Tag: Singapore

Singapore – Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced it will extend the tenancy of Shilla Travel Retail for the perfumes and cosmetics concession by four more years to continue providing passengers with a quality beauty retail experience.

The extended contract will run from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2028, covering 22 outlets and spanning over 7,700 sq m of retail space across Changi Airport’s four terminals.

With the tenancy extension, CAG and Shilla will be able to continue their seamless delivery of top-class beauty retail experiences to customers as passenger traffic rebounds at Changi Airport.

Shilla is also planning to bolster its beauty offerings in Changi Airport with the introduction of 20 new brands to its current assortment of 130 brands. Among these products are new-to-Singapore brands Lancaster premium skincare, Rituals lifestyle and wellness products, game-changing regenerative skincare from Augustinus Bader, as well as homegrown brand Apripure that offers natural and clean skincare products.

Airport shoppers can also look forward to the availability of fragrances from prestigious brands such as French perfumery Maison Francis Kurkdjian and makeup brand Kylie Cosmetics by celebrity Kylie Jenner.

In this continuing partnership, Shilla is also planning to wow its travellers with its first Changi pop-up experience and product launches, all the while delighting them with engaging omnichannel shopping experiences both in-store and on Changi’s e-commerce platform, iShopChangi.com. 

Shilla’s partnership with Changi Airport started in 2014 with a six-year contract for the perfumes and cosmetics concession.

Lim Peck Hoon, executive vice president of commercial at Changi Airport Group, said, “Shilla was one of our steadfast partners that weathered the storm of the pandemic with us. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with them to elevate the beauty retail landscape in Changi Airport and capture new opportunities in the post-Covid era. We are confident that the latest extension will give Shilla a longer runway to unlock their full potential in providing an exceptional travel retail experience.”

Singapore – The Southeast Asian markets Malaysia and the Philippines are seen to have its retail sector thrive with 63% and 45% in retail growth, while Singapore reports a -2% decline, new data from foundit has revealed

In terms of job demands, Malaysia demonstrated a relatively consistent result over the past three months, signifying a stable market. Malaysia has shown a positive resurgence with 1% month-over-month (MoM) growth and a robust 7% year-over-year (YoY) growth across various industries.

In contrast to this, Singapore is facing challenges with a decline of -1% MoM and a significant -14% YoY in hiring demand. Additionally, the tracker showed a 4% decrease in job demands over the last three months. These numbers signal a sign of vulnerability in the job market and a reduced pace of hiring.

Similar to Singapore, the Philippines has also witnessed volatility in its job market, with a 5% decrease in job demand over the same three-month period and negative 9% YoY trends. However, despite the decline, the country’s small MoM increase of 3% suggests a reviving job market and a potential recovery in the future.

Meanwhile, Malaysia experienced an extraordinary YoY growth of 88% in the hospitality sector, while Singapore and the Philippines reported more modest figures of 8% and 0%, respectively. The high numbers can be attributed to strategic government initiatives, including substantial investments in overseas promotions and digital content on international television channels.

In the retail sector, Malaysia (63%) and the Philippines (45%) both witness remarkable growth, with the latter undergoing a robust double-digit month-on-month increase. Luxury e-commerce and the expansion of retail outlets contributed to this surge. On the flipside, however, Singapore’s retail sector reported a -2% decline for August 2023, but an optimistic outlook prevails for the upcoming quarter in the industry.

Additionally, the logistics sector also saw increased demands in Malaysia (25%) due to significant e-commerce growth, but Singapore (-4%) and the Philippines (-35%) continue to face challenges in the same sector.

Also worth noting, however, is that despite Malaysia showing growth in other sectors, it is showing a decline when it comes to IT, telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES, like Singapore and the Philippines. The unpredictable global landscape impacted these sectors, with the Philippines showcasing a unique pattern of IT, telecom (-22%), and BPO/ITES (0%).

But even so, data from the report showed Malaysia demonstrating growth and resilience in the tech sector, with a 3% YoY growth in software, hardware, and telecom roles. This growth reflects the ongoing digitization efforts across industries, demanding professionals with technology expertise to drive innovation and efficiency.

The country’s sales and business development roles show the same impressive 34% YoY growth, signifying a proactive approach by businesses to expand their market presence and seize emerging opportunities.

In the customer service sector, Malaysia witnessed a substantial -44% YoY decline due to evolving dynamics and automation’s increasing role.This is in contrast with the Philippines experiencing growth in the domain with a 6% YoY trend, which is in line with its position as a hub for customer service outsourcing activities within the BPO sector.

Based on the report, Singapore and the Philippines also share a -18% and -23% YoY contraction in the marketing and communications roles, possibly reflecting adjustments in marketing strategies amidst evolving market dynamics.

Regarding hospitality and travel roles, Malaysia continues to see a remarkable surge of 133% YoY growth, contrasting that of Singapore and the Philippines, with more conservative figures of 8% and 0% YoY growth for the same roles, respectively.

Meanwhile, the purchase, logistics, or supply chain professionals face diverse challenges, with Malaysia showing a slight 2% YoY increase, while Singapore (-9%) and the Philippines (-24%) report declines.

Commenting on the report, Sekhar Garisa, CEO at foundit, said, “Skill enhancement is crucial to navigating the ever-changing job market in this digital age successfully, and it is imperative that we remain flexible and well-prepared to embrace these changes. Malaysia is currently experiencing a favourable hiring environment, but there is an increasing demand for new skills across various sectors.”

He added, “On the other hand, Singapore has a moderated economic outlook, which provides a valuable opportunity for job seekers to enhance their skills and plan for the future proactively. Meanwhile, the Philippines exhibits a recovering job market, underscoring the continuous need for learning and growth in alignment with changing hiring trends. Across these three diverse markets, the constant remains re-skilling and upskilling. The common thread connects job seekers and employers on their journey to success and progress in this rapidly evolving landscape.”

Singapore – German premium home services brand Helpling has announced the expansion of its services to become a one-stop home care and services solution with the launch of their super app. 

Through the super app, Helpling broadens their line-up of services to include elderly care and childminding services, in tandem with new home maintenance services like home organising, handyman and plumbing services.

Soft-launched, this platform also offers childminding care to families who seek occasional childcare support on an ad hoc basis for just a few hours each day or week, with the on-demand service starts at just SGD$25 per hour. Babysitters on the platform can assist in expert household management like meal preparation, errands and administrative tasks alongside professional home cleaning while minding the children.

Both new services are built onto Helpling’s booking system. Upon signing up for the service, Helpling’s algorithm will match users with reliable, skilled and trained providers. Among the recently added services, Helpling’s suite of services includes home cleaning, along with appliance and air conditioning maintenance services.

The new Home Services Super App embodies Helpling’s commitment to providing a holistic platform for busy professionals to effortlessly find the home services they require.

James Lim, CEO of Helpling Asia-Pacific, said, “This expansion aims to elevate our portfolio, catering to the diverse needs of busy households. The launch of caregiving services is notably in line with the government’s push to boost accessibility to full and part-time help for families. Our venture into companionship care also seeks to create greater access to solutions amid Singapore’s rising elderly population.”

“We are the top choice for busy Singaporeans who do not want to compromise on the standard of service. Each provider undergoes meticulous screening conducted by professional trainers and is continuously evaluated through performance reviews and training sessions. From there, Helpling’s care consultant will work with customers to personalise and tailor each service, depending on their needs”, he added.

Singapore – Around 61.8% of platform workers enjoy platform work, but a staggering 81.4% of them agree that they should be treated with more respect, a survey by DPIA revealed.

The survey provides a deeper look into the platform workers’ motivations, intentions, and experiences doing platform work in Singapore.

Based on the data collected, people engaged in platform work come from a diverse background and are categorised into four groups: the opportunists, who use platform work to earn alongside their existing careers; the switchovers, who prefer platform work over their regular jobs; the hustlers, who perceive platform work as a means to secure their dreams; and the explorers, who are not very committed to their platform work and are still looking for something they truly enjoy.

But even with varying motivations and reasons, the majority of the workers actually see platform work as more than a means to an end, with 92.2% stating they are amenable to platform work and 61.8% enjoying the nature of platform work in and of itself.

Some of the key motivators for platform workers, as revealed through the survey, are the platform work being vital in their career (53%), the work flexibility it offers (52.3%), and it being an important source of supplementary and temporary income (35.9%).

However, despite the majority feeling fulfilled with platform work, the workers’s day-to-day operational challenges and lack of respect received from society are among their major pain points.

Around 60% of platform workers raise concerns about compulsory CPF contributions and 55.9% of work injury compensation. They also shared that the public attitude towards them tends to lack consideration, and their choice to engage in platform work is disregarded.

Platform workers noted the difficult treatment they receive from drunk and rowdy passengers, disrespect from family members, as well as inconsiderate consumers and merchants who make their working environment unnecessarily uncomfortable.

All these concerns reflect on the survey data, with 25% of platform workers feeling that they were not sufficiently respected in their line of work and 81.4% agreeing that they should be treated with more respect.

With these concerns raised in the survey, platform companies continue to be the go-to option for assistance for the majority of platform workers (72%) during disputes. However, 18.7% reported disagreements with platforms’ handling of issues.

Singapore – SEEK, the parent company of Southeast Asian career platforms JobStreet and JobsDB, has launched an accessible, easy-to-use and free platform called JobStreet Express, which is now live in Singapore. 

With the launch of JobStreet Express, SEEK aims to help employers in Singapore fill the gap in semi-skilled workers, allowing many Singaporeans to obtain employment efficiently and safely. 

Notably, JobStreet Express was built to be mobile-first to cater to the majority of users in this segment who are regularly on the move. The platform also aims to close the application process in just a matter of hours or days, unlike traditional recruitment processes, which could take weeks or even months.

To fast track and simplify the hiring process, JobStreet Express will be making resumes optional on the platform before the end of the year. As long as talents provide the necessary information directly on their profiles, employers will no longer need to look at resumes for every role they post. This will allow talent to focus on applying for jobs rather than designing or updating their resumes. 

Over the next several months, JobStreet Express will be making enhancements, with some optional paid features to be made available in due course, catering to specific user needs. However, the platform’s basic functions, including the ability for any employer to post any semi-skilled role and the ability for easy application, will always remain free and accessible to everyone across Singapore.

SEEK has been developing JobStreet Express for over 18 months, readying for the Singapore market. The platform was first launched in Indonesia in October 2022 and is now present in four localities—Bali, Bandung, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, with more cities in the pipeline. With this in mind, SEEK plans to expand JobStreet Express across APAC in the near future.

Anshu Nahar, managing director for express & flex at SEEK, said, “The semi-skilled segment has traditionally been underserved. People in this segment often resort to unstructured and sometimes unsafe means to find jobs and talent. Both employers and talent feel that existing solutions just don’t work for them anymore.” 

“Through JobStreet Express, SEEK is committed to serving this segment with a dedicated platform, backed by millions of dollars of investment, our years of expertise, world-class technology and trusted brand,” he added.

Singapore – Fast casual chain Nando’s has appointed The Chariot Agency as its creative partner for Singapore and Malaysia. This follows a call to pitch from Nando’s Malaysia & Singapore at the end of July for the business that includes creative and social retainer.

Through the mandate, Nando’s plans to drive a new wave of communications aimed at making the Nando’s experience one that the young and young at heart keep coming back for. This takes effect on November this year.

Adrian Cheah, managing director at The Chariot Agency, expressed excitement for the agency’s latest win, saying, “We could not be more thrilled to be embarking on this new partnership with one of the world’s most iconic brands. Our shared belief in the power of creativity will help build Nando’s brand and business.”

Meanwhile, Elaine Chiew, head of marketing at Nando’s, commented, “Chariot stood out in their ability to capture and understand strong consumer insights while successfully incorporating Nando’s unique tone of voice with solid copywriting and creative expression in their ideas.”

She added, “We look forward to working with their diverse talent to once again capture the hearts of young and young at heart Malaysians and Singaporeans. We hope to continue being relevant to young audiences and deepening brand love in our markets.”

Singapore – Microsoft has launched new digital sustainability guidelines alongside the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to accelerate education and awareness amongst businesses and developers, as they build sustainable applications by design. Through this, the tech giant aims to position Singapore as a premiere innovation hub in the Southeast Asian region.

The digital sustainability guidelines provide educational information and actionable insights for businesses and developers committed to reducing carbon emissions through their work and creating long-term sustainable impact at scale.

The guidelines also clarify the relationships between hardware and software sustainability principles and measurements. It provides straightforward guidance on integrating energy efficiency, carbon awareness and hardware efficiency into software engineering and development processes. 

Moreover, it also provides tools and solutions to help businesses and developers track, report and reduce carbon emissions or greenhouse gases (GHG) created during the creation, running and maintenance of any application or solution, reducing the embodied carbon, GHG and carbon emissions in their lifespan.

Jeth Lee, chief legal officer at Microsoft Singapore, said, “Nurturing the foundations of a resilient, digitally inclusive future is a shared responsibility. These guidelines represent a collective drive to create a positive impact on the environment, by equipping developers with principles and tools to build applications that are inherently more sustainable.”

He added, “Providing developers with practical means of tracking and reporting emissions ensures that we are not simply embracing sustainability as an aspiration but actively working towards our net-zero targets.”

Meanwhile, Chee Wei Nga, director of emerging technology office for BizTech Group at IMDA, commented, “The launch of these guidelines will help advance Singapore’s efforts in becoming a leading digital sustainability hub in this region. Greening the ICT sector is important to IMDA and we will continue to work closely with partners such as Microsoft, Green Software Foundation to enable developers and businesses the ability to understand energy efficiency, carbon awareness and green software development. We will continue to drive a positive change to our environment, in Singapore and beyond our shores.”

Singapore – Almost 60% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific have expressed interest in AI-driven decision-making facilitation for their investments amid economic uncertainty and perceived financial crises, a report from dentsu revealed. 

The report by dentsu explored the evolving consumer financial behaviour across APAC markets against the backdrop of an economic crisis.

The key findings of dentsu’s report showed that 55% of APAC consumers now sense a looming risk of financial hardship over the next five years due to economic uncertainty and rising costs of living. The perceived financial crisis is also driving consumers to actively seek financial service providers that are capable of delivering swift, personalised, and empathetic solutions to address their financial needs.

The report highlighted that almost 45% of millennials are now looking to save up as concerns over government debt and pension support are escalating, a significant shift in numbers as compared to the 31% results from 2020.

And with consumers looking to prepare for challenging economic times, many are still leaning towards human-led financial services despite the growth of digital banking.

The report revealed that 77% of people ages 25–34 currently use the internet for banking purposes on a weekly basis, and most are open to purchasing more banking services through digital channels.

However, 6 out of 10 APAC consumers still prefer human interaction when making complaints about a product or service. This shows that there is an enduring value to human-led financial services despite the rise of digital banking, as empathetic support remains important in ensuring customers receive assistance during financial difficulties.

It is worth noting, however, that dentsu’s report also revealed a growing interest in AI-powered financial services. Almost 60% of APAC consumers have expressed interest in AI-driven decision-making facilitation for their investments.

This part of the results shows that balancing technological advancement with human empathy can be the key to a business’ success. By harnessing the evolving capabilities of AI, it can improve the capabilities of insurance and finance brands to provide automated, personalised, and speedy services that can help consumers be more resilient to financial and climate-related risks.

Prerna Mehrotra, chief client officer and CEO of media at dentsu APAC, said, “Across the APAC region, consumers are focused on securing their financial futures, and they’re turning to brands that not only provide convenience through cutting-edge technology but also prioritise emotional responsiveness and empathy. In this era of uncertainty, financial wellness is seen as part and parcel of overall wellness. People are in search of providers that go beyond merely offering financial solutions; banks, insurers, and fintech are responding by building guidance on investments and good financial habits into their offerings.”

Singapore – Maybank Singapore has announced its appointment of advertising agency Arena Media Singapore as its media agency of record. The appointment takes effect immediately.

Following the appointment, Arena Media Singapore will be spearheading Maybank Singapore’s integrated and digital media planning and buying strategies, aiming to enhance brand presence and facilitate meaningful consumer engagement. 

Leroy Lim, general manager of Arena Media Singapore, expressed his team’s excitement on the collaboration with Maybank Singapore. 

“Our team is eager to leverage our digital expertise to support Maybank’s efforts in forging greater consumer connections, and broadening their reach in the local market,” he added.
 
Maybank Singapore’s appointment serves as another addition to Arena Media’s list of clients, as the agency also currently serves as the media agency of record in Singapore for AIA, Dolce and Gabbana, Inchcape, Kaplan, Moomoo, and Far East Organization.

Singapore – Advertising agency Meetsocial announced the expansion of its digital marketing solutions expertise in Southeast Asia with the opening of its first international full-service office in Singapore.

Meetsocial’s expansion and new office come as part of the agency’s move to increase investment and personnel to support its current clients who market in Southeast Asia and offer its services to new clients based in the region.

The new Singapore office’s focus will be delivering core competencies such as advanced data analytics, comprehensive social media marketing, efficient search engine optimisation (SEO), and result-oriented content marketing.

Meetsocial will also employ regional talent, adapt products and services to international markets, build strategic partnerships with regional businesses, and tailor pricing and payment options to suit regional conditions.This approach will address the challenges of localization and cultural sensitivities while also enhancing Meetsocial’s competitiveness in the Southeast Asian market and driving its growth.

Additionally, the ad agency will harness its expertise in personalisation, artificial intelligence integration, and multichannel marketing strategies to ensure adaptability and seize new opportunities in the ever-changing digital landscape.

Earlier this year, Meetsocial started assembling its regional team and has established a partnership with Singapore-based digital design company Verz Design to enhance their full-funnel service. The collaboration will enable Meetsocial to engage with clients across the entire spectrum of business needs, particularly when entering new markets.

Commenting on the expansion, Charles Shen, CEO and founder at Meetsocial, said, “Unveiling our international office in Singapore is a significant milestone for Meetsocial. Having achieved considerable success in developing effective digital marketing strategies worldwide, we are excited to bring our expertise to the dynamic Asian market. Singapore’s exceptional infrastructure and business environment will enhance our ability to deliver impactful, trend-responsive campaigns for our clients.”