Singtel offers more support to accelerate AI adoption among Singapore SMEs

- New programme to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) move from AI experimentation to real-world implementation 

Source: Singtel. An AI.dea training scenario.

Singtel Singapore has launched AI.dea — an AI business transformation programme, developed in partnership with SIM Academy to help SMEs in Singapore accelerate AI adoption and unlock new opportunities for productivity, innovation and growth.

As AI moves from experimentation to real-world deployment, many businesses continue to grapple with the complexities of implementation, Singtel said, observing that while AI has proven to be a powerful driver of productivity and growth, adoption among Singapore SMEs remains relatively low.

While digital adoption among SMEs in Singapore has grown significantly in recent years, Singtel said that many businesses continue to face challenges in fully realising value from new technologies, particularly in complex areas such as AI.  

According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA's) Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025*, only 14.5% of SMEs have implemented AI solutions, compared to 62.5% of larger enterprises — a wide competitive gap.  

AI.dea aims to address this gap by making AI accessible, practical and secure for local businesses. The programme will equip SMEs with the capabilities to integrate AI into their operations and compete more effectively in an increasingly digital economy. To boost adoption, eligible SMEs will receive up to 90% in funding from SkillsFuture Singapore.  

Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, said, “AI has quickly become a key driver of business transformation, but many organisations are still figuring out where to even begin. Singtel Singapore’s own journey has shown that success with AI requires more than just technology — it takes the right capabilities, governance and mindset. 

"With AI.dea, we are bringing these lessons to SMEs, helping them to adopt AI applications before committing to full-scale deployment so they can realise tangible business outcomes.”   

Ho Seong Kim, CEO of SIM Academy added: “As Singapore advances its National AI Strategy, SMEs — the foundation of our business ecosystem — must be equipped to participate meaningfully in this transformation. As the selected learning partner for this programme, we leverage our expertise in applied, outcome-driven learning to help SME leaders build in-house capabilities, develop actionable adoption strategies, and implement AI with confidence to drive tangible business outcomes.” 

AI.dea is designed to help SMEs overcome common barriers to adoption, including limited in-house expertise, uncertainty around implementation, and concerns around data security and governance.

Through a structured, hands-on approach, participants will design, build and validate real-world use cases tailored to their business needs.

Participants will benefit from:

· Hands-on application: Design and test AI use cases through guided proof-of-concept development

· Expert guidance: Learn from practitioners with experience in scaling AI across organisations

· Governance and security: Build capabilities in AI governance, data protection and risk management

· Strategic roadmap development: Define AI ambition and develop a clear, actionable adoption plan

Advancing SME digital transformation 

The AI.dea programme complements Singtel’s broader suite of SME-focused initiatives:

· TikTok Masterclass: A brand-building and e-commerce enablement programme that helps SMEs to strengthen their digital presence, connect with customers more effectively, and capture growth opportunities in the digital economy.

· Cyber Protect: A tripartite initiative by Singtel, Enterprise Singapore and IMDA to bolster SMEs’ cyber resilience through workshops, curated learning resources, and subsidised cyber solutions, enabling businesses to identify risks, adopt stronger cyber hygiene practices and better protect themselves against evolving cyber threats.

· Cyber Elevate: A training programme which provides cyber risk audits, resilience workshops, and mentorship to help SMEs prepare, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks at heavily-subsidised rates, with support from law firm Drew & Napier and incident response firm Blackpanda as consultants.

· Defence Against Cyber Scams: Developed for large enterprises to upskill and reskill their employees to be better able to identify, combat and prevent scams.

· SPEED: A 15-month initiative aimed at helping SMEs decarbonise through education, energy-efficient technology deployment and continuous improvement strategies. The programme is designed to enable SMEs to go digital and achieve environmental goals at the same time.

As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee, Singtel plays a pivotal role in enabling enterprises – especially SMEs – to upskill, digitalise and innovate. Its end-to-end solutions – spanning mobility and connectivity, to cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT) and collaboration tools – are tailored to evolving business needs. 

Details

The programme fee is S$15,000 (before GST), with up to 90% funding available for eligible businesses under the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs programme, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore.

To qualify, companies must:

· Be registered and incorporated in Singapore

· Have at least 30% local shareholding by Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs) 

· Have an annual sales turnover not exceeding S$100 million or an employment size of fewer than 200 employees

Businesses interested in the programme can register their interest at https://www.singtel.com/business/smb/solutions/ICT/ai-dea

*Singapore Digital Economy Report (SGDE) 2025

Singapore SMBs stay focused on growth despite rising costs and uncertainty: Xero

 

Despite a challenging operating environment, Singapore’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) remain resilient and focused on growth through digitalisation, according to a new report by global small business platform Xero.

Polling over 500 owners and senior decision-makers from SMBs in Singapore, the report found that six in 10 (61%) have been impacted by inflation and rising costs, alongside changes in consumer demand (48%) and labour shortages (44%).

Despite this, Singapore’s SMBs continued to grow, with nearly two-thirds (63%) reporting revenue growth and 77% reporting wage increases over the past year. Nearly half (47%) increased headcount within the business, primarily to support business growth (69%). Crucially, 76% of business owners said they feel optimistic about the future.

"It’s exciting to see such strong optimism and momentum among Singapore’s SMBs, especially in a tough economic climate. Their continued investment in people and technology shows just how focused they are on building for the future,” said Koren Wines, MD, Xero Asia.

“That said, as businesses continue to scale and grow, it’s important to recognise that many still face operational barriers that can slow progress—whether it’s managing cash flow, accessing real-time financial insights, or juggling fragmented systems. Addressing these pain points and building stronger digital foundations will be key to unlocking greater efficiency, agility, and long-term success."

The report also identified common operational challenges they will need to overcome, such as strained cash flow from delayed payments.

91% of Singaporean SMBs said late payments from customers have impacted their business. When polled on typical payment timelines, nearly a fifth (18%) of businesses said they received payments from customers in an average of 31-45 days, with timelines stretching to 46-60 days for 7% of businesses surveyed. 

To increase the likelihood of timely payments, many SMBs have started strengthening credit terms (53%), charging late fees (47%), and even offering discounts to incentivise early payments (43%) in a bid to keep cash moving.

According to the research, many SMBs still struggle with establishing long-term, real-time visibility on their business’ finances. Eight in 10 (81%) Singaporean SMBs recognise the importance of customisable financial reports that contain insights that may be useful for regulatory compliance and strategic decision-making. However, around half cite a lack of real-time access to financial data (52%) and difficulty consolidating information from multiple sources (49%) as key barriers to developing them.

Source: Xero, The State of Small and Medium Businesses - Singapore 2025. Average customer repayment timeframe.

To overcome these operational challenges and support growth, Singaporean SMBs are actively using digital tools such as digital marketing platforms (56%), customer relationship management systems (54%) and cloud-based accounting or finance software (42%).

Almost all (99%) believe digital tools are essential to their business, while 82% cited digital adoption as a top or significant business priority. A further 99% said they were comfortable experimenting with or implementing new technologies, with the ability to generate better reports (51%), enhanced decision-making (46%), and automation of repetitive tasks (46%) topping the list of motivations driving adoption.

Said Wines: “Singaporean SMBs have shown a strong appetite for digitalisation—not just as a means to keep up, but as a deliberate strategy to drive growth and resilience. They increasingly understand that digital tools are not simply operational add-ons, but enablers that can transform the way they manage cash flow, streamline processes, unlock opportunities and respond to evolving market demands.”

“By adopting the right technologies, small businesses can gain deeper financial visibility, make faster, data-driven decisions, and build the agility needed to thrive amid uncertainty. This shift isn’t just about staying compliant—it’s about becoming future-ready.”

Explore

Download The State of Small and Medium Businesses - Singapore 2025 at https://brandfolder.xero.com/NE531UQB/as/3fxggcx7bk96gxs5tpxwfrh/Final_State_of_Small_and_Medium_Businesses_-_Singapore_2025

Cornerstone unveils cyber insurance for Singapore SMBs with QBE and ESET

Cornerstone, a Singapore-based independent financial advisory, has launched CyberFender, a cyber insurance solution tailored to small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) in Singapore. 

CyberFender offers insurance coverage that will help to safeguard critical business assets against malicious actors in areas like data security, business interruption, and cyber extortion. It also covers related incident response and recovery costs, providing both financial and operational protection against cyber incidents—empowering businesses to better build and maintain customer trust, Cornerstone said. 

Underwritten by QBE, a global insurer with a presence in Singapore for more than 130 years, CyberFender policyholders will also receive 24x7 cybersecurity protection through ESET Small Business Security, which is a set-and-protect solution against online threats, frauds, data theft and unwanted tracking. 

Cornerstone can guide and support SMEs throughout the process, serving as trusted advisors who simplify, facilitate, and ensure a seamless download and understanding of key information. 

SMBs make up 99% of all enterprises in Singapore and are responsible for nearly half of the nation’s GDP. As they embrace digital transformation, robust cybersecurity measures are essential to maintain customer trust and ensure a resilient business environment. Cyber insurance has emerged as a vital safety net, helping SMBs to mitigate the financial risks of cyber incidents while reinforcing confidence in data security.

ESET’s APAC SMB Cybersecurity Report 2024 found that 73% of Asia Pacific (APAC) SMBs experienced cybersecurity incidents last year—with one out of four incidents related to ransomware, while Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) findings from 2024 estimated that eight in 10 organisations in Singapore encountered a cybersecurity incident in a year, with half encountering it several times a year. 

QBE Singapore’s small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) survey further showed that the percentage of businesses that do not have any processes or protection against cyber risks rose to 19% in 2024, from 9% in 2023.

“At Cornerstone, we recognise that recovery from cyberattacks can be costly and challenging for SMBs. This is why we partnered with QBE and ESET to deliver robust, easy-to-use cyberdefence solutions to our policyholders through CyberFender,” said Leonard Tan, MD, Cornerstone.

“No industry is insulated from cyberthreats, regardless of company size. As technology evolves, it’s creating both new opportunities and new risks, further expanding the digital attack surface. Together with Cornerstone and ESET, we are delighted to be a part of the CyberFender offering, which is well suited to address SMBs’ needs when it comes to the current cyber risk landscape,” said Ronak Shah, CEO, QBE Singapore.

“ESET is committed to empowering SMBs with the right tools to proactively protect their businesses from cyber threats, including ransomware. By adopting a prevention-first approach, business owners can effectively safeguard their organisations from the risk of cyberattacks and disruption. We are honoured that Cornerstone and QBE have chosen to work with ESET; it is a testament to our commitment to ensure businesses of all sizes are safeguarded in an ever-evolving threat landscape,” said Parvinder Walia, ESET President for Asia Pacific and Japan.

CyberFender is available in Singapore through Cornerstone's financial advisors.

APAC SMBs optimistic about recovery after COVID

- HP study says Asia-Pacific (APAC) small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners remain optimistic

- Bouncing back will require innovation in work processes, flexible work options and customised products and services

- Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Australia, and Thailand SMBs are the most confident of their ability to be innovative

HP Inc.’s latest study* on SMBs in Asia-Pacific, Survival to Revival, revealed that over 50% of SMB owners expect not just to survive but thrive following the pandemic, and feel that digital transformation will be a key part of this revival.

Some 60% of respondents see digital transformation as key with innovation in work processes, flexible work options and customised products and services identified as future strategies. However, cost-effective solutions are required given that cashflow remains top of mind and SMBs are unclear where to look, or even what suitable solutions are available. This is especially key where only four in 10 SMBs have a department or person responsible for innovation.

Specifically:

• Fifty-three percent of SMBs in Asia expect to thrive post-pandemic and 60% see digital transformation key to success

• SMB respondents in Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Australia, and Thailand are the most confident of their company’s ability to be innovative and see digital adoption as a key strategy

Indonesia sees the importance of digital to business success, with 74% of Indonesian respondents ranking it as 'essential' or 'very important' against regional average of 59% (India 75%; Vietnam 60%; Australia 58%; Thailand 75%)

• Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are more conservative about their predictions for the future, possibly based on the global nature of their economies. Japan sees the importance of digital to business success with 34% of Japanese respondents ranking it as 'essential' or 'very important' against regional average of 59%; (South Korea 43%; Singapore 50%)

That said, respondents also identified barriers to success. Forty-five percent cited global instability post-pandemic as a key concern due to the uncertainty and inability to plan for the future. Besides global instability, the top three barriers to success are cash flow (28%), the need for adequate marketing and recruitment.

“SMBs are the lifeblood of every economy in Asia but the pandemic has hit SMBs hard. As the engines of growth for Asia economies, it is critical for them to move past survival to revive their businesses,” said Ng Tian Chong, MD, Greater Asia at HP.

“This study provides us with the insights to provide practical help for SMBs so that they have access to an ecosystem of devices, tools and technology. With these resources, we want to help SMBs unlock innovation for customer and employee-centric experiences, as well as broadly upskill talent to rebound from the pandemic and prepare for the future.”

Source: HP. Infographic showing the Asian and Singapore figures for the Survival to Revival survey.

Completed in June 2020, the study surveyed SMBs across Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and found:

• SMB owners understand that bouncing back post-pandemic will require them to lean on innovation in how they work, flexible work options and customisation of products and services. The top aspects to help them best bounce back are:

- Workstyle innovations (27%),

- Flexible work options (26%),

- Innovation in products and services (25%),

- Better use of digital tools available (23%) and

- Digitalising processes (19%).

• Companies most confident of bouncing back place high importance on digital adoption

Across the region, nearly 60% view digital adoption as very important or essential. Indonesian SMBs are particularly sensitive to this need, with a full 74% believing it is essential or very important, as are Thai SMBs, also at 65%.

• Growth projections have been significantly adjusted post-pandemic.

Across the region, 46% of SMBs were expecting growth prior to the pandemic but that figure has dropped to just 16%. India and Vietnam are the most confident about post-pandemic growth and Singapore, Japan and South Korea are least positive.

• Disruption to productivity is a common experience during COVID.

Only 6% of SMBs recorded higher levels of workplace productivity compared to the pre-COVID period while 43% recorded lower productivity.

• Skills is an issue.

The pandemic amplified the lack of digital-first mindsets and skills within existing SMBs that hamper growth, affecting nearly half (44%) of respondents.

SMBs are looking for the magic hire, preferring to hire people who can fulfil multiple duties to optimise productivity. In this context, hiring and recruitment is incredibly difficult as the SMB is trying to find someone with a broad range of skills from a narrow pool of candidates. This is particularly an issue in Japan, Thailand and Vietnam where recruitment is one of the top three barriers to success. The education, financial services and healthcare verticals also cite recruitment as one of the top three barriers to success.

• SMBs are unclear on where to look for assistance.

Financial institutions, especially, rank high (31%); 60% of SMBs consider government support to be insufficient and/or are unclear on what support is available; only 19% of respondents turn to IT companies for help.

Underpinning all of this is a need to identify digital talents who can help SMBs to transform the business. The majority of SMBs do not dedicate resources and/or invest in innovation as a discipline; it is more common to ask customers what they want, or simply mirror what the competition is offering.

Further:

- Only four in 10 have a team or individual responsible for developing new products and service.

- One in five work with external specialists or consultants to foster innovation.

- One in five SMBs have customised offerings, looked for new sales and supply-chain channels, or introduced new lines of business. 

Indonesia (59%) and Thailand (51%) stand out for having the highest percentage of SMBs dedicating resources to innovation. Unsurprisingly, SMBs in Indonesia and Thailand are also the most confident about business performance post-COVID.

Over half (54%) of SMBs see the pandemic as an opportunity to reformulate their business despite less bullish growth, with only 16% expecting growth post-COVID in 2021. To bounce back quickly from the pandemic, SMBs expect to increase usage of online meeting and digital tools and to migrate more processes to digital. Resources that can provide practical help on how to leverage digital technology to unlock innovation are a priority for rebounding from the pandemic most effectively, they said.

In response, HP is introducing integrated services-based print solutions, including an HP Roam for Business bundle, to make it easy to print on the go. Another solution for SMBs is the enhanced HP SecurePrint, a flexible, cloud-native solution that releases documents only to authorised users.

To support SMBs in adapting to new agile working environments, HP has introduced a suite of integrated services-based print solutions. HP is now offering a one-year license for HP Roam for Business with a compatible HP LaserJet Pro 400-series bought by 31 October 2020, making it easy to print on the go from a mobile device and to retrieve the job in a contactless manner at any HP Roam-enabled printer within the company network.

In addition, HP has enhanced HP SecurePrint, which now supports all network types, including traditional networks behind a firewall as well as serverless print environments, helping customers simplify IT infrastructures. To empower workers the HP Workpath ecosystem,which enables workers to connect to cloud-based platforms directly from the multifunction printers (MFP)**, has expanded rapidly since it launched in November 2019, with 100+ apps available on the platform and thousands of apps deployed.

To meet the demands of the SMB worker’s multitask, multiplace workday, HP PCs are designed to enable them to work anywhere. To ensure SMBs get ease of mind when working anywhere, HP is offering Sure Click Pro for free to all HP and non-HP Windows customers till September 30, 2020. HP Sure Click technology guards against malware, ransomware, and viruses embedded in email attachments or malicious websites.

HP is making it easy for SMBs to get their hands on the latest technology. Through initiatives like HP For Business in Thailand, HP has tailored a monthly subscription programme that includes powerful devices with trusted security and 24x7 technical support. The programme helps relieve financial pressures on entrepreneurs in the short term and takes care of their IT management needs.

Further, the HP LIFE programme offers free online self-paced training courses designed to help entrepreneurs and SMBs acquire new skills to grow their business, such as business communications, having a success mindset, social media marketing, and design thinking.

Explore:

Learn more about research highlights.

*The survey covered 1,600 SMBs which completed the survey between 26 May 2020 and 7 June 2020. The results comprise 200 interviews in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Only an owner, partner, MD, CEO, COO, CFO, or a Director of a business with fewer than 200 employees qualified for the survey. 

Interviews were split evenly between micro business (<10 employees), small business (10-49 employees), and medium business (50-199 employees). 

Multiple industries were represented, including retail/wholesale, manufacturing, professional services, healthcare, education and financial services. 

**Multifunction printers do more than just printing. Typically they will also scan and copy documents.

Singapore fintech aims to offer better B2B lending terms

Singapore-based startup Cash-IN-Asia has launched its business-to-business (B2B) fintech lending platform. Its approach to provide a 100% digital experience allows business owners to obtain financing from their mobile device.

Cash-IN-Asia plans to serve micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Singapore with products that not only address existing needs, but also assist these key members of Singapore’s economy to realise their business potential well after the crisis is over.

Its ISO27001-certified platform is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, and aims to provide a one-stop solution for transparent and flexible financing to MSMEs. By using AI and analytics in their credit decision and fraud detection engine, Cash-IN-Asia combines conventional risk assessment methods with alternative data and behavioural analysis for quicker and more accurate processing.

Two types of financing are offered: credit line and term loan. Amounts start at S$3,000 for a credit line to a maximum of S$150,000 for a term loan. Term loan tenures range from six months to three years, with no pre-payment penalties.

The platform requires a three-minute application, and promises an outcome in less than three hours. Successful applicants can request their approved funds to be disbursed in the next three hours. The time-to-cash process is one of the fastest amongst Singapore-based lenders today, the company said.

According to Cash-IN-Asia, studies* reveal that a significant percentage of small businesses in Singapore tend to be self-funded by business owners who may turn to their personal credit cards when difficulties arise. Credit card interest is high, and robs businesses of the opportunity to build their corporate credit history.

To offer a better alternative, Cash-IN-Asia prices financing rates lower than those of credit cards. The rates start at 20% for a credit line and 18% for a term loan. Cash-IN-Asia also structures its products to incentivise MSMEs to build a credit history that ultimately rewards good customers with cheaper financing over time.

Said founder and CEO, Eldwin Wong: “Our initial rate may be 20%, but the final rate they are charged eventually depends on them. If our clients perform well, confidence rises and trust is built. Our rates then come down, which is one of our unique value propositions for clients.”

Cash-IN-Asia also employs a “don’t use, don’t pay” model for its products. Sign up and application is free, and upon approval, clients are granted a credit facility with no fees or obligations. This is unlike other lenders that may impose a recurring facility fee.

The treatment of delinquent loans is another example of how the lender approaches things differently. The common practice with most traditional lenders is to declare these loans “in default” and resort to legal proceedings. Cash-IN-Asia prefers to work towards long-term “win-win” relationships instead. Troubled clients are given the opportunity to restructure their loans on acceptable terms that will help restore their businesses to health and service their loans.

Wong elaborates: “We believe in helping small business owners with their cashflow. That way, they get to focus more on their business and their chances of doing well increases. In turn, we will be able to scale up their loans and do more for them. One example of that is an automatic review of all client accounts every two months, to raise the credit limits of those in good standing for future growth.”

Cash-IN-Asia is the first B2B fintech lending company in Singapore to attain the ISO 27001 certification for information security. The certification allows it to meet diverse challenges of operating in the digital economy with high standards of business protocols and data integrity.

*Bain & Co, Fulfilling its Promise – The future of Southeast Asia’s digital financial services, 2019; and Deloitte Southeast Asia, Digital banking for small and medium-sized enterprises, 2015.

Back up Office 365 emails with new Dropsuite cloud solution

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can take advantage of Dropsuite's Microsoft Office 365 (O365) Email Backup & Archiving solution via resellers such as Australia-based Ozhosting and Singapore-based ICONZ-Webvisions.

Dropsuite CEO Charif Elansari said: “At Dropsuite, our engineering-first culture is all about designing intuitive solutions that can be easily purchased and used by SMEs.”

CEO of Ozhosting Doug Endersbee said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer our customers Dropsuite’s O365 Email Backup & Archiving, a comprehensive email archiving service to a ‘legal hold’ standard.

“Many of the businesses we serve are professional services such as lawyers, accountants, health, architects, and every email has the potential to contain advice or a commitment that is legally binding and must be permanently retained - these businesses need the ability to protect themselves from inadvertent or malicious deletion of emails.

“A solution that is easily deployed, completely independent and isolated from the email platform, connected in real time to capture every file, and simple to search is just what our customers need.”

Microsoft Office 365 has over 60 million monthly active commercial users, and  50,000 small businesses added every month, according to Microsoft as of Q116.

Kaspersky offers tools to combat ransomware

The business segment is becoming a more and more attractive target for ransomware developers. Ransomware is malware which renders existing files unusable through encryption and asks for a ransom to make them usable again, with a decryption key.

According to a Kaspersky Lab report based on Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) data, the number of attacks against the corporate sector 2015 to 2016, compared with 2014 to 2015, has grown six-fold: from 27,000 to 158,000. This works out to ransomware trying to encrypt the data of every tenth B2B user, the company said.

Cyber-criminals using ransomware have begun to attack businesses more frequently, particularly small and medium-sized companies. This trend is confirmed by the IT Security Risks 2016 study from Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, during which 42% of respondents from small and medium-sized businesses agreed that crypto-malware (ransomware) was one of the most serious threats they faced last year.

For small companies, any data unavailability – however brief - can lead to significant losses, or bring their entire operations to a halt. If a company has not been taking due measures to ensure the safety of its important information, purchasing the decryption key from cyber-criminals can be the only way to recover data. However, this does not guarantee complete data recovery, or even any data recovery at all.

Kaspersky Lab experts recommend that small and medium-sized companies should follow several simple safety rules:

• Make regular backup copies of all important files. Companies should have two backups: one in the cloud (for example Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), and another on an additional server or on removable media if the data volume is not too big.

• Trust well-known service providers who invest into security. Such providers will share security recommendations on their websites, and publish third party security audits on cloud infrastructure. Cloud providers can have security, availability or data leakage problems.

• Raise the question of what to do if the cloud or security provider loses your data. There should be transparent data backup and restore processes together with data protection and access control.

• Avoid using only free security and anti-malware software: small businesses expect the basic security tools offered within free solutions to be sufficient. Free tools do provide basic protection, but they fail to provide multi-layered security support. Instead, take a look at dedicated solutions: they do not require a large financial outlay, but deliver a higher level of protection.

• Regularly update operating system (OS), browser, antivirus, and other applications. Criminals use vulnerabilities in popular software to infect user’s devices.

• Prevent IT emergencies - invite an expert to configure the security solution for your company. Small businesses usually rely on the 'techiest' person in the office to take care of the computers, in addition to regular duties, instead of an IT department or full-time dedicated administrator. Instead of waiting until something breaks, use IT support from an IT service provider to review your software and security configuration in advance.

“Crypto-malware is becoming a more and more serious threat. Not only (can) an organisation lose money for ransoms, but business can be paralysed during file recovery. There is wide attack vector including Web, mail, software exploits, USB devices, and others. To avoid infection, your personnel should explain where attacks come from and that employees should not open (suspicious) email attachments, visit untrusted Web resources or plug USB devices into unprotected computers. Anti-malware solutions are an essential measure to avoid majority security incidents,” noted Konstantin Voronkov, Head of Endpoint Product Management, Kaspersky Lab.


Interested?

Businesses which have experienced ransomware can check whether it is possible to recover them by using free utilities or decryptor keys from Kaspersky

ALE's upgraded Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch Suite for SMB eases collaboration and productivity

• OpenTouch Suite for SMB delivers new voice communications capabilities that promote collaboration, efficiency, and productivity 
• New DECT phones help keep people connected even in the most adverse environments
• New integrated solution helps improve staff productivity and reduce costs, while delivering an enhanced guest and user experience

ALE, operating under the Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise brand, is helping small and medium businesses to offer employees a simplified user experience and improved onsite mobility, while creating business continuity with its latest update of Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch Suite for SMB.

The latest enhancements to OpenTouch Suite for SMB promote increased productivity and efficiency via expanded communication and collaborative tools, and help employees access the company environment anytime, anywhere via mobile applications.

The core of the OpenTouch Suite for SMB is the Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Office RCE release 10.3 converged communication server, which has the following new capabilities:

Voice communications

• The 8018 DeskPhone provides a high-end business-grade feel and design at an affordable cost, with advanced user-friendly telephony features and a full-duplex speakerphone.
• Office employees can transfer calls seamlessly between smartphones and deskphones using near field communications (NFC) technology.
• The IP Softphone is now available for Android tablets and smartphones, enabling enterprises to deploy a consistent softphone platform across all major business systems and devices.

Enhanced onsite mobility

• The entry-level 8212 DECT handset offers SMBs a competitively-priced, cordless, compact, modern design phone with support of both IP and TDM.
• The industrial grade 8262 DECT handset with a ruggedised body and shock-proof screen is ideal for harsh environments, such as construction, manufacturing, and the oil and gas industry. It also offers an integrated man-down, no movement, pull cord and emergency capabilities, so employees stay connected with the rest of the organisation even in a physically adverse work environment. 
• Call history is now available and accessible anytime on the DECT handsets.

Business continuity, additional compliance, and better security

• Support of SIP trunking adds cost benefits.
• Security updates minimise vulnerabilities and maximise uptime. 
• Maintains evolving market standards for Request for Comments (RFC) parameters to assure compliance and interoperability.

GoDaddy provides Office 365 to SMBs

GoDaddy, the technology provider dedicated to small businesses, has launched a new offer in collaboration with Microsoft, through which Microsoft Office 365 will be offered to small businesses across Asian markets. The move supports GoDaddy’s ongoing push to deliver premium small business management solutions globally.

By offering Office 365, GoDaddy is providing customers with seamless access to professional email connected to a domain name, secure cloud storage, and a comprehensive set of productivity and collaboration capabilities.

“GoDaddy’s small business expertise combined with Microsoft’s email and productivity offering provides small business owners in Asia with solutions to make the business of running their business much easier,” said Roger Chen, Vice President of Asia, GoDaddy.

“Our research shows consumers are  nine times more likely to choose a company that uses a professional email address with its own domain name. We’ve created an experience that makes this simple for businesses of any size.”

“Office 365 also includes enterprise-grade, built-in security features that help deflect malware, spam, phishing attacks and other threats,” said Parri Munsell, Senior Director O365, Microsoft.

Interested?

Microsoft Office 365 from GoDaddy is now available in 13 markets across Asia, including: Singapore, Hong Kong (English and Traditional Chinese), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia (English and Malay), Philippines (English and Filipino), South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

posted from Bloggeroid

Canon introduces FleetnexG cloud-based logistics for SMEs

Canon Singapore has introduced FleetnexG, a cloud-based logistics solution that equips businesses with real-time data for tracking delivery and automated scheduling. The solution is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for whom scheduling, delivery of goods, and documentation for compliance are part of their core business operations.

“For SMEs to succeed today, they must look beyond simply fulfilling orders in a timely fashion, to optimising resources for greater efficiency and productivity,” said Vincent Low, Director & General Manager of Business Imaging Solutions, Canon Singapore. “FleetnexG combines Canon’s knowhow in document imaging technology with a robust cloud-based software to address the challenges faced by these businesses in tracking and managing resources, enabling them to harness the benefits of real-time data without the daunting costs of implementation.”

Smarter processes

FleetnexG is fully compatible with Canon’s range of multifunctional devices. Business owners can choose among proof of delivery, scheduling and fleet management system, mobile delivery note, or a combination of two services to increase efficiency.

With this solution, documentation and processes are digitised. As a result, businesses reduce the possibility of misplacing proof of delivery documents, and negates the need to match those documents against delivery orders, a process that typically takes two to three business days. This shortens the order fulfilment cycle, enabling the business to be more efficient in payment processing.

Real-time insights

Without the tools to access automation, business owners often resort to time-consuming processes such as manual documentation, which may be prone to inaccuracies. Additionally, the lack of insights derived from real-time data may result in inefficiencies in the form of unnecessary delivery trips, fuel expense, and manpower.

With FleetnexG, business owners can access an automated streamlined work process to identify and optimise areas along the process flow, redeploying employees for higher value work. At the same time, real-time data offers end-to-end tracking and higher accountability to clients.

Use cases can include:

Proof of Delivery

· Real-time status updates to track delivery and return of goods.
· Quick and easy organisation of data, saving administration staff the time to match the delivery order to the proof of delivery documents.
· Easy retrieval of digitised documents and saves administrative staff the hassle of manual filing.

E-signatures or mobile delivery notes

· Delivery orders can be signed using a wide variety of smart devices and the proof of delivery is transmitted as real-time data.
· Documents can be digitalised for easy retrieval.
· Faster billing upon fulfilment of orders.

Scheduling & fleet management system

· System optimises vehicle inventory and scheduling to reduce fuel costs and manpower.
· Reduce administrative burden by automating and generating operational reports.

FleetnexG is developed in conjunction with TPS Asia Pacific and exclusively distributed in Singapore by Canon Singapore.

posted from Bloggeroid

Visa creates Visa Business Hub to help SMBs with technology and strategy

· Visa Business Hub to provide software-as-a-service (pay as you use) services that can help SMBs save up to 25% on IT expenses

· A Business Academy on the hub will provide latest trends on a range of topics via videos and expert opinions

· Malaysia and Singapore are the first markets to try the hub

Visa has set up the Visa Business Hub for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) to help them navigate potentially confusing technology and gain insights on managing their companies better. Singapore and Malaysia are the first markets where the hub has been launched.

About 80% of companies in Singapore say in a survey that their decision to acquire SaaS/cloud was because of ‘best practice’ – that this technology is seen as ‘the way forward’ and not a fad. Among users of SaaS/cloud, 37% expect to upgrade or take on more software. Upgraders are motivated by cost saving, efficiency, but most of all just by ‘keeping up with technology’.

According to the survey, about half of Malaysian businesses conduct international trade. CRM software is the least adopted software, but like other software, it increases in adoption with larger SMBs (30+ employees).

The hub incorporates software-as-a-service that Visa says can help companies save up to 25% on IT expenses. The pay-on-use model  reduces upfront costs and implementation time for IT. A Business Academy section will provide tips on business success via videos and expert opinions. The hub includes resources related to sales, marketing and customer communication, work collaboration, project management and customer relationship management (CRM), human resources, accounting and legal, and website building and hosting. 

The platform is also designed to help banks increase usage of commercial cards (also called corporate cards, or cards that are issued to companies for corporate use) by allowing offers and discounts relating to SaaS and cloud services to be paid for through a commercial card.

“SMBs are a key segment for Singapore, given that they contribute to almost 50% of our country’s GDP and 70% of the workforce. At Visa, we constantly look to create solutions that are innovative and meet the needs of our clients. The launch of Visa Business Hub will be able to address the key strategies that SMBs mall are looking for, including improving customer service and increasing productivity through streamlining of processes,” said Ooi Huey Tyng, Visa Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei. 

Awareness of cloud services is at 76%, and overall usage is at 34%. The survey also revealed that 40% of businesses might consider SaaS or cloud services in the future, showing that there is a need for a platform such as the Hub.

Vikram Kshettry, Head of Small Business Products, Asia Pacific, Visa said, “Modern businesses face increased demands from their stakeholders to be digitally-enabled and this is often daunting.  With the portal, SMBs can improve cash flow, optimise business processes, while reducing IT spend and complexity.  SMBs can also access advice and coaching from industry leaders on how to stay competitive.  For Visa clients, the portal will ensure deeper engagement with SMB customers and differentiate their solutions.”

Interested?

Visit the Visa Business Hub. The first six digits of a Visa commercial card must be input to enter the site.

View the associated video

More shared service facilities for MSMEs in the Philippines

Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. will intensify the department’s efforts to establish more shared service facilities (SSFs) that benefit cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

SSFs improve competitiveness of MSMEs by providing machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills and knowledge under a shared system. DTI partners with various government agencies, non government and international organisations, cooperatives, and local government units to acquire and maintain SSFs.

President Benigno Aquino III personally led the handover of P15.6 million worth of SSF projects to at least 23 cooperatives in Dagupan City recently, the DTI has disclosed. There are now 49 SSFs in Dagupan benefiting local entrepreneurs in fish and meat processing, bamboo production, metal craft, candle making, vinegar processing, dried fish processing, among others.

“These initiatives are geared towards identifying and addressing supply chain gaps. By providing technical and institutional capacity building to MSMEs nationwide, we sustain the gains we have achieved in recent years to increase competitiveness and enable our entrepreneurs to access regional and global markets,” Cristobal said.

Since the SSF programme started in 2013, 1,702 SSF projects have been set up, worth P776.53 million—with at least 17,095 entrepreneurs and 72,619 potential small businessmen benefitting from it. These SSFs, located nationwide, aim to improve the quality of products and productivity of entrepreneurs. According to Cristobal, the DTI targets to establish at least 200 more SSFs by June and at least 400 SSFs by year-end 2016.

Philippine MSMEs asked to embrace e-commerce

The Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines is urging the micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) to venture into e-commerce to expand market reach.

E-commerce is a means to “connect domestic industry with the global economy” said Trade and Industry Undersecretary Prudencio Reyes, Jr. The Philippine E-Commerce Outlook 2018 projects that the e-commerce industry will grow by 101.4% by 2018, up from US$1.15 billion in 2013.

The country’s growing Internet population with an estimated growth of 530% over the past five years is significant component to the e-commerce industry. Out of the country’s 101.1 million population, 44% are active Internet users, 42% are active social media users, 113% have mobile connections; and 36% are active mobile users.

Philippine e-commerce sales reached Php79 billion or 0.6% of the country’s total income in 2012. More than 76.2% or Php 60.17 billion was contributed to the services sector, which includes transport and storage, administrative and support service activities, and wholesale retail trade.

The National Capital Region ranks first in terms of e-commerce sales at Php62.31 billion, followed by the Central Visayas and Western Visayas.

Janette Toral, founder of Digital Filipino, said MSMEs are stakeholders in the Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap (PECR; PDF). "Your participation makes you a party/stakeholder to this roadmap, it is a document all of us to own as public and private sectors” she said.

PECR 2016-2020 is a blueprint to address issues in the country’s e-commerce ecosystem with '6Is' being key focus areas as highlighted in the APEC Digital Prosperity Checklist (doc):

Infrastructure: The need for an appropriate supply chain, communications, and applications infrastructure; 

Investment: The ability to promote and support a range of investment opportunities from foreign direct investments to capital flows; 

Innovation: The ability to foster and support innovation, including the ability to protect innovation and investment in research and development; 

Intellectual capital: The ability to foster the appropriate skills and training from technological to linguistic to entrepreneurship; 

Information flows: The ability to use, transfer, and process information — the currency of the digital economy — while promoting privacy and a trusted Internet environment; and 

Integration: The ability to connect domestic industries with the global economy. 

MSMEs in the Philippines crucial to economic success

Senator Loren Legarda of the Philippines has underscored the role that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play in generating jobs throughout the country, especially in poor municipalities.

Legarda, principal author of the Magna Carta for MSMEs, issued the statement following results of an online survey conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and JobStreet.com Philippines, showing that three out of four locally employed Filipinos would accept jobs in their home region rather than work in another part of the country.

"I am glad that most of our kababayans (fellow Filipino) prefer working in their hometowns than move elsewhere in the country like Metro Manila, hoping to have better lives. This only indicates that Metro Manila is not the only place in the country where there's a multitude of job opportunities as more Filipino MSMEs participate on economic trade resulting to more jobs," Legarda said.

She added, "We need to sustain our gains by strengthening our MSME programmes because aside from generating employment opportunities and better incomes, MSMEs are powerful platforms for promotion of viable rural livelihoods, cultural preservation, socioeconomic empowerment of indigenous peoples, and environmental protection."

Legarda also called on the government to strengthen the country's MSME programme in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which registered the highest number of residents who would rather find jobs outside of their hometowns, with only one out of three willing to stay and work locally, in order to spur economic growth particularly in the grassroots level.

The Senator also pushed for the promotion of green jobs and green skills in the country, noting that other nations encourage their people to engage in management in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, environmental information technology, and other careers that contribute to environmental preservation. All these efforts would complement our existing job generation strategies, she said.

Republic Act No. 9501, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, targets countryside industrialisation through the following: intensifying and expanding programs for training in entrepreneurship and for skills development for labor; facilitating access of MSMEs to sources of funds; assuring them access to a fair share of government contracts and related incentives and preferences; complementing and supplementing financing programmes for MSMEs and doing away with burdensome collateral requirements that small entrepreneurs find difficulty in complying with; instituting safeguards for the protection and stability of the credit delivery system; promoting linkage between large and small enterprises by encouraging the establishment of common service facilities; making the private sector a partner in the task of building up MSMEs through the promotion and participation of private voluntary organisations, viable industry associations and cooperatives; and establishing a feedback, grievance and evaluation mechanism.

Large enterprises pull back, small businesses stay upbeat for 2016 in China

While business sentiment among China's largest companies has pulled back marginally at the beginning of 2016, according to the latest MNI China Business Sentiment Survey, smaller businesses are upbeat, reports CPA Australia in separate research announced the same day.

The MNI China Business Sentiment Indicator, a gauge of current business confidence, slipped to 52.3 in January from 52.7 in December. While confidence remained in expansionary territory for the second consecutive month, it was the first month-to-month decline in sentiment since November. Firms have also revised their expectations downward for the future, with the Future Expectations Indicator down 0.9% to 52.6 in January.

The slight moderation in overall sentiment belied some improvement in other key metrics in the survey. Most notably, Production and New Orders both picked up in January, following a fall in December. Both indicators have lost some momentum through 2015 on the back of weak demand and continued spare capacity in certain sectors. Firms were relatively more upbeat about the coming quarter with both expectations indicators expanding at a faster rate.

The cumulative effect of monetary easing to date appears to be continuing to flow through, with businesses reporting that the interest rates they paid fell further in January to the lowest since March 2009, while the Availability of Credit Indicator edged a little further into expansion. Despite the easier lending environment, disinflationary pressures intensified with the Prices Received Indicator below the 50 breakeven level for the 18th straight month at 41.6 in January.

Firms have also been helped by the recent depreciation in the yuan. The January survey showed that most firms were satisfied with the impact of the exchange rate on their business operations with the Effect of the Yuan Exchange Rate Indicator rising for the second consecutive month to 53.6 in January from 52.7 in December.

The Employment Indicator fell to 49.3 in January from 50 in December. The decline was seen in both the manufacturing and service sector, with the latter showing a more marked fall.

"Volatility in financial markets has once again centred attention on China with a renewed lack of confidence in the ability of Chinese policymakers to contain some of the growing risks including capital outflows. While there are heightened risks, overall sentiment among businesses remained relatively resilient in January, with output and orders measures actually ticking higher. Alongside more positive readings from our consumer survey, it points to a more optimistic, or at least less pessimistic outlook, than current doom laden headlines," said Philip Uglow, Chief Economist of MNI Indicators.

The CPA Australia Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey, on the other hand, shows China's small business sector is maintaining a positive economic outlook, with a strong focus on innovation, e-commerce and social media - all key drivers of economic growth.

The findings, from CPA Australia's annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey,  provides insights into the views of small businesses across the region and forms part of a longitudinal study that began in 2009. The new results follow extensive surveying of nearly 3,000 small business operators in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and mainland China.

CPA Australia chief executive Alex Malley says the survey results show there is real strength in the small business sector in China, with confidence higher than it was last year and appearing set to continue for some time.

"We surveyed small business operators in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. The results show that China's small businesses have had a successful 12 months, with 77% of respondents reporting that they grew over this period," Malley said.

"Looking to 2016, the results are even more positive, with 78% of small businesses expecting to grow in the year ahead. Confidence in China's economy is also very high, with 71% of respondents expecting the economy to grow in 2016."

Malley added that the positive outlook is translating into jobs, with 43% of China's small business sector reporting that they increased employee numbers in the past 12 months. "China's small businesses are the second most likely of the markets surveyed to innovate, with 32% of respondents definitely expecting to innovate through the introduction of a new product, service or process in the next 12 months that is unique to China or the world. This result is well above the survey average of 22%.

"Small businesses across China are also taking advantage of the large and growing online marketplace and with their nearly universal uptake of social media, are well-placed to out-compete less nimble and tech savvy competitors," he said.

"The range of initiatives China's government has implemented or is implementing to encourage growth and innovation, such as the Belt and Road initiative, the promotion of mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and the Made in China 2025 plan should further inculcate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship amongst China's small businesses. Such a culture should help drive the next phase of China's economic growth story."

Key findings from the survey for China include:

• Nearly all - 97% - per cent of respondents use social media for business purposes, compared with the survey average of 81%
• Roughly a third (36%) of respondents expect to grow their e-commerce presence to a large extent, compared with the survey average of 32%
• A high proportion (90%) of respondents earned revenue from online sales, compared with the survey average of 69%

Matrade to facilitate SME-large corporation partnerships

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has announced an initiative to help boost Malaysia’s exports of services. The Large Corporation-SME Partnership Programme aims to increase the number of partnerships between Malaysia’s large corporations and SMEs for international projects by way of procurement of the SME’s services by the large corporation. Under this partnership arrangement, SME service providers will benefit in terms of knowledge transfer, capacity building and international exposure.

The partnership programme will run for five years, until 2020, and targets to assist a minimum of 10 SMEs and three partnerships yearly. Participation into the programme is open to Malaysian companies involved in the services sector or companies aspiring to export their services.

“Collaboration between large corporations and SMEs is the way to go. The partnership will give SMEs the opportunities to enhance their capabilities and gain exposure in foreign ventures with large corporations. Mentoring and emulating best practices should be encouraged in business,” said Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud, CEO of MATRADE.

The partnership programme is one of the initiatives listed in the Services Sector Blueprint which was launched in March 2015 by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak. The Blueprint outlines strategic approach to optimise the services sector’s contribution to Malaysia’s economy. The services sector contributed 55% to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014 and provided eight million jobs, representing 61% of total employment of the country.

Exports of services in the Q315 increased by 1.7% to RM34.14 billion (year-on-year basis) and higher by 3.9% compared to Q215. The increase in exports were contributed mainly by higher exports of telecommunications, computer and information services (TCIS), construction as well as transports sector.

Source: MATRADE Export Promotion Programmes 2016. Event participation in ICT events for 2016.

The week before, MATRADE unveiled its Work Programme 2016, listing 150 programmes that the trade promotion agency is participating in for the next year. The programmes were selected by factoring in the prevailing global and domestic macroeconomic trends such as the growth of emerging markets and the modernisation of international economic governance.

MATRADE’s Work Programme 2016’s lineup is in accordance with the National Export Council (NEC) strategies that emphasise on addressing the immediate needs of the Malaysian trading community and improving their export presence around the world. The programmes are set to complement NEC’s other strategies towards improving Malaysia’s export ecosystem.

Interested?

Download MATRADE's Export Promotion Programmes 2016

ASEAN publishes strategic action plan for SME development

Source: ASEAN Secretariat.

The ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development (SAPSMED) 2016-2025 has been developed in recognition of the significant contribution of micro, small and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) to economic growth, employment generation and gender empowerment in ASEAN. The plan aims to strengthen MSME engagement in an increasingly competitive economic environment and to support their growth and development.

The plan includes an implementation roadmap using country champions, maximising resources including those from ASEAN Dialogue Partners, and with periodic monitoring and evaluation built-in. Overall MSME achievement will be tracked through 10 key policy indicators, and other operational indicators to be developed.

The plan was launched at the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit on 21 November 2015. It was developed by the ASEAN SME Working Group in consultation with the private sector and prepared with the cooperation of the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee and with the assistance of the USAID ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment Project for the Roadmap.

Interested?

Download the ASEAN SAPSMED 2016-2025 report 

HP's Pro Series work well for SMBs

HP has announced a new Pro Series of desktops, notebooks and an all-in-one (AiO) PC. Designed for businesses of all sizes, these offerings are ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

“Customers have shared with us their challenges around making important technology decisions with limited budgets and IT resources that impact the security and productivity of their business,” said Serena Yong, Managing Director, HP Singapore. “HP BusinessNow offers customers support and faster access to commercial-grade solutions like the new HP Pro Series of PCs, providing them with the business-ready capabilities they need at a price point they can afford.”

HP’s Pro Series of desktops, notebooks and an AiO provide SMBs with affordable, enterprise-level technology packaged in new consumer-inspired designs. These devices have undergone HP’s Total Test processing, including more than 120,000 hours of testing¹ to help ensure the design can hold up to the rigors of work and home use. HP BIOSphere² offers BIOS-level protection of device firmware during system start up and BIOS updates, and HP Client Security³ provides multi-factor authentication and hard drive encryption to keep sensitive data secure. HP Touchpoint Manager⁴, an IT cloud-based management tool adds manageability, and all devices are available with Windows 10⁵ for an additional layer of security.

The HP ProBook 400 G3 series of notebooks cater to a more mobile workstyle, with a new thin, light and durable design in 13”, 14” and 15” diagonal sizes and built-in security features like the HP BIOSphere, Trusted Platform Module (TPM)⁶ and an optional fingerprint reader. The HP ProBook 440 G3 is now up to 17% thinner and 12% lighter than the previous generation. The ProBook 400 series features 6th Generation Intel Core processors or the latest AMD 6th Generation A-series APU⁷, a soft touch Gravity Black cover, aluminum reinforced keyboard deck, and the spill-resistant HP Premium Keyboard. The notebooks offer a wide choice of configurable options to enrich the experience, including an optional FHD display⁸, touch and long life batteries⁹.

Source: HP Inc.

Both the HP ProOne 400 G2 AiO and the HP ProDesk 400 series use 6th Generation Intel Core processors for power and performance. The new HP ProOne 400 G2 AiO offers a space-saving, stylish design featuring HP’s first coloured back covers for commercial AiOs¹⁰, built-in cable management, and new deployment options such as an articulating reclining stand which can go completely flat, so users can choose the best angle. Collaboration is optimised with HP Noise Reduction Software, an integrated 1MP HD Webcam¹¹ and an optional edge-to-edge 10-point capacitive touch panel.

Source: HP Inc. A HP
ProDesk unit.

The ProDesk 400 series comes in a wide range of sizes, including a desktop mini, small form factor or micro tower options. The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Desktop Mini offers a complete ecosystem to mount, physically secure and deploy the device. The desktop can fit under a desk or behind a monitor where space is a major constraint and includes a new standard serial port, VGA and DisplayPort as well as DDR4 RAM for added productivity and functionality.

The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Small Form Factor is now 40% smaller in size compared to the previous generation. It fits in smaller workspaces but has the same processing power as a ProDesk 400 G2 Microtower. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Microtower platform offers HP’s highest performing, expandable and best value desktop solution for SMBs.

HP has also introduced a programme called HP BusinessNow designed to help SMBs grow their businesses with access to customer support and expert advice from HP and its partner network. This programme provides web, phone, and face-to-face consultation to help SMBs select the solutions best suited for their business needs.

Through an online portal, SMBs can use the multi-language Product Selector Tool to get suggestions on the most suitable technologies based on budget and specific needs. Later this year, they can also connect with virtual agents¹² to get advice on recommended solutions. Selected channel partners are also listed on the portal to provide personal assistance.

Interested?¹³

 The HP ProBook 400 series is expected to be available in Singapore late November, starting at S$1,299.

 The HP ProDesk 400 series is expected to be available in Singapore starting at S$899.

• The HP ProDesk 400 Microtower is expected to be available from November.
• The HP ProDesk 400 Small Form Factor is expected to be available from January 2016.
• Availability for the HP ProDesk 400 Desktop Mini will be announced at a later date.

 The HP ProOne 400 AiO is expected to be available in Singapore from November, starting at S$1,199.

1 Total Test process testing is not a guarantee of future performance under these test conditions.

2 HP BIOSphere features may vary depending on the PC platform and configuration.

3 HP Client Security requires Windows.

4 HP Touchpoint Manager requires purchase of a subscription and supports Android, iOS and Windows 7 or higher operating systems and PCs, notebooks, tablets and smartphones from various manufacturers. Not available in all countries; see www.hp.com/touchpoint for availability information.

5 Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows functionality. Windows 10 is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.microsoft.com.

6 Firmware TPM is version 2.0. Hardware TPM is v1.2, which is a subset of the TPM 2.0 specification version v0.89 as implemented by Intel Platform Trust Technology.

7 The AMD 6th generation A-series APU is available in the 15.6” HP ProBook 455 G3 only.

8 Full High definition (HD) content is required to view quad high-definition images.

9 Optional features sold separately or as add on features.

10 HP ProOne 400 G2 AiO with cardinal red and dragonfly blue back covers are expected to be available in select geographies in December.

11 Internet access required.

12 Specific availability varies by country.

13 Estimated prices. Actual prices may vary.

Cafédirect launches Medium Roast Freeze-Dried instant coffee

Source: Cafédirect.

UK hot beverage company Cafédirect has stocked shelves of top Singapore supermarkets with a new carefully-blended, premium Medium Roast Freeze-Dried instant coffee. This specialty coffee is the pick-me-up solution for people constantly on the go - just add hot water for a smooth, vibrant and full-flavoured cup of coffee with roasted caramel overtones.

Trends show that more and more of the 80% of Singapore coffee lovers that prefer their coffee with milk have found a new love for black coffee. The reason for the switch is in the Cafédirect Master Blender’s formula of balancing sweet and chocolate-y Arabica beans from South America with all-rounder beans from the lush green highlands of Central America, and bright, bold-bodied East African Natural Robusta (60%) coffee beans.

This Cafédirect recipe combines the complex flavour of the medium roasted Arabica and Robusta beans for its body. Carefully selected for roasting to a pleasing medium 3 (on the scale of 1 to 5)*, the quality coffee is then freeze-dried to lock in nuances of flavour when the beans are at their freshest, releasing its distinctive aroma only on contact with hot water. The blend also soothes when milk or cream is added to it, for those who prefer their coffee mild or white due to the presence of Robusta. 

Cafédirect sources its coffee supply directly from the growers with whom they have established long-term relationships. Direct sourcing maintains high standards of quality, therefore, Cafédirect is able to trace the origin of their coffee beans and bring the authentic taste to the coffee-loving crowd. Half of the profits are also reinvested back into grower communities to enable them to continue delivering great tasting produce to customers of Cafédirect worldwide.

“Freeze-dried specialty coffee can be convenient and still taste great. Using freeze-dried technology, we are able to capture the essence of flavours in the coffee. With this enticing blend of instant freeze-dried coffee, today’s discerning consumers can incorporate coffee in their recipes or simply indulge in a café-quality beverage without the fuss, going out the door and the hefty price tag,” says Cafédirect Senior National Account Manager, Julian Burnham.

Interested?

Cafédirect Freeze-dried Medium Roast instant coffee is priced at S$10.90 for a 100g jar. It is available at Cold Storage, FairPrice Finest, Giant Hyper, Jasons and Market Place.

The Cafédirect Giveaway

If you're in Singapore, follow me on Instagram and leave a comment here by September 7 2015 on why you love coffee to stand a chance to try Cafédirect Freeze-dried Medium Roast instant coffee. Winners will be contacted on 8 September 2015.

*To help you select a coffee strength that suits your taste, Cafédirect has placed a numbered icon on the label. The strength of the coffee depends on a number of factors, namely the composition of coffee beans in the blend, as well as the intensity of the roasting process for coffee beans. Instant coffees from Cafédirect span the range from 3 to 5. The Freeze-dried Medium Roast is a 3 which means that it is a medium roast coffee, perfectly balancing roasted notes with the full flavour of the beans where neither overwhelms the other.

World Bank to help Indian, Kazakhstani SMEs grow

The World Bank has approved a US$500 million loan for the MSME Growth Innovation and Inclusive Finance Project to improve access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing and services sector in India. This includes MSMEs from early to growth stage, including those which provide innovative financial products.

In India, MSMEs account for more than 80% of total industrial enterprises, produce over 8, 000 value-added products and employ an estimated 60 million people. It contributes around 45% to manufacturing output and about 40% to exports, both directly and indirectly. In addition, over 50% percent of MSMEs are rural enterprises and widely distributed across low-income states, making them an important sector for promoting economic growth and poverty reduction.

However, lack of adequate finance is one of the biggest challenges facing the MSME sector. Financial institutions have limited their exposure to the sector due to a higher risk perception, information asymmetry, high transaction costs and the lack of collateral. The MSME census of 2006-07 estimated that about 87 % of MSMEs did not have any access to finance and were self-financed. Credit towards micro and small enterprises represent only 13 to 15% of formal financial institutions portfolios.

The project will support MSMEs through direct financing by the Small Industries Development Bank of India or SIDBI, an apex financial institution for promotion, financing and development of MSMEs in India, and also through participating financial institutions across three components. These include support to startup debt financing and risk capital as well as support to service and manufacturing sector financing models.

“With 8 million people entering the labour force every year, MSMEs have the potential to be an important source of wage employment and entrepreneurship in India, foster innovations as well as be the cradle for the government’s `Make in India’ vision formulated recently. For these ideas to take shape, addressing the key constraints that inhibit MSMEs from accessing finance is of utmost importance. This project will work with the government in developing innovative products that address the current constraints of MSMEs, respond to the changing needs of the Indian economy and also catalyse private sector financing,” said Onno Ruhl,World Bank Country Director in India.

The project's first component will support SIDBI in developing, innovating and scaling up its startup debt financing programme as well as encourage participation of potential financing institutions in the development of this missing financial market segment. The India’s startup ecosystem is currently one of the fastest growing in the world and the third largest startup base with 3,100 startups (after the US with 41,500 start-ups and the UK with 4,000). While there has been incredible growth in equity financing in the Indian ecosystem, debt financing is non-existent for the majority of the vast growing startup enterprises which severely constrains the necessary rapid growth startups need to survive. The project will seek to address this gap to demonstrate financial products that both align with a fast growth economy and address missing financial markets that can unlock the incredible potential of India’s startup and early stage ecosystem.

Its second component supports service sector firms’ financing. Although the structure of the Indian economy is shifting towards services, now 65% of Indian GDP, enterprises in this sector continue to face challenges in accessing formal finance mainly due to lack of physical assets to provide as collateral. Financial depth (credit to GDP) for this sector is 25%*. In an attempt to address this issue SIDBI has introduced new products and considering their potential to grow, this project will support scale up of innovative products which are better tailored for MSMEs in the service sector such as use of movable and intangible assets, including light assets and franchise financing. Information asymmetry and credit risk will be mitigated by using information from alternative/multiple sources (such as franchisors for franchisee financing).

The project will also support manufacturing MSMEs through innovative financial products including loan extension services and cluster financing - including women-led clusters. Particular focus will be to expand manufacturing activity in financially underserved areas, including low income states especially through refinancing, as banks and other public financial institutions have a deeper network in these states.

“Addressing financial constraints of MSMEs and start-ups should generate multiplier effects across the economy by unlocking their inherent growth potential, fostering entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities,” said Gloria Grandolini, Senior Director of the World Bank Group Finance and Markets Global Practice.

The loan, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a five-year grace period and a maturity of 10 years.

The World Bank earlier approved a US$40 million loan to help enhance the competitiveness and management capacity of small and medium sized enterprises in Kazakhstan as well.

“Small and medium sized enterprises are widely identified as important sources of economic growth and employment and, therefore, an essential foundation for shared prosperity,” said Ludmilla Butenko, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan. “The project is expected to increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstani SMEs to contribute to diversification of the economy by reducing its reliance on extractive industries.”

Lack of professional and management skills as well as limited market connections are some of the key obstacles for Kazakhstan’s private sector. The SME Competitiveness Project is aimed at strengthening the management capacity of SMEs to grow and create more and better jobs. Existing SME advisory programmes will be enhanced in terms of quality and methodology in line with international standards. Several hundred business consultants will be trained and certified to deliver in turn professional consulting to several thousand entrepreneurs and SMEs.

The project will also focus on increasing market linkages for SMEs in non-extractive sectors with a market-based growth potential. The new linkages between SMEs and large buyers will provide entrepreneurs with an increased access to markets. To facilitate the process, the project aims at piloting a supplier development programme and enhancing the capacity of policy making authorities in developing competitive sectors in emerging areas of the economy. The evidence-based policy making will be strengthened through improved existing monitoring and evaluation frameworks and public-private dialogue.

All these activities will result in increased firm productivity and revenues as well as overall contribution of SMEs to the country economy.

The implementation of the five-year project (2015-2020) will start after the country approval process is completed. The SME Competitiveness Project will be financed through a US$40 million IBRD loan, with a 15-year maturity period and a five-year grace period, with US$6 million in co-financing from the government of Kazakhstan.
*Reserve Bank of India figures.

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