Dell Technologies New Unlocking the Potential

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PLDT, Smart Launch Rolling Store For Frontline

June 15, 2020 · Billboard

EU Delegation Virtual Events

June 15, 2020 · Billboard

Bounty Donates 2,000 kgs Chicken to Feed Manila Zoo

June 15, 2020 · Billboard

Sheraton Manila Bay Launch “The Culinary Courier”

June 15, 2020 · Billboard, Lifestyle, Taste, Wellness

Globe Telecom’s Pioneering Customer Experience Programme

· Billboard, Netbase, Scan, Technology

Powered by world-class consulting from Kantar and Medallia technology, the programme is now seen to unite every unit at Globe to delight their customers

Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company, has launched its partnership in Asia with leading software firm Medallia for a collaborative customer experience (CX) research program for Globe Telecom, the largest mobile, fixed line and broadband network in the Philippines.

Globe Telecom successfully rolled out the Voice of the Customer (VoC) program in the third quarter of 2019. By leveraging Kantar’s expertise in CX and Medallia’s customer feedback platform, the VoC program provided Globe with a systematic, fully automated real time view of its customer engagements across touchpoints that enable its teams to quickly and proactively resolve issues as they emerge. This makes VoC a part of Globe’s day-to-day conversations, influencing their overall strategy, their ways of working, and ultimately, helping them create a truly customer-centric organisation. 

Globe’s VoC program has so far mapped the experience of its over 91 million mobile and broadband customers across 7 key journey points in 9 customer touchpoints in less than 9 months. Since its launch, the programme has provided a platform for Globe’s business units to identify priority areas for improvement, making customer experience every Globe employee’s concern. According to Kantar, Globe sent 8.4 million invitations for feedback in 2019 and have, thus far, reached 4.8 customers this year.  

Beck Eclipse, Chief Experience Officer, Globe Telecom says, “For us at Globe, providing the best customer experience is a key strategic priority and the defining factor that makes the organization unique. As a barometer for our success, we designed an integrated VoC program leveraging best practices from Kantar and Medallia’s leading-edge solution to crack the complex code governing the strength of customer relationships and sustainability of our business by identifying gaps between customer needs and company performance.”

“Listening” during difficult times

Today, as every individual and every business face the challenges posed by the pandemic, Globe is able to utilize the VoC program to continue “listening” to their customers, allowing them to quickly respond to pressing concerns while adapting to changing customer needs.

By being able to keep its pulse on its customers, Globe is better equipped to quickly respond to their needs, thereby, increasing market share, improving brand reputation and reducing cost to serve. Kantar data showed that, in the last 30 days, while most parts of the country were on enhanced community quarantine, the response rate for Globe’s contact centres improved by 6 points. At the same time, field engineers who were deployed to address customer issues were rated 7 points higher as compared to previous months. “Success comes from understanding customer expectations, as these are the key points of differentiation for any business. It is important to tap into the customer’s emotions in moments

that really matter, as well as to design products and services which create positive, memorable experiences that deliver on the brand promise,” said Nithia Kumar, Head of Customer Experience at Kantar Insights in Asia.

A partnership that puts CX front and centre

With Kantar and Medallia’s partnership, both companies are helping Globe Telecom identify, optimise and activate customer insights for lasting customer engagement and maximum return. This approach brings the VoC program into Globe’s daily operations, and harmonises disparate, siloed teams and data sources. In turn, the program provides critical information and insights that allow Globe to deliver unparalleled customer experiences, ultimately driving company performance and transforming its business.

The ongoing partnership of Kantar and Medallia can likewise help other companies in Asia win in the age of experience. They continue to guide organizations to becoming truly customer-centric and help in identifying impactful and profitable areas of investment. By combining customer feedback with financial and operational information, the solution helps businesses determine how different aspects of their experience affect company performance so they can allocate resources accordingly.

“There is no better time than now to keep track of customer sentiment – when it matters most. These are the times customers will remember the experience a brand gave them and will tell their colleagues, friends and families. But great customer experience doesn’t just happen in times of crisis, it’s an ongoing effort with a change in mindset to putting the customer at the heart of everything the company does,” said Gavin Selkirk, General Manager, APAC at Medallia.

About Kantar:

Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar’s 30,000 people help the world’s leading organisations succeed and grow.

About Medallia:

Medallia (NYSE: MDLA) is the pioneer and market leader in Experience Management. Medallia’s award-winning SaaS platform, the Medallia Experience Cloud, leads the market in the understanding and management of experience for customers, employees and citizens. Medallia captures experience signals created on daily journeys in person, digital and IoT interactions and applies proprietary AI technology to reveal personalized and predictive insights that can drive action with tremendous business results. Using Medallia Experience Cloud, customers can reduce churn, turn detractors into promoters and buyers, and create in-the-moment cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, providing clear and potent returns on investment.

www.medallia.com

About Globe: Globe Telecom, Inc.  is a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines and publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange with the stock symbol GLO. The company serves

the telecommunications and technology needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connectivity, internet and managed services. It has major interests in financial technology, digital marketing solutions, venture capital funding for startups, and virtual healthcare. In 2019, Globe became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, committing to implement universal sustainability principles.  Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singtel, acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visitwww.globe.com.ph. Follow @enjoyglobe on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Allianz PNB Life Launches Podcast “Caffeine Boost”

· Billboard, Lifestyle, Taste

Earlier this year, Allianz PNB Life launched Caffeine Boost, a podcast which provides light and relatable discussions on finance, investment, health, and other topics that have become relevant to surviving the new normal.

For Caffeine Boost’s most recent episode, “Why We Need to Rethink Universal Healthcare in Our Communities”, the show featured digital health care and health finance expert Edward Booty, the founder and CEO of Reach52, The organization is a social enterprise that seeks to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare to rural communities.

Prior to founding Reach52 in 2016, Booty worked for the UK National Health Service (NHS), one of the world’s largest consulting organizations. He has worked extensively in digital healthcare, patient access, and insurance and health financing in Europe and now in Asia’s emerging markets.

Asked about the origin of Reach52, Booty explained that the 52 stands for the 52 percent who don’t have access to healthcare.

“It’s about the 52 percent of Asia who live in rural areas,” he said, adding that “the core of what we do is to build a number of offline Android apps that will allow women in disconnected communities, with knowledge and training, one or two per barangay, to be health workers.”

Booty pointed out that insurance companies can help bridge the healthcare protection gap.

“Insurance has a huge role to play within the global healthcare development space,” he said.

He emphasized that the private sector, “should work collaboratively with government to achieve better health outcomes for all and obviously have a sustainable business behind it.”

Caffeine Boost started as an internal initiative for the financial advisors of Allianz PNB Life.  Conceptualized by insurance industry expert and the podcast’s host, Josel Gaston, the podcast also features finance industry professionals Chris Cabognason, Emma Carranza, and Candice Veloso.

After covering topics such as building one’s online presence, health needs planning, equity and other locally available funds, mental health issues, and strong women in the time of pandemic, the podcast has started to draw a following from outside the organization.

“We’re now on our eighth episode, and we’d like to invite everyone to join us as we tackle different topics concerning health and insurance. We were surprised to learn that there are a lot of auditory learners among Filipinos,” Gaston related.

Listen to the entire Caffeine Boost by Allianz PNB Life podcast episodes for free on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Anchor FM.

You can listen to the podcast here:

About Allianz in Asia

Asia is one of the core growth regions for Allianz, characterized by a rich diversity of cultures, languages and customs. Allianz has been present in the region since 1910, when it first provided fire and marine insurance in the coastal cities of China. Today, Allianz is active in 14 markets in the region, offering its core businesses of property and casualty insurance, life, protection and health solutions, as well as asset management. With its more than 32,000 staff, Allianz serves the needs of over 18 million customers in the region across multiple distribution channels and digital platforms.

About Allianz

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with more than 92 million retail and corporate customers. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 673 billion euros on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage more than 1.4 trillion euros of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we hold the leading position for insurers in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2018, over 142,000 employees in more than 80 countries achieved total revenues of 131 billion euros and an operating profit of 11.5 billion euros for the group

These assessments are, as always, subject to the disclaimer provided below.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such deviations may arise due to, without limitation, (i) changes of the general economic conditions and competitive situation, particularly in the Allianz Group’s core business and core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets (particularly market volatility, liquidity and credit events), (iii) frequency and severity of insured loss events, including from natural catastrophes, and the development of loss expenses, (iv) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (v) persistency levels, (vi) particularly in the banking business, the extent of credit defaults, (vii) interest rate levels, (viii) currency exchange rates including

the EUR/USD  exchange rate, (ix) changes in laws and regulations, including tax regulations, (x) the impact of acquisitions, including related integration issues, and reorganization measures, and (xi) general competitive factors, in each case on a local, regional, national and/or global basis. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur, or more pronounced, as a result of terrorist activities and their consequences.

No duty to update

The company assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.

Privacy Note

Allianz SE is committed to protecting your personal data. Find out more in our Privacy Statement.

Tanduay Thanks Farmers, Distillers for Its Latest Awards

· Billboard

Tanduay is grateful to the farmers and distillers behind its products, as it won five medals from the Beverage Testing Institute.

“This is good news not just for us but for the entire country as well, as our products are all proudly Philippine-made. During these challenging times, let us not forget what makes this country great and it’s our people. We raise a glass to our sugarcane farmers and distillers. Without them, Tanduay would not have perfected its process of creating the world’s number one rum and continued its success for more than 100 years,” said Vice President for Sales and Marketing Paul Lim.

Tanduay Asian Rum Gold topped the list with a gold medal. One of Tanduay’s most awarded products, it is known for its smooth flavor with the richness of vanilla and notes of oak on its finish. It is aged in used bourbon barrels for seven years.

Silver medals, meanwhile, were awarded to Tanduay Asian Rum Silver and Boracay Cappuccino Flavored Rum.

Tanduay Double Rum and Boracay Coconut Flavored Rum both received bronze medals.

Founded in 1981, Beverage Testing Institute provides reviews for wines, spirits, and beers. It uses “industry-leading methodology co-developed with Cornell University” in its evaluations.

“We are thankful for the recognitions that we receive as they are testament to our people’s hard work and innovation. We are proud to produce a world-class product from the Philippines,” Lim said.

New Hanabishi Endorser Sarah Geronimo Guidicelli

· Billboard, Scan, Technology

Hanabishi Philippines’ new celebrity endorser Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli encourages families to find ways to make their home life better during quarantine. The Popstar advices people to stay at home and learn a new skill like cooking or baking as they have more time at their disposal. Get the kids to make their own merienda or midnight snacks, catch up on the series you’ve been wanting to see, or finally finish that book you’ve been putting off reading for months.

“Tulungan po natin ang ating mga frontliners at ating gobyerno ngayong mga panahong ito na tayo ay nahaharap sa pagsubok. Sa halip na nakatuon tayo sa mga negatibong bagay, gumawa po tayo ng paraan upang lalong mas mapaganda ang ating buhay sa loob ng ating mga tahanan. (Let us help our front-liners and the government during these challenging times. Instead of focusing on the negative, let’s find ways to do to make our home life better),” Geronimo-Guidicelli says.

If you’re looking for kitchen appliances to help you make your first dish, you can now easily place an order for one through the Hanabishi website, www.myhanabishi.com.

They have broilers, grillers, fryers, electric cookers, and juice blenders. You can also buy mixers, food processors, steamers, pressure cookers, and stoves from the site.

Apart from the kitchen appliances mentioned above, you may also order Hanabishi’s electric fans and coolers; air-conditioning units; refrigerators; rice cookers; water dispensers; garment care appliances; and vacuums and sterilizers through their website.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa bago ‘kong kapamilya, ang Hanabishi. Alam naman ng pamilyang Pilipino na ang Hanabishi ay isa sa pinagkakatiwalaang brand of appliances dito sa atin. Ang mga kailangan natin upang mapasaya ang ating buhay pamilya habang tayo ay naka-quarantine ay mabibili na online mula sa Hanabishi. (I am grateful to my new family, Hanabishi. Filipino families have known Hanabishi as one of the most trusted brands in the country. The things we need to make our family life happy while on quarantine can now be bought online from Hanabishi,” Sarah further adds.

Hanabishi currently offers free shipping for small items. You can have your order picked up at their warehouse at Meycauayan, Bulacan or choose to have it delivered to your preferred address. Placing an order is easy. Visit the Hanabishi website and add to cart the appliance you want to order. Make a payment through Metrobank, BDO, Dragonpay, or PayPal.

Choose between the pickup and delivery options. Deliveries will be made through either Transportify or Lalamove. Wait for the confirmation, and then you’re through.

For inquiries about the free shipping on small items, you may call Nikki at 0966-8137150; Lot at 0927-3084741; Je at 0932-5657796; or Pearl at 0997-6024956.

About Hanabishi:

Spanning more than three decades, Hanabishi has established its reputation as a provider of affordable yet quality home products that lasts, which paved the way for its tagline “Kapartner from Start to Forever.” Hanabishi Home Appliances are available at leading appliance stores nationwide. For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/and like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/

ASIAN EYE INSTITUTE, SKY GIVE LUZON STUDENTS THE GIFT OF CLEAR VISION

· Lifestyle, Wellness

Asian Eye Institute and SKY partnered to provide students with free eye checkups and prescription glasses through the Kislap Mata: Malinaw na Mata, Malinaw na Kinabukasan project. Students were also taught the importance of having healthy vision and having good eye care habits,so they can perform well in school, sports and in socializing among their peers.

Zacquia Chua and Cassandra Baral of Lagundi Elementary School were among those who’ve had difficulty reading and catching up in class due to poor vision. But through the Kislap Mata project, they updated their prescription and received new pairs of eyeglasses. Baral said, “Mas makakapag-aral na po akong mabuti kasi makakakita na po ako ng mas maigi. Salamat po sa SKY at Asian Eye.”

The beneficiaries of the project were from San Isidro Elementary School in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, andSto. Tomas North Central School and Lagundi Elementary School in Morong, Rizal. A total of 575 students attended the lectures, 338 underwent eye checkups, and 108 received prescription glasses. There were also 23 students that were referred to EyeSite by Asian Eye Institute for further checkups and/or diagnostic tests. A part of the Asian Eye network of clinics, EyeSite is an eye center and optical shop found in four locations – St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, SM City Batangas in Batangas City, SM City Dasmariñas in Cavite, and SM City Fairview in Quezon City.

Claire Rino, principal of Lagundi Elementary School, shared that the project would be very helpful for their students. “We feel privileged of the Kislap Mata project of SKY. Eyesight is very important for students. Without healthy eyes, they won’t be able to understand and read their lessons. Thank you very much to SKY and Asian Eye. Of all the schools in the Philippines, Morong got picked.”

According to Asian Eye Chief Operating Officer Alwin Sta. Rosa, this project is part of the institute’s goal to reach out to more Filipinos, especially children. “We’re happy that SKY partnered with us in the Kislap Mata project. Because most children don’t know what normal vision is and what isn’t, a lot of them don’t complain if they have blurry or double vision. But through this project, we’re able to help children have clear, healthy vision and at the same time, support the government’s initiative in diagnosing and addressing early childhood problems.”

Just recently, the National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) was signed into law. It requires kindergarten students to undergo vision screening to catch any eye problems early, develop a referral system for treatment, create a database that has the results of the screening per child and visual diagnoses by eye care practitioners, and conduct continuing research on the state of visual impairment.

More than just giving glasses, it’s also important for children to learn good eye care habits early. Sta. Rosa added, “It gave us an opportunity to teach children what it means to have healthy eyes. Kids are constantly exposed to technology, so it’s good practice for them to rest their eyes every 20 minutes of studying of playing on gadgets. It’s also an effective way to prevent eye fatigue that can lead to headaches. Another factor to consider is good hand hygiene to avoid eye irritation or infections like sore eyes.”

SKY Head of Marketing Gidgette Faustino shared SKYcable’s eagerness to help students, “We at SKY are grateful for the opportunity to help in any way we can, we envisioned ‘Kislap Mata’ project to help select students learn in their full capacity and more comfortably with clearer eyesight. We look forward to more learning advocacies that will help spearhead education in the country.”

Pinoy-made ocean waste collector and dengue mapper to join the NASA global hackathon

· Billboard, Lifestyle, Wellness

MANILA, Philippines – A deployable, autonomous ocean waste collection system utilizing space data to locate nearby garbage patches built by students from De La Salle University and an automated information portal which correlates dengue cases with real-time data from satellite, climate, and search engines won the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s International Space Apps Challenge last October 18-20, 2019 in Manila, in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD), Animo Labs technology business incubator, PLDT InnoLab, American Corner Manila, the U.S. government, and part of the Design Week Philippines with Department of Trade and Industry-Design Center of the Philippines.

Upper row Associate American Corner librarian Donna Lyn G. Labangon, Space Apps leader Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, former DICT Usec. Monchito B. Ibrahim, Animo Labs executive director Mr. Federico C. Gonzalez, DOST-PCIEERD deputy executive director Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, PLDT Enterprise Core Business Solutions vice president and head Joseph Ian G. Gendrano, lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas, and Animo Labs program manager Junnell E. Guia. Lower row Janos Lance L. Tiberio, Samantha Maxine Santos, Grant Lewis Bulaong, and Antonio Miguel S. Alejo of Ocean’s 4 who developed PaWiKAN.

Using NASA’s Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time (OSCAR) data to determine possible locations of ocean garbage patches using GPS, PaWiKAN uses a pair of deployable, dynamically reconfigurable boats capable of trapping and returning ocean waste back to ground. It is equipped with extended-range radio system based on LoRa technology and Arduino to communicate with sensors and controlled by a deployment station. It was developed by Lasallian electronics and communications engineering students Samantha Maxine Santos, Antonio Miguel S. Alejo, Grant Lewis Bulaong, and Janos Lance L. Tiberio of Ocean’s 4, who also joined the last year’s hackathon, creating a hyper-casual puzzle game utilizing images from the Hubble Space Telescope and intuitive physics concepts.

“Our global bodies of water are actually littered with plastics. This is a very futuristic solution to help get rid of plastics currently floating or submerged in global waters. It is timely and relevant solution,” according to Monchito B. Ibrahim, Industry Development Committee Chairman of the Analytics Association of the Philippines and former undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Upper row Associate American Corner librarian Donna Lyn G. Labangon, Space Apps leader Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, former DICT Usec. Monchito B. Ibrahim, Animo Labs executive director Mr. Federico C. Gonzalez, DOST-PCIEERD deputy executive director Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, PLDT Enterprise Core Business Solutions vice president and head Joseph Ian G. Gendrano, lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas, and Animo Labs program manager Junnell E. Guia. Lower row Dominic Vincent D. Ligot, Frances Claire Tayco, Mark Toledo, and Jansen Dumaliang Lopez of Aedes project.

With 271,480 dengue cases resulting in 1,107 deaths as reported from January 1 to August 31, 2019 by the World Health Organization, the Aedes Project team composed of Dominic Vincent D. Ligot, Mark Toledo, Frances Claire Tayco, and Jansen Dumaliang Lopez developed a forecasting model of dengue cases using climate and digital data and pinpointing possible hotspots from satellite data. Correlating information from Sentinel-2 Copernicus and Landsat 8 satellites, DOST-PAGASA for climate, and trends from search engines, potential dengue hotspots will be displayed in a web interface. Indices like Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are used in identifying areas with green vegetation while Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to identify areas with water. Combining these indices reveal potential areas of stagnant water capable of being breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

“It benefits the community especially those countries suffering from malaria and dengue, just like the Philippines. I think it has a global impact. This is the new science to know the potential areas where dengue might occur. It is a good app,” said Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, deputy executive director of DOST-PCIEERD.

“It is very relevant to the Philippines and other countries which usually having problems with dengue. The team was able to show that it’s not really difficult to have all the data you need and integrate all of them and make them accessible to everyone for them to be able to use it. It’s a working model. It is something can actually be made usable in a short span of six months,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

Biological oceanographer Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, acting deputy director of the Earth Science Mission, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and the current leader of the Space Apps global organizing team

Space Apps leader Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, the acting deputy director of the Earth Science Mission, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate was impressed of these solutions presented in Manila, “The top two are really good. There were definitely a few projects right behind them. There is a lot of good talent out there. It was nice to see.”

Rex Lor from United Nations Development Programme in the Philippines commended the use of the Sustainable Development Goals on Good Health and Well-Being, and Life Below Water of the winning solutions showcasing the “pivotal role of cutting-edge digital technologies in the creation of strategies for sustainable development in the face of evolving development issues.”

Both champions will join teams around the world to be evaluated by NASA to approximately select the top 30 projects as global finalists in early December, and the top six winners will be announced in January 2020. Winners shall be invited to visit the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Florida in 2020.

Last year, team iNON used a citizen science platform by NASA to develop an application seeking to communicate scientific data to fishermen even without Internet connection, which led them to victory as the first Pinoy global winner. Their project called ISDApp is currently being incubated by Animo Labs.

Pinoy hackers going deep into addressing real-world problems on Earth and space.

University president Br. Raymundo B. Suplido FSC hopes that NASA Space Apps would “encourage our young Filipino researchers and scientists to create ideas and startups based on space science and technology, and pave the way for the promotion and awareness of the programs of our own Philippine space agency.”

Vice President Leni Robredo recognized Space Apps as a platform “where some of our country’s brightest minds can collaborate in finding and creating solutions to our most pressing problems, not just in space, but more importantly here on Earth.”

“Space Apps is a community of scientists and engineers, artists and hackers coming together to address key issues here on Earth. At the heart of Space Apps are data that come to us from spacecraft flying around Earth and are looking at our world,” as explained by Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for science.

#SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH

The quest for health and a natural look boosts sales of beauty products in Asia

· Billboard, Fashion, Glam, Lifestyle, Wellness

Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights, and consulting company, announced that key drivers of growth in the Asia beauty market are natural ingredients that help consumers achieve good skin health, makeup that helps people obtain a natural look, and skincare products aimed at male shoppers. The Beauty Trends in Asia report highlights the key drivers behind the +8% growth in beauty product sales between 2017-18 compared to +4% for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) as a whole, while sales of personal care products in the region continue to outperform the total FMCG market.

“Asian people believe health is almost twice as important to their happiness as having more money,” says Ashley Kang, Head of Beauty Sector at Kantar Worldpanel division. “They see what they put on their skin as a health supplement – and this has changed the products and benefits they desire. They are extremely knowledgeable too, so brands must be transparent in their communications. The wellness trend is also encouraging certain emerging formats to thrive.”

Derma-care is becoming mainstream

New sophisticated formats in skincare and makeup that provide derma-care properties are rising in popularity. Derma brands have reached almost 45% penetration in Korea, a massive influx from just over 25% in 2017. Their second highest reach is Taiwan at 40%, an increase from 37.6% in 2017.

Derma products contain sophisticated ingredients that deliver a high level of efficacy in treating specific skin issues, such as eczema, but are increasingly used to solve more general problems, such as sensitive skin and pollution protection. With consumer brands launching their own ranges, derma-care is increasingly more mainstream, when it was once a niche segment and a domain of brands with a heritage in pharmaceuticals. Developments in retail and distribution are helping to increase the footprint of these products outside drugstores.

The natural look is driving the launch of new ranges and variants The most sought after look in Asia right now is a natural glow. Being well-hydrated is a prerequisite for this look, which has helped drive sales of serums that promise intense hydration. Penetration of serums is highest in Korea at 61%, rising from 58% in 2017. In China, penetration has increased from 18% in 2017 to nearly 26% today. 

This ‘effortless’ natural look can require significant work. The specific makeup products that help people achieve the right translucent effect include liquid foundation, BB creams, and primer/concealer – all of which are soaring in popularity. 

Kantar predicts that makeup that provides skincare or medicinal benefits will be a key growth area for the future. Various crossover products have already emerged between the skincare and makeup segments, such as toner cream that instantly brightens the skin. Positioning these products closer to skincare can be an effective strategy in China, where there remains a perception that the pigments in makeup could be harmful.

Men-only skincare is a major growth opportunity

The number of men using skincare products is also growing steadily across Asia, particularly in China, South Korea, and Thailand. They are buying in more categories as they add more steps to their beauty regime. However, most are still not buying products that have been created specifically for men. Products targeted at men contribute 10% of the total value sales for beauty in the region, but this segment is growing slower than unisex skincare brands. 

“Men in their twenties are most likely to buy men-only skincare products, but as they get older, they begin to use whatever products they find on the bathroom shelf,” continues Kang. “There is a substantial growth opportunity here for brands that can shift spend from unisex products to men-only variants, and prevent men from ‘lapsing’ as they get older, particularly for products promising oil control, anti-aging, whitening, and sunscreen benefits.”

Consumers crave products that are ‘just for me’

Shoppers in Asia believe that if a product is tailored to them, it will be more effective — and it also helps them to feel special. Customization is rapidly gaining momentum in both skincare and makeup. Computer-aided diagnosis enables skincare brands to assess an individual’s skin and formulate a product that provides the benefits specific to that individual. Makeup with customized colors, textures, and finishes is also growing in popularity.

Notes to editor:

The data and insights from this report come from the Worldpanel division’s Beauty Panel in Asia. This unique Beauty Panel tracks the usage and shopper behavior concerning beauty products.

About Kantar
 Kantar is the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company. We understand more about how people think, feel, shop, share, vote and view than anyone else. Combining our expertise in human

understanding with advanced technologies, Kantar’s 30,000 people help the world’s leading organisations succeed and grow.

For further information, please visit us at www.kantar.com

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Dell Introduces World’s Most Flexible Modular Zero-Footprint PC

· Billboard, Netbase, Rated, Technology, UNWIND

News Summary:

  • Dell’s first-of-its-kind OptiPlex 7070 Ultra hides the PC in the monitor stand for a clutter-free, zero-footprint[1] desktop
  • With the world’s most flexible commercial desktop solution[2], the Dell OptiPlex 7070 Ultra, customers can upgrade their display[3] and PC separately as well as choose display mount and support up to three displays

Full Story:

Dell Technologies today announced the new OptiPlex 7070 Ultra, an innovative desktop that stores its small and powerful technology vertically inside a thin and light display stand. The industry’s most flexible, zero-footprint desktop design, the OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is beautiful, space-saving, and clutter-free; as well as fully modular so customers can configure and upgrade as needed throughout the product lifecycle. This means the PC and display[1] of this zero-footprint desktop can be upgraded and serviced independently of one another. 

  • “IT leaders are faced with pressure to keep costs down while giving employees flexibility and freedom to work in ways they’re most productive. As more organizations move to open floor plans, they’re looking for technology that maximizes desk space, employee productivity and IT investments,” said Ronnie Latinazo, Country General Manager, Philippines, Dell Technologies. “Thirty-five years ago, Dell disrupted the way PCs were made and delivered to the world. With the OptiPlex 7070 Ultra, we are changing the category again, with an innovative desktop solution that’s hidden in plain sight.”

“The new OptiPlex 7070 Ultra caters to today’s modern workforces’ desires in a desktop – compact and flexible design, but still allows users the freedom to independently upgrade their technology,” added Latinazo. “This flexible combination of AIO and Micro form factors allows Philippine businesses to help their employees be the most productive while maintaining a clutter-free work environment they desire.”

[1]  Based on Dell internal analysis of competitive products, June 2019. Ultra 7070 supports Dell and 3rd Party VESA Displays up to 27”, sold separately. Zero footprint solution requires OptiPlex 7070 Ultra Fixed or Height Adjustable Stand, supporting VESA mounted displays up to 24” and 27”, respectively.

[2] Based on Dell internal analysis of competitive products, June 2019.

[3] Compatible display(s) sold separately.

[4] Compatible display(s) sold separately

Dell’s customer research shows companies like the ability to upgrade their systems. They also enjoy the aesthetics of the All-in-One. Because customers tend to upgrade their computers more frequently than their displays, the independent upgradability of the Ultra brings the best of the traditional desktop and the All-in-One together into a single, new, innovative platform.

Flexible, Upgradable, Innovative Design

The OptiPlex 7070 Ultra features configurable elements for ultimate flexibility and performance. Key features include:

  • Independent upgrade of the PC and display[1], so customers can swap out, upgrade or service any part at any time
  • A monitor stand that integrates the PC within and includes physical security options designed to protect against tampering 
  • Flexible configurations ideal for multi-user, open-plan workspaces
  • Configurable to different use cases or work styles with compatible products like a height adjustable stand, fixed stand, VESA mount, Dell Single Monitor Arm | MSA20 for superior adjustability and Dell Dual Monitor Arm | MDA20 for added desk agility[2]
  • Performance and scalability to match users’ needs, up to Intel® Core™ vPro™ i7 processors, 64GB[3] of RAM, 1TB[4] NVMe SSD and 2TB HDD

Additionally, a recent Dell study shows that using two monitors can boost worker productivity by up to 21%[5]. The Ultra can support up to three displays[6] – from 19 to 27 inches – for increased productivity. Power, data, video and audio are transmitted in one single cable when the Ultra is paired with Dell USB-C monitors.

OptiPlex Optimized with Dell Technologies Unified Workspace

Earlier this year, Dell Technologies announced Unified Workspace, a visionary approach to end-user computing designed to give workers a frustration-free, ready-to-work experience while empowering IT with automated, open and intelligent management solutions. The new OptiPlex portfolio is optimized with Dell Technologies Unified Workspace so IT can easily deploy, secure, manage and support these devices, and users can be productive on day one.

Pricing and Availability:

  • The Dell OptiPlex 7070 Ultra is now available with a starting price of PHP 53,500.00

[5] Compatible display(s) sold separately.

[6] Stand and mount options availability vary per market

[7] System memorymay be used to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.

[8] Hard Drive capacity varies with preloaded material and will be less.

[9] Source: Based on Principled Technologies Report commissioned by Dell, “Improve productivity with the new Dell P Series monitors in a dual-display configuration”, November 2018, comparing Dell 24 USB-C Monitor – P2419H/HC and Dell 24 Monitor – P2414H/HC. Actual results will vary. Full report:

[10] Compatible display(s) sold separately.

Additional Resources:

  • Follow the latest news on Twitter from @Dell
  • Connect with Dell via Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) is a unique family of businesses that helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live, and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio spanning from edge to core to cloud.

CONTACT(S):

Elizabeth R. Pabunag +62 817 480 9941

Jinny Dolendo +63 917 882 5467