visible to the public by making it part of everyday culture through the language of cinema. Titled ‘Now Showing on Roads Near You’, the campaign puts the power of cinema storytelling to surprising use to show how electric vehicles and its supporting infrastructure aren’t just a thing of the future but are highly present in the here and now.

https://youtu.be/ahjgNlW8SFI?si=p8NASF78QoVLM650

The first of the series touches on the EV’s longevity and range, in the style of an action thriller. Created in collaboration with Abundant Films and director Jesse James Mcelroy, the film follows a protagonist on a thrilling mission to save his family on one single electric vehicle charge. It brings the viewer through an epic journey with entertaining plot twists and turns while demonstrating just how much mileage can be achieved with a single electric vehicle charge.

Each film within the three-part series will touch on three aspects of electric vehicle readiness. With longevity being released first, the following films will tackle the ease and convenience of switching to an electric vehicle through a comprehensive charging infrastructure network, and how the electrification of public transportation drives environmental benefits – each taking on a different genre of cinema.

Talking about the campaign, Nicholas Ye & Mavis Neo, co-chief creative officers at The Secret Little Agency, said, “A cleaner future powered by electric vehicles is inevitable and something all Singaporeans can look forward to, just like an upcoming blockbuster at the cinema. And so ‘Now Showing On Roads Near You’ was born as we create the kind of sizzle that movie trailers do starting with this trailer about the amazing things you can do in just one charge.”

The upcoming two films in this three-part series are slated to be released between mid-January to early February. They will see the campaign culminating towards the Chinese New Year period.

Singapore – Telecommunications company Ericsson has announced the appointment of Daniel Ode as head of Ericsson for Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and head of global customer unit for Singtel Group in Southeast Asia, Oceania & India.

In his new role, Ode will be responsible for driving Ericsson’s business and overseeing the company’s operations in these markets, and will be a member of the regional executive leadership team of Ericsson Southeast Asia, Oceania and India.

Prior to this appointment, Ode has been with Ericsson for more than 17 years and was serving as the acting head of customer unit for Northern and Central Europe, and head of GCU Telia Company. 

In these roles, Ode was leading Ericsson’s business with Telia Company in the Nordics and Baltics. He was driving the company’s business and operations towards Telia Company while managing this strategic partnership for the company.

With a wealth of experience in the telecommunications industry, Ode brings his knowledge and expertise to the new role with a diverse background that includes both international experience and a history of entrepreneurship, as he had once run his own entrepreneurial venture prior to his career in Ericsson. 

Commenting on his appointment, Ode said, “I am delighted to take on the role of leading our talented teams in Singapore, Brunei and Philippines and working with our customers in these markets to ensure that they stay at the forefront of 5G developments. We will leverage Ericsson’s technology leadership to contribute to the technological advancement and economic growth of these markets.”

Meanwhile, Nunzio Mirtillo, head of Ericsson Southeast Asia, Oceania and India, commented, “With his extensive experience of working in the telecom industry with Ericsson, I am confident that Daniel, together with his team, will continue to deliver on our commitment to support the Singtel Group and partner with service providers in Singapore, Brunei and Philippines towards delivering the full benefits of connectivity to customers and enterprises.”

Singapore – Around 51% of Singaporean respondents said they would consider grocery delivery via food delivery apps over going to the supermarket to save time shopping, a survey commissioned by Deliveroo revealed.

The survey by Deliveroo showed that food delivery platforms are becoming an integral part of life for many Singaporeans, with 68% of respondents stating that they consider food delivery now a part of their daily lives. Furthermore, data showed an uptrend of 80% expected to use food delivery services in the next 12 months.

With the projected surge in the use of food delivery platforms in the coming months, 62% of consumers now also expect to spend more on food delivery in the next 12 months compared to the last 12. The average spending on these delivery services has also increased to $118 per month, with those aged between 46 and 55 seen to be spending the most at an average of $169 per month.

Among the main reasons respondents cited for using food delivery services are lack of time for preparing meals (58%), and not wanting to cook (58%). In fact, 87%, or nearly 9 in 10 respondents, agree with the statement, ‘I make more of my spare time thanks to delivery platforms’.

The survey further revealed that some customers would willingly spend more for certain types of dishes, with 38% stating they’d pay more for healthier food and 35% opting to spend more on customised food orders.

These data show Singaporean customers’ need for personalisation and healthy ingredients as part of their diet, which food delivery platforms can take into consideration more.

Aside from food delivery services, the option of self-pickups has also grown in popularity. Over half of the respondents, or 55%, have stated they plan to increase their use of self-pick-up services on food delivery apps in the next 12 months.

Additionally, 54% said they consider using the same service when they’re going out anyway and they will be passing the area they’re planning to order from. Almost half (49%) also use self-pickup when they want to skip the long lines or waiting time at restaurants.

However, aside from food delivery orders for ready-to-eat meals, the platforms are also now facing growing demands for their services that go beyond the plate.

In fact, over half of respondents (53%) agree that they prefer getting non-food supplies via food delivery platforms and are planning to order these supplies in the next 12 months.

Around 49% of Singaporeans prefer getting their groceries delivered over having to go to the supermarket personally. This preference can be attributed to the need for convenience, with almost half, or 47%, of respondents saying they would consider the delivery service to save time from grocery shopping.

Deliveroo’s commissioned survey showed that Singaporean consumers are turning to food delivery platforms for services involving non-food items, with more than half, or 51%, of consumers stating they would consider using grocery delivery via food delivery apps in the event of buying large amounts of groceries.

With the growing use of food delivery platforms as a means for grocery delivery, the average monthly spending for consumers on groceries via food delivery services now totals $111. Half of the respondents further stated they intend to spend more in the next 12 months.

Food delivery services have also extended their on-demand delivery options to gift shopping. Costumes can now order gift items such as flowers, hampers, and balloons even on a tight timeline.

Over half, or 55%, of respondents said they prefer the convenience of having their gifts delivered via on-demand delivery services over purchasing them in-store. The main reasons for this are that many lack time to buy the gift items (47%), while others need them urgently (43%).

Half of the Singaporean respondents (50%) also agreed that they plan to order gifts via food delivery services in the next 12 months.

Another interesting piece of data is that 88%, or 9 out of 10 respondents, revealed they are supportive of food delivery platforms’ in-app features that allow customers to make contributions to charity. Furthermore, 89% showed their support for the platforms’ in-app features that allow customers to tip riders.

Jason Parke, general manager at Deliveroo Singapore, said, “The latest survey results reinforce how the role of food delivery services in Singaporeans’ day-to-day lives has further evolved in today’s landscape. Going beyond ready-to-eat meals, we see how customers are increasingly turning to food delivery platforms for other goods and services that add value to various aspects of their lives. As such, Deliveroo stays committed to bringing the neighbourhood to the doorsteps of consumers, transforming the way they shop and eat.”

Singapore – In a developing story, some Lazada top executives are reportedly among those affected by the company’s retrenchment exercises as the layoffs expand to its other markets in Southeast Asia, The Edge Singapore reported.

According to people familiar with the matter, Lazada has let go of its chief marketing officers across the various countries it serves. Among the C-suite executives affected by the retrenchment was Brigitte Daubry, its chief customer care officer at Lazada Singapore. 

The e-commerce company has also allegedly laid off a fifth of its employees in its Malaysia branch, including its chief executive officer and its chief logistics officer. Currently, there are no updates on the positions of the following top executives in their LinkedIn profiles.

Additionally, reports also said that Lazada had shut down the operations of its LazMall in Vietnam.

These fresh rounds of reported layoffs join the undisclosed number of employees that were included in Lazada Singapore’s retrenchment exercises on January 3.

Lazada Singapore, the first branch to suffer from the sudden mass layoff, is unionised under the Food, Drinks, and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), which is an affiliated union of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

In a statement issued by NTUC to Singaporean press and news sites, it expressed its disappointment in the matter and said that it had escalated the matter to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

“NTUC would like to reiterate that it is critical for companies to work with their union to ensure that a fair and equitable process is carried out to safeguard the interests of all workers, especially our Singaporean core,” NTUC said in a statement.

Furthermore, NTUC stated that “companies must exhaust all other options before making the call to retrench employees. (NTUC) also appeals to companies to be considerate about the timing of such exercises and to avoid doing such exercises during festive periods, as far as possible.”

Singapore – Taiwanese bubble tea chain Milksha has recently announced that it would be ceasing all operations in Singapore, effectively closing all its local outlets and exiting the Singaporean market. 

Milksha took to Facebook and Instagram with a sudden announcement, bidding farewell on New Year’s Eve with the post saying that it was Milksha’s last operating day in Singapore.

Notably, Milksha cited no reasons for their departure in the posts, and Milksha’s Singapore website was also immediately taken down. 

In their last post, Milksha Singapore mentioned, “Brewing our final cups of joy! Today marks our last operating day at our last outlet in Singapore. As we bid farewell, we invite you to join us for one last cup of memories or simply drop by to reminisce with us. Happy New Year!” 

Looking back, Milksha’s entry in the Singaporean market kicked off in 2019 as it joined Singapore’s growing bubble tea scene with various tea and coffee brands, where it expanded with 10 outlets across the city-state. 

This being said, Milksha’s exit from Singapore also follows several coffee brands, coming less than three months after tech-focused coffee chain Flash Coffee closed its remaining stores in the country to cut costs and follows Spinelli Coffee’s exit from the market in December 2023. 

Singapore – BlackLine, Inc. announced today the appointment of Emily Campbell, as chief marketing officer, effective January 2nd. She will be directly reporting to co-CEO Owen Ryan. 

Campbell is in charge of leading BlackLine’s worldwide marketing strategy in her capacity as CMO. In this role, her primary goal is to capitalise on the company’s leadership in digital finance transformation to fulfil the growing demand for solutions from across the globe that improve automation, efficiency, risk management, and financial control for the office of the CFO.

Campbell joins BlackLine with over 25 years of experience leading marketing teams. Most recently, Campbell held the position of chief marketing officer at Infinite Electronics. She oversaw communications, inside sales, e-commerce, customer experience, worldwide brand marketing strategy, and technical support in her capacity there. 

Before that, she was Arrow Electronics’ head of global marketing and digital innovation, where she oversaw demand generation initiatives through a variety of channels and helped build the company’s e-commerce sales channel. In addition to her vast experience, Campbell worked at Dell Technologies for 14 years in senior marketing and product management positions. 

Speaking about the appointment, Ryan said, “Emily has a strong track record building and growing technology brands globally, with a particular focus on demand generation for enterprise sales. The diversity and success of her past experiences speak to her ability to drive effective results across all facets of marketing.” 

He added, “Emily will be a critical part of our strategy as the premier accounting and finance platform for the Office of the CFO.”

Meanwhile, Campbell said, “BlackLine represents a perfect blend of innovation and impact. I’m excited to help elevate awareness of the company’s value proposition within the Office of the CFO, increase customer engagement, support growth initiatives, and strengthen our platform offering.” 

“It’s not just about marketing a product or solution; it’s about being a mission-critical part of our customers’ digital finance transformation journeys and changing how their businesses operate and thrive in the modern world,” Campbell stated. 

Singapore – As we step into the promising realm of 2024, the marketing landscape in Southeast Asia is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by evolving consumer behaviours, technological advancements, and dynamic market trends. In this era of unprecedented connectivity and digitalisation, businesses are challenged to adapt swiftly to stay relevant and competitive. The region, known for its diverse cultures, rapidly growing economies, and technological adoption, is poised to witness groundbreaking shifts in marketing strategies. 

From embracing digital advancements to fostering sustainability and social responsibility, brands that proactively respond to the changing needs and expectations of consumers will be well-positioned for success in this dynamic region. The journey ahead promises challenges, but for those ready to seize the opportunities, the marketing landscape in Southeast Asia in 2024 holds immense potential for growth and impact.

To provide brands and marketers with the most up-to-date knowledge, best practices, and resources to ready themselves for the forthcoming industry trends and forecasts, MARKETECH APAC’s upcoming “What’s NEXT 2024” conferences has officially announced added details regarding its initial roster of speakers, as well as opportunities for both sponsors and attendees.

Its first conference for the year will be held in Singapore on March 7, 2024 at the Furama City Centre. Attendees of the What’s NEXT 2024: Marketing in Singapore one-day conference will be able to learn more about discussions and insights from these marketing leaders on topics revolving around AI, digital advertising, customer engagement, e-commerce, and customer experience. The initial lineup of speakers includes:

  • Jaslyin Qiyu, SVP, Head of Client Marketing and Digital Capabilities at Citi Singapore
  • Ronnie Brown, Chief Marketing & Distribution Officer at DirectAsia Singapore
  • Sulin Lau, Regional Head of Marketing and Brand for Deliveries, Mobility, Fintech & B2B at Grab
  • Jenny Tang, Head, Digital Marketing at Singapore Management University
  • Sophia Ong, Group Communications and Corporate Marketing at Singapore Post

Meanwhile, the next leg of the conference, What’s NEXT 2024: Marketing in the Philippines, will be held from March 19 to 20 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. Aside from the topics that will be covered in the Singapore conference, attendees for this two-day conference in the Philippines will also be learning insights regarding consumer insights, branding, and influencer marketing. The initial lineup of speakers includes:

  • Katrina Gonzalez, Global Marketing Director at Coins.ph
  • Benjamin Quiroga-Rivera, managing director, APAC at Emma Sleep
  • Greg Anonas, Marketing Director at Emperador Distillers, Inc.
  • Denice Sy, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc.
  • Rochelle Vandenberghe, Chief Marketing and Digital Business Officer at FWD Insurance
  • Raymund Villanueva, Chief Marketing Officer at GoTyme Bank

This follows the successful hosting of the What’s Next 2023: Marketing in Malaysia hybrid conference in the Philippines on December 5, 2023 at the Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur. The conference was attended by more than 200 in-person attendees and more than 100 virtual attendees including a diverse pool of Malaysian and international brands and agencies.

To learn how to be a part of this conference, click HERE for details on the Singapore conference, and HERE for details on the Philippine conference.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joven Barceñas at [email protected]. Meanwhile, please contact Katherine Sy at [email protected] for speaking opportunities; and Jizelle Barceñas at [email protected] for registrations.

Singapore – Following the company’s commitment to enhancing financial accessibility to MSMEs, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, in collaboration with CGC Digital, has recently announced a strategic investment in Funding Societies, a small and medium enterprise digital finance platform in Southeast Asia.

The investment targets expansion in areas beyond Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, and Johor, with plans to serve more than 25, 000 MSMEs across Malaysia by the end of 2025. This move intends to provide better financial access, spur growth, and facilitate scalability, contributing to job creation and income development for the individuals employed by these businesses.

This initiative is also accompanied by the company’s goal to extend the reach of Islamic financing solutions introduced in Malaysia earlier this year.

Khazanah’s investment is in line with its Dana Impak mandate, a key component of its Advancing Malaysia strategy. This investment aligns with the government’s vision of improving the performance of MSMEs by providing increased access to financing, fostering opportunities, and driving socioeconomic growth in rural, semi-urban, and underserved communities with limited access to financial services.

The collaboration with CGC Digital, on the other hand, is aimed at influencing the Malaysian MSME ecosystem, given Khazanah’s simultaneous investment in funding societies.

In particular, this collaboration encompasses digital guarantee products on the platform, extending sustained support to Malaysian micro and small businesses in securing long-term financing. With a digital-first approach and leveraged alternative data, the digital guarantee product aims to provide micro and small businesses with more extensive and cost-effective access to financing.

Speaking about this feat, Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, managing director at Khazanah, said, “The investment in funding societies reflects our commitment to fostering financial inclusion and bridging the funding gap, especially within the MSME community. Being the backbone of Malaysia’s economy and contributing nearly half of the nation’s employment, MSMEs are both critical and critically underserved. Hence, this investment aligns with our mission of contributing to nation-building and socioeconomic growth.”.

Yushida Husin, CEO at CGC Digital, also expressed her delight with the recent collaboration, stating, “CGC Digital sees this investment as a strategic win for Malaysian MSMEs. We share Dana Impak’s vision and believe that, by working together with Khazanah, CGC Digital can advance financial inclusion among underserved and unserved MSMEs in the digital ecosystem.

“CGC Digital seeks to push the envelope by developing a suite of innovative digital guarantee products for thin-file MSMEs that can be offered together with Funding Societies’ financing products to increase their chance of obtaining much-needed financing,” she added.

Speaking about the strategic investment, on the other hand, Datuk Mohd Zamree Mohd Ishak, board member at CGC Digital and president and CEO of CGC Digital’s parent company, Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad, shared his sentiment as well, saying, “By joining forces with Khazanah and Funding Societies, this strategic investment by CGC Digital shows CGC Group’s commitment to taking Malaysian MSMEs, especially thin-file MSMEs, to the next level.”

Kelvin Teo, co-founder and group CEO at Funding Societies, said, “We are honoured to receive support from Khazanah and CGC Digital, who share our conviction to impact MSMEs. This is a testament to our commitment towards extending credit to reach more underserved MSMEs. We would also progressively offer MSMEs more cash flow management solutions to power their growth.”

“This is where funding societies seek to step in by serving the region’s MSMEs’ cash management challenges and needs with our extensive reach and broad range of short-term financing solutions,” Teo concluded.

Singapore – E-commerce company Lazada, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, faces staff reductions in its Singapore office amidst the 2024 new year transition, The Edge Singapore reported.

An employee familiar with the matter has revealed that senior and junior employees from multiple departments, including those from commercial and marketing teams, had received individual calendar meeting invites from the company’s human resources department at the end of the January 2 workday.

The anonymous employee further revealed that the layoffs, which began on January 3, are speculated to last until January 5, as the HR department has reserved all meeting rooms until the end of the week.

Additionally, Lazada Singapore has also been operating without an in-house communications department since last year.

Currently, there is no exact number as to how many employees have been laid off from the company’s Singapore unit.

The reports of layoffs come months after Lazada Singapore’s former CEO, Loh Wee Lee, left the company in August 2023. He has since been replaced by Jason Chen, who also serves as the group chief business officer at Lazada.