Avaya IP Office ups security for cloud-based deployments

Avaya has upgraded its unified communications (UC) solution for small and midsize businesses. Avaya IP Office release 10 adds a number benefits for businesses in terms of security, resiliency and end-user experience.

With more than half a million systems shipped globally, Avaya IP Office is one of the most widely sold unified communications solutions for small and midsize businesses available in the market today. The Avaya IP Office Platform now offers built-in media encryption for endpoints and UC clients to preserve privacy and data integrity. This feature is provided at no extra cost or added complexity. Most other over-the-top, pure-cloud UC vendor offerings available today may provide encryption as an optional line item, if at all, Avaya said.

“The challenge of keeping up with growing, ever-changing cybersecurity threats is daunting - especially for small and midsize businesses with budget and resource constraints. It’s these very constraints that increase the inclination to choose cloud-based services; however, it’s also not a given fact that security is or will be provided by their cloud vendor. That’s why we believe security should be built into the solution as opposed to bolted on. It’s essential, and a core component of our Avaya IP Office Platform,” said Tak Kuen Hubert Lee, Midmarket Sales Lead, APAC, Avaya.

“In the small and midsize business sector in Asia Pacific, it’s all about speed and streamlined deployment regardless of whether cloud, on-premise, or a hybrid solution. Avaya’s IP Office promise of ease, speed and built-in encryption hits the right sweet spot in this region. In addition, the Avaya partner community in Asia Pacific - and specifically at the country level - is an important differentiator for providing the local customization needed and in addressing vertical industry nuances,” added Adrian Ho, Principal Analyst, Enterprise, Ovum, Asia Pacific.

With data becoming an important asset to businesses today and the nature of cyber attacks becoming more sophisticated, Asia Pacific businesses are setting their sights on security. Overall spending on critical infrastructure security in the region is expected to hit US$22 billion by 2020. On the back of this trend, Avaya’s increased focus in security is significant, especially to the midmarket: According to a 2015 global survey report by PwC, the number of attacks reported by midsize companies increased 64% between 2013 and 2014, from 2,581 to 4,227. This increase is partly due to cybercriminals turning to midsize businesses in hopes of easy access.

Beyond other pure cloud deployments, the latest version of IP Office takes a unique approach to resilience, providing system failover cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-premises, premises-to-cloud and premises-to-premises. Whatever the approach, the system stays active and users maintain connectivity throughout the outage.

To meet the rising expectations of end-users for a richer, more streamlined experience, the Avaya IP Office Platform also introduces the H175 video phone, with a 7” hi-definition touchscreen display that is suitable for personal use, an executive desk or a small conference room.

For midsize companies with contact centres, Avaya announced in June a new workforce optimisation solution that provides midsize companies with the operational intelligence needed to enhance contact centre performance and drive a high-quality customer experience. Avaya Workforce Optimization Select enables a wide range of insights into the customer experience.

Interested?

The Avaya IP Office Platform is available through authorised channel partners in three deployment options: premises-based, hybrid or pure cloud solution.

Inspiring women in technology to share their stories at Cloud Expo Asia and Data Centre World, Hong Kong

CloserStill Media, which hosts business technology trade shows worldwide, recently formed a new initiative involving female technology expertise. The company will be hosting panel discussions between global women in technology as part of the initiative, and is inviting young and inspiring women in technology from around the globe to learn from and join in the discussion.

The next session is at the upcoming Cloud Expo Asia and Data Centre World in Hong Kong, taking place on 18 and 19 May 2016. Titled Women leaders in technology:– real life success stories and chaired by Stephen Lau, Distinguished Fellow and Secretary General (Honorary) - Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS), the panellists include:

Susanna Shen, VP (IA) & Honorary Treasurer, HKCS and Head of Corporate IT, The Hong Kong and China Gas, who joined the HK and China Gas Company (Towngas) in 1988 and has held various management positions. The IT team under Susanna’s leadership is responsible for providing corporate IT services and solutions to support the business mission of Towngas and its subsidiaries consisting of over 120 joint ventures covering 20 provinces and municipalities.

Emily Chan, Director of Women & Youth Programmes, HKCS and CTO, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), is responsible for driving WKCDA’s technology directions, guiding strategy planning, overseeing and monitoring the progress of IT initiatives implementation and ensuring their alignment with the business priorities in the WKCDA. She is a former Director of Business Technology at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Nicole Wong, Director of Women & Youth Programmes, HKCS and Assistant Systems Manager - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG). She is responsible for project management, IT strategy development and providing IT advice to internal users. 

Dr Edith Mok, Distinguished Fellow, HKCS, was Pacific Area ITCS Director for The Dow Chemical Company, CIO of AT&T Asia Pacific, IT Service Director for the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and Executive IT Director for the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1980’s – 1997. 

Interested?

The Women Leaders in Technology event will be held on 18 May from 11.50am to 12.30pm at the Cloud Security & Governance Theatre, Asia World Expo, Hong Kong.  Get a free ticket to attend

Read the TechTrade Asia blog posts on 2016 predictions about the cloud; Cloud Expo Asia and Data Centre World in Singapore and how Cloud Expo Asia and Data Centre World Singapore have grown in 2015

Reframing Modernism is inaugural exhibition at the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery, National Gallery Singapore

One of the highlights of the exhibition is from Singapore artist Georgette Chen. Landscape, 1930s, oil on canvas, is from the Collection of Centre Pompidou, Paris, MNAM-CCI © Dr Lee Seng Gee Photo: © Centre Pompidou, MNAMCCI/Jim Purcell/Dist. RMN-GP.

National Gallery Singapore has launched its first international special exhibition, Reframing Modernism, co-curated and co-presented with Centre Pompidou, Paris, France. This landmark exhibition, the inaugural exhibition at the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery, will showcase more than 200 works from about 50 artists, with approximately half from Centre Pompidou and the other half from Southeast Asia.

According to the National Gallery Singapore, this will also be the first time that an exhibition displays significant Southeast Asian and European artists in parallel through its study of one of the most influential artistic and intellectual drives of the 20th century – modernism – from the perspective of Southeast Asia.

Reframing Modernism challenges the existing paradigm of how modernist painting is presented. It brings to light previously unexplored perspectives which enrich the overall discourse. Taking a comparative approach, the exhibition reveals shared concerns between the artists and their bodies of work to create a different narrative of modernism. The unprecedented presentation includes works by Southeast Asian artists such as Le Pho (Vietnam), Nguyen Gia Tri (Vietnam), S Sudjojono (Indonesia), Affandi (Indonesia), Latiff Mohidin (Malaysia), Galo B Ocampo (Philippines), Georgette Chen (Singapore) and Tang Chang (Thailand), as well as European masters Vassily Kandinsky, Fernand Léger, Marc Chagall, Jean Dubuffet, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

“We are pleased to work with Centre Pompidou to develop this exhibition which reexamines the paradigm of Modernism. This is the first time in Singapore that visitors can view artworks from European and Southeast Asian masters in the same space. We hope the exhibition will inspire fresh and interesting perspectives of the received understanding of modernism and modern art,” said Dr Eugene Tan, Director at National Gallery Singapore. “Along with the Gallery’s long-term exhibitions, Reframing Modernism will reinforce our aim to further the understanding of modern art from Singapore and Southeast Asia within a global context,” he added.

Reframing Modernism is co-curated by Dr Tan, Senior Curator Lisa Horikawa and Curator Dr Phoebe Scott of the National Gallery Singapore, together with the Deputy Director of Centre Pompidou’s National Museum of Modern Art – Industrial Design Centre, Catherine David and Curator Dr Nicolas Liucci-Goutnikov.

“Reframing Modernism testifies to the Centre Pompidou’s international reach and its pursuit of collaborations with prestigious partner institutions around the globe. Our collaboration with National Gallery Singapore on this unique project has been a most fruitful one and this co-curated exhibition is an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about modern Southeast Asian art and how modernism was perceived in this part of the world. The collaboration also gives art lovers in Singapore and Asia the opportunity to view major artworks from the Centre Pompidou, which houses one of the world’s two largest modern and contemporary art collections,” said Serge Lasvignes, President of the Centre Pompidou.

Reframing Modernism is showcased in the Singtel Special Exhibitions Gallery, which consists of three galleries, spanning across a total floor area of approximately 20,000 sq ft. Chua Sock Koong, Singtel Group CEO said, “We are excited that our contribution to National Gallery Singapore will enable Singaporeans to enjoy both iconic masterpieces from around the world alongside equally accomplished Southeast Asian art that we are proud to champion. We congratulate National Gallery Singapore and Centre Pompidou on their first-ever collaboration. Art is for everyone and we hope this will reach as many people as possible.”

Interested?

Reframing Modernism will run from 31 March until 17 July 2016 at the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery, located on level 3 of the City Hall Wing at the National Gallery Singapore. Admission into Reframing Modernism is chargeable at S$15 and S$25 for Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans respectively. Concessions apply.

The exhibition will open from 10am to 7pm from Monday to Thursday, and Sunday and public holidays, from 10am to 10pm from Friday to Saturday, and the eves of public holidays.

Collective Works to launch coworking space together with CapitaLand

Artist's impression of the new coworking space at Capital Tower, Singapore.

• The two companies will launch a high-end coworking space at Level 12 of Capital Tower, Singapore
• The 22,000 sq ft 50:50 joint venture can support up to 250 high performance businesses 
• The design offers tailored solutions for diverse uses, from startups to MNCs
• Technological support includes secure on-site server hosting, videoconferencing, IP telephony and redundant fibre-optic broadband

Singapore’s first CBD-based coworking space, Collective Works, has announced a joint venture with Asian property giant CapitaLand. The two companies will launch a coworking space at Level 12 of the 52-storey Capital Tower in Singapore’s business district that can accommodate up to 250 businesses over 22,000 sq ft.

Jonathan O’Byrne, founder of Collective Works, which offers business centre services with the heart and portability of a coworking space, has observed an exponential surge in demand from entrepreneurs seeking more personal business solutions across Asia. “Our partnership galvanises Collective Works’ position as the market leader in premium coworking spaces and will set the pace for our future growth," he said. “Our new space, centrally located in Singapore’s world renowned business district, creates a unique ecosystem for our clients within the prestigious Capital Tower where they can flourish alongside other entrepreneurs as well as global MNCs."

The 50:50 joint venture, Collective Works at Capital Tower, has seen strong pre-registration. Designed by expert interior architect, Contrast Design Pte Ltd, the radical office design offers tailored solutions for the diverse profiles of today’s high performance business executives, whether they need a quiet, secure meeting room, a vibrant brainstorm space or the use of an integrated media space.

Wen Khai Meng, CEO of CapitaLand Singapore, said: “With Capital Tower’s central location, connectivity to public transport, proximity to clients and partners, premium Grade A specifications and lifestyle amenities, we are confident that the coworking space at this premium building will appeal to a range of fast-growing businesses, entrepreneurs and freelancers seeking to rent fully functional, fitted-out office spaces under flexible lease terms. Through thoughtful planning and creative design, members of the Capital Tower coworking space will have access to high quality, high-energy environments that are customisable to specific needs and conducive for networking, exchange of ideas, resource-sharing and collaboration. We foresee demand coming from sectors such as fintech, social media, technology, insurance, corporate training and venture capital investment.”

Collective Works has become known for its innovative design aesthetic and ergonomic approach. Technological support includes secure on-site server hosting, videoconferencing, IP telephony and redundant fibreoptic broadband with superior attention to ambience, lighting and acoustic sound profiling to enhance productivity and concentration in the bespoke offices.

Interested?

Request membership to register interest. Collective Works curates a symbiotic community and screens potential residents to ensure that each new company brings a new skill set to the community, not competition. Tenants can start moving in from May, and the official launch is in June.

Ameyo launches cloud-based omnichannel contact centre offering

Ameyo, a provider of contact centre technology and services integrations, has launched Ameyo Emerge, a cloud offering that helps businesses to communicate seamlessly across channels.
The platform addresses the challenge emerging businesses and startups face in defining an optimised and efficient communication flow to streamline customer interactions.

With Ameyo Emerge, emerging businesses such as hyperlocal mobile app aggregators, marketplaces, and e-commerce sites can now create contact centres without investing in hardware or coding. Apart from voice capabilities, Ameyo Emerge also provides email support, in-app chats, social media, and SMS integration, in a single unified interface. A workflow engine allows businesses to create customer interaction workflows across voice, social, email, and mobile channels. Best practices are supported, such as 'provider push' which automatically pushes service providers to customers when a service level agreement is breached.

"In today's business realm, interaction platforms are falling short on multiple levels. They are typically limited to voice or non-voice capabilities, and analytics are limited solely to the web. The innovative features of Ameyo Emerge has given a new dimension to customer interaction management and contact centre technologies. The Emerge platform has been specifically designed for startups and emerging business models in order to help them in scaling up their core business rapidly with improved operational efficiency. This powerful and reliable combination will offer new levels of customer engagement in India, which was not possible until now," said Nayan Jain, CTO, Ameyo.

GuocoLand to manage Sofitel Singapore City Centre and Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara

Source: AccorHotels. Tanjong Pagar
Centre.

GuocoLand will manage two of AccorHotels' newly-built hotels, at Tanjong Pagar Centre in Singapore and Damansara City, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia respectively. Together, the Sofitel Singapore City Centre and the Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara add 534 rooms to the AccorHotel’s luxury brand portfolio.

"Our upcoming world-class mixed use developments in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are set to bring modern, liveable spaces to the heart of the business districts in both cities. GuocoLand is pleased to appoint AccorHotels as the hotel manager for both properties as we see strong synergies with the Sofitel luxury brand and services that will cater to the differing needs and demands of our office tenants, residents, visitors and guests,” said Raymond Choong, President and CEO of GuocoLand Group. "The hotels’ business and dining facilities will be easily accessible to office tenants and residents within both developments, providing them with quality working and living experiences in a cosmopolitan setting.”

“We are very excited that GuocoLand has entrusted us to manage these two flagship hotels under our luxury Sofitel brand in what will be very prestigious lifestyle and business hubs,” said Michael Issenberg, Chairman and CEO AccorHotels Asia Pacific. “These two new hotels are set to become icons in their respective cities, being at the centrepiece of landmark developments that will reinvent urban living in two of Asia’s most dynamic destinations.”

The 222-room Sofitel Singapore City Centre will be part of the upcoming multi-billion dollar Tanjong Pagar Centre, which will redefine mixed use developments in Singapore when it becomes operational later this year. Located between Chinatown and the central business district (CBD), Tanjong Pagar Centre will feature Singapore’s tallest building at 290 m, a residential and office tower, retail and event spaces and a luxury Sofitel hotel, all set around parklands and with direct MRT station access.

Guests at Sofitel Singapore City Centre can enjoy the state-of-the-art Virgin Active gym, as well as public activities and events at Tanjong Pagar Centre’s Urban Park. The 150,000 sq ft Urban Park can accommodate up to 2,000 people, making it an ideal location to host public fitness events, such as Zumba and yoga, for the broader community.

The Sofitel Singapore City Centre will offer guests the luxury accommodations including an outdoor pool, an executive lounge with stunning city views, a 620 sq m ballroom and eight meeting rooms in addition to restaurants and bars. 

In neighbouring Malaysia, the 312-room Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara is also an integral part of a new 8.5 acre integrated development in the upmarket Damansara Heights enclave called Damansara City. Set to open this year, Damansara City will feature two Grade A office towers, two luxury high-rise residences, and an F&B-centric lifestyle mall in addition to the luxury hotel.

The Sofitel will be the first internationally branded luxury hotel in the area and is part of the prime Damansara Heights precinct, which is close to the KL Sentral transportation hub, as well as established townships like Bangsar and Petaling Jaya. The hotel will target corporate clients in the surrounding area, leisure travellers and the MICE market. A new MRT station next to the Damansara City development will provide connections to the rest of Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley.

The Sofitel will feature a lobby lounge, deli, three restaurants and bars, a Club Millesime executive lounge on the 22nd floor, a So Spa, So Fit gym and outdoor swimming pool complete with pool bar. Meeting facilities include an 840 sq m ballroom and five meeting rooms.

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on Damansara City

Suzhou increasingly recognised for MICE

Suzhou is arguably the MICE capital of China, says the Suzhou Culture and Expo Centre Company (SCECC), which overseas the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre and the Suzhou International Expo Centre.

According to the SCECC, Suzhou successfully hosted the 53rd World Table Tennis Championships in the first half of this year, while Armani chose Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden as the venue for the world premiere of its Pivoine Suzhou perfume. 

Suzhou, 60 km from Shanghai, is 20 minutes from Shanghai via high-speed train and no more than a five-hour trip from large Chinese cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou, as well as cities in Japan and South Korea. The city is home to six professional exhibition venues and four professional conference centres. Suzhou ranks third in China in terms of the number of five-star hotels, and the government has supported the conference and exhibition industry with favourable policies and relevant facilities.

SCECC noted that the city's unique charm has attracted many conference and exhibition organizers. Suzhou features more than 60 well-preserved classical gardens, of which nine have been awarded World Cultural Heritage status and represent the highest level of traditional Chinese gardening and landscaping. Kunqu, the oldest opera in China, was also included on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. 

Upcoming events located in Suzhou include:

• Valve World Expo & Conference Asia 2015, September 2015
• 19th International Conference on Asian Language Processing 2015 (IALP 2015), October 2015
• Fastener Trade Show Suzhou, October 2015
• Stem Cells: From Basic Biology to Disease Therapies International Symposium, October 2015
• The International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society (IBAAS), China Aluminium International Engineering Corporation Limited (CHALIECO), and Suzhou Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals Co. Ltd (SINR), China's 4th International Symposium, November 2015
• Optics for Solar Energy (SOLAR) Conference, November 2015
• ChinaBio Partnering Forum, May 2016

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre now sports free Wi-Fi

Visitors to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) can now experience complimentary Wi-Fi through the 'ADNEC Free Wi-Fi' wireless network.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Acting Group CEO at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company said: “The complimentary Wi-Fi service articulates ADNEC’s priority to leverage technology to enhance visitor experience. The service will relieve ADNEC visitors from the hassle of calling around for accessing basic internet services. At ADNEC, we are committed to developing our technology infrastructure and improving services portfolio to serve the evolving requirements of our stakeholders.”

ADNEC is already offering high bandwidth Internet connectivity and related support services to clients at affordable prices. The service, which require secured authentication, allows exhibitors and visitors to use applications and services that require high data transmission rates such as downloading multimedia files.

ADNEC offers 133,000 sq m of inter-connected floor space to match the expectations of a wide variety of events and exhibitions. The venue attracted 1.6 million people across 327 events in 2014.

Singapore companies investing in China can get a leg up at the new Singapore Centre in Guangzhou

Source: Ascendas.

Singapore-based companies venturing into China can look forward to a one-stop service platform with the official opening of the Singapore Centre at Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC). Named Singapore Centre @SSGKC (Singapore Centre), the centre is located within Ascendas OneHub GKC, an integrated business park within SSGKC.

The Singapore Centre brings together key agencies in China and Singapore and their resources to provide one-stop services for Singapore-based companies investing in China. It will be managed by business space solutions provider Ascendas, with support from IE Singapore, SSGKC Administrative Committee, Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Investment and Development Co., (GKC) and Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) to assist in investment consultancy, government facilitation, business matching as well as streamlined company registration and set-up.

Companies can also take advantage of the business spaces, including plug-and-play facilities, that Ascendas offers at competitive rates, to facilitate their business entry and growth in China. To date, Singapore-based companies such as Nicolabs and Dentalthon have set up their operations in Ascendas OneHub GKC. Nicolabs makes health supplements, and Dentalthon is behind the MBrace clear dental aligners.

Chin Phei Chen, CEO of GKC said, “The launch of the Singapore Centre comes at an opportune time when SSGKC is ready to welcome the first group of companies to set up their businesses in OneHub. Through this initiative, we aim to position SSGKC as the preferred location for Singapore companies seeking entrance into the South China market.”

Wong Wing Kien, CEO of Ascendas China added, “With Ascendas’ strong expertise in Singapore and Asia as well as our deep understanding of the local market in China, we are confident that we will be able to work closely with all relevant parties, and contribute to the bilateral investment and industry development between Singapore and Guangdong.”

SSGKC is jointly developed by the Singbridge Group (Singbridge), a member of the Ascendas-Singbridge Group, and Guangzhou Development District (GDD). Ascendas-Singbridge was formed through the merger of Ascendas and Singbridge in June this year, combining the capabilities of two leading brands to originate, aggregate and provide urban and business space solutions across multiple industries and geographies. SSGKC and Ascendas OneHub GKC are good examples that showcase the expertise and capability of Ascendas-Singbridge in undertaking complex, large scale sustainable developments and providing end-to-end urban solutions.

With a vision to become a model and catalyst for Guangdong’s economic transformation, the 123-sq km SSGKC will be a unique, vibrant and sustainable city highly attractive to both talents and knowledge-based industries. Targeting key industries such as information & communication technology (ICT), biotechnology & pharmaceuticals, clean technology, next generation materials, culture & creative industries, and science & education services, SSGKC will support a 500,000-strong community when fully completed.

Located in the heart of SSGKC, Ascendas OneHub GKC is Ascendas’ flagship integrated business park development in Guangzhou, comprising business and commercial space, high-end residential and lifestyle amenities. When fully completed, Ascendas OneHub GKC will have a built-up area of 600,000 sq m.

Social media is more important than phone calls or email for customer experience

Source: Genesys infographic.

Genesys, a provider of customer experience (CX) and contact centre solutions, today released a study which reveals that more than a third of companies in Asia Pacific (37%) consider social media as one of their most important CX channels.

The study* shows that while face-to-face communications still ranks as the top CX channel, social media is now more important than both phone calls and email interactions.

“Consumers are going digital more than ever,” said Bruce Eidsvik, Senior Vice President of Genesys Asia Pacific. “In Asia, we hardly think twice when shopping online or posting our feedback and enquiries on companies’ social media channels, therefore it makes sense that we now lead the world when it comes to digital CX engagement. As economies across the region continue to move towards more service-based economies, Asia’s leadership in digital engagement places it as the pioneer that other regions will look to for CX innovation.”

The EIU study shows a direct correlation between CEO engagement in customer experience and profitability. When CEOs lead CX initiatives, those initiatives are more likely to transform a company’s future success. The survey found that 58% of companies reported much higher profitability than their competitors when the CEO is in charge of customer experience, and 59% experience better revenue growth as a result of prioritising CX investments.

Source: Genesys infographic.

In Southeast Asia, investment in customer experience is growing faster than other regions, with 42% of companies boosting investments by more than 10% in the past three years, with an expectation that they will increase by the same margin over the next three years.

The study also found that CEOs in Southeast Asia are more likely to have the final say on CX initiatives than CEOs anywhere else in the world. “Ambitious companies are driving large investments in customer experience initiatives to adapt to the digital communication channels customers are demanding,” said Charles Ross, Senior Editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit and lead researcher of the study.

“By prioritising CX and placing the CEO in charge, companies are taking an extra step to drive revenue growth and improve profitability.”

There is still room for improvement however. Southeast Asia (24%) is the second lowest sub-region in Asia Pacific by customer ratings of their overall experience with companies. Therefore, organisations in the region need to step up their game if they are to make the most of their growing investments in CX technology.

Interested?

The global and Asia Pacific reports are available for download
View the complete infographic

*Conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the survey of 516 senior level executives in 21 countries explores the impact of customer experience efforts and leadership on business performance. A third of the respondents were from Asia Pacific, including Southeast Asian markets like Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

posted from Bloggeroid

VFS Global offers new visa services for Dubai

VFS Global, an outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has announced that its 33 Dubai Visa Processing Centres (DVPCs) in 16 countries support more visa services for all types of travellers – including those arriving for business or MICE. 

VFS Global plans to launch UAE visa application services via DVPC mobile applications this summer (Editor's note: roughly June to August). The online website shall be device compatible via www.emirates.com to cater to the online UAE visa application process. Smartphone and tablet users will also be able to download and install apps from Apple’s App store & Google’s Play store respectively.

By facilitating UAE visa applications via www.emirates.com, the DVPC can reach residents of over 180 countries and facilitate their travel to Dubai. With Emirates’ network of operations across the globe and the accessibility of an online UAE visa application process, travel to Dubai has become even more convenient. 

DVPC offers visa categories for passengers travelling Emirates, the airline, in addition to the other categories. The newly introduced multiple entry visas are valid for 30- and 90-day travel and are only offered at DVPC centres and via the DVPC website. DVPC also supports the service with contact centres and email support to assist the applicant throughout the process. Its services include:

• UAE visas of different duration – 96 hours, 14-day, 30-day and 90-day

• E-visas 

• Uniform pricing all year round
• Online tracking of visa status
• Value added services like Express Visa facility – delivery within 48 hours of the time of application, door-to-door services 

• Dubai Airport Meet & Assist

Mango Routes uses Ameyo to manage customer campaigns

Source: Mango Routes website.

Mango Routes, a Gurgaon-based travel service company, has implemented technology from Ameyo for customer engagement.

As a startup, Mango Routes needed call technology that provided a better customer experience. The solution had to integrate seamlessly with its customer relationship management system while ensuring best-in-class customer support, first call resolution* (FCR) and streamlined communication processes. 

"As a complete travel services company that offers its services to businesses and retail customers alike, taking care of their end-to-end travel requirements, we needed a communication platform that could enable us to provide hassle free services. We chose Ameyo over other vendors because of its one stop solution, technological advancement and its solution oriented approach. 

"Our entire calling setup is built on (Ameyo) and it works as a heart for our system. Within months of deployment, we were able to see better management in our outbound campaigns. We believe that Ameyo will help us in understanding our customers well in the long run," said Amit Nautiyal, Travel Expert and Contracting Head, Mango Routes India.

*FCR refers to resolving the customer's request without requiring further calls.

ICSC's Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards shower golds on D-Cube City, Jem and Siam Center

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards recently recognised excellence in the region's shopping centre industry. Awards were given for outstanding achievement in marketing as well as the design and development of retail properties and retail store design.

The Design & Development category recognises retail properties for their overall design qualities and creativity in development, through renovation or expansion of an existing property or in innovative design of a new retail project. The category covers new Developments as well as Renovations & Expansions.

Source: D-Cube City website. D-Cube City.

The gold award winner in the category of Design & Development at the 2014 Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards is Daesung Industrial Co.'s D-Cube City in Seoul, Korea. The 75,000 sq m space hosts 171 stores. Formerly a large coal processing plant, D-Cube City sets a new standard in mixed-use transit-oriented development, the ICSC said.

Source: Jem website. Jem.

Jem Singapore won a gold/sustainable award in this category. The 76,000 sq m mall with 235 stores is owned by Lend Lease Retail Investments 3 and Lend Lease Commercial Investments. Jem’s design by SAA Architects used more than 100% green replacement in the building’s construction, as well as an array of energy-saving measures woven into the architecture and infrastructure.

The 108,470 sq m iapm Mall in Shanghai, China won the silver award in the same category. Owned by Sun Hung Kai Properties, the 200-store mall is designed by Benoy. Iapm offers 'shoppertainment', housing luxury fashion brands, a lifestyle store, an IMAX cinema and global delicacies.

SM Aura Premier was the second silver award winner. The 199,616 sq m mall is in Taguig, Philippines, and owned by SM Prime Holdings. The mall is a fashion, dining and entertainment destination, and features a six-level retail area with 206 stores, three levels of underground parking, and a 30-storey office tower with a 360-degree view of the city.

Other mentions included the 87,000 sq m INDIGO integrated mixed-use development in Beijing, China, with 170 stores. Owned by Swire Properties and Sino-Ocean Land Holdings and designed by Benoy, the INDIGO development is an which includes a shopping centre, a hotel, office space, and more than 1,200 car parking spaces, all with direct access to Beijing Metro Line 14.

Malaysia’s green-rated Setia City Mall has a retail and food & beverage mix to provide families with fun and affordable centre experiences. The 734,752 sq m mall in Shah Alam has 220 stores, and is owned by Greenhill Resources.

Source: Siam Center Company. Siam Center.

Under the Renovations & Expansions category, The Siam Center, The Ideaopolis renovation project in Bangkok, Thailand, took home a gold award. Owned by Siam Piwat Company, Siam Center carries exclusive product lines and services, hosts year-round art exhibitions, and has a total retail space of 21,210 sq m over 145 stores. 

Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer, Siam Piwat Company, shared that the renovation project Siam Center, the Ideaopolis has won Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards for two consecutive years, and is Thailand's only shopping centre to win a 2014 award. "This year, we have won the Gold Award in Design and Development, which serves as a testimony of Siam Piwat's success in introducing innovation and novelty to people's lives and bolsters Siam Piwat's strength in its path toward becoming a global leader of innovative retail," she said.

The project also marks a first in that a shopping centre and all of its retail stores have joined forces to create unique displays and décor exclusively for Siam Center, creating an identity that contributes to the uniqueness of the mall.

The Highpoint Shopping Centre redevelopment in Maribyrnong, Australia was presented with a silver award in the Renovation & Expansion category. Highpoint Shopping Centre’s US$300 million renovation included the addition of 100 new stores across premium fashion and lifestyle brands, providing Melbourne residents an enhanced shopping experience.The mall has retail space of 145,600 sq m across 491 stores, and is owned by Highpoint Property Group, the GPT Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund, and The GPT Group.

Another silver went to Plaza Singapura Singapore from the CapitaMall Trust stable, for a new extension that was completed in February 2013. The mall has total retail space of 57,541 sq m and 324 stores. Designed by Benoy, Plaza Singapura’s signature flowing ribbon façade houses a one-stop shopping experience with some 330 fashion, dining, entertainment and lifestyle offerings. A new extension seamlessly links the office building and shopping mall with transport links and the surroundings, according to Singapore's RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers' website. RSP oversaw the renovation. 

Finalists included Choi Yuen Plaza in Hong Kong with 132,281 sq m of retail space spanning 107 stores. Owned by The Link Management, Choi Yuen Plaza’s renovation features a footbridge with a timber roof, streamlined decking and benches amidst greenery. Retail offerings were expanded.

The 133-store Leung King Plaza in Hong Kong, which has total retail space of 165,068 sq m, is owned by The Link Management. Leung King Plaza’s two-year asset enhancement project updated its infrastructure and interior design, as well as its exterior façades and courtyards.

Owned by the Fashion TV Building Owners Association, the 148 stores in Lotte FITIN in Seoul’s Dongdaemun Market area provides young trendsetters with an organised and secure shopping environment, housing designer shops and restaurants from Seoul’s fashionable districts. The mall spreads out over 18,513 sq m.

The New Glorietta in Makati City, the Philippines, encompasses five hotels, two office towers, two residential high-rises, and extensive retail zones. Owned by Ayala Land, there are 219 stores spanning 233,696 sq m.

Australia's Roxburgh Park Shopping Centre’s expansion, resulting in total retail space of 24,730 sq m—a doubling in size, has delivered a main street environment to the community, providing cafes and restaurants, fresh food and daily shopping needs. Owned and developed by the CFS Retail Property Trust Group, shoppers can visit 53 stores at this mall. 

The full set of winners can be viewed here.

Read the blog post about the winners of emerging technology here.

New Plantronics headsets address need for high quality audio, safety concerns

Plantronics has announced a new family of headset solutions designed for customer service centres and offices. 

Source: Plantronics. The EncorePro 500 family.

According to the company, customer service centres face new challenges with the trend towards using smartphones and self-service. Customers who call customer service representatives (CSRs) with a problem have likely already tried self-service and may even have much more information than the agent. A call has become an escalation that puts more pressure on the CSR to perform, even though the customer is more often than not speaking in a mobile environment with questionable audio quality.

Businesses are also using over-the-phone routes for complex, high-value transactions, where CSRs must work with high-quality audio and yet preserve the confidentiality of customer information.

The Plantronics EncorePro 500 Series is designed for such challenges. It features new materials and technologies that yield an ergonomic fit that is durable, lightweight, and comfortable for all-day wearing. The noise-cancelling technology ensures more focused and private calls, so conversations will be heard clearly with fewer misunderstood words and with reduced background noise from keyboards and close talkers.

There are different designs to suit user preferences: EncorePro 510/520 are dedicated over-the-head models; the EncorePro 530 fits over the ear, while the EncorePro 540 is a convertible model that delivers the same quality of audio no matter what the preferred wearing style is. All models support wideband audio.

Also new are the DA Series of USB digital audio processors for Plantronics headsets, which provide context for every call. The new digital audio processors are designed to connect Plantronics 'quick disconnect' headsets to computers through a USB port. Some incorporate user controls like the ability to answer a call, mute the call and adjust volume. All support Noise @ Work, based on Plantronics SoundGuard digital technology. Not only are CSRs protected from sounds above 118 dBA, but anti-startle protection detects and eliminates a sudden increase in sound. Time Weighted Average (TWA) measurements manage average daily sound exposure for CSRs.

Each device contains firmware that can generate notifications based on hardware state changes. Some models can also generate notifications based on acoustic events or other telemetry that is important to the customer service centre, but which had been previously unavailable. For example, the Plantronics DA-90 will offer acoustic event logging so that customers can be compliant with initiatives like Australia's G.616 recommendation. These events are exposed through APIs within the Plantronics Spokes suite of software solutions.

The combination of the Plantronics EncorePro 500 Series, Plantronics digital audio adapters, and Plantronics Hub means that events and metrics occurring during the interaction with the customer are actionable. This makes possible new activities such as the automation of agent status updates, screen-locking for security when a headset is disconnected, dashboard management of headset
inventory and warranty status, tracking of agent use of physical call controls and supervisor alerts to conversational conflict between agent and caller. 

"This launch covers everyone - usability and personal comfort for the agent, agent monitoring of events, ordering, budgeting, and inventory tracking for the supervisor. Particularly intriguing is the enablement of event tracking for things such as agent status when the headset is disconnected allowing for actions to occur such as screen locking," said Nancy Jamison, Principal Analyst in Customer Contact, Frost & Sullivan.

"We are building on the world's most successful professional grade headset, the SupraPlus, and this is a challenge we did not take lightly. Our deep understanding of the new business needs and role of customer service, and the availability of new materials, design philosophies, manufacturing techniques and core technologies resulted in a new portfolio that is not only state-of-the-art by today's standards, but also future-proofed to adapt as the landscape changes," said Bill Loewenthal, VP, Enterprise Communications Solutions, Plantronics. 

"It's no longer just about a first-class audio experience. With our new portfolio, organisations will immediately see the value that we bring by providing equipment and intelligence which enable operations to be more effective, and create a positive experience for both the CSR and the customer."

The new EncorePro 540 (convertible) and Encore 530 (over-the-ear) models are immediately available. The EncorePro 510/520 (dedicated over-the-head monaural and binaural models) will be available in both noise-cancelling and voice tube* versions in December. The DA-80 USB Digital Audio Processor will ship in December with additional models following a short time later. 

Visit www.plantronics.com/contactcenter for information and pricing. View the associated video here.

*Voice tubes transfer sound more clearly across a distance.

Fit Spotting helps users locate hotels with great gyms

Fit Spotting is an iOS app which allows users to find, rate, and review hotel gyms and fitness centres.

"As an avid gym goer and also as a constant traveller due to my job, finding hotel gym reviews and pictures was a pretty daunting task when booking for my next hotel stay,” says Fit Spotting Founder Tarek Atwan. "The information is all over the place on the web and there was no centralised platform that contains community feedback, rating and photos to describe what is really being offered at the hotel." 

The app can be downloaded here.