Jason Romain

Small and medium enterprises have faced significant challenges this year due to trade tensions, the emergence of AI, and manpower shortages. Start-ups are also grappling with a funding winter. In this episode of Work Talk, we find out which support measures in Budget 2024 are useful to businesses in meeting these challenges, and what additional support entrepreneurs are hoping for. Thanks Ramesh Rajentheran and Yuit Ang for sharing your insights, and to Krist Boo for being a great host. The Straits Times

28

1 Comment

Why is there such a big gap between the strategic narrative and operating reality in telcos? Sharing my personal experience yesterday with Starhub. Starhub calls itself a quad-play operator but can’t even combine two plays in its customer experience. 📞 Recently, I had a billing issue with both mobile and TV services. The call center’s response? “Dear Sir, I am from the mobile department, I cannot help you with the TV package change.” 📺 Then came the survey asking me to rate my “wonderful” experience with the agent, who urged, “Please give me a good rating 🤔 .An AI tool could’ve flagged this as a detractor-level conversation, but the survey was automated, lacking context. 📡 My roaming didn’t work because there was a lag between 2 systems at the telco, so I switched to another telco’s eSIM, only to find out they weren’t much better. Circles Life made me download an extra app, Jetpac, with a $1 promo that had no clear activation status. I downloaded it twice and lost the promo! 🤷‍♂️ Instead of making customers choose the least bad option, telcos should: 🛠️ Integrate their backend data with CX agents for a seamless customer experience. 🤖 Use gen AI to understand sentiments and improve customer interactions. 💬 Ensure clear communication in offers with instant activations even if its a new service like eSIM else be disrupted by agile players like Airalo Do you agree, Share your thoughts! 💬 #Telco #eSIM #CustomerExperience #AI

8

Latest data from YouGov BrandIndex shows that Lazada, Lalamove and Grab have registered the biggest increase in #advertising awareness in #Singapore over the past month: https://okt.to/GjZhn9 #consumerintelligence #marketresearch #datainsights

4

Enjoy our latest thought leadership published today! #digitalmarketing #thoughtleadership #marketingstrategy

17

1 Comment

As you may have heard, we’ve launched our annual survey for the 2024 State of Account-Based Marketing (ABM) in APAC Report. This is your guide to understanding how the region's marketing leaders navigate ABM in a constantly challenging and shifting landscape. How exactly is ABM being applied across APAC? What's working? What's not? And how can it be done better? The survey is anonymous, and will only take a few minutes, but in return, you’ll receive an exclusive pre-release copy of the upcoming report, and join the industry conversation. Take the survey: https://shorturl.at/iUW81 Now in its third year, the xGrowth State of ABM in APAC Report is conducted with our research partners Media Collateral – and is the leading study covering the fast-evolving ABM space across the region. Over 100 CMOs, VPs, and Heads of Marketing participated in the 2023 survey, alongside our expert panel, who discussed ABM insights, strategies, and predictions for the future. Take the survey and join this year’s discussion: https://shorturl.at/iUW81 #survey #abm #apac

4

I had a great convo with Justin Ong (as always) and Tim Till - both from Ogilvy - over lunch yesterday. One interesting topic that we discussed was “High Traffic vs Quality Traffic”. It’s always controversial on whether we should execute campaigns based on high traffic or quality traffic sites. Some say high traffic will generate more eyeballs and people will notice you. But what is the ultimate end goal here? Just brand awareness? Sales? Be honest… 😏 Photo taken from Ogilvy Singapore office before the lunch meet. I love their mantra - #Do ———————————————————————— 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 “𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘷𝘴 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘴” 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯. 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥. #KeepMoving #Do #MarTech #SpotLUMOS

17

4 Comments

The #dentsu Story of Adaptation and Growth. Read now!

15

When combined, AI and smartphones are a force to reckon with. More so, in Southeast Asia’s booming mobile marketing landscape. This article by The Drum outlines strategies to leverage the power duo along with inspiring case studies: https://lnkd.in/gH4GCzDY #AIinAdvertising #GenerativeAI #MobileMarketing

1

The digital gap between forward-thinking companies and those falling behind is widening in today's economic landscape. IDC's Asia/Pacific Digital SME Pulse Survey reveals that 67% of businesses acknowledge the critical role of digitalization in achieving business agility. To help SMEs assess their digital readiness, we're excited to introduce a self-assessment tool. Discover where your company stands on the path to becoming a future-ready business: [Link to tool](https://lnkd.in/gMa3rb7e) #DigitalTransformation #SMEs #BusinessAgility

3

🌏 The APJ market is vast. Your strategy shouldn’t be generic. 🎯 The diversity of APJ markets can be a stumbling block without the right approach. Generic strategies fail to capture the unique needs of each region. At EnterAPJ, we develop customised strategies tailored to fit the diverse APJ landscape. Our approach ensures your business connects deeply with local markets, setting the stage for long-term success. Interested in a strategy that truly fits? Learn more: https://enterapj.com 🌟 Get your FREE APJ Market Readiness Rating: https://lnkd.in/g_ipQxi6 #APJExpansion #AsiaPacificJapanMarket #APJMarket #APJ #MarketEntry #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #LocalExpertise #EAPJ #EnterAPJ

2

What’s next for GenAI in Marketing: The Forrester B2B APAC Summit 2024 for CMOs and marketing leaders is just a few weeks away. I’m excited to meet you in Singapore on October 1, 2024, and together, we will discuss  the latest data, trends and insights which are shaping the marketer’s remit in a tech disrupted world. At the Summit, you will […] http://dlvr.it/TD3nv2

3

“Why Is the Government Like That?” Whether we like it or not, the government is deeply embedded in our lives. They ensure our water is safe to drink, provide affordable pre-schools for everyone, and attract MNCs to invest in Singapore, creating jobs for Singaporeans. For social enterprises, NGOs, SSAs, and similar organizations, achieving the impact you aspire to can be challenging. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience and are looking to level up your organization, partnering with the government could be a valuable strategy. They can offer connections, guidance, and resources to support your mission. However, working with the government can be complex and, at times, frustrating. That’s why I’m excited to share insights from my 10 years of experience across the public, private, and people sectors with participants in the Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship at SIMGE (SIM Global Education). This will be an interactive workshop where I’ll dive into how the government thinks, talks, and acts. I’m also looking forward to learning from the leaders in their respective fields. Can’t wait to meet everyone and exchange ideas.

28

4 Comments

I'm joining Nishi Seth and Jazz leong on an exciting panel at Singapore's upcoming B2B Marketing Leaders Forum | Singapore 21-22 August 2024 . If you are there, come and say hello! If you haven't yet, register here: https://lnkd.in/gRa2YE5u What we are going to talk about: MYTHS ABOUT REVENUE MARKETING AND ABX DEBUNKED - It’s time to challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding revenue marketing and account-based marketing. - Are we mistaking correlation for causation when it comes to content consumption, intent data, and buying intent? - Is lead scoring an art or a science, and how reliable is it in predicting buyer behaviour? - Do buyers even follow the traditional marketing funnel anymore? And can AI play a meaningful role in any of this?   In this panel discussion, we will dissect and debate these common assumptions, encouraging participants to rethink their approach to marketing strategy and tactics. This promises to be a stimulating discussion that will challenge your thinking and provide new insights into revenue marketing and ABM. #B2BMktgAPAC #b2bmarketing

50

5 Comments

👩‍💼Consumers will willingly share data.👩‍💼 You don’t need to rely solely on third-party data and cookies. However, you need a quality data collection strategy that provides clear value to the individual. Optimise your site for data collection, build trust by clearly explaining to a consumer why you are collecting data and provide real value back to them when they provide you with information. With cookies going and other ID solutions likely to face similar challenges, any forward-facing brand should invest and cultivate its first-party data strategy. Comment below or message me for esbconnect tips for maximising first-party data collection. As Declan Kennedy says: ID-based solutions backed will likely run into the same issues as cookies. There is no single solution to precision targeting across domains. Collecting your data is a wise investment to future proof your business and we are seeing the ROIs are three-time higher than sale-based customer acquisition. Read more and some of my top tips at: https://lnkd.in/eCCAcn2Y Campaign Asia-Pacific #firstpartydata #zeropartydata #crm

8

- Thailand is the No.3 market in Southeast Asia for digital advertising, said Criteo, a French global commerce media company - Thailand has a strong e-commerce market which is projected to rise to 700 billion baht in 2024, up 6% year-on-year. - More than 67% of Thai consumers shop on e-commerce platforms and 88% of Thais browse the internet eight hours a day on average, creating substantial digital advertising opportunities. Check out the full article at https://lnkd.in/gmT_fHux #digitaladvertising

5

As Mediacorp Pte Ltd’s new CCO, Jacqui Lim will lead the Commercial Group in revenue generation and client engagement, collaborating with business units and partners to provide targeted solutions across the company’s wide range of IPs and platforms. Loke Kheng Tham, CEO of Mediacorp, said, “Partnerships are key to unlocking new commercial success. I believe Jacqui will bring her business and creative acumen to continue delivering innovative and targeted solutions for our clients across our wide range of content, talent, and platforms.” Commenting on her appointment, Lim also said, “I am thrilled to join a forward-thinking company that is focused on securing its position as a leading integrated player in the competitive media landscape. I look forward to working with Team Mediacorp to deliver synergistic business results and provide the most effective, complete, and targeted solutions for our clients.” #marketing #appointment #media  ------ -[Awards] MARKETECH APAC is launching its inaugural "Marketing Technology Awards" where we recognise the groundbreaking achievements in marketing technology, uniting the brands and tech organisations within the region’s marketing community. Learn how your brand can be a part of it by checking it more details HERE: https://bit.ly/3SVtoIa -[Industry Series] We have launched our latest industry initiative "E-commerce Marketing Series" where we aim to equip businesses with the latest strategies and insights to navigate the dynamic world of e-commerce, as well as discuss cutting-edge concepts, trends, and case studies shaping the future of online commerce. Learn how you can be part of this industry discussion by checking out more details here: https://bit.ly/4aiMEX4 -[Report] Learn how brands can strategically implement conversational commerce and leverage these platforms to craft exceptional and personalized customer experiences in this in-depth report: https://bit.ly/3SSKVCG

88

4 Comments

Building your brand as a trusted advisor is critical in this competitive landscape. It does not matter if you are selling a consumer product or an enterprise technology solution, it is vital your brand is seen as 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫. This will help you have a unique voice in the industry. To find out more on how to do this, read our blog below.

12

Mimrah Mahmood, Vice President – Enterprise (APAC) and Partner at Meltwater Asia-Pacific, commented on the challenges faced by social media teams: “Social media teams are in an unenviable position of doing a lot more for their organisations this year with limited resources and budget. Concerningly, not having a defined social media strategy is a more prominent challenge in APAC than other regions. With the typical social media user using 6.7 platforms each month, brands need to understand the usage intent of their target audience for their platform of choice. With bandwidth being a major concern, it is crucial that teams identify which are priority channels and customise content accordingly.” https://lnkd.in/dEdgZ5Mt

5