Tag: Technology

MARKETECH APAC and UpTech Media’s Empowered Women Awards 2025, the latest collaborative initiative celebrating the contributions of women leaders in marketing and technology, has officially announced the first lineup of its distinguished jury panel.

Comprising a diverse group of accomplished professionals across the Asia-Pacific region, the panel brings a wealth of expertise and industry insight to assess nominations across all categories meticulously. These esteemed judges will play a pivotal role in recognising and honouring visionary women who are driving innovation and excellence in the ever-evolving marketing and technology landscape.

The first lineup of jury members includes: 

  • Danielle Eleazar-Ocampo, Head of Consumer & Brand Development at Angkas Philippines
  • Priyanka Bisen Shah, Head of Digital Marketing at Bajaj Auto Pvt Ltd.
  • Simone Tam, Group & Creative CEO, Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong at dentsu
  • Linda Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer- MSK at Domino’s Pizza Malaysia and Singapore
  • Reiko Kwok, Executive Vice President, Marketing Asia & General Manager Hong Kong at Exinity Group
  • Syahriza Badron, Managing Director at FCB SHOUT
  • Brenda Maderazo, Deputy Director, Marketing at Health Promotion Board
  • Rochelle Chhaya, CEO of Hearts & Science Asia Pacific and Omnicom Media Group Thailand
  • Evangeline Leong, Founder and CEO at Kobe
  • Raushida Vasaiwala, Strategic Advisor | Martech & SaaS Sales
  • Munas van Boonstra, Managing Director, Southeast Asia at Monks
  • Patricia Saez, Managing Director at NuWorks Interactive Labs, Inc.
  • Lavina Tauro, Vice President, Marketing & Country Manager, Myanmar at Viu

Set to conclude with an esteemed in-person awards ceremony on June 26, 2025, in Manila, this event will serve as a tribute to innovation, leadership, and the fearless women who are breaking new ground in their industries.

The Empowered Women Awards 2025 will feature 46 distinct categories, spanning individual achievements, marketing excellence, technological advancements, special honours, and the prestigious grand prix. Each category will recognise three outstanding winners, who will receive Bronze, Silver, and Gold accolades.

The judging criteria for the awards are as follows:

  • People Categories
    • Business Contributions (30%)
    • Leadership (30%)
    • Industry Influence (40%)
    • Women Empowerment (Bonus Point – 5%)
  • Marketing Campaign Categories
    • Problem (20%)
    • Strategy (25%)
    • Execution (25%)
    • Results (30%)
  • Tech Innovation Categories
    • Objective (30%)
    • Tech Implementation (30%)
    • Business Impact (40%)
  • Special Awards
    • Best Women-Centric Campaign
      • Societal Impact (20%)
      • Industry Influence (20%)
      • Strategic Impact (30%)
      • Business Growth and Effectiveness (30%)
    • Best Women Leader of the Year
      • Business Accomplishments (20%)
      • Leadership (20%)
      • Industry and Community Contributions (30%)
      • Women Empowerment (30%)

Key dates related to the awards ceremony this 2025 are as follows:

  • Early Bird Deadline – 4 June 2025
  • Entries Deadline – 4 July 2025
  • Judging Period – 14-25 July 2025
  • Finalists Announcement – 5 August 2025
  • Awards Night – 26 September 2025

To find out how to participate in this prestigious award series, click HERE to learn more about the Empowered Women Awards 2025.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joven Barceñas ([email protected]); for judging opportunities, please contact Ivy Alamo ([email protected]); and for nominations, please contact Denise Obispado ([email protected]). 

Singapore – Singapore has progressed in its digital government aim, particularly in customer experience and accessibility, according to Adobe’s report. However, it needs to address shortcomings in site performance and readability in line with its Smart Nation 2.0 vision.

Adobe’s report, which assesses customer experience, site performance, and digital equity, reveals mixed results. Singapore sees a ~+5% increase in customer experience, with higher desktop and mobile CX scores among users with accessibility needs reflecting inclusivity. 

However, site performance has declined by 8%, with ~40% slower mobile loading speeds compared to desktop and issues in domain quality.

Digital equity, which measures accessibility and readability, sees an 11% climb from the index last year, placing Singapore second in the Asia-Pacific.

Despite this, the readability of content remains a concern, with a low average score of 48 out of 100. Additionally, some government agencies are also adopting personalisation.

Singapore’s site performance score has greatly impacted its overall digital government index score, which only increased by 1% from its previous score despite its enhanced customer experience and digital equity.

Smart Nation 2.0 is Singapore’s national digital strategy, which aims to improve the country’s digital infrastructure through smart and inclusive digital services for its citizens.

John Mackenney, director of digital strategy group APAC at Adobe, commented “Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 sets a bold vision for a trusted, inclusive, and future-ready digital government. While nearly all public services are now online and Singapore has done well in maintaining citizen satisfaction in customer experience, there remains room for improvement in digital equity and site performance. Achieving Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 will require continuous progress in accessibility, personalisation, and seamless digital experiences to meet ever-increasing citizen expectations.”

“At Adobe, we’re committed to enabling government agencies with the solutions they need to modernise digital experiences, efficiently deliver services, increase citizen engagement and build trust through personalisation. Aligned to this, Adobe’s Digital Government Index aims to provide a roadmap to help agencies build an effective digital government of the future, one that is designed for everyone but tailored to the individual,” Mackenney added.

Singapore – Yahoo DSP has announced that it is the first Demand Side Platform (DSP) to adopt IAB Tech Lab’s standardised Data Transparency Labels, a move aimed at providing advertisers with clearer insights into audience data.

IAB Tech Lab’s Data Transparency Labels use a “Nutrition Label” format to provide marketers, agencies, and data providers with clear, standardised audience data. Created to meet the industry’s growing demand for transparency, these labels offer essential insights to help advertisers make informed decisions.

With the integration of IAB Tech Lab’s Data Transparency Labels, Yahoo DSP provides advertisers with standardised insights into the origin, recency, and segmentation of data segments used in campaigns. The initiative is intended to enhance decision-making, improve campaign performance, and strengthen accountability across the data supply chain.

“Yahoo DSP becoming the first major platform to implement the Data Transparency Labels is a practical step forward for the industry. It’s a clear move toward better accountability and trust in data-driven advertising, and it sets a straightforward example for others to follow,” said Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab. 

Yahoo DSP’s adoption of IAB Tech Lab’s Data Transparency Labels aligns with its broader efforts to enhance transparency and data accountability. The labels, set to be available in early 2025, will provide advertisers with standardised insights into data segments, supporting more informed decision-making across campaigns.

Giovanni Gardelli, vice president of DSP Data Products at Yahoo, said, “Transparency is critical to reinforce trust and drive better outcomes for advertisers. Our adoption of IAB Tech Lab’s Data Transparency Labels reflects Yahoo’s commitment to delivering the highest level of clarity and quality to our partners. We are proud to lead the industry in this transformative initiative.”

Dan Richardson, director of data & insights for AUSEA at Yahoo, added, “The Data Transparency Label is a key milestone and reflective of Yahoo’s mission to guide advertisers through the digital wilderness—helping them navigate complex ecosystems with confidence. We are proud to be among the first to adopt these labels and deliver greater accountability to marketers striving to connect with their audiences in a compliant and ethical way.”

Indonesia – Databricks has announced its entry into the Indonesian market as part of a broader strategy to expand its presence in the ASEAN region, driven by over 70% annualised growth over the past three years.

Databricks’ entry into Indonesia marks a key step in expanding its presence in the ASEAN region. This move aims to help more Indonesian businesses unlock the full potential of their data and AI capabilities.

As part of its entry into Indonesia, Databricks has strengthened its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This collaboration will make the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform available in the AWS Asia Pacific (Jakarta) Region through AWS Marketplace, starting in early 2025.

Indonesian businesses can now harness advanced features like faster custom model development using Databricks Mosaic AI on AWS Trainium chips. This enables them to pretrain, fine-tune, and deploy large language models (LLMs) on their own data with better cost efficiency. Enhanced AWS Marketplace integrations also make it easier to adopt Databricks, allowing companies to scale generative AI applications while retaining full control over their data and intellectual property.

“We’re thrilled to support Databricks’ expansion into Indonesia, which reinforces AWS’s IDR$71 trillion investment in the AWS Asia Pacific (Jakarta) Region. By building the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform exclusively on AWS in Indonesia, we are committed to supporting Databricks and our joint customers to securely manage data locally and drive digital and AI innovation that addresses industry needs,” said Kirsten Gilbertson, head for partner management for ASEAN at AWS.

Meanwhile, Cecily Ng, vice president and general manager of ASEAN and Greater China at Databricks, shared, “We’re excited to bring the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to Indonesia by leveraging the reliability, scalability, agility, and security of AWS. This expansion reflects our commitment to not only deepen our footprint in the region but also help Indonesian enterprises unlock the full potential of their data through advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, enabling them to transform their businesses in an increasingly digital economy.” 

Philippines – The Philippines has quickly become a dynamic marketing hub, fuelled by a tech-savvy, digitally connected population. By 2025, the country’s marketing landscape is poised to adopt cutting-edge technologies, further accelerating industry transformation and shaping the future of consumer engagement.

With a large portion of the Filipino population spending significant time online, companies are increasingly recognising the need to invest in tools that align with new platforms. These investments aim to enhance customer experiences, optimise ad spend, drive AI-driven personalisation, and strengthen brand loyalty. The ultimate goal is to adapt as marketing evolves into a more immersive, integrated, and data-driven landscape.

To help marketers stay ahead in the ever-evolving marketing landscape, MARKETECH APAC is opening the doors of Shangri-La The Fort, Manila for its highly anticipated What’s NEXT in Marketing series. The What’s NEXT in Marketing: Philippines 2025 conference, happening on 26 and 27 March 2025, will bring together industry leaders to exchange insights, share expertise, and offer a sneak peek into the future of marketing. 

Building on MARKETECH APAC’s impressive track record and legacy of fostering a well-connected marketing community, this two-day visionary event equips brands and marketers with the essential insights, strategies, and tools needed to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

Featuring a dynamic lineup of keynote presentations, panel discussions, fireside chats, and networking opportunities, ‘What’s NEXT in Marketing: Philippines 2025’ empowers marketers to expand their networks, elevate their campaigns, and drive success in the Philippine market.

Key industry figures headlining the conference include:

  • Raymund Jiggs Espadilla, Head of Marketing at Aboitiz Foods
  • Mahek Shah, Global Head of Media (AirAsia Media | AirAsia Ads) at AirAsia MOVE
  • Jogent Emmanuel Tan, Marketing Director at Domino’s Pizza Philippines
  • Greg Anonas, Marketing Director at Emperador Distillers, Inc.
  • Mariela Quilala, Head of Marketing at LKY Group of Companies
  • Anthony Louis Guanzon, Chief Marketing Officer at Malayan Insurance
  • Albet Buddahim, Vice President and Head of Marketing at Mega Prime Foods Inc.
  • and many more to be announced!

To find out how you can be part of this conference, click HERE for more details.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joven Barceñas at [email protected].

For speaking opportunities, contact Jean Cabico at [email protected]; and for registrations, reach out to Faye Vita at [email protected].

Singapore – Prudential plc has launched its AI Lab in Singapore to promote AI-powered health solutions.

Launched in collaboration with Google Cloud, the Prudential AI Lab integrates advanced technology into the company’s operations and services. Through its end-to-end support, Prudential aims to enhance customer experience.

The Lab is prioritising consumer’s access to quality healthcare, streamlining Prudential’s operations through AI solutions.

Staffed by a team of AI engineers and data scientists, Prudential’s financial representatives will be equipped with more informed advice to serve customers better. 

Prudential collaborated with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, the Economic Development Board of Singapore and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for the development of the lab.

Additionally, Prudential is also forging partnerships with institutes of higher learning to provide students with experiences in the field.

Anil Wadhwani, chief executive officer at Prudential plc, said, “Data, advanced analytics and AI are crucial to the delivery of our strategic priorities. The AI Lab will supercharge the development of exciting applications such as predictive analytics, hyper-personalised customer engagement, and real-time guidance for agents. I believe we are just beginning to explore the vast possibilities and value this technology offers. Prudential’s AI Lab will significantly enhance our ability to deliver exceptional experiences for our customers, agents and financial representatives, across all markets.”

“Singapore was selected as the location of Prudential’s global AI Lab for its robust infrastructure and supportive environment for AI innovation, highlighted by its National AI Strategy (NAIS 2.0)1. Our partnership with EDB and MAS allows us to tap into Singapore’s rich network of resources and talent from academia, business and government. This collaboration will greatly support our ability to develop innovative solutions that address customer and business challenges while building even stronger AI capabilities,” Wadhani  added.

Gillian Tan, assistant managing director (development and international) and chief sustainability officer of MAS, said, “Prudential’s AI Lab is aligned with Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 goal to encourage businesses to utilise AI and technology to raise productivity, transform and serve customers better. MAS will continue to support financial institutions as they develop capabilities and harness AI to enhance their customer and advisory services, fraud detection, and risk insights generation.”

Singapore – Only 53% of Singaporeans are willing to reskill amidst the generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) era to stay relevant in the industry, a report found. The report comes from Boston Consulting Group, The Network, which comprises Jobstreet by SEEK, and The Stepstone Group.

According to the report, the number of Singaporeans willing to adapt and maintain relevance amidst the spread of GenAI use lags behind the 63% recorded in Southeast Asia.

41% of Singaporeans would only reskill if necessary, showing further reluctance while GenAI professional use is becoming more prevalent.

Additionally, enhancing digital skills and understanding technological trends ranks low in Singaporeans’ priorities. They have reported to be prioritising traditional skills such as analytical skills (46%) and job-specific skills (35%).

While 43% of Singaporean talents use GenAI monthly, 40% reported that they are still unfamiliar with its capabilities. While Singaporeans acknowledge GenAI’s potential to reduce non-essential tasks (60%) and enhance work quality (45%), its usage for meeting deadlines and accelerating work (32%) remains lower compared to the region (44%) and globally (45%). 

Some Singaporeans are concerned with the elimination or transformation of their jobs due to AI (22%) while 19% believe that their jobs will remain unaffected.

One of the challenges they are facing in embracing GenAI is the difficulty of writing effective prompts and relevant skills (37%), which is higher than the regional (33%) and global average (30%).

Nonetheless, 51% of Singaporeans have expressed their desire for guidance in learning skills associated with AI, while 46% emphasised the need for improved learning courses. 36% cited the need for employer support for GenAI adoption in the workplace.

“AI’s impact is undeniable, and it is essential for both individuals and employers in Singapore to start taking proactive steps in reskilling and future-proofing our workforce,” Vic Sithasanan, acting managing director at Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore, said.

“The Decoding Global Talent 2024 report has shown a pressing need for more Singaporeans to actively engage and build the skills needed in today’s evolving AI-driven economy. Employers also play a crucial role in bridging this gap by offering clear guidance and accessible learning opportunities, as aligned with Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 strategy. Without this ongoing support and drive to reskill, local talent will struggle to adapt professionally in the evolving AI landscape,” Sithasanan added.

Indonesia – Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH or Indosat) and Ericsson have launched the world’s first full-stack digital monetisation platform (DMP), marking a major step in Indonesia’s telecom digital transformation.

The DMP stack enabled a seamless migration of prepaid subscribers. As the first of its kind, the platform—part of Ericsson’s Telecom Business Support System (BSS)—empowers Indosat to enhance digital services, including 5G readiness and advanced B2B solutions.

With real-time monetisation, the platform empowers Indosat to meet diverse customer needs and opens doors for new business models that leverage 5G advancements—such as network slicing—to deliver customised connectivity for both consumer and enterprise markets.

Designed to serve around 100 million Indosat subscribers, the DMP achieved a key milestone with the seamless migration of millions of prepaid users in just 18 days, including an intensive, disruption-free 48-hour period.

Vikram Sinha, president director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said, “The successful deployment of the DMP was a testament to the spirit of ‘Gotong Royong’—a collaborative effort uniting all stakeholders toward our common goal. This partnership with Ericsson will assist Indosat to elevate the quality of services and provide a marvellous experience to our customers. Through real-time monetisation and a highly adaptable platform, we are enabling new business models that will fuel growth across the industry.”

Krishna Patil, president director of Ericsson Indonesia, also commented, “As a global ICT leader, Ericsson is committed to supporting Indosat in enhancing its digital offerings by providing the latest innovations with world-class technology. We are confident that, by deploying a full-stack DMP, Indosat can improve customer services while ensuring a smooth transition to the 5G network. Our long-standing partnership supports Indosat’s transformation and accelerates digitalisation across the country.”

This partnership supports Indosat’s mission to empower Indonesia by raising telecom standards, promoting economic growth, and enabling real-time monetisation to drive industry progress. By building a resilient, efficient telecom infrastructure, Indosat is strengthening digital inclusion and advancing connectivity nationwide.

Alongside the DMP launch, Indosat and Ericsson also signed an MoU at Innovate Asia 2024 to co-develop AI and ML innovations within the DMP and BSS ecosystems, aiming to accelerate monetisation, reduce time-to-market, and boost revenue growth with advanced AI-driven products.

Singapore – SPH Media, a media company in Singapore, has announced a significant restructuring of its technology division, resulting in the layoff of 34 employees. 

The layoffs are part of a broader effort to streamline processes in the division, according to a report from The Straits Times, a publication owned by SPH Media. It affected about 10% of technology workers.

In a media statement, the company assured the affected workers that they would be supported through severance packages, career coaching, job placement assistance, and counseling.

SPH Media is restructuring its technology division into three key departments, effective starting Nov. 5. This includes the chief technology office led by Jensen Boey, information technology department led by Christopher Lim, and the product and engineering team led by Kaythaya Maw.

Additionally, the company is creating a standalone business insights and analytics department which will report to Loh Yuh Yiing, SPH Media chief operating officer.

Loh explained in an email to staff that the increasing costs associated with technology and the declining revenue in the traditional media industry made the measures necessary. While it first decreased non-payroll expenditures, the company still had to lay off employees as a last resort.

“This was a difficult decision that we have had to make,” Loh said. “Going forward, our focus will be to steady the ship as we transit towards a more sustainable level of Tech operations and expenditure.”

Commenting on the departments, she said, “This restructuring of Tech departments will enable clearer leadership focus and accountability for outcomes in the areas of Tech administration, IT infrastructure and digital product development.”

Since its establishment in 2021 as the spin-off of Singapore Press Holdings, SPH Media has been operating a variety of newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and digital platforms.

Singapore – Loqate, a global location intelligence specialist, has forged a partnership with super app GrabMaps to enhance the accuracy of businesses’ location data in Southeast Asia (SEA).

Incorporating GrabMap’s high-quality location data into Loqate’s platform will enable its businesses to access more accurate and localised address verification services.

The partnership aims to help businesses solve challenges in addressing systems, further improving their delivery services. With the growth of e-commerce in SEA markets, Loqate aims to solidify its position as the premier provider of accurate and trusted location data.

By offering intuitive address suggestions, verification, and data integrity, Loqate enables businesses to streamline their operations, consequently boosting customer satisfaction. Brands such as Shein, Temu, eBay, IBM, and ASOS have relied on Loqate for location services.

Meanwhile, GrapMaps is built on a community-based mapping approach, leveraging its network of consumers, merchants, and driver and delivery partners. Refreshing its mapping data daily, Grab ensures accurate and up-to-date map access. Its mapping data encompasses addresses in Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The collaboration has kicked off in Malaysia, with plans to extend to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with GrabMaps, a true leader in location data innovation, as we expand our presence in Southeast Asia. With this integration of rich local data into our platform, we are confident that we will continue to be a trusted partner that provides local and international businesses with accurate, high-quality location data and intelligence, particularly in regions where addressing is often challenging,” David Green, managing director at Loqate, commented.

Hazel Chen, regional head of group business development and partnerships at Grab, said, “We are excited to partner with Loqate and share our capabilities with them to support their mission to provide accurate location data to businesses, starting with Malaysia. GrabMaps offers a fresh, highly granular and extensive view of the region, like no other. Our ever-expanding and highly precise location data will help Loqate’s customers to minimise inefficiencies, drive cost savings and offer better customer experiences.”