Personalised healthcare plans progressing across APAC

The FutureProofing Healthcare initiative, led by a panel of 15 healthcare experts across the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), launched the Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index last month.

Lim discussing the new index at a panel session.

This first-of-its-kind, data-driven policy tool measures the readiness of 11 health systems across the region (Australia, mainland China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and New Zealand) to adopt personalised healthcare – enabling the right care to be tailored to the right person at the right time.

Personalised healthcare can improve health system efficiencies by helping decision-makers prioritise efforts and resources, and initiate policies and frameworks that support healthcare innovation. An ideal personalised healthcare system is one that leverages data, analytics and technology to generate meaningful insights, inform decision-making, and drive innovation that supports both individual and population health and empowers patients to manage their own health.

“While progress towards personalised healthcare is varied, the index shows that the APAC region is making strong strides in the right direction – and outlines a clear path for countries to accelerate this transformation. It is encouraging to see many countries already putting in place strategies, policies, and enablers to drive more personalised care, such as electronic health records, health data registries and artificial intelligence. Roche is committed to working closely with policymakers and other partners to help build the infrastructure essential to realizing sustainable, personalised healthcare ecosystems.”

The findings indicate that Singapore performed highest overall of the geographies measured due to a combination of high levels of digital maturity, comprehensive national strategies, a strong digital infrastructure and expansive innovation capacities leading to top scores in both the Health Information and Personalised Technologies categories. Taiwan (2nd), Japan (3rd) and Australia (4th) also performed well in overall readiness.

However, the index also revealed that even higher-performing countries have room for improvement. Challenges around urban-rural disparities and building digital infrastructure impact lower-scoring territories, several of which are at the very early stages of personalised healthcare. Performance in the index varied most on the Policy Context measure, owing to factors like limitations on access to data for health research and a lack of capacity to deliver personalised health-related services in the workforce.

The index also revealed the lowest average performance for countries is on Personalised Technologies (measuring use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health and uptake of wearable health technologies etc.), indicating an opportunity to improve.

“Personalised healthcare has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people across Asia-Pacific. We have already seen countries racing to adopt policies that facilitate digital health solutions like telemedicine during the current pandemic. But it is clear that more work is needed across the region to realise these benefits,” said Jeremy Lim, Director of Global Health and Associate Professor in the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, one of the public health experts involved in the development of the index.

“The Personalised Health Index builds a clearer picture of the current readiness of health systems, and enables countries to build on their strengths, identify key areas of opportunity for improvement and identify best practice from other countries on individual measures. It helps jumpstart conversations about what action is needed today to shape resilient, personalised and sustainable health systems that work better for future generations.”

“The launch of the Personalised Healthcare Index is an important step in our efforts to enable policymakers in building health systems that provide better outcomes for all. Roche is excited to support the development of this unique policy tool, which leverages publicly available data to provide a holistic view of personalised health in our region," said Rachel Frizberg, Area Head Asia-Pacific at Roche Pharmaceuticals.

Although there are significant disparities between countries measured, the results also show that the transition towards personalised healthcare is underway and gaining momentum across most of the region.

The index and FutureProofing Healthcare initiative, supported by Roche, aim to help stakeholders across health ecosystems understand local, national, and regional strengths and needs, equip country leaders to embrace emerging changes in healthcare, and enable data-driven decision-making that can build future health systems that are fit-for-purpose. The Personalised Health Index measures performance against 27 different indicators of personalised health across four categories called 'vital signs': policy context, health information, personalised technologies, and health services.

Explore:

The index findings and policy recommendations have been published in a white paper, Getting to Personalised Healthcare in APAC, coordinated by the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies. View the results of the Personalised Health Index and read the white paper.

The growth opportunity in personal care will come from bioactive ingredients

The global shift in demand from synthetic to natural active ingredients due to the belief that they are more benign to human health and the environment is drawing considerable investments to the personal care active ingredients market, says research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Source: Frost & Sullivan. Generic personal care dispensers.

Natural active ingredients take up 25% to 30% of the total market today but is expected to double in proportion by 2023, triggering a series of innovations aimed at countering the inherent instability of biological ingredients.

"The preference for natural ingredients is particularly strong among consumers from India and China, who have been exposed to traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines," said Frost & Sullivan Visionary Science Principal Analyst Raghu Tantry. "Although personal care companies such as Natura Cosméticos and the L'Oréal Group offering natural products have reported a significant increase in sales, companies need to be prudent when making claims on the labels as they are closely watched by regulators."

Manufacturers are to tap growth opportunities in personal care through diversification and offer of multifunctional ingredients, says Frost & Sullivan’s Visionary Science team. Natural ingredients' susceptibility to microbial contamination and incompatibility with other ingredients compel manufacturers to employ technologies such as encapsulation. Controlled release technologies are also popular since they enhance the effectiveness of natural ingredients and widen margins by using highly effective, specialised active ingredients rather than commodities, Frost explains.

Active ingredients application in personal care is expanding beyond moisturising and sun protection in body care to antipollutant and antioxidant protection in haircare. Furthermore, ethnically diverse regions are presenting new opportunities to active ingredients and cosmetic manufacturers; for example, there is a huge market for halal beauty products in the Middle East and skin whitening ingredients in Asia-Pacific, Frost notes.

"The market is witnessing the rise of several regional players; however, most of them are looking to compete against the majors on price rather than innovation," observed Tantry. "To stay afloat in such a competitive market, active ingredient manufacturers have to focus on research and development (R&D), establish effective distribution channels, and collaborate with personal care product manufacturers to better understand their pipeline of new products."

As price pressures are high, participants need to arrive at the optimum mix of cost leadership, innovation and diversification in their business strategies. Lastly, they have to support their customers with credible research and track consumer markets to make the most of the abundant opportunities in the global market.

Interested?

Global Personal Care Active Ingredients Market, Forecast to 2023 (K187-39) is part of Frost & Sullivan's Future of Health, Beauty and Packaging Growth Partnership Subscription. The study covers ingredients for moisturising, ultraviolet (UV) filters, anti-ageing, exfoliating, conditioning, antimicrobial, and others. Get complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders.

Singapore Science Park 1 to trial personal mobility device sharing scheme

Source: Ascendas-Singbridge. Tan Yew Chin, CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge; Karen Lee, Head, Singapore Portfolio Operations, Ascendas Funds Management; Wang, Khiatani, Han Tui Heng, Assistant CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge; William Tay, Deputy CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge.

Asia’s sustainable urban and business space solutions, provider, Ascendas-Singbridge Group, has partnered intelligent transportation solutions provider Neuron Mobility to launch a six-month personal mobility devices (PMD) sharing trial at Singapore Science Park 1. This is part of the group’s broader efforts to provide tenants, staff and visitors of Singapore Science Park 1 with greater accessibility and convenience within the park.

From 14 June to 13 December 2017, 50 GPS-enabled e-scooters and 20 bicycles will be available for rent from six parking zones situated in Singapore Science Park 1, at Ascent, The Franklin, CINTECH I and IV, 3Cs (The Chadwick, Curie and Cavendish) and opposite Oasis building. For a small fee, tenants, staff, and visitors to Singapore Science Park 1 will be able to able to rent an e-scooter or bicycle, ride it to their destination, then return it to a parking zone.

Manohar Khiatani, Deputy Group CEO of Ascendas-Singbridge said: “Our tenants will now have an efficient, alternative mode of transport to work, meetings, lunch or other social appointments in and around the Park. The trial will allow us to gauge receptivity to the scheme and monitor usage so that we can improve intermodal connectivity and point-to-point travel within Singapore Science Park 1.”

The PMD sharing scheme is expected to supplement the shuttle bus services and public transport serving Singapore Science Park 1 for ad-hoc, short-distance travel. Apart from location tracking to enable proper use of its devices, Neuron’s intelligent transport solution will monitor travel patterns and frequencies. Backed by international patents, this proprietary system leverages different sensors in Internet of things (IoT) technologies to deliver a differentiated user experience through advanced analytics and insights.

Zachary Wang, CEO of Neuron Mobility, noted that Singapore Science Park 1 is an excellent testbed location. He said: “To be a truly viable large-scale firstand-last-mile solution, it is more than just providing reliable personal mobility devices. It is about being equipped to manage and optimise the entire network, which we pride ourselves in."

Once the six-month trial concludes, AscendasSingbridge will undertake a detailed review of the scheme as it considers the next rollout phase.

Interested?

During the trial, users can rent the PMDs on an ad-hoc basis, at a rate of S$0.50 per 15 minutes through Neuron’s mobile application platform. Subscription passes will also be introduced progressively during the trial.

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Neuron Mobility's use of location-based technology from Esri

Chinese Internet users happy to share personal data - for a price

• Those aged 30 to 40 are most likely to share data for rewards
• China, Mexico and Russia lead for people willing to share data

Over a quarter (27%) of Internet users across 17 countries strongly agree that they are willing to share their personal data in exchange for benefits or rewards like lower costs or personalised service. This contrasts to 19% who are unwilling to share data.

GfK asked people online to indicate how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement, "I am willing to share my personal data (health, financial, driving records, energy use, etc.) in exchange for benefits or rewards like lower costs or personalised service" - using a scale where "1" means "don't agree at all" and "7" means "agree completely".

Equal percentages of both men and women are firmly willing to share their data in return for benefits - both standing at 27%. However, more women than men class themselves as firmly unwilling, standing at 21% of women versus 18% of men.

People in their twenties and thirties are most likely to share their data, with a third saying they are firmly willing to do so (33% in their twenties and 34% in their thirties). They are followed by those aged 15 to 19 years old, at 28%.

People in China are most ready to share their personal data in exchange for benefits, with 38% of the online population saying they are firmly willing to do so and 8% firmly unwilling.

Other Asian countries polled included Japan and China.

Interested?

Download findings for each of the 17 countries

IndianMoney.com develops more financial education content

IndianMoney.com, India's largest financial education company, has in association with Kannada news channel Suddi TV launched a series for personal finance education called Money Maathu (Money Talk). The eight to 10-minute episodes, of which 35 have been produced to date, aim to educate the public on various aspects of personal finance.

CS Sudheer, Founder and CEO of IndianMoney.com said, "This short programme will offer one quick and crisp dose of personal finance to the common man daily and (is) aimed at making them capable enough to make wise financial decisions."

IndianMoney.com has also launched a half-hour interactive TV programme, Dudde Doddappa (Money is Godfather) on personal finance during weekend prime times on Suddi TV, and aims to offer similar programmes in other Indian languages soon.

Singapore Year-end Gift Guide 2016: the personal edition

Round out the year with a gift for yourself that helps you feel good, look good, work smart or enjoy yourself - sometimes all four at once. The latest in gadgets and appliances make use of technology to offer new experiences:

Breathe pristine air

Source: Philips. The series 2000.

The Philips Air Purifier series 2000 features three smart auto modes for the cleanest air possible – pollution, allergen, and bacteria & virus. The AC2887/30 model comes with a professional-grade AeraSense sensor that detects and adjusts rapidly to pollutants. The range can also measure PM2.5 levels in real time, with a colour ring and numerical displays that show whether the air you are breathing is healthy, irritating to sensitive groups, unhealthy, or very unhealthy.

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More productive haircare

To keep hair looking great, the Philips DryCare Essential Energy Efficient Hairdryer (BHD029) sports new PowerSmart airflow technology that blow-dries hair and smoothes frizzy ends with the power of a 2,100W dryer but with just 1,600W of energy use. For those who want to style curls, the Philips StyleCare Curler (BHB864) uses ceramic, tourmaline-infused barrels to protect against frizz. The Curler has a fast heat up time - it is ready to use in 60 seconds.

Source: Philips. The StyleCare BHB869.

For added protection without compromising on style, try the Philips StyleCare Sublime Ends Curler (BHB869) features SplitStop technology to protects fragile ends by optimising heat performance and minimising friction, while its keratin-enriched barrel will keep hair extra smooth and healthy.

Those looking for a closer shave can consider the new Philips Shaver Series 9000 Wet and Dry Electric Shaver (S9751), Philips’s most advanced shaver with a unique V-Track system.

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Make short work of dental maintenance

Source: Philips. The HX8331/03.

The S$199 Philips Sonicare AirFloss Ultra (HX8331) uses air and mouthwash to clean between teeth, offering up to 99.9% plaque removal for those who do not floss regularly. Its high performance nozzle utilises the power of air and micro-droplet technology to deliver a powerful spray that has been clinically proven to be as effective as flossing.

The Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Electric Toothbrush (HX9172) has an AdaptiveClean brush head follows the contours of teeth and gums for better plaque removal and healthier gums. The FlexCare Platinum’s  InterCare brush head is clinically proven to remove seven times more plaque between teeth than a manual toothbrush while its patented sonic technology drives fluid between teeth for a gentle and more effective clean.

Interested?

• The Philips Air Purifier series 2000 ranges from S$599 to S$699. 
• The Philips StyleCare Curler BHB864/00 costs S$59. 
• The Philips StyleCare Sublime Ends Curler BHB869/00 is S$79.
• The Philips DryCare Essential Energy Efficient Hairdryer BHD029/03 is S$65. 
• The Philips Shaver Series 9000 Wet and Dry Electric Shaver with SmartClean System PLUS and Aquatec Wet & Dry (S9751/33) is S$599. 
• The Philips Sonicare HX9172/10 FlexCare Platinum electric toothbrush costs S$285. 

Philips products are available at leading electronics stores, major department stores and selected authorised dealers.

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Skin regimens go high tech

Source: Philips. The VisaPure Advanced.

For glowing skin, try the Philips range of skincare devices. Start by exfoliating with Philips VisaCare Microdermabrasion (SC6240) to boost blood circulation and remove dead skin cells, resulting in younger-looking skin in four to six weeks. Its Air Lift System helps to gently stimulate microcirculation while the exfoliating tip stimulates the cell renewal process.

Then, cleanse and do an at-home facial with the Philips VisaPure Advanced (SC5370), which has a three-step routine that keeps complexions radiant and revitalised. Its massage programme delivers 120 nano-vibrations per second while Customised DualMotion technology with Intelligent Head Recognition provides specific levels of rotation and vibration for different skincare benefits.

Finish off with the Philips VisaBoost Ultrasound facial moisturiser (SC2800), which has a Dual Action System that Philips says will enhance the overall absorption of skincare products for better maximum effect.

Interested?

The Philips VisaPure Advanced SC5370/10 costs USS$455 while the Philips VisaCare Microdermabrasion SC6240/01 is priced at S$489, and the Philips VisaBoost Ultrasound Facial Moisturizer SC2800/00 at S$269. The devices are available at selected Sephora stores including Ion Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, Serangoon NEX, Suntec City Mall and Vivo City.

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Make the best use of available storage

Transferring data between devices can still be inconvenient in the age of the cloud. SanDisk has made the task less onerous with a range of solutions for different needs.

Source: SanDisk. The Ultra Dual USB Drive 3.0.

Transfer files quickly between PCs, Macs and next-generation devices with reversible USB Type-C connectors – in up to 128GB with the SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C and Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C flash drives, both of which feature USB 3.1 and read speeds up to 150 MBps.

The pocket-sized iXpand Flash Drive is designed to help iOS users free up space, and is available in capacities up to 128GB. A USB 3.0 connector enables faster transfer speeds to Macs or PCs.

Source: SanDisk. The iXpand Flash Drive for iOS devices - iPads and iPhones.

For added convenience, save, store and share content from a mobile device wirelessly with the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick. The stick comes in several capacities, to a maximum of 200GB, and can connect up to three devices at once. It is compatible with iOS, Android and Kindle devices.

Source: SanDisk. The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick.

The handy SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive 3.0 and Ultra Dual Drive m3.0 have integrated micro-USB and USB 3.0 connectors for moving content easily between OTG-enabled Android devices to PCs or Macs. The drives are available in capacities up to 128GB.

Source: SanDisk. The Ultra Dual Drive m3.0.

Need something larger? The SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD drive allows users to transfer files at up to 415 MBps, and is available at up to 480GB* in capacity. The drive has rubber bumpers and comes with a metal ring to allow clipping onto a bag.

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Smartphones with hardware mods

Fit for photography lovers, movie buffs and music-junkies looking for a battery-powerhouse, the Moto Z series from Motorola is full of possibilities. Instead of integrating everything within the phone chassis, the phones work with snap-in modules called Mods that add on new hardware capabilities.

Source: Lenovo/Motorola. The Moto Z.

At 5.2mm, with a body of military aircraft-grade aluminium and stainless steel, the Moto Z epitomises luxury style. Its 14cm (5.5”) Quad HD AMOLED display ensures content with fine detail, and its 13 MP back camera and 5 MP front camera work in any lighting condition.

Moto Z Play features Motorola's longest-lasting battery ever with TurboPower charging that allows up to seven hours of use with a 15-minute charge, a 16 MP camera and a 1080p Super AMOLED display.

Source: Lenovo/Motorola. The Moto Z Play.

The Moto Z and Moto Z Play work with an array of interchangeable snap-in modules called Mods that transform the phone into a projector, music player, battery powerhouse, or more.

Source: Lenovo/Motorola. A selection of snap-on Mods for the Moto Z and Moto Z Play families.

Interested?

The Moto Z and Moto Z Play cost S$899 and S$699 respectively. The Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Moto Mod is priced at S$459, while the JBL Soundboost Speaker Moto Mod costs S$139. The Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod costs S$399 and the Incipio offGRID Power Pack is S$139. Retail pricing of the Moto Z series as listed is valid at Lenovo-exclusive stores and partners. For festive promotions or bundle deals, visit Lenovo-exclusive stores and partners to find out more.

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Computing tailored towards your outlook in life

Dell has gifts categorised by persona, a design approach which has governed its latest laptop and desktop portfolio.

If you abide by the principles of Do Well. Live Well, and Dress Really Well the stylish and sophisticated XPS 13 may well be perfect for you. This ultra-slim laptop boasts a 13.3" virtually borderless InfinityEdge display, is just 1.28 kg and 915mm thick.

If being productive and organised is your priority, the Inspiron 15 5000 Series laptop has your name on it. The laptop is powered by the latest 7th Gen Intel core processors and AMD Radeon R7 M445 graphics.

For those who like to share pictures and information, the versatile Dell Inspiron 13 5000 2-in-1 has an innovative 360-degree hinge, that allows users to switch easily between four different modes (tent, stand, laptop and tablet mode) as the occasion demands. A solid state drive (SSD) option provides longer battery life and better responsiveness.

Source: Dell. The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Edition.

What about a laptop powerful enough for gaming, yet sedate enough for the young professional? With the Intel i5 and i7 Quad-Core processor options and thermal cooling fans, look to the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Edition. The 15.6” UHD Truelife LED, backlit 4K display delivers crisp and vivid graphics while serious animation runs smoothly with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M GPU with 4GB GDDR5 memory.

Interested?

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about the latest XPS and Inspiron refresh

• The Dell XPS 13 starts at S$1,899
• The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series laptop starts at S$749
• The Dell Inspiron 13 5000 2-in-1 starts at S$1,199
• The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Edition starts at S$1,899

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Complete flexibility with an Avengers-themed tablet-keyboard combination

E-Huge Technology, in collaboration with Microsoft, recently launched a range of Avengers-themed Windows 10 devices in Singapore. The devices ship with Windows 10 Anniversary Update and come in three form factors, each of which is complemented by an included, specially-designed matching carrying sleeve or pouch.

Consider the most compact of the trio, the S$429 AVR10T – 10.1” Windows 10 2-in-1 convertible, inspired by Tony Stark/Iron Man's colour schemes and ornamentation. Complete with a glowing Arc Reactor on its lid, the AVR10T is touch-ready and snaps into a detachable keyboard for typing.

The AVR10T has a graphic of Iron Man at the bottom right of the keyboard.

Interested?

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about the Avengers-themed device launch. The devices will be available on December 10.

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More detailed images

Source: Dell. The Dell UltraSharp U2717D InfinityEdge Monitor.

Photography buffs will warm to the Dell UltraSharp U2717D InfinityEdge Monitor. The display produces vivid colours and clear outlines, and can be swivelled and tilted to order.

Interested?

The  Dell UltraSharp U2717D InfinityEdge Monitor is S$899

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Get in on quality photography, videography

Source: Canon. The EOS 5D Mark IV.

Photography buffs have further reason to rejoice with these Canon products. The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is perfect for budding movie makers. This latest addition to Canon’s best-selling full-frame line has new features such as the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, DPRAW, and 4K Movie Shooting capabilities.

A built-in GPS-system enables geotagging, which in combination with calibration of photo capture times, allows users to easily categorise videos and photos. The built-in Wi-Fi/NFC system also allows immediate sharing of photos with mobile devices.

Source: Canon. The PowerShot G7 X Mark II.

When space is a challenge, the lightweight prosumer Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II may be just what you need. This compact camera features Canon’s new DIGIC 7 image processor, which has a 1" CMOS sensor for better pictures. The touch-enabled, tilt-type LCD monitor can tilt 180 degrees upwards, and also 45 degrees downwards for enhanced viewability.

Interested?

There is an EOS promotion till 1 January 2017

• The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Body) costs S$5,199.
• The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Kit (EF 24 – 70 image stabilisation ultrasonic motor [IS USM]) costs S$6,249.
• The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Kit (EF 24 – 105 IS II USM) costs S$6,599.
• The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is S$799.

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Portable printing and projection smarts


For those on the go, portable devices can provide an added boost of productivity. Available in white, black and pink, the 860g Canon SELPHY CP1200 printer supports up to 54 prints of up to postcard size on a single battery charge. Requests for prints sent directly from smart devices via Wi-Fi and Airprint.

Presentations become a snap with the 111 x 111 x 17.2mm Canon RAYO i8 mini projector from Canon. Weighing 269g, the RAYO i8 projector streams presentations that are stored on smart devices and sent via wired or wireless networks, running continuously for two hours on a single charge. The tiny RAYO i8 can enlarge content to a 158” image on any surface while delivering continuous brightness at 100 lumens, and supports a screen resolution of 854 x 480 (WVGA) pixels.

Source: Canon. The RAYO i8 mini projector.

Interested?

• The Canon SELPHY CP1200 printer costs S$199. The black version was sold out at the time of writing.
• The Canon RAYO i8 mini projector is S$749.

Read the WorkSmart Asia Singapore Year-end Gift Guides for travel and food

Requesting services in personal life isn't the same as requesting services at work..yet

Source: ServiceNow report.

Enterprise cloud solutions company ServiceNow has found a significant divide between the way people seek out services in their personal lives and how they do so at work in their Today’s State of Work: The Service Experience Gap report. It is as if we live in an online world for our personal lives and a completely different world tethered to email at work, the company observes.

“Consumers are accustomed to using mobile and cloud technology in their daily lives, but this doesn’t translate to the way they approach their work,” said Jimmy Fitzgerald, VP, Asia Pacific and Japan, ServiceNow. “Companies need to stop living in the past and streamline their workplaces processes through the extraordinary solutions available to them.”

The report surveyed 100 Singaporean managers, comparing their experiences with consumer services and with workplace enterprise services. The company surveyed 2,400 managers globally to rate their experiences with popular consumer services as well as typical enterprise services, such as opening a purchase order, requesting help from another department, ordering equipment, or tracking down information. The survey found that most enterprise services are still based on technology introduced in the 1990s and fall short of the modern consumer service experience.

A ranking, The Service Experience Index, quantifies how beneficial and intuitive services are at work and beyond. In general, ServiceNow found that ease of requesting and fulfilling work services fell behind consumer services on all eight criteria used for the index:

1. Services are easy to request or order
2. The entire process of the services from request to delivery is fast
3. The services can be accessed via a mobile device to check the status or request
4. It’s quick to find what services or products are available
5. Alerts on status of the request are provided
6. Alerts on estimated delivery times are provided
7. It’s easy to compare services with others available
8. Recommendations are provided based on previous selections

Singapore ranked highest on The Service Experience Index for work services compared to Australia, France, Germany, US, and UK, but even then its score was only an average of 35 on a scale of 0 to 100. Singapore scored an average of 61 for consumer services reflecting the reality that at work, managers are almost six times more likely to use email and, conversely, eight times less likely to use a mobile app than for consumer services.

ServiceNow explains that the gap is driven by outdated technologies that reduce productivity:

· Nearly all (94%) of managers use email to request services

· Slightly over a quarter (27%) of managers use the web or a mobile app to request work services, versus 85% for consumer services

· If only mobile channels are considered, 7% of managers tap mobile apps for workplace services

· Six in 10 managers spend more than three hours at work processing work emails and 84% of them agree that the need to constantly monitor their email makes it difficult to drive tasks to completion. Eighty-six percent of them also feel pressure to answer work emails outside of standard work hours

Automation will drive improvement in the workplace, but it has to be the latest type of automation, ServiceNow said. At present:

· A third of Singaporean companies use mostly automated processes for workplace services. When a business service is mostly automated, 58% of managers say it is easy to request, and 36% say the entire process from requesting to receiving is fast

· However, even the most automated of those workplace services cannot match up to the type of experience available with consumer apps. Only 33% of managers can use their mobile device to make a request in the workplace compared to 72% for consumer services, for example, while just over a quarter (27%) of managers say that they receive notifications of estimated delivery times, compared to 59% for consumer services

ServiceNow suggests that companies close the gap between consumer service experiences and those at the workplace by streamlining processes and injecting automation. Concrete steps to take include:

• Identifying work tasks that require coordination among employees or across departments
• Outlining the coordination process and then defining what it should be
• Designing an intuitive, frictionless interface for employees
• Tapping into consumer-like techniques such as portals, workflows and catalogues
• Tracking and analysing the services to finetune the process.

Interested?

Read the Today’s State of Work: The Service Experience Gap report

*ServiceNow commissioned Lawless Research to design and conduct a study about the state of work in companies with 500 or more employees. Research Now, an independent market research company, hosted the online survey and provided respondents from their panel.

The 10‑minute survey was fielded between March 25 and April 4, 2016 in Australia, France, Germany, Singapore, the US and the UK. A total of 2,400 managers (100 in Singapore) who supervise at least one employee and use interdepartmental services completed the survey.

The margin of error for the study is ±2.0 percentage points at the 95% level of confidence. Tests of significant difference were conducted to the 0.01 level (99% probability that the difference is real, and therefore not by chance).

HP Inc. empowers 'One Life' with breakthrough computing solutions and designs

HP has unveiled its latest computing innovations to transform the mobile computing experience. The new lineup addresses customers’ needs for devices that take them through 'One Life', what HP calls the seamless convergence of work and life. Workplaces are no longer confined spaces but anywhere with an Internet connection, and workstyles involve more collaboration than ever before, the company observes.

“Millennials want the device they use to be stylish and stunning, and which gives them the freedom to create and express their aspirations. If they use the device for work, they also want to be sure that it is secure enough and lets them collaborate effortlessly,” said Lionel Chng, Managing Director, HP Inc. Singapore. “At HP, we are constantly pushing the envelope in design, productivity, security and entertainment to build innovative products for ‘One Life’, so our customers get an enhanced computing experience whether for work or play.”

The new products include: 

 HP Spectre - Crafted in a high gloss copper-accented CNC* machined aluminum chassis, the HP Spectre is also the world’s thinnest laptop¹ – as thin as an AAA battery – but with full performance and up to nine-and-a-half hours of battery life. 

 HP EliteBook Folio - commercial-grade performance in a premium consumer notebook design. The thinnest and lightest business-class notebook HP has ever created, at only 12.4 mm and under 1 kg, the EliteBook Folio does not compromise on business-critical robustness, security and manageability. 

The Windows 10-based Elite x3 is smartphone sized but delivers desktop productivity when connected to a separate display.

 HP Elite x3 - the first built-for-business mobile device running Windows 10 that revolutionises the mobile computing experience. The HP Elite x3 bridges phablet, laptop and desktop use cases from a single computing device.

Rounding up HP’s new premium PC portfolio are:  

 The thinnest 14” business-class notebook² - the HP EliteBook 1040 G3 – and the new HP EliteBook 800 G3 series – the next generation of HP’s best-selling business-class notebooks. 

 The HP EliteBook 1030 - Sitting right between the EliteBook Folio and EliteBook 1040 in HP’s premium business-class portfolio, the device is designed for users who require the versatility and mobility of a smaller notebook but would like a larger screen.

1 Based on HP's internal analysis as of 2/10/16 of vendors shipping >1 million units worldwide annually with clamshell design, Windows or OSX, measured at z-height. 

2 Based on HP’s internal analysis of 14” business class notebooks as of January 4, 2016 with >1 million unit annual sales having preinstalled encryption, authentication, malware protection and BIOS-level protection, passing MIL-STD 810G tests with optional docking incorporating power delivery. 

*CNC stands for computer numerical control and refers to machines for manufacturing which are controlled by computers.

Beautycare to follow changing weather conditions

Mintel Beauty & Personal Care (BPC) has identified seasonality as a new global beauty trend. The concept refers to how specific weather conditions defines beauty regimens.

Source: Mintel website.

According to Mintel BPC, seasonal products accounted for as many as 11.1% of all beauty and personal care launches in 2014, up from 9.8% in 2011. Additionally, seasonal facial skincare launches rose from 0.5% of global launches in 2009 to 1.2% in 2014.

Jane Henderson, Global President of Mintel’s Beauty and Personal Care Division at Mintel, said, “Our research shows that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of – and concerned about – how changes in the environment are affecting the condition of their skin and hair. Already, beauty manufacturers have started to go beyond taking simple seasonal approaches geared to public holidays or gifting occasions and instead are taking on the elements within their product innovation.”

Highlighting a gap in the market, Mintel’s exclusive consumer research reveals the strong global consumer demand for skincare launches that tap into changing seasons. Almost half (48%) of Chinese female facial skincare users choose products from different brands in different seasons.

Vivienne Rudd, Director of Insight, Beauty and Personal Care at Mintel, said, “A new generation of winter care products offer additional care and hydration for the skin. These tend to target dry or very dry skin and mention cold, dry weather. However, the future will see the arrival of boosters that address cold, damp weather as well as the extremes of dryness. Meanwhile, extreme summer conditions are calling for products which protect the skin from heat and humidity as well as UV damage, and which build up resilience against the forthcoming autumnal changes. By creating these seasonal options, brands have a chance of building year-round loyalty.”

Seasonal haircare is coming to the fore, Mintel notes. “Today, we have a number of generic seasonal skincare and haircare launches, but in the future we expect a new generation of products targeting specific skin and hair issues. These product introductions have the opportunity to address concerns that have arisen due to climatic conditions and seasonal stresses, varying their textures, building up seasonal ingredient profiles and selecting appropriate fragrance blends,” Rudd said.

“Seasonal approaches in beauty also extend to ingredients harvested at the most opportune time, while seasonal boosters and complementary teas and tonics will join mainstream collections. The seasonal issue will have an impact on global launch programmes. With the seasons arriving in different geographic zones at different times, colour cosmetics brands will have to take a more time-sensitive approach to their seasonal colour stories, while skincare and haircare brands may have to stagger their launch programmes more accurately. Beauty brands will also take cues from localised seasons such as the Monsoon in Southeast Asia to launch relevant and eye catching products.”

Protection from UV, pollution key consumer demands for beauty care

Many are turning towards beauty products to protect themselves from the impact of pollution, according to analyst firm Mintel, particularly in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Mintel revealed that between 2011 and 2013 there was a 40% rise in the number of beauty and personal care products launched carrying a claim that it could treat or protect against the effects of pollution. This has raised APAC’s share of global beauty and personal care launches holding anti-pollution claims from 22% in 2011 to 27% in 2013.

Furthermore, Mintel’s research shows that many consumers are looking to wash away the effects of their surroundings in particular, as the number of soap and bath products launched in the APAC region carrying an anti-pollution claim grew 63% between 2011 and 2013. In addition, hair product launches carrying anti-pollution claims have grown 61% while skincare launched with anti-pollution claims grew 46% over the same time period.

Speaking at in-cosmetics Asia 2014, Emmanuelle Moeglin, Global Fragrance and Colour Cosmetics Analyst at Mintel, said: "We are seeing the expansion of beauty products that shield from its effect across regions, categories, occasions, ages and gender. As awareness of the effects of pollution grows, we are seeing the expansion of beauty products that shield from its effect across regions, categories, occasions, ages and gender. With an increasing number of consumers living more urbanised lifestyles, we expect to see a rising number of beauty and personal care products launched carrying more specific anti-pollution terminology that specify the sources and composition of the pollutants.”

Whilst the APAC region has seen particularly strong growth of anti-pollution beauty products, this claim has also posted strong growth globally. Between 2011 and 2013 there was a 10% rise in the number of beauty products launched carrying this claim around the world, with a 60% rise in the number of soap and bath products launched with this claim, a 31% rise in hair products with this claim and a 22% rise in skincare launches carrying this claim.

Although demonstrating smaller growth in comparison to other categories, skincare products are still the most likely category to carry an anti-pollution claim, with 3.7% of skincare products launched globally in 2013 including such a claim, up from 3.2% in 2011. Moreover, there are a growing number of eye care products being launched carrying an anti-pollution claim with 7.2% of eye-care products launched so far in 2014 carrying this, up from 3.9% in 2012.




In addition, Mintel’s research has also revealed an increase in the number of skincare products launched with a UV protection claim. Whilst 13.6% of skincare products launched globally carried a UV protection claim, this rose to 15.4% in 2013. Looking forward, the popularity of this positioning looks set to continue to grow as 16.4% of skincare products launched globally so far in 2014 offer UV protection.

Finally, Mintel has identified growing consumer awareness of pollution and emissions to be a key trend for 2015. Richard Cope, Senior Trends Consultant at Mintel, said: “In 2015, pollution will become a key media focus. The cosmetics industry in particular has been awakening consumers to the immediate, visible, personal effects of pollution. 

"As a result, we can expect protective claims against PM 2.5 and others to grow in product marketing in skincare and cosmetics in general. In addition, consumers are already embracing apps that scrutinise a product’s environmental credentials and we anticipate more brands to become increasingly transparent in the coming year.”

Cisco introduces personal hardware to enhance collaboration

Cisco has announced new personal collaboration tools at CiscoLive! 2014 in the US. According to the company, people who are working together on the same team or task aren't necessarily on the same continent let alone in the same room, and need tools that allow them to collaborate at a moment's notice, without technology hassles, so they can get work done. 

Source: Cisco. The Cisco DX80 in action.

Cisco addresses the challenge with its new DX70 and DX80 desktop collaboration devices. The Android-based DX70 and DX80 provide access to all the top tools and applications highly collaborative work requires. With large touch screens, the DX70 and DX80 bring together in one device Cisco's expertise in HD video, high-end audio, and Web conferencing plus integrated business applications and Web browsing.

"The DX70 and DX80 were designed from the ground up to provide the best collaboration experience for every desk in an enterprise. Combined with the Collaboration Meeting Room service, users can have their own always-on private meeting room to collaborate with anyone on any device at any time. Only Cisco can combine this amazing hardware, the incredible software, and the powerful network to provide anyone with their own dedicated collaboration space in the cloud – and on their desk – that they can call their own," said Rowan Trollope, SVP/GM, Collaboration Technology Group, Cisco.

Source: Cisco. The DX70.

The DX80 also comes equipped with Intelligent Audio, a brand new feature to ensure that what you see is what you hear; the person on the receiving end of your call sees and hears you—he will not hear distracting background noise (be it the barking dog in your home office or talkative coworkers in an adjacent workspace). 
Additionally, the devices come equipped with Cisco's recently announced Intelligent Proximity, so the DX can be 'paired' with a user's mobile phone. This shares information on the phone, such as personal contacts and call history, as well as provides the capability to move calls that are in progress—similar to the way you can transfer a call from your mobile phone to your car.
 
These devices are well suited for shared work environments since they can "remember" different users; a user simply enters his login credentials and the device quickly serves up his stored settings, contact lists, call histories and more.

Cisco also introduced the IP Phone 8800 Series to mark its 15th anniversary of innovation in IP phones. Calling it 'the best-performing audio IP phone we've ever delivered', the phone includes USB ports on select models for easy mobile-device charging, and Cisco Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice so workers can import contacts and call history or move the audio path of a voice or video call-in-progress from their mobile device to their 8800 Series desk phone.