Aladdin Street aims to be top 10 global e-marketplace

Source: Aladdin Group. A lion dance to welcome Aladdin
Street Singapore.

The Aladdin Group has introduced Aladdin Street Singapore, which will cater to both B2B and B2C communities via two e-commerce platforms – www.aladdinstreet.com.sg, for the Singapore market, and www.aladdinstreet.com, an international e-platform. Both will be launched in Q416.

Aladdinstreet aims to provide a trusted and secure e-market platform that allows merchants to trade, and consumers to purchase premium quality and halal* products. The Aladdin Group has already launched a site with a similar concept for Malaysia in April.

Aladdinstreet.com.my features more than 10,000 premium quality products which either have halal certification from the relevant halal certification bodies, or which do not require halal certification* in Malaysia but are certified for safety, hygiene and quality.

Aladdin Group Co-founder & President Dato’ Dr Grace Kong says that the country’s excellent business environment and infrastructure will not only help the group become one of the world’s most profitable e-commerce platforms, but also noted that the Aladdin Street Singapore e-marketplace is the first to feature only halal and premium quality products catering to an under-served 14% of Singapore’s population. 

The Aladdin Group has allocated up to US$130 million to promote and support the Aladdin Street brand name all over the world in the next three years. In addition to these global marketing efforts, the Aladdin Group will further invest S$2 million in phase 1 to support its Singapore efforts to make the Aladdin Street brand the brand of choice for halal and premium quality products. 

The Aladdin Group further aims to make Aladdin Street in the global top 10 for the most profitable e-commerce platforms, attracting over 60 million unique visitors monthly. Aladdinstreet.com.sg targets to achieve over S$50 million in sales within the first year of its launch, but what will also make the Aladdin Group unique is that it collaborates and works with government agencies, trade associations, chambers of commerce and halal certification bodies to help Singapore SMEs access the global e-marketplace via the Group’s international network.

Source: Aladdin Group. From left: Aladdin Group Co-Founder Dato’ Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masriem, Dato’ Dr Grace Kong, also an Aladdin Group Co-Founder, and Dato' Sri Desmond To.

“The direction and future for e-commerce and changes in consumption patterns are obvious and unpreventable,” said Dato’ Dr Kong. “Increasing rents and manpower shortages have caused retail shakeups and are preventing promising small businesses from setting up shop. Aladdin Street Singapore will be the next best alternative where merchants are also partners, and we will work closely with them to develop their businesses for a win-win-win partnership.” 

According to Google and Temasek Holdings, Southeast Asia’s e-commerce market is set to grow more than sixfold to US$200 billion by 2025, driven mostly by the online e-commerce retail market and outpacing the growth of traditional retail sales. 

The Aladdin Group is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and is helmed by Co-founder and Malaysia’s first astronaut - Dato’ Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie. The company believes that interest in an e-marketplace for premium quality and halal products is global. The global halal industry opportunity, excluding Islamic finance, is estimated by various industry sources to be worth up to US$2.3 trillion, the group said. 

Singapore is the 29th country in which the group now has a joint venture. The other countries in Asia Pacific and the Middle East include mainland China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan. Partnerships are being finalised in Iran, Jordan, Turkey, the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. 

Interested?

All merchants will have to undergo stringent halal compliance and business integrity checks by an in-house task force. While merchant participation is by invitation only, merchants may request inclusion through the Register button.

Shopee Malaysia collaborates with Pos Malaysia for fulfilment

Shopee Malaysia is collaborating with the national courier delivery service Pos Malaysia, to give all sellers on the platform the ability to ship their sold items for free.

Shopee, a mobile-first social marketplace with over 12 million users in the region, is a free-to-use online customer-to-customer (C2C) platform. Launched in December 2015, Shopee aims to empower entrepreneurs, both individuals and businesses, to buy and sell safely and securely on mobile. In Malaysia Shopee has seen more than a million downloads of its app within six months.

Shopee already has no listing fee and no commission fee. The Shopee Free Shipping Program further lowers barriers to entry for all by making buying and selling easier as the cost of shipping is removed.

The beta version was launched in early May to selected sellers through several batches to monitor the growth and engagement for the Free Shipping Program. The programme grants sellers a capped subsidy for deliveries of items to West Malaysia and East Malaysia respectively.

“Since the launch of the Shopee Free Shipping Program, we have seen tremendous growth on our platform. The daily orders of most of our sellers have doubled and even tripled in some instances,” said Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director of Shopee.

Randy, owner of the zmobile store on Shopee, says the programme has benefitted sellers. "Before joining the programme, my customers are mostly from Kuala Lumpur. But thanks to the Free Shipping programme, now I have buyers from East Malaysia and my sales have increased by five times in three months,” he remarked.

On top of generating tremendous benefits to sellers, this programme is also attractive for buyers. “This prestigious partnership will also help buyers across Malaysia to shop and not worry about paying for shipping fees on our platform,” Ho added.

Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, Pos Malaysia’s Group Chief Executive Officer said, “The collaboration between Pos Malaysia and Shopee is a significant milestone for us to delve and tap further into new business opportunities, especially in the e-commerce sector. With the launch of our e-Commerce Hub and the Pos Laju EziBox, the entrepreneurs on Shopee would now be able to benefit from greater convenience by having greater touch points and the ability to perform online transactions 24-hours globally. We are aligned with Shopee’s vision in helping local entrepreneurs grow their business via our platform and would work hand-in-hand with them to roll out more services in the near future.”

In addition to the Shopee Free Shipping Program, Shopee provides access to free entrepreneurship programmes and workshops conducted by Shopee University to educate and empower entrepreneurs.

“Shopee University actively provides guidance on how to run an online business and insights into the latest mobile e-commerce trends for our sellers. Attendees are taught about Shopee, and are given exclusive updates on our latest features, products and promotions. Our main aim is to maximise the potential of our sellers and empower more online businesses to utilise mobile e-commerce platforms as a revenue-generating platform,” explained Ho.

The curriculum at Shopee University is developed based on the best practices of Shopee’s top sellers, featuring more topics such as online marketing methods for e-commerce, product photography and supply chain optimisation.

Interested?

The Shopee app can be downloaded for free on all mobile platforms via Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog posts about developments at Shopee Singapore and a lesson at Shopee University on how to take #instagramworthy shots

posted from Bloggeroid

Consumers are now phy-gital. What should companies do?

A global, cross-industry study* from Mindtree, a digital transformation and technology services company, pinpoints personalisation as the key driver that will help "phy-gital" consumers reach their ideal mix of online and offline shopping. It also reveals that while most companies are in transformation mode and consider themselves pioneers in adopting or investing in digital technologies, few are investing in personalisation initiatives that consumers say will increase the depth and breadth of their shopping experience.

Source: Mindtree infographic. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of customers say personalised promotions will influence them to buy products for the first time.

Key findings include:

• Personalised promotions encourage consumers to buy products and services they have purchased before (78%), as well as relevant products and services they have never purchased (74%)
• Only 28% of the decision makers from companies surveyed globally say their organisations are investing significantly in personalisation to improve the online purchasing experience, even though it has improved their online sales over the past 12 months for the majority (58%)
• Consumers expect their use of mobile apps for shopping to more than double in the next three years. While 6% of consumers said their preferred channel for making retail purchases as of 2015 was mobile apps, 15% said they expected mobile apps to be their preferred channel by 2018. 

The survey also highlights some notable disconnects between what online features consumers desire and what features companies are investing in. As an example, consumers crave improved search and compare/aggregate functions, but companies are investing more in features like shopping lists, wish lists and social features. 

"There are a lot of stories to be gleaned from this study, but what stands out most is that companies need to prioritise more investments in personalisation, an area that quite clearly drives more commerce," says Radha R., EVP and Head of Digital Business at Mindtree. "Many of today's personalisation approaches are ineffective since they are based on a siloed view of the customer. With the right data engine and digital underpinnings in place, customised experiences will allow companies to target the right people, at the right time, in the right place, on the right device, with the right content."

Next steps

Mindtree recommends that companies:

• Break up data silos to get a more enriched view of customers from various digital touch points, using a big data-led approach 
• Deliver relevance for customers by creating content, offers and recommendations using context-weighted personalisation algorithms 
• Implement the technology to automatically deliver these customised messages and offers to customers in a cross-channel, cross-device landscape 

This will only work if a company has the right digital infrastructure at the broadest level. Mindtree believes that companies need to blend four cornerstones that are crucial to achieving true digital transformation and success: creating digital customer experiences, digitising the value chain across the front and back end, developing 'sense-and-respond' systems, and shaping new, innovative business models and partnerships.

"It's important to note that an online presence should focus on serving customers and not just on selling to customers," says Paul Gottsegen, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Mindtree. "With better personalisation, companies will essentially embed themselves in the ongoing phy-gital lives of consumers and earn the right to be part of a continuous stream of engagement. It will strengthen the relationship for the long haul and give the companies that get it right a big advantage."

Interested?

Download the infographic (PDF)

Read the report (PDF). Industry-specific findings on retail and consumer goods, travel and hospitality, banking and insurance, and media and entertainment are available

*The study, Winning in the Age of Personalization, was commissioned by Mindtree and conducted by independent market research firm Vanson Bourne. It surveyed 6,000 consumers across three primary regions (US, Europe, and Asia Pacific), as well as 900 decision-makers from companies spanning the retail and consumer goods, travel and hospitality, banking and insurance, and media and entertainment industries.

Online browsing on the upswing before Chinese new year: Criteo

The window display at Shanghai Tang, Raffles City, Singapore, ahead of the year of the monkey on February 8, 2016.

· Criteo data reveals that e-commerce transactions spiked by 40% two weeks before Chinese New Year in 2015, and three in 10 of the transactions were completed on a mobile device.

· More than 45% of online transactions in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, India and Taiwan are now happening on mobile

· Mobile optimisation, a ‘click-and-brick’ approach to consumer engagement and instant delivery services key to improving sales before, during and after Chinese New Year in 2016

Criteo, the performance marketing technology company, has released seasonal data in anticipation of Chinese New Year, to help e-commerce businesses better engage consumers during the festive season. The company’s deep dive into consumer browsing and buying activity revealed that in the two weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, consumers browsed retail products more actively than before – a 25% increase in items added to shopping carts.

The results also showed a 40% increase in e-commerce sales during the same period, of which, three in 10 transactions were completed on a mobile device. For companies focused on attracting and retaining consumers during this time period, Criteo advises that online advertising campaigns should be fully optimised across desktops, laptops and mobile devices.

The findings are based on an analysis of 174 million online transactions in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam before, during and after Chinese New Year in 2015.

“Due to the traditional practice of wearing new clothes to symbolise a new beginning, consumers are doing a tremendous amount of online shopping two weeks before Chinese New Year. Based on 2015 data, sales on mobile, in particular, have also hit record numbers. This spending period presents retail companies with a huge opportunity to engage consumers through personalised and relevant online advertising,” said Yuko Saito, Managing Director, Criteo Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, India and Taiwan.

In its eCommerce Industry Outlook 2016, Criteo shares three additional trends that will impact Asian shoppers during the Chinese New Year season:

Smartphone shopping will continue to gain ground

Smartphones are the first point of Internet access or brand interaction for many consumers and are therefore playing a key role in driving e-commerce growth. In Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, India and Taiwan, on aggregate, more than 45% of online transactions are now happening on mobile, compared to 29% in the second quarter of 2015. Indonesia was the highest at 56%, followed by Singapore at 45%.

Retailers will see a high web influence on their in-store sales

With the majority of consumers now researching online before or while visiting a store, understanding a shopper’s online activity is vital. According to Google, eight out of 10 shoppers with a smartphone are using it inside the store to help them with product research and price comparisons, with most of them eventually completing a transaction at the physical point of sale (POS). Retailers can acquire a better view of the customer’s shopping journey by connecting with them via branded apps or beacon technology, before matching each customer’s email ID with loyalty programmes at in-store POS terminals.

Instant delivery services will become common

Order fulfilment will be a big focus for retailers in 2016, with many offering delivery options to match Amazon’s Prime Now service. Prime Now, a service via mobile app that is available to Amazon Prime members, offers free delivery within two hours in selected areas, seven days a week. Both online and “click-and-brick” retailers will be trying this strategy through specialised third-party e-commerce logistics providers. Faster delivery at lower charges will also drive growth of cross-border shopping as consumers will not mind buying from other countries to save money.

“During special occasions like Chinese New Year, we observe instances of intensive, last-minute shopping, where consumers take less time to consider a purchase and require products to be delivered on short notice for personal use or gift-giving. Taking a three pronged approach – engaging consumers on the mobile web or on mobile apps, leveraging consumers’ web browsing data to deliver personalised in-store and mobile shopping experiences, and investing in instant delivery services will be crucial to increasing sales conversions,” said Saito.

Interested?

Read more about Criteo’s Seven Big eCommerce Trends for 2016

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Criteo's State of Mobile Commerce report for Q315

Small business owners benefit from Digi's Pi1M Training Programme

Source: Digi. Participants of the Pi1M Training Programme pose for a group shot.

Digi Telecommunications recently held a training programme for the community members living around the Pusat Internet 1 Malaysia (Pi1M) centres managed by the company. This customised training programme is part of Digi’s ambition to inspire online entrepreneurship amongst its Pi1M community members. To date, Digi has 34 Pi1Ms in Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Melaka and Sarawak, and is committed to launch 70 more centres by end of this year. 

According to Eugene Teh, Digi’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Digi has always wanted to empower societies and enable connected communities to bring about socioeconomic improvements. “Our priority has always been to ensure that Digi’s Pi1Ms are economically sustainable in the long run and to support the communities with easy access to connectivity as well as unlimited information and resources,” he said.

“This is just the first of many similar training programmes that are in the pipeline. It is our objective to ensure that all interested community members as well as our Pi1M managers get the opportunity to learn and benefit from the Internet. We firmly believe that these programmes will pave the way for them to enjoy equal opportunities for both social and economic empowerment."

The three-day pilot training programme saw the participation of 36 people from 11 Pi1Ms around Malaysia. The 36 participants were selected based on a profile evaluation and interviews as part of the process to understand their ambitions and keenness, and their business experience and potential. They were introduced to the power of the Internet and the exciting prospects of conducting business and earning income online by Digi and its strategic partners Google Business Group Malaysia, The Star, Pos Malaysia, MMSC Ventures and Zalora. 

At the event, Google Malaysia and its premium partner Kasatria shared insights on Google Apps, while theStar introduced participants to iBilik, a homestay proposition; Pos Malaysia presented their online marketplace PostMe as well as their other service offerings, and Zalora shared its experience as an online business. MMSC Ventures also discussed online education and Internet-based income generation. 

Mohd Hairulnizam Ismail, an F&B business owner from Lundu, Sarawak, said the workshop session had benefited him and his business in many ways. “As a consumer, I’ve experienced purchasing airplane tickets from Air Asia’s online portal, but I still needed the knowledge on how to bring my business onto the online platform. By attending this workshop, I’ve learned a lot on how to track my website’s popularity using Google tools. Besides that, I have also learned how to use domain tracking tools on my website through Google Webmaster,” he commented.

Maszni Abdul Aziz, owner of Sparkle Beads Enterprise in Melaka, said the workshop was an eye opener especially for people like her who are not fully exposed to the potential of the Internet. 

“I have not been exposed very much to the internet, and I have never bought anything online before. My objective of coming to this workshop is to explore, and learn about what the internet has to offer," she shared. "After the session with Zalora, I’m very happy because I’ve learned a lot about the possibilities that the internet can offer for expanding my business. My dream is to bring my business up to a global scale, and with the Internet, I’m confident that I will be able to achieve that dream.”

Digi will work closely with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in coming up with similar workshops for its Pi1M communities with the aim of having them at least once a quarter. Each workshop session is designed to have a maximum of 35 participants including managers of the respective Pi1M centres to encourage interaction as well as to effectively address all topics.