He has released a statement that having GOJEK in Malaysia can support the livelihood of local motorcyclist group

Ride-hailing-turned-everyday app unicorn from Indonesia gojek has received an endorsement from Malaysian Youth Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who said in a Twitter video that he intends to bring gojek to the country.

DealStreetAsia reported that the minister believed that having the startup operating in Malaysia can help support the livelihood of local motorcyclist group.

“They need to be defended, they need jobs – that’s a more pressing issue. That is why I met with the founder of gojek, Nadiem Makarim, who have helped create jobs for over two million motorcyclists in Indonesia and hundred thousand more in Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam,” he stated.

The minister further explained that he had met with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Transport Minister Anthony Loke and gained a positive result from the presentation.

The discussion will be finalised in the upcoming cabinet meeting on Wednesday, August 21.

Also Read: GOJEK, Astra launch all-in vehicle maintenance service GOFLEET

Ride-hailing in Malaysia

 

The statement by the Youth Minister rolled despite Malaysian government ‘s ban of ride-hailing startup Dego Ride services, which also provides motorcycle taxi service.

In September last year, Loke reportedly had said that the government will not hesitate to take action against Dego Ride if it continues to operate illegally. The ministry also maintains its stance against motorcycle ride-hailing services, mainly for safety reasons.

In the Twitter video, Youth Minister Syed Saddiq also explained that his support will not only go to gojek, emphasising the need for a “condusive ecosystem.”

e27 has reached out to gojek to get their statement on the expansion plan.

gojek has launched and operated in Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, and had identified Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia as its next expansion target.

Meanwhile, the unicorn’s effort to enter the Philippines has not been successful due to its failure to meet local ownership criteria.

Just last month, e27 reported that gojek has released its new logo to mark its “further innovation and the strengthening of its integrated ecosystem of over 20 on-demand services”.

Malaysia is the home of Grab, gojek’s main competition. Recently, the country releases new regulations that required all e-hailing drivers to acquire a public service vehicle (PSV) licence.

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Image Credit: Twitter.com/@SyedSaddiq

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Having a fun workplace remains relevant in 2019. Here are some ideas for your next office space

“Carefully study the well being of your men, and do not overtax them.”

Simple words hidden behind complex depth, written by Sun Tzu author of the ‘Art of War‘.

Every good leader knows that a business is run by its army of employees.

In order to increase productivity, it is essential to keep employees in good spirits. Not just for the growth of the business, but also for the wellness of members of the team. 

As competition rages, one of the best ways to attract top talent is to create a good working environment. 

These founders know exactly that and have transformed their office spaces into the eye of envy of their competitors:

Selgas Cano – ‘An office between the woods’

Image Credit: Iwan Baan

Why it stands out:  It creates a culture of being closely associated with nature. Imagine being able to see the beauty of nature after a long workday, with animals passing by in their own calm demeanour and the leaves rustling in the breeze.

What can be more relaxing than that?

But if that is too slow for your taste, the company also has a fun room and slides for its employees.

Most interesting feature: An office built in the middle of the forest.

Best for: Companies with high-stress environments.

Drawbacks: It can be extremely difficult to find an office space in the middle of the forest. Although, it can be achieved by creating a virtual experience of nature.

Also Read: [In Photos] Singapore to welcome 300 LionsBot auto cleaning robots

 

Lego – ‘The forever young workspace’

Image Credit: Anders Sune Berg

Why it stands out: Like most offices, the Lego office does not simply rely on interiors and the colour of the walls to convey a message. The whole office itself is inspired by a lego.

With what feels like one-piece stacked on top of the other, this whole office looks like one massive Lego piece. It has a whole arena for work and play, with Legos built everywhere from hotdesks and into meeting rooms.

In the play area, adults can play with different Lego pieces and create their own masterpieces.

The open plan layout of meeting rooms, play areas, and hot desks will make you feel like you are inside Legoland, especially with the slide that makes it fun to reach offices.

Most interesting feature: An office that is designed like a Lego.

Best for: Creative companies.

Drawbacks: However, being confined into an environment with one particular nuance, can sometimes limit creativity.

Also Read: [In Photos] IGNITE wraps up Philippines tech conference with more collaborations to come

DTAC Headquarters – ‘The all-in-one office’

Image Credit: The Cool Hunter

Why it stands out: Companies tend to build offices in different locations as they grow. However, what is unique about DTAC is that it brought together all six of its offices into one. This allows the workspace to be more driven by common goals and communication. Imagine having all your employees together under one roof.

Other than that DTAC is also said to be the largest office to be leased in Thailand’s history with 62,000 square metres.

Having such a massive office does not mean that there is a lack of fun elements in the environment. For example, from having an open terrace overlooking Bangkok’s skyline to a massive inbuilt library, the company has it all.

Most interesting feature: All offices brought together under one roof.

Best for: Companies with frequent changing environments, as it is easier to communicate when everyone is under the same roof.

Drawbacks: Unsuitable for small businesses and businesses that rely on telecommuting.

Also Read: (In photos) A stroll around STATION F, one of the biggest startup campuses in the world

Gummo office – “A sustainable solution”

Image Credit: i29

Why it stands out: Gummo aims to build an environmentally friendly office by using furniture from online auction sites and charity shops. Apart from being a sustainable option, it can also be beneficial for the company’s finances.

Climate change is an important issue that no one should avoid, not even business owners. As society gains a greater awareness of environmental issues, particularly the millennial generation, working in an environmentally friendly office can boost the “feel good” factor of employees. They can feel like being part of something bigger.

Such a culture can also increase employee loyalty and boost productivity.

Most interesting feature: Environmentally friendly.

Best For All companies.

Drawbacks: The colour combination can be dull. The quality of second-handed furniture may not be as good as a new one.

Also Read: (In photos) Meet Go-Hive, a cool co-working space in India

CodigoDelSur – “The Mansion”

Image Credit: CodigoDelSur

Why it stands out: This is one of my personal favourite on the list. CodigoDelSur has two offices: the first one is known as the “house” and the second is called the “mansion”. The mansion was designed as a reflection of a “post-apocalyptic” future.

While the other offices are designed to look like a proper workspace or a fun office, the ‘mansion’ does look like someone’s house –think Professor X’s school for mutants. As subtle as it is, designing an office to look like a mansion does bring out a sense of increased togetherness amongst employees. Imagine feeling like going to a friend’s home every Monday morning, instead of the office.

The company also encourages employees to embrace music and sports (especially basketball) as a way to destress, which is probably the reason behind the massive piano with the “Play” sign in the middle of the mansion.

It is the perfect example that one does not really have to go overboard with decorations to create a fun environment.

Most interesting feature: Everything.

Best for: Small companies looking to add an element of fun into their office space; creative companies.

Drawbacks: May not be suitable for all company cultures.

 

 

 

The post Coolest offices from around the world and why they matter appeared first on e27.

With a smart design, your mission of converting your customer from a viewer to a buyer will continue even when you are not actively promoting your business

 

Do you want to grow your business and increase your conversion rate? Well, there’s good news: you can achieve your goal using the tools you already have in place.

Just pay a little more attention to design.

Regardless of whether you have a virtual shop or a brick and mortar store, smart design is vital for conversion. Each time that you make a connection with a potential customer is a chance to market yourself and influence conversion. And whatever the area is be it a business card, website, or ad design, it plays a huge part in whether your company is remembered, or even paid attention to in the first place.

Image: Logo Design

Good design grabs attention with colour

Do you know how long it takes for someone to form an opinion on a person or a piece of design?

It might not be as long as you thought. Studies suggest that it takes only one-tenth of a second to make a snap judgement about a person, and only 0.05 seconds for a viewer to decide whether to engage further with a webpage or a piece of design. That can put quite a strain on your design!

A good designer keeps that window in mind when putting together a piece of design. Whether it’s a storefront sign or a virtual advertising campaign, the design should dress to impress. Colour choices play a huge part in getting attention.

Also Read:Office 2.0: designing data-driven workspaces

Marketing blog Business 2 Community lists some of the colours that are most likely to convert customers and boost sales. Some of these colours are powerful reds, trustworthy blues, and friendly, warm yellows. Though the niche and the market research plays a big part in what colours eventually get added to your palette. Using colours that attract the eye will help your company get the attention necessary to convert.

Good design engages and sustains interest

A big part of the design is the content. Not just the look of the piece of design, not just the bones of the font and colour choices, but what the piece is actually saying. Depending on what piece of design we are talking about, it will have different content that it should communicate.

Logo design, for instance, is about imparting the name and/or the feel of a company to the audience. The logo represents the company and can play a big part in whether or not the viewer’s interest is retained long enough to move to the next step.

Marketing materials usually have more space and can communicate more than just the necessary information. But all the space in the world doesn’t matter if your presentation is uninteresting.

 

Image: Great Deals Media and Marketing Catalyst

So a smart designer won’t only use the common calls to action, but will rephrase the content in unique and compelling ways. CTAs won’t just be used at the end of the text but will be used throughout, including in-text and as buttons and banners elsewhere.

 

Good design funnels the client further on the buyer’s journey

From initial glance to sustained interest, good graphic design can help the consumer to keep taking steps on the buyer’s journey.

Image: Logo Design

Having received attention, the graphic design then continues to funnel the viewer towards the ultimate goal of making a sale.

It does this by continuity — maintaining the look and feel of the initial design, so the viewer doesn’t wonder where they suddenly ended up. 

But it also can require some new, surprising elements: new colours and shapes to direct attention to CTAs and other content that spur the viewer to take the next step.

Also Read: Design thinking: A superpower for the challenges of modern businesses

Good design uses the lure of the new

Addressing psychological triggers that encourage a viewer to become a consumer, marketing blogger Neil Patel mentions novelty as one of the 15 most significant tools in marketing. “Novelty makes our brains feel like there is a possibility for reward waiting for us just around the corner,” he says. “That potential for pleasure motivates us to seek it out.”

So how does that translate to design?

Strategic design and marketing could include releasing or announcing your products and services little by little, rather than all at once.

It could also just mean re-branding or re-packaging of products and services that you have also offered. Adding designations that suggest that this product or service is something never seen before. “Now available!” or “New feature!” banners, for instance) can be a way to push your viewer towards taking advantage of what you have to offer. 

If your company is looking at redesigning their website, including these features in multiple places or as pop-ups throughout the site can maximise the exposure of these design choices.

If it’s a brand re-design, paying attention to your market research is vital.

 

Good design creates memories that stick

One thing you want as a small business owner is to be memorable. This is especially so if you’re fighting the competition, and if you want your business to grow — which, let’s face it, who doesn’t?

Some aspects of design lend themselves to memorability. Business cards, as an example, are easy to carry with you and hand out. So your logo and the design of your card don’t necessarily need to leave as much of a mark with your client — they can speak for themselves.

Also Read: Culture is about how you design the practical things

But that isn’t the case with all aspects of design.

When it comes to great ads, logos, websites, physical space, and marketing campaigns, good design can load your bases.

Keeping in mind the basics of good, attractive, effective design can give you an edge not only while the customer is viewing your design, but afterwards. This is especially true if your message is unique, clear, concise, and kept simple.

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Image Credit: Aleks Dorohovich

 

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