Tag: Singapore

Singapore – The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has issued the ‘Code of Practice for Online Safety’, which mitigates risk of harmful social media content to Singaporeans, especially to children. In addition, the new code has also instructed platforms to not serve advertisements to accounts owned by children.

The categories of harmful content covered by the code are: sexual content, violent content, suicide and self-harm content, cyberbullying content, content endangering public health, and content facilitating vice and organised crime.

Through the new safety code, IMDA has ordered online platforms to apply age-appropriate policies to accounts belonging to children, including having a set of community guidelines appropriate for children, content moderation, and online safety information that children can easily understand. 

Moreover, local users will be empowered with tools to manage their own safety. These may include tools to hide harmful content and unwanted interactions, limit location sharing and the visibility of their accounts from other users.

“Tackling the threat of harmful online content is a global issue which requires a whole-of-society effort. The Singapore Government has strengthened our regulatory framework and will continue its efforts in ensuring that regulatory and public education measures can address the growing range of harmful online content and protect Singapore users against online harms. IMDA will continue to work closely with SMSs to enhance Singapore’s Online Safety,” IMDA said in a statement.

Singapore – Carousell has partnered with car-as-a-subscription company Carzuno to offer the ‘Carousell Car Subscription’ in Singapore, a fully digital service that allows users to choose and return their automobile without leaving their homes, leveraging the recently announced Carousell Certified program for Cars.

Singaporeans who are new to car ownership are said to prefer more efficient options such as car subscriptions, which reduce concerns about costs such as insurance, road tax, maintenance, servicing, down payment, and bank loans, while also allowing them to switch between different car models to meet changing needs or test a model before purchasing, avoiding the inconveniences associated with traditional car rental and car sharing.

Users can choose a duration ranging from one to 24 months, benefiting from low monthly subscription rates. The website provides transparent pricing for all cars, catering to a wide range of budgets and needs.

Sanjay Shivkumar, Carousell Singapore’s head of autos, said, “Besides being known for being able to buy and sell second-hand cars, Carousell has the largest platform for rental cars in Singapore. In recent years, we have had more requests to offer car subscription services as well, and we have seen growing demand globally, especially among eco-conscious drivers who want to use electric vehicles without the hefty price tag. 

He added, “Hence, we are excited to partner with Carzuno launch a service that puts our users’ convenience first, and provides more choice.”

Meanwhile, Kim Jonsson, CEO at Carzuno, said, “Combining Carousell’s reach of 1 in 3 Singaporeans as monthly active users with our large fleet and variety of 50 car models, we are excited to give Singaporeans more flexibility and freedom in driving the car of their choice. It is as simple as filling in a three-minute form, uploading a copy of your driver’s licence, adding fuel to the car and enjoying your drive. Users can also have the peace of mind that the cars available are in tip-top condition from regular servicing and maintenance.”

Singapore – ADA, Axiata Group’s digital group, joins with Meta to launch a business messaging hackathon, improving WhatsApp’s use as a route of communication between individuals and organisations across the APAC region.

ADA and Meta will launch the ‘ADA Business Messaging Hackathon 2023: Building the Future of Conversations’, with the goal of providing 1 million APAC enterprises with said solutions. Over 10,000 digital talents from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, including students, developers, and entrepreneurs, will collaborate to create chatbot solutions on the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Paul Kim, VP of Telco Ecosystem Partnerships APAC at Meta, said, “With increasing number of customers communicating with a business or service account on WhatsApp in APAC, business messaging has become one of the core growth pillars of Meta and we are delighted to cement our partnership with ADA, which will also include the integration of ADA’s best-in-class CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) solutions – ADA’s Business Messaging Platform & APIs with WhatsApp Business Platform. This will enable businesses to seamlessly communicate with their customers and offer more personalized experiences”.

Meanwhile, Srinivas Gattamneni, CEO of ADA, said, “As seamless Customer Experience (CX) and stronger customer relationships continue to become the focus of businesses, ADA is proud to strengthen our strategic relationship with Meta by contributing to the growth of this ecosystem. This hackathon will be anchored on the WhatsApp Business Platform for our clients and businesses across APAC.”

Singapore – Around 3 in 5 Singaporeans have been reported to be willing to change their existing travel habits in search of better travel deals, according to the latest data from travel agency Skyscanner.

The allure of a great price offer emerged as the top reason for Singaporeans to travel, with 62% of respondents considering it as their primary motivation.

Despite the prevailing concerns about rising living costs, 89% of Singaporeans remain committed to allocating a portion of their budget for travel, with 23% identified as avid travelers who prioritize exploration regardless of their financial situation.

Furthermore, nearly 80% of Singaporeans strategically plan quick getaways during extended public holiday weekends to escape the hot weather and fast-paced lifestyles. Bangkok, Bali, and Kuala Lumpur emerge as the top destinations for these spontaneous trips.

Additionally, Singaporeans are thrifty celebrators, with securing a good deal being the primary motivation for booking trips, and they typically spend at most a week finding favourable deals.

In a statement from Skyscanner’s Travel Trends and Destination Expert, Cyndi Hui said that the report had revealed the fascinating opportunistic nature of Singaporeans when exploring new places.

Finally, while Gen Z travelers seek to enhance their social media presence through travel, a significant percentage of respondents across various age groups prioritize mental relaxation and stress relief as the primary benefits of traveling.

Singapore – Global marketing agency TEAM LEWIS has announced the promotion of several key team members within the Greater China region namely Kate Kwan as managing director for Greater China, Miranda Xie as general manager for Hong Kong, and Stella He as director for Beijing. 

These promotions come as the agency continues to pursue the range of opportunities emerging from across the Greater China region with a more integrated team structure across the market bringing together the Beijing and Hong Kong offices under a singular umbrella.

For her new role as managing director, Kwan would be leading the growth and expansion of TEAM LEWIS within the Greater China region. She bears 3 years of experience as a former general manager for TEAM LEWIS Greater China. 

On the other hand, Xie would be taking up the role of general manager after her term as an associate director for TEAM LEWIS Hong Kong. Her new responsibilities will carry over from her experience and background in tech and corporate sectors.

Meanwhile, He would be taking up the position of Director for TEAM LEWIS Beijing from her former role as an Associate Director. She has 11 years of experience in PR and marketing communication in B2B and B2C brands.

These promotions follow a run of new multi-market client wins for the agency in the past 6- months, including companies such as Endowus, GoGoX and Wharf Hotels.

Keso Kendall, SVP of TEAM LEWIS says that she is thrilled to announce these promotions within the Greater China region.

“We have seen great growth from our Hong Kong office this financial year and the signs are positive that China will follow suit as the market continues to open up post-COVID. I am very excited to see the impact that these promotions will bring to the region and delighted that we are able to continue to support the growth of our highly talented team,” she added. 

Singapore – A new employer brand for Changi Airport Group (CAG) has been unveiled in an effort to recruit talents for the airport groups. As part of the reinvented employer brand, CAG is looking for individuals who can work as a team in every area of the company, such as using technology and innovation to transform a lot of points into commendable experiences.

The brand video gives viewers a tour of CAG’s headquarters, airport terminals, and airside locations while showcasing the company’s new employer brand.

The CAG Innovation Team and the innovation champions from different operating units play a role in promoting an innovation culture inside the company. Over the past year, the Accelerator has worked with more than 70 project teams, utilising its technological skills to jointly develop solutions. These partnerships have generated efficiency and changes to the airport traveller experience.

Justina Tan, executive vice president for corporate, people and culture at Changi Airport Group, said, “As we celebrate Changi Airport Group’s 14th Anniversary, it is timely to embark on this journey of a brand refresh. Our new employer brand seeks to capture the spirit of innovation, creativity and magic. In our pursuit to be one of the most innovative companies in Singapore, it starts with inspiring our people to have a growth mindset, to constantly experiment and redefine the norms.  This is encapsulated in our new brand identity #IMCAG (‘I AM CAG’) which is a play on the word MAGIC, representing the magic of the work that our employees do every day.”

She added, “The aviation industry presents a bright outlook with prospects for growth. CAG’s diverse lines of business and enterprise-wide ambition for innovation means there are boundless opportunities. We are looking for talents who are passionate to play a part in innovating and shaping the future of aviation, working in the world’s most awarded airport.”

Singapore – Nium, an international payments company, has opened a new Singapore headquarters. Under the direction of Pratik Gandhi, co-founder and COO at Nium, the new headquarters act as a strategic hub for servicing clients in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

In addition to Gandhi, Anupam Pahuja, who was recently named executive vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, will oversee the headquarters and draw on his experience growing global companies like PayPal to keep Nium moving ahead.

Nium is developing measures that will help the larger regional fintech community demonstrate its commitment to Singapore. It intends to work with the public and private sectors to create a Singapore centre dedicated to finding, developing, and fostering ‘BizTech talent. This new classification of employment recognizes the growing necessity of fusing technical proficiency with business acumen.

Prajit Nanu, co-founder and CEO at Nium, said, “When I started Nium, I had big dreams for what it could be – none of which would have been possible without the support of the government, investors, and clients that are part of the thriving fintech community in Singapore. This headquarters will be home to our growing regional team and the door will always remain open for entrepreneurs looking to solve the next set of global challenges with innovation.”

Singapore – Iris Singapore secured the contract to serve as GoTyme Bank‘s agency of record (AOR) for all creative and customer relationship management (CRM) duties. GoTyme Bank seeks to transform the banking experience for Filipinos by placing an emphasis on customer service and accessibility.

Iris Singapore will introduce the brand positioning in the coming months, brand, and then the bank’s initial multi-touchpoint integrated campaign in Philippine Islands.

GoTyme Bank started a multi-agency pitch earlier this year to recruit potential partners. Amongst the competitors, Iris Singapore demonstrated its dedication to assisting GoTyme Bank in maximising Filipinos’ financial potential. In order to define and actualize the bank’s brand positioning and bring it to life in a compelling way, Iris Singapore has been given this task.

Priya Kalidas, head of growth at Iris Singapore, commented, “We are thrilled by this new partnership. It was great chemistry from the get-go. We are really looking forward to helping the bank unlock its enormous potential and charting the next chapter of success for GoTyme. Full credit to the Iris Singapore team who worked on this pitch with so much passion and conviction.”

According to Cristina ‘Tin’ Sanchez, executive creative director at Iris Singapore, “In a growing digital landscape, what can set a brand apart? Sometimes, it’s the fundamentals, such as true human centeredness. A brand that seeks to uplift the lives of people is deeply inspiring to work on. We are delighted to be the new partners of GoTyme Bank in the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, Raymund Villanueva, chief marketing officer at GoTyme Bank, expressed, “We are excited to work with Iris Singapore. The agency really impressed us with their ideas during the pitching process. We are hopeful that when these ideas are executed, it would help us unlock the financial potential of every Filipino through a human-led campaign.”

Singapore – Australian business planning company 24HR Business Plan (24HRBP) has announced the opening of a new office in Singapore as part of its long-term growth strategy. The company’s desire to strengthen its position and broaden its footprint in the APAC region is reflected in this strategic move.

Additionally, Tobias Wilson, Michel Goedegebuure, and James Layard have joined the Singaporean team of 24HRBP as senior advisors. These people will be contributing knowledge to the consultancy as they have each held CEO positions in the shipping, technology, and consulting sectors. Wilson in particular will take up the leadership position for the company in Singapore, ensuring its expansion and success in the region.

Andrew Baxter, founder of 24HRBP, said, “Globally, the pandemic made it abundantly clear to business leaders that future success will only come to those who build resilience while planning for growth,” 

He added, “Despite prevailing uncertainty and economic headwinds, many Singaporean businesses recognise the need to deepen their in-market presence, and explore overseas opportunities. 24HRBP helps leaders refocus and make strategic decisions. In the aftermath of the pandemic, its simple yet effective approach will get Singaporean leaders back on track, and help them build momentum to achieve significant growth.” 

The 24HRBP technique manages the procedure into four intense, six-hour workshops, allowing leadership teams to work inside a framework, improve their thinking, and create a business plan that includes specific, doable strategies for strategic expansion. 

Baxter also explained,”Ninety-nine per cent of Singapore’s enterprise landscape is made up of SMEs; Singapore is a safe business hub and a springboard into the region so is a natural choice for our first international market launch. Singapore is just the start of our Asian expansion and I am delighted to welcome Tobias to lead the team in this burgeoning market.” James Layard has experience in planning and managing large-scale business transformation and turnaround initiatives, as well as launching and expanding new firms. He has lived in Asia Pacific for the last 25 years and has knowledge of the consumer, manufacturing, 3PL, telco, and retail sectors. He presently serves as CEO of the Geronimo PE business in Singapore.

OCBC launches unified brand strategy to leverage ASEAN-Greater China potential

Singapore– OCBC recently launched a unified brand strategy across all of its key regions, highlighting its One Group mentality to fully capitalise on the strong ASEAN-Greater China potential. OCBC wants to grow and create an additional S$3 billion in revenue by 2025, outpacing its current growth path, by narrowing its focus on the ASEAN-Greater China region.

Major subsidiaries have changed their names legally in order to create brand uniformity. OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited in Hong Kong SAR has changed its name to OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, and Banco OCBC Weng Hang, S.A. in Macau SAR. Nowadays, it goes by the name OCBC Bank (Macau) Limited. OCBC Wing Hang Bank (China) Limited is scheduled to change its legal name to OCBC Bank Limited in mainland China during the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approval.

OCBC has unveiled a unified, updated logo for its banking firms in conjunction with these legal name changes throughout Greater China. In the fourth quarter of 2023, OCBC NISP, OCBC’s Indonesian affiliate, will adopt the same logo. The Bank of Singapore logo remains the same. It is the exclusive private banking arm of OCBC.

The traditional Chinese sailing ship design was retained in the OCBC logo’s 1998 redesign. This recognizable symbol symbolises the pioneering spirit of OCBC’s founding fathers, who constructed residences and companies throughout ASEAN. Since the bank was founded in 1932, it has always been a part of the logo.

Alongside the unveiling of its updated logo, the Bank has introduced a fresh tagline: “For now, and beyond” . The new tagline embodies OCBC’s inherent DNA of consistently adopting a far-sighted approach in its endeavors and investments. It signifies the bank’s dedication not only to the present, but also to the future, as it strives to create a lasting positive influence on the world.

By unifying its brands, OCBC confirms its dedication to leveraging the combined strength of its network and the integrated capabilities of its One Group in the fields of banking, wealth management, and insurance. This tactical action demonstrates OCBC’s commitment to their growth and is intended to increase support for the growing cross-border goals and expansion of both firms and individuals.

Helen Wong, group chief executive officer of OCBC, said, “The flow business between ASEAN and Greater China is not new to us. We recognise its potential. Over the years, we have built a strong franchise and put ourselves in a very good position to capture these flows. The effects of China’s reopening post-pandemic, the rise of ASEAN for the China plus one strategy and other geopolitical factors have amplified this potential,”

“The unified brand that we have unveiled today is yet another strategic move. It solidifies our One Group approach, one of eight core pillars of our Corporate Strategy that was refreshed in 2022. It also furthers our commitment to customers: that when they bank with us, they have the collective strength of OCBC Group supporting them seamlessly across markets. With this One Group approach, our comprehensive ASEAN- Greater China franchise and twin hub proposition of Singapore and Hong Kong becomes even more compelling,”