Flux Series: Marketing Leaders is happening at the St. Regis in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 15 November 2023. Are you working in the field of marketing? Don’t miss out on this focused and curated event designed especially for marketing professionals!

Visit Flux Series: Marketing Leaders for more information! Read on to get discounted tickets.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful force in shaping the future of various industries, from healthcare to finance, and its influence is expanding rapidly into the realm of creativity. As AI technologies evolve, there is a growing recognition of their potential to generate creative content, ranging from art and music to writing. However, unlocking AI’s creative potential necessitates a crucial element: trust in the accuracy and relevance of the content it produces.

AI’s foray into creativity is exemplified by algorithms capable of producing music compositions, creating visual art, and generating written content. This shift has sparked both excitement and scepticism, with debates surrounding the authenticity of AI-generated work. As we delve into this new era of creative collaboration between humans and machines, understanding and trusting the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated content is paramount.

Also read: Top Indonesian brands to watch out for at Flux Series: Marketing Leaders

Unlocking AI’s creative potential, however, faces notable challenges, particularly concerning the knowledge gap among AI users. While AI systems excel at processing vast amounts of data and recognising patterns, users often face difficulties in leveraging these capabilities to their full creative extent.

Challenges in unlocking AI’s creative potential

Understanding the intricacies of AI algorithms, their limitations, and the nuances of incorporating them into creative processes requires a level of expertise that many users currently lack. Bridging this knowledge gap involves not only enhancing user education on AI but also developing user-friendly interfaces that facilitate seamless interaction between creators and AI tools. Overcoming these user-centric challenges is crucial to democratising AI’s creative potential, ensuring that a broader spectrum of individuals can harness its capabilities to augment their creative endeavours.

Furthermore, the dynamic nature of AI technologies and the continuous evolution of algorithms contribute to an ongoing knowledge gap among users. Keeping abreast of the latest developments, updates, and best practices in AI implementation for creative purposes demands a commitment to learning.

The accessibility and usability of AI tools must be prioritised to empower users with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI-driven creativity. Addressing the knowledge gap among AI users is pivotal in fostering a more inclusive and collaborative relationship between humans and AI, ultimately unlocking the full range of creative possibilities that these technologies offer.

Flux Series: Marketing Leaders seeks to bridge this gap

Seeking to address the knowledge gap in this space, Flux Series is a curated, intimate, and focused gathering of top industry leaders to engage in active learning sessions, enabling access to in-depth knowledge and actionable insights that can propel sustainable growth and profitability for your brand.

Get discounted tickets today!

For the premiere edition of Flux Series, we will gather key leaders in marketing to discuss, ideate, and strategise actionable steps to optimise your marketing efforts using AI-driven innovations and technology to reach new marketing goals for your company.

Happening on November 15, 2023, at The St. Regis Jakarta, Flux Series: Marketing Leaders features a series of roundtable discussions focused on AI-powered marketing solutions. One of the key roundtable discussions will be addressing trends and challenges in “Unlocking AI’s Creative Potential: Trusting the Accuracy and Relevance of AI-Generated Content” and will feature three subtopics on the matter.

AI in Content Creation: Innovations and Challenges – AI in content creation represents a dynamic frontier marked by both innovations and challenges. On the innovation front, AI algorithms, particularly advanced language models like GPT-3, have revolutionised content generation across various mediums. From writing articles and creating music to generating visual art, AI’s creative capabilities continue to expand. Innovations in natural language processing and computer vision have enabled AI systems to understand context, mimic human creativity, and produce content that often blurs the line between man-made and machine-generated.

This roundtable on “AI in Content Creation: Innovations and Challenges” will be facilitated by no other than Gerald Tjan, Sales Director for APAC at Braze.

Trust and Reliability: AI-Generated Content in Practice – Trust and reliability are pivotal considerations as AI-generated content becomes increasingly integrated into practical applications. With organisations and individuals leveraging AI for content creation, establishing confidence in the accuracy and relevance of the generated material is paramount. Trust is cultivated through transparent development processes, rigorous testing, and ongoing refinement of AI algorithms. The reliability of AI-generated content plays a crucial role in decision-making processes, marketing strategies, and creative endeavours. Users must have confidence that the AI is not only accurate but also consistently produces relevant and contextually appropriate content.

The roundtable on “Trust and Reliability: AI-Generated Content in Practice” will be facilitated by no other than Natasha Setiadinata, Head of Partnerships at Advisia Group.

Also read: Engage your peers in roundtable discussions at Flux Series

Regulations and Ethics: Navigating AI-Generated Content in a Changing Landscape – Navigating the landscape of AI-generated content involves a critical consideration of regulations and ethics. As AI technologies advance, policymakers and industry leaders grapple with the need for comprehensive regulations to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI-generated content. Striking the right balance between innovation and ethical considerations is essential to prevent misuse and potential harm. Ethical concerns surrounding issues such as bias, privacy, and the unintended consequences of AI algorithms underscore the importance of establishing clear guidelines. The evolving nature of AI demands a proactive approach to crafting ethical frameworks and regulations that keep pace with technological advancements. Collaborative efforts between technologists, policymakers, and ethicists are crucial to fostering an environment where AI-generated content contributes positively to society while upholding ethical standards. As we navigate this rapidly changing landscape, the development and adherence to robust regulations become imperative to harness the benefits of AI-generated content responsibly. 

The roundtable on “Regulations and Ethics: Navigating AI-Generated Content in a Changing Landscape” will be facilitated by no other than Warren Leow, Group CEO at Inmagine.

Join Flux in Jakarta

Join Gerald Tjan, Natasha Setiadinata, Warren Leow, and more at the Flux Series and be a driving force in the AI-powered marketing revolution. To learn more about the event, you may visit the official Flux Series: Marketing Leaders page.

Also read: Gain practical knowledge on mobile attribution with experts at Flux

Get ready to embark on a journey that will not only deepen your understanding of AI-driven marketing but also equip you with the actionable insights needed to thrive in the dynamic world of modern marketing.

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Today’s children grow up with easy access to money. Most don’t understand the value of money, and they often overspend on their credit cards but fail to pay it off. The proliferation of BNPL (buy-now-pay-later) players has further encouraged spending, eventually landing children and their parents in debt traps.

Malaysian entrepreneur Gokula Krishnan Subramaniam wanted to find a way out of this problem and educate parents and their children about the importance of money management.

In 2019, he launched Vircle — short for ‘visible circle’ — with the mission of helping parents raise money-smart kids by teaching them how to earn, spend and save responsibly.

Also Read: Malaysia’s Vircle raises funding to help parents raise money-smart kids

A neo-banking app, Vircle instils lifelong money habits among young children by empowering parents to oversee and manage their children’s expenses in and out of school.

“Vircle is Malaysia’s first family finance and neobanking app that allows parents to set up one family account to manage all kids with a common shared family balance,” he claims.

How to set up a Vircle account

A parent registers for a principal family account, onboard as many dependants and can approve them different payment access. The app comes with spending controls, oversight and budgeting at the hands of parents. As the kids grow older, parents may shift some of these controls to them. At the end of 2022, the company launched a Child Safe Visa card.

“We allow parents to set spending controls from anytime allowances to daily limits. Our visa card has advanced safety features to block unsafe merchants and categories. We constantly research this space and enhance black-and-white lists to include all known scam merchants,” shares Krishnan Subramaniam.

The firm has partnered with over 58 educational institutions and serves families from various nationalities. The aim is to bank one million Malaysian children and three million across Southeast Asia over the next five years (as per an estimate, over 90 per cent of children in Southeast Asia are either unbanked or underbanked).

Vircle charges merchants a platform fee for in-school usage, which covers multiple aspects of the school services. The platform also has a pro-subscription plan (optional for parents) covering out-of-school spending and all its financial tools and features.

Also Read: Cash 2.0: How CBDCs are shaping the future of money

One of the major challenges the company faces is educating society about Vircle’s benefits. “Many customers who understand how our app works are impressed, but we always hear this: why do we not hear more about you guys?” he shares.

To address this problem, the startup recently secured an undisclosed sum in seed funding co-led by Malaysia’s state-owned VC fund Kumpulan Modal Perdana (KMP) and Gobi Partners. “With the investments closed, awareness creation will be a key part of our focus and also to educate them why we are better, safer for their kids than some mainstream wallets or banks who are not doing enough to keep kids safe with payment cards like visa etc.,” he concludes.

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RISE, one of the largest tech conferences in Southeast Asia, has announced the return of its Corporate Innovation Summit (CIS) 2023.

The event is scheduled for November 14-15 at Bangkok’s True Digital Park.

Themed “Accelerating Growth While Saving the World,” Corporate Innovation Summit underscores the crucial role of corporations in sustainable development. This aligns with RISE’s commitment to contribute 1 per cent of Southeast Asia’s GDP and reduce global carbon emissions by 1 per cent.

Also Read: Dezpax to revolutionise food packaging for SMEs in Thailand

Keynote speaker Chris Cowart, Managing Director of Nomura-SRI Innovation Center, will lead the charge, accompanied by industry luminaries Lake Dai, Christopher Mowry, Michelle Khoo, Jackie Wang, and Prae Dumrongmongcolgul.

Corporate Innovation Summit 2023 boasts a robust agenda featuring over 60 sessions, including workshops, keynotes, and panels. This platform allows corporations to glean insights, forge global connections, and explore innovations presented by 60+ Deep Tech startups.

RISE CEO Kid Parchariyanon emphasises that corporations must intertwine innovation and sustainability for sustained success.

Corporate Innovation Summit 2023 will discuss and cover the following topics/themes:

Wisdom from industry leaders: Immerse in insights from leaders shaping corporate innovation, sustainability, deep technology, and the future of investment.

Navigating business landscape: Stay abreast of emerging trends to navigate the evolving business landscape.

Global networking: Expand vital global networks essential for corporate growth.

Inspiration from success stories: Draw inspiration from the journeys of successful entrepreneurs and innovators.

Also Read: Why Japan’s tech leaders are eyeing Thailand as a 2023 growth market

Corporate innovation as a global force: Explore ways in which corporate innovation can address and contribute to solving global challenges.

To learn more about the Corporate Innovation Summit, click here.

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It’s no secret that Malaysia’s young people are facing significant financial challenges. A staggering 75 per cent of them find themselves in debt due to the increased costs brought about by the post-pandemic landscape. Covering even the most basic expenses has become an uphill battle, and for more than 35 per cent of them, their savings can only sustain them for a mere three months.

These statistics are concerning, especially when we consider that life expectancies are projected to exceed 77 years by 2050. A survey conducted by Bank Negara Malaysia reveals that a significant 75 per cent of the population does not have a savings cushion of at least RM1,000 (US$239).

To navigate this challenging landscape, a paradigm shift is required — one that encourages financial literacy, responsible spending, and smart investment choices.  It’s not about making things complicated but rather about making these financial principles an effortless part of our everyday lives. By doing so, Malaysians can seize control of their financial destinies, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous future.

A new path to financial empowerment

However, amid these financial challenges, a new narrative is emerging — a narrative that offers an accessible path to financial empowerment. This approach involves seamlessly integrating shopping, savings, and investing into daily routines, thereby promoting progressive saving behaviours among Malaysians.

Contrary to the common belief that achieving financial empowerment requires radical lifestyle changes, this approach encourages individuals to integrate shopping, savings and investing into their everyday lives. This alignment of financial activities complements daily routines and paves the way for a more inclusive investment landscape.

Also Read: Startups impacted by the rise of embedded finance in Southeast Asia

One example of this transformative approach is the all-in-one micro-investing app Raiz. It provides users with a comprehensive way to channel their spare change into an investment portfolio made of unit trust funds for long-term investment.

Tapping into digital investment platforms

Imagine, for instance, purchasing a cup of coffee for RM5.80 (US$1.43) using your debit or credit card. The Raiz app tracks the transaction, rounds it up to RM6 (US$1.48), and automatically saves and invests your spare change of 20 cents into an investment portfolio.

Raiz breaks down the traditional monetary barriers to entry into the world of investing. With investment deposits as low as RM5 (US $1.24), Raiz ensures that individuals no longer feel deterred from taking their first steps into the world of investments.

Additionally, platforms like Raiz leverage innovative technology to offer user-friendly and intuitive interfaces. This simplicity makes saving and investing more accessible to all, regardless of whether you’re a novice or an expert investor.

Features like automatic roundups, recurring investments, one-time investments, customisable portfolios, and the ability to save and invest cashback while shopping online are all at your fingertips.

Even a fellow Malaysian who signed up for Raiz late last year managed to save enough for an iPad, thanks to the spare change they accumulated and the additional boost provided by Raiz’s recurring investment feature.

In conclusion, the financial challenges facing Malaysians post-pandemic are undeniably formidable. However, there are now powerful tools at our disposal to take charge of our financial futures. The misconception that significant investments require substantial upfront capital is rapidly eroding, making way for a more inclusive and accessible investment landscape.

As we strive to increase financial literacy among Malaysians, platforms like Raiz play a pivotal role in bridging the financial gap and helping users not just to survive but to thrive financially. Instead of discouraging people from spending, shopping has become one of the many avenues for sustainable and progressive savings and investments, thereby laying the foundation for a financially secure future.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

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As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to dominate the conversation, we get curious about how tech companies of all sizes implement the technology in their products and services. This time, e27 speaks to property tech giant PropertyGuru Group about the problems that they are solving with AI.

In an email interview, Shyn Yee Ho-Strangas, Managing Director, Data and Software Solutions (DSS), PropertyGuru Group, names the impact of climate change as the pressing challenge that the company aims to focus on.

According to her, the real estate industry’s substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions urges property developers and homeowners to look for more sustainable ways to do things.

“At PropertyGuru Group, we are committed to using data and insights to bring transparency and decision-making across the real estate ecosystem. We have made significant investments in data science to develop products and solutions to support our customers, consumers, and partners,” explains Ho-Strangas.

“For instance, one key problem that we’re focusing on is how we can address and manage climate risk in real estate in Southeast Asia. The escalating consequences of climate change, including more intense storms, flash floods, wildfires, extreme heat, and other hazards, are significantly impacting the cities we live in. Using a large set of data parameters, we have developed a risk score that assesses the relative risk of homes. Equipped with this risk score, homeowners, buyers, insurers, and banks are able to make better decisions on the financing and safeguarding of their assets.”

Also Read: Innovations in prosthetics, custom parts, property construction: Startups that hit the headlines this week

To find out more about how PropertyGuru is solving this problem, check out the edited excerpt of our interview below.

Take us through your AI-based solution to solving this sustainability problem.

Our market intelligence platform – DataSense – is a cloud-based software that allows users to access real estate data and actionable insights mined from vast amounts of proprietary and third-party data. We have invested heavily in cleaning and restructuring data and applying data science capabilities in developing useful trends, indices, and models to facilitate better decision-making.

Today, the availability of clean, useful real estate data is very limited, and ownership of data is highly fragmented. Our mission is to make high-quality real estate data and insights more accessible to improve the quality of decision-making. Our platform allows users to answer many questions and address multiple use cases – be it land selection and project pricing for developers, mortgage portfolio re-evaluation for banks, rental yield benchmarking for asset owners or competitive analysis for commercial assets such as malls.

The real estate lifecycle is a complex one and involves various factors and conditions that developers, for instance, need to consider. Specific to sustainability, one major hurdle that developers often face is budgetary pressures to justify costs associated with ESG initiatives, particularly if a sizeable upfront capital outlay is needed. The data and insights we provide allow developers to size their risks alongside customer demand more confidently. One way to address the budgetary pressures is for developers to bundle sustainable features with attributes preferred by consumers.

By aligning these attributes with emerging trends in consumer demand, developers can boost the perceived value and marketability of green initiatives. This not only tackles the challenge of cost justification but also encourages broader adoption of sustainable practices among property seekers.

Also Read: Ecosystem Roundup: PropertyGuru to shutter Rumah.com; Is ChatGPT boom over?

In real estate, AI can be a game changer for various aspects beyond sustainability. With PropertyGuru’s integration of AI, we can analyse vast amounts of demographic information, encompassing age distribution, income levels, and lifestyle preferences within specific regions. This comprehensive understanding of the local population empowers city planners and policymakers to make informed decisions, for example, about the demand for senior living facilities and services.

Is there any specific challenges in developing and promoting this technology?

Our use of AI involves the analysis of extensive amounts of data. While this data is crucial for enhancing user experiences and providing valuable insights to our customers, we are also very mindful of data privacy.

Part of digitalising the real estate industry means increasing reliance on data while very carefully watching out and protecting ourselves from nefarious actors looking to obtain personal or sensitive information.

A myriad of sensitive personal information can be found in real estate transactions – from financial data, government-issued identification numbers, insurance information, and passwords – we have to be particularly careful with how we manage and secure our data. To top it up, cloud-based solutions have become increasingly popular for convenience and accessibility, but this also makes data a few clicks away from bad actors if not protected adequately.

At PropertyGuru, data security is driven by design. We are committed to achieving and maintaining the trust of our customers, and integral to this mission is providing a robust security and privacy program that carefully considers data protection matters across our suite of products, solutions, and services. With more than hundreds of enterprise customers using our solutions across Southeast Asia, we follow the best industry best practices on data security and comply with information security guidelines from PDPA in Singapore, along with other local regulations where we operate, and are GDPR ready.

Also Read: Thai property developer MQDC unveils ‘metta-verse’ to bridge the real and virtual worlds

Our server is hosted on a world-class platform with limited ports, and access is available only to very limited and controlled users. Beyond hardware measures, there is also a robust Threat Management and Incident response plan to respond quickly and pre-emptively to security incidents should they happen.

What are other areas of AI that you would like to explore? As AI becomes increasingly popular, do you find that the trend helps your work in any way? Is there any opportunity that you are seizing?

PropertyGuru has been experimenting with Generative AI for over a year as a way to both make our internal operations more efficient and bring greater value to our agent partners. This is part of our commitment to stay at the forefront of tech advancements and deliver the best possible solutions to our customers.

We’re using Generative AI and machine learning to bolster our market-leading products and make our operations more efficient. For instance, in June, we launched GuruPicks, a personalised feed of property listings based on machine learning algorithms. GuruPicks offers opportunities to match a person’s budget, property type, and location to show personalised and recent listings.

For property agents in Singapore, we recently introduced Lead Management to help subscribers manage their leads by using a single inbox for all email, phone, SMS, and WhatsApp contacts while also adding a heat index and insights on lead preferences.

This is in addition to us launching a revamp of our New Homes discovery page in Singapore and Malaysia, increasing the coverage of new properties and better organising the customer experience to make it easier to find ones under development.

Also Read: AI-driven property portal MOGUL.sg nets US$6.5M Series A

Generative AI is increasingly helping us operate more efficiently and effectively in product development and code quality. We have been experimenting with the auto-creation of listing descriptions that benefit agent efficiency, as well as AI image moderation, to continue to improve listing quality.

PropertyGuru has a 15-year legacy of innovation that has powered us to become Southeast Asia’s prop-tech leader – we continue to deepen investments in AI and machine learning for our data and software solutions, as well as fintech to help property seekers find, finance, and own homes. We continue to develop and deploy products and technology for responsible use by our growing customer base.

What is your major focus this year on your tech solutions?

For our Data Software & Solutions business, we will continue to work closely with property developers, bankers and all enterprise customers to offer them customised data and insights to improve decision-making and create more business efficiency for them. We will continue our investments in data science to develop products and solutions to support our customers, consumers, and partners.

We recently released a progressive ESG framework as part of a report titled The Real Estate World in Transition that gives valuable insights into building ‘Climate-Smart’ real estate. The actionable strategies for property developers and investors embrace sustainability without compromising financial viability. This report is part of broader market activities to educate developers and planners with data-driven insights to drive responsible property development in our region.

Our flagship insights dashboard DataSense is also being increasingly used by new governmental agencies in Singapore and Malaysia, REITs and industry bodies such as the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association.

Both the fintech as well as the data and software solutions arm are longer-term strategic opportunities for PropertyGuru Group as we continue to invest and build out the business. With the fundamental opportunities in our core markets, we are committed to future growth and profitability anchored around our vision to power communities to live, work and thrive in tomorrow’s cities.

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Image Credit: PropertyGuru

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Dear reader,

The ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual harassment at Malaysian tech agency Cradle underscores the importance of addressing workplace misconduct seriously. It is encouraging that the agency has taken swift action by suspending the official in question to facilitate a thorough probe. The use of evidence, such as a timeline and WhatsApp conversations, provides a strong basis for the investigation and may help ensure a fair and objective assessment of the situation.

In light of the broader concerns raised, including manipulation and abuse of power, the investigation must be comprehensive and impartial. The commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful work environment by both Cradle and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is commendable, as this case highlights the necessity for organisations to prioritise the well-being of their employees. This incident should serve as a reminder that fostering a culture of respect, accountability, and zero tolerance for harassment is paramount in every workplace.

Sainul,
Editor.

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Malaysia’s Cradle investigates official over alleged sexual harassment
Based on excerpts seen by TiA, the complainant’s report detailed not just sexual harassment but also other claims, including manipulation and abuse of power; The complainant alleged that these actions began as early as her “first month on the job” and continued for months.

In Mamaearth, Peak XV finds its fourth 10x return since Sequoia separation
Mamaearth is Peak XV’s 20th IPO in India and Southeast Asia, a figure that notably surpasses the IPO count of other venture firms in the regions by a substantial margin; Peak XV has offloaded its remaining shares in Zomato.

GIC, ADB Ventures join Indian EV firm Euler Motors’s US$14.4M
The startup plans to use the funds to expand into 40 cities and expand its service and charging network nationwide; Euler makes commercial EVs; Its flagship product, the new HiLoad EV, has a 12.96 kWH battery pack and a real range of 100-120km.

Earth VC invests in Finnish earth observation startup Kuva Space
Kuva Space’s commercial microsatellite, equipped with a patented hyperspectral camera, can distinguish nearly any material on the earth and its condition through its distinct spectral signature.

Indonesian EV maker Volta raises fresh funding
Twin Towers Ventures and Rigel Star Fund are the lead investors; Volta has developed a battery replacement system (SGB) to reduce fossil fuel use; The potential for electric vehicle users in Indonesia is expected to continue to increase until 2025.

Singapore’s AnyMind enters 14th market with South Korea launch
The Tokyo-listed e-commerce enabler, now operating in 14 markets around the world, will set up a team in Korea to speed up the development of its local network, which includes publishers, creators, e-commerce platforms, and logistics services.

Korea’s Shinhan taps PasarPolis to enter Indonesian market
Shinhan anticipates significant growth in Indonesia’s insurance industry given the currently low market penetration; Along with Thailand and Malaysia, Indonesia is expected to play a crucial role in the overall premiums underwritten in SEA.

A quick look at the six Singtel Group Future Makers 2023
Virtual Psychologist and GEPP won Platinum and Gold awards; Future Makers is part of the group’s larger sustainability strategy to empower communities through digital enablement by driving innovation to create positive social impact.

Thermalytica winner of SLINGSHOT 2023, bags US$150K+ in grant prize
Bering Lab, which provides domain-specific translation engines and tools powered by AI for the legal and patent industries, is the first runner-up; Kinexcs, an AI-based digital health and wearables company, is the second runner-up.

Tesla to build 25,000-euro car in Germany: source
The steep price tag of e-cars is one of several factors holding back uptake of the technology in Europe and the US, consumer surveys show; The average retail price of an EV in Europe in H1 2023 was over 65K euros, compared to just over 31K euros in China.

Elon Musk to integrate xAI with social media platform X
The billionaire also said xAI released its first AI model, a bot named Grok, after making it available to all X Premium+ subscribers on Friday; The startup aims to create AI tools that ‘assist humanity in its quest for understanding and knowledge’.

Human-centricity of ESG investing will be more apparent: Quest Ventures
Michelle Ng, Head of ESG for Quest Ventures, explains how the firm aims to double down its efforts in this matter.

How Kopi Kenangan achieves its goal of opening one new store per day
A typical coffee chain in Indonesia would open 40-50 new stores in a year. Kopi Kenangan wants to do things differently.

Before you found a startup, think about your personal goals
In the end, your startup is not just a company; it’s a reflection of your personal aspirations. The clearer your goals, the better your chances of navigating the tumultuous seas of entrepreneurship.

How Full Circle-HydroNeo partnership empowers small-scale shrimp farmers
Norwegian nutrient recapture company Full Circle and Thai aqua-tech startup HydroNeo. collaborate to transform aquaculture, boost sustainability, and empower small-scale farmers in shrimp farming innovation.

PropertyGuru plans to help real-estate space become more environmentally sustainable
PropertyGuru sees that the industry’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions means developers and homeowners have to look for sustainable ways to do things.

SEA companies making waves with funding, innovation, expansion
SEA highlights: Modalku’s finance boost, Engine Biosciences’s precision medicines, VE Technology’s multimillion-dollar funding, GoTo’s profitability journey, and more.

User-generated content: Why this social strategy is one you should invest in
User-generated content offers a real-world perspective, aiding customers in making informed purchasing decisions.

Save and invest as you shop: The triple ‘A’ of financial accessibility
The post-pandemic financial challenges Malaysians face are undoubtedly formidable, yet we now have potent tools to shape our financial futures.

Navigating the fog: How clarity unlocks your startup’s full potential
Achieve startup clarity with a three-step strategy: Find your North Star, set milestones, and define daily tasks for progress.

Why leaders matter for a strong organisational culture
If done well, a positive organisational culture can lead a business towards enduring success in good and challenging times.

The multifaceted nature of business valuation: Implications for your startup
This article explores business valuation intricacies, highlighting how your startup’s worth varies based on the inquirer’s perspective.

Fintech growth in Asia: Why businesses should prioritise expansion in the region
By driving innovation in payment systems, fintech firms can contribute to economic growth and financial inclusion within the region.

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Major shopping events like Alibaba Group’s Singles’ Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Lunar New Year are famed for offering huge potential for e-commerce businesses to boost sales and attract new customers who are eager to stretch their dollars. There are some head-wides.

However, a recent report has revealed that, in today’s challenging macroeconomic environment, 62 per cent of consumers in APAC are more prone to checking prices, and 45 per cent are cutting back on unnecessary spending. Although some expect this may put a damper on consumer spending ahead of this year’s shopping festival season, it might well be a timely opportunity for businesses looking to offer inflation-busting deals and discounts.

In fact, last year, 130 brands surpassed US$ 13 million in sales in the first four hours of the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, topping an enormous US$ 153 billion in total. If this success is a signal of what’s to come in 2023’s year-end shopping season, shopping festivals aren’t going anywhere, and in many ways, they are more important than ever before.

While offering hot deals and promotions is the first step for many merchants participating in shopping festivals, many can make the mistake of turning a blind eye to the consumer experience and, in particular, payment preferences.

Paying attention to payments

There’s no point offering the best deal in town if a customer can’t check out. In a recent report, Statista estimated the average global e-commerce shopping conversion rate in the first quarter of 2023 to be two per cent.

Once the consumer decides to complete the purchase, a seamless user experience and catering to local payment preferences play a big part in truly optimising conversion rates. Merchants have to pay attention to payments, the final hurdle.

Even the slightest flaw in a payment offering can mean lost revenue, lost customers and lost opportunity. It might seem simple enough, but there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to payments, particularly in the fragmented APAC market.

Also Read: How can businesses best capitalise on the holiday season?

A common mistake merchants make is to base their payment method selection solely on the characteristics of their home market. However, payment methods have different flows, ranging from QR codes to redirecting customers to specific payment apps.

Simply adding a payment method is not enough to guarantee higher conversion rates — the same payment method can yield vastly different conversion rates even within the same industry vertical. The differentiating factor lies in how merchants tailor the payment flow to meet their customers’ expectations to create a customised experience, a shop-for-one genuinely.

Businesses need to offer the right payment method for the right industry vertical and region they are targeting. More often than not, this means having multiple payment methods to cover different customer preferences, enabling merchants to tap into different segments of their audience in the same market.

Optimisation and future-proofing are key

It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of setting up payments and expecting the customers to come rolling in. Once a business has won a customer and they’ve made their way to the checkout, there are a few simple steps they can take to optimise conversions, or they will fall at the final hurdle.

For example, adding a description of the next step can lead to a remarkable 20 per cent increase in the conversion rate, and similarly, placing the most used payment method at the top of the list on the checkout page makes paying quicker. It gives that familiar local consumer experience and ultimately increases conversions.

This step starts long before the seasonal sales kick-off — while it needs time and attention, it can save a lot of effort and troubleshooting later on. Merchants must test their payment flow to ensure it truly delivers a hassle-free payment experience for their customers.

This could mean engaging volunteers outside of the business to test the payment flow on various devices to help identify bugs, glitches or usability issues that could hinder conversions. Merchants should leverage the relationships with their payment acquirers to ensure the flows are tested and bug-free before the high-volume season kicks off.

When a transaction does fail, businesses should have a playbook to address and rectify it. They should make it straightforward for customers to pick up where they left off and start a new transaction or change their payment method.

The world of online payments is complex. But by avoiding common mistakes and prioritising the right support and market education, merchants can enjoy a prosperous shopping festival season with supercharged conversion rates and record-breaking sales.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

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“Co-Working Space” is an example of a new category emerging that becomes part of our day-to-day lives.  It didn’t exist before the mid-2000s, and players such as Regus were (and continue to be) a different experience and positioning.  Without belabouring the history, 2005 was an early start of the new category forming around co-working spaces, with “Spiral Muse” in San Francisco and other smaller-scale operations such as “Hub” in London.

This new category helped us solve the problem of inflexible, long-term lock-in around our office and working space. It meant smaller companies and start-ups could rent smaller spaces on a much more flexible basis. It was agile and adaptive to our needs.  It was a refreshing new atmosphere to work in.

And then a clear category leader emerged: WeWork.  It was a quirky, memorable name and brand, and within it had a call to action.   It suggested community and shared creation.   It had a great story.

When I was part of a decision (close to a decade ago) around choosing a co-working space and signing a contract, WeWork looked like the obvious choice.   It had the “buzz” around it.  It was hard not to drink the Kool-Aid when you visited on-prem with big taglines like “do what you love” and “make a life, not just a living”.  Critical to our decision was that it was the category leader by far when compared to other companies and the many local/regional variations.

By signing up with WeWork, the inherent brand experience and promise was that it was a vibrant, global community.  You weren’t just getting space in a funky environment but were also joining a tribe locally and even globally (say when travelling).

Also Read: Mind the category curve: Are you driving it or will it drive right over you?

We were going to partake in regular events, meet fellow entrepreneurs and broaden our own personal networks.  The “product” we were buying into we believed would evolve and delight us with new value, opportunity, and a cool experience.

We pulled the trigger and signed a two-year lease.  And while there were events (pizza parties and beer on tap), it wasn’t really the networking we expected.  Elbowing in amongst the same faces on late Friday afternoon to try and get a limp slice of pizza eventually became a “no thanks”. The global ecosystem of members that we expected to tap into didn’t really happen.

The app/platform was there, but WeWork didn’t invest in building and nurturing the community in a meaningful way.  Our data and profiles didn’t seem to go anywhere in terms of a meaningful ecosystem of fellow WeWorkers.  The ecosystem was perfunctory, and the overall solution we were buying into did not evolve.

This shows how story and narrative combined with a strong evangelist can take you a certain distance.  However, there is a limit to “pumping” the company, its business model, and its valuation.

The failures of this former category leader are now being expounded at length around the management, the failed IPO, and the financial modelling and gearing. There is no argument here on these fatal flaws at the “company design” level.

To be the category king and to retain that mantle means having great people and leadership that are continually evolving and scaling.   It means smart business-model design and its evolution (especially in the face of a post-pandemic change in commercial property and interest rates!). The company design simply did not evolve over time to support WeWork as the category leader.

That said, what is not being widely discussed and analysed is a failure on two other critical fronts.

WeWork did not evolve the category

As the de-facto “co-working space” leader, WeWork needed to demonstrate vision and thought leadership around where and how the category will evolve.  It’s the category leader recognising that the problem being solved is bigger than just one company/themselves.

How are work and behaviour changing? How is productivity being impacted?  How are new collaboration tools being incorporated? What are global or cultural variances observed?  Are there demographic, say, millennial versus Gen Z nuances? What novel co-working patterns are being observed across not only companies but across the entire WeWork ecosystem? Tell us how the category is evolving and give us a future glimpse.

Also Read: Spotlighting Darryl Dickens: Shaping success through Category Design

Instead, what we were given was largely more rah-rah messages. What we really want is a powerful Point of View that leads with the problem (that is relevant to us) and tells us how the solution is evolving.  It shows us where the category is going and why we want to be part of it.

WeWork did not mature and evolve its product

As the category’s solution is evolving, how am I modifying and leading this with my products? What is my “blueprint” for continuing to be the leader today and into the future?

Take AirBnB as the leader in Community-Based Hospitality (“I want a different experience than staying in a hotel”).   This category leader has consistently evolved the product with examples such as: “AirBnB Plus and Concerts” or “AirBnB Experiences” (unique tours and attractions).

They are expanding the category’s ecosystem with new partners, adding new value and, therefore, valuation to the category.  It is not a static Total Addressable Market — it is creating completely new economics that hasn’t been unleashed before.

The “Category King” must continually guide us on where the category is going and demonstrate tangible new products as part of the experience.

These two critical gaps around product design, as well as category design, have played a substantial role in the demise of this once mighty category leader. This is a real shame when it is the key brand that has impacted us and is now slowly withering away.

Importantly, let’s learn from it and understand:

It’s good to be king.

But once you are there, you must continually protect your crown.

To do this must be on three fronts:

• Company Design
• Product Design
• Category Design*

Anything less, and your category leadership will be at continual risk!

Note: I acknowledge this “magic triangle” concept across company/product/category is taken liberally from the book Play Bigger – How Pirates, Dreamers and Innovators Define and Dominate Markets.

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When customers require assistance, whether it’s for product issues, billing inquiries, or general support, the most common frustrations they encounter are the lack of personalisation and long wait times. These disconnects can leave customers feeling undervalued and frustrated, potentially leading them to avoid future purchases of products or services.

In fact, studies indicate that nearly half of Singaporeans, as well as global consumers, express dissatisfaction with customer service interactions. Further to that, businesses are increasingly struggling with the growing demand for omnichannel communication with customers, especially with aims to expand their scale and reach.

As social media discovery and sales through social channels become increasingly mainstream, organisations are tasked to prioritise empathy, personalisation, and efficiency to effectively capture their target markets.

The emergence of AI’s “artificial empathy” thus presents a promising real-time solution for three out of four customers who feel that their emotional needs are neglected during customer service interactions.

In fact, AI’s empathetic capabilities can overcome existing industry challenges and enable businesses to deliver more fulfilling customer experiences at scale.

While the human touch remains essential for effective customer engagement and long-term relationship building, traditional rule-based chatbots can provide an immediate communication touchpoint between companies and customers, allowing them to feel attended to around the clock.

As a result, engaged customers exhibit greater customer loyalty, have more interactions with their brand, and, therefore, deliver greater value over their lifetime.

AI’s “artificial empathy” empowers its remarkable capability to comprehend the subtleties of customer queries, generate human-like responses, and address concerns based on extensive text data. It can then also redirect complex enquiries to human customer service agents for their action.

Also Read: AI revolution: Balancing human empathy and robotic efficiency in customer service

Additionally, AI’s ability to adapt language and tone to match each customer’s style creates a personalised experience, ultimately leading to greater customer satisfaction.

By harnessing the power of “artificial empathy,” brands can deliver immersive customer experiences at scale without compromising the vital human element needed to build strong connections.

A growing necessity for smaller enterprises

Limited resources often hinder smaller companies’ ability to scale their customer service efforts, resulting in challenges to provide fast and personalised support.

However, with AI’s “artificial empathy,” companies can automate and optimise their customer service, overcoming resource and manpower constraints to deliver exceptional experiences. This empowerment allows them to foster customer loyalty and satisfaction, enabling growth.

In the modern, fast-paced business landscape, meeting the increasing need for omnichannel communication is crucial for companies to thrive.

As the Head of Customer Success at SleekFlow, the leading B2B AI-powered Omnichannel Conversation Suite in the APAC region, I have firsthand experience in addressing these challenges. Throughout my journey, I have witnessed the significant impact of “artificial empathy” and its ability to empower small and medium businesses to deliver excellent customer service at a larger scale.

And it is not just businesses; consumers are eagerly anticipating this change. According to a survey conducted by McKinsey, two-thirds of millennials expect real-time customer service and three-quarters of all customers expect consistent cross-channel service experience.

AI thus plays a critical role as the first touchpoint for brands across multiple communication channels, facilitating real-time responses to customer queries and mitigating dissatisfaction. By leveraging AI, businesses can significantly reduce customer response time.

Beyond response time, with more interactions and exposure to various scenarios, AI can evolve to become more empathetic and situationally appropriate over time. It learns from examples, analyses interactions, and understands specific situations, enabling it to deliver personalised and appropriate responses.

Also Read: Human touch in tech: How exceptional customer service makes you stand out

Using SleekFlow AI as an example, brands that have integrated AI into their customer support workflows have unlocked the benefits of advanced AI capabilities. Clients have reported increased productivity as AI efficiently resolves queries and frees up time for important tasks. Such use of AI ensures consistent brand interactions and scalable support, facilitating seamless expansion without compromising quality.

Furthermore, AI also helps reduce training time by providing AI-driven assistance to new support professionals, empowering them to excel from the start.

SleekFlow’s AI feature for customer engagement, powered by the GPT-4 model, for instance, is presented as an AI-human hybrid model that exemplifies the potential of combining AI and human expertise, creating a seamless customer service experience. The model identifies complex leads and queries, automatically escalating them to human agents, reducing misinformation, and ensuring accurate and personalised assistance.

Consider an insurance company that utilises AI chatbots and virtual assistants. By analysing historical customer data and claim patterns, AI models provide personalised responses and tailored recommendations, enabling faster and more precise assistance. Integrating AI technology streamlines processes, delivers faster and more accurate customer support, and enhances the overall experience for policyholders.

In the current customer service landscape, it is essential for companies to strategically combine AI with the human touch to provide personalised and efficient service at scale. By gradually assigning tasks to AI systems, customer service specialists can focus on handling more complex scenarios and refining their skills. The future lies in empowering humans with AI working together to provide exceptional customer experiences.

With a significant dissatisfaction rate in customer service, it is evident that a robust solution is necessary. By embracing AI technology, companies can revolutionise their approach, delivering personalised, efficient, and empathetic experiences in the digital age. Let’s unlock the potential of artificial empathy and provide customers with the experiences they deserve.

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In an age of constant technological advancement, electronic waste (e-waste) has emerged as a formidable global challenge. Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), a passionate advocate for sustainability, recognised the urgency of addressing e-waste issues. 

Their response came in the form of Repair Kopitiam, a unique initiative that not only extends the lifespan of electronic devices but also seeks to foster a culture of sustainable living. Now, they have joined hands with the Youth E-Waste Ambassador Program (YEAP) to engage Singaporean youth and transform the e-waste landscape.

Repair Kopitiam: A Place of Renewal

Repair Kopitiam was founded on the simple yet profound idea that repair can be the key to reducing e-waste. SL2 firmly believed that, instead of discarding or recycling materials, there is immense value in repairing them and giving them a new lease on life. Repair Kopitiam was created with the goal of providing a space where all Singaporean residents with broken items could be guided by coaches to fix them back to good health. And yet, the program wasn’t just about fixing the physical issues; it was about mending a disposable mindset and pushing back against consumerism.

Also read: YEAP joins forces with Electrolux in championing sustainable living

The impact of Repair Kopitiam extends far beyond the program’s walls. By advocating for repair over replacement, this initiative encourages a more sustainable approach to e-waste management. Repair Kopitiam focuses on educating visitors about the importance of repair and reusing, not just recycling. It has introduced a more effective method for handling e-waste: repair what can be fixed, and harvest usable parts from what cannot. This approach not only reduces e-waste but also extends the useful life of electronic products, thereby minimising their environmental footprint.

Joining forces with YEAP

While Repair Kopitiam has been successful in creating a sustainable repair culture among its visitors, it hasn’t yet reached a significant portion of Singaporean youth. In previous years, Repair Kopitiam has largely been frequented by older people bringing their damaged electronics for repair — which speaks of the program’s limited engagement with the younger demographic. Currently, youth visitors make up less than 5% of Repair Kopitiam’s public event participants, and thus there is the opportunity to engage what perhaps is a huge, untapped audience.

In line with this, SL2 decided to focus its outreach to the age group of 18 to 36. They recognised the urgency of collaborating with the younger generation to create lasting change in e-waste management. In this pursuit, SL2 found a valuable ally in the Youth E-Waste Ambassador Program (YEAP). YEAP’s mission aligns perfectly with SL2’s vision, and their partnership offers a powerful platform for engaging the youth in Singapore.

The Singaporean youth are poised to play a pivotal role in addressing the e-waste issue in Singapore. They stand to inherit a better understanding of the challenges associated with e-waste and can learn from the mistakes of previous generations. The myths and beliefs that hinder sustainable e-waste management can be dispelled, and a new mindset can emerge. The youth are essential torchbearers of a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

Also read: YEAP joins forces with youths to drive e-waste awareness and sustainable innovation

Through their collaboration with YEAP, SL2 aims to provide the Singaporean youth with an opportunity to experience the joy and community spirit that emerges from repairing items at Repair Kopitiam. They want the youth to understand that “Repair” is not just a missing ‘R’ but a crucial one in the concept of the circular economy, which is integral to sustainable living.

To the Singaporean youth, SL2 offers a precious piece of advice: take one step at a time in your sustainability journey. Amidst numerous distractions and a multitude of suggestions, focus on one sustainable action at a time. Make sustainability a habit, not a chore. By doing so, you can make a significant and lasting impact on e-waste management and contribute to a more sustainable future.

SL2’s Repair Kopitiam’s partnership with YEAP is a testament to their shared commitment to creating a more sustainable approach to e-waste management in Singapore. Together, they are working to engage the younger generation, break down myths, and instil a sense of responsibility for the environment, all the while promoting the culture of repair and sustainable living.

For more insights on e-waste, and updates on upcoming programs and activities, follow YEAP on Instagram and Facebook.

Join YEAP. Become a youth ambassador here.

To learn more about Repair Kopitiam, click here.

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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by YEAP

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