FOCUS
The Magazine of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
January 2015
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www.fccsingapore.com
VENTURES in the DIGITAL MAZE Digitally Enhanced Meetings | The Evolution of the Hospitality Industry in the Digital Era | Engaging Connected Consumers: The Retailer’s Challenge | Two Tips for Managing your e-Reputation
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CONTENTS
January 2015
SHORT NEWS
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Thales Inaugurates Innovation Hub in Singapore Veolia Water Technologies to Run Centralised Wastewater Treatment Plant at JTC Geodis Wilson Opens New Logistics Hub in Singapore to Service Global Oil & Gas Industry JCDecaux Unveils the Digital Towers at Singapore Changi Airport Teledirect Singapore Wins Award for “Best Large Outsourced Contact Center” Ewineasia.com Turns 10 Get on Cloud We Have an App for That FCCS Releases So Chic 2015, 2nd Edition of Guide to French Shopping and Dining in Singapore
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
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Essilor Tackles Emerging Markets from Singapore Entrepreneur Spotlights - Meet French Entrepreneurs in Singapore
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Geodis Wilson, the global freight management and logistics provider, has announced the expansion of its global network of operating hubs dedicated to the sector, thus underlining its ongoing commitment to the logistics demands of the Oil & Gas industry. In addition to existing hubs in Houston and Vitrolles (near Marseille), the company has just opened a third hub in Singapore. Two more, in Antwerp and Dubai, will be online by the end of the year and a further two are planned for
Smart Nation - Better Living, Greater Opportunities, Stronger Communities An Agile Way of Working Crafting Compelling Digital Customer Experiences Managing Communications on Digital Platforms Using Data to Predict the Future? Two Tips for Managing your e-Reputation The Omnichannel Experience Focus on Digital Health in China: A Key Opportunity for Pharma Disrupting the Insurance Industry The Evolution of the Hospitality Industry in the Digital Eray Digitally Enhanced Meetings Engaging Connected Consumers: The Retailer’s Challenge
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FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES
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Newly Set Up Companies They Rely on Us... and Testify on Our Services The FCCS highlights French expertise at Medical Fair Asia 2014 The FCCS unveils its new Business Centre!
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Asia Committee Banking & Finance Committee / Legal & Tax Committee Aeronautics, Space, Defence & Security Committee / R&D Committee Business Women Committee / ICT Committee Energy/Infrastructure Committee Healthcare Committee Human Resources Committee / French Maritime Cluster Platform for SMEs & Entrepreneurs / Legal & Tax Committee / Smart Cities Committee Marketing & Communication Committee Sourcing & Supply Chain Committee Sustainability Committee French Gourmet Committee FCCS Events New FCCS Members French Chamber Privilege Card
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From its headquarters and primary Oil & Gas hub in Houston (established in 2009) the Company has developed its network of operational centres across the globe. The new hub in Singapore is strategically located to service the Oil
& Gas clusters in Southeast Asia. The North African region is served through its Vitrolles hub in the South of France. The upcoming centre in Antwerp will serve North Sea activities, Eastern Europe and Africa, while Dubai will become Geodis Wilson’s Oil & Gas hub for the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. In 2015, the company plans to expand into China and South Africa with the launch of additional hubs. F
JCDecaux, the leading Out of Home Advertising Company in Singapore and No. 1 outdoor advertising company in the world unveils the Digital Towers, two first digital landmarks at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1. The first of their kind in an in-airport terminal environment, the Digital Towers are state-of-the-art digital media landmarks strategically located at both arrival immigration halls within Terminal 1. These impressive towers of 7 meters in height offer high quality through 9 units of High-Definition (HD) 80-inch digital screens. Unique to the Digital Towers is the programmable screen rotation which can be co-ordinated with customised image reproduction, providing clients an exclusive opportunity to pioneer an all-new and highly impactful advertising medium. The Digital Towers offer maximum campaign visibility to departing, transiting and arriving passengers with a potential reach to 1.5 million passengers per month. F
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PATRON MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
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Interview with a FCCS Patron Member
January 2015
Essilor Tackles Emerging Markets from Singapore Interview with Patrick Cherrier, CEO, Essilor AMERA
Mid 2011, Essilor decided to put more emphasis on emerging markets and added Africa, Middle-East and Russia to Asia in order to form a new region called AMERA. I was appointed CEO for this region. CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ESSILOR’S STRATEGY IN ASIA? Today, impaired vision affects 4.2 billion people around the world: it is the world’s most common disability. The Essilor mission is to improve lives by improving sight. Of the 4.2 billion, 2.5 billion have no access to visual correction, and most of them are located in the AMERA region. In order to reach out to these 2.5 billion people, Essilor has created new inclusive economic models. Today, solutions exist for every vision impairment at all prices points.
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Combining organic growth with acquisitions is the best way of achieving high growth and penetration in this part of the world.
The consumption growth in emerging markets is fuelled by the growing middle class population, we then need to be present in all segments to seize these market opportunities. In our industry the top segment is occupied by large multinational companies while the middle and low segments are the territory of local companies. Acquiring local companies and setting up majority partnerships are the keys to effectively penetrate these markets. External growth is a key element of our strategy and we are currently accelerating. Combining organic growth and acquisitions is the best way of achieving high growth and penetration in this part of the world. IS SINGAPORE A STRATEGIC HUB TO SERVE GROWTH AREAS? Singapore is strategically located at the center of the AMERA region. Thanks to its world-class infrastructure and con-
nectivity, managing a large region of emerging markets such as the AMERA out of Singapore has proven to be efficient. The growth we are experiencing in this region requires significant talent recruitment. With our regional headquarters based in Singapore, it is easier to attract and recruit the right talents from all over the world. This is truly a key advantage for us as we need specific resources to support this fast growth in such a large territory. We are not the only one to have chosen Singapore to drive emerging markets, we clearly see that more and more multinational companies have chosen to base their operations in the City-State to manage emerging markets. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES OF APAC REGION? Asia-Pacific is part of Essilor AMERA region which includes the fastest growing
As the consumption growth in emerging
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COVER STORY
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Title TBC
January 2015
Digitally Enhanced Meetings By Mélanie Bonnet, Operations Manager, Powervote Powervote’s solutions help you to maximise the value of your meeting or conference by engaging your audience, encouraging your participants and evaluating their feedback
Meetings are an important part of our daily work life. In reality, 15% of an organisation’s collective time is spent in meetings. The problem is that a large part of them are unproductive and turn to be a waste of both times and money. One reason for this is the lack of engagement from the participants, obliging them to be multi-tasking during meetings & conferences and therefore making them less efficient. Using digital technology for corporate meetings & conferences is a great way to maximise the time spent by keeping the audience aware, engaged and boosting its productivity. More and more companies are using mobile apps for their events to avoid unproductive gatherings, to bring interactivity, gather valuable opinions and instant feedback from participants. Digital technologies enhance business meetings in lots of positive ways.
FCCS CLUB EVENTS
2015. The development is in line with Geodis Wilson’s strategic growth plan in its Industrial Projects division for the burgeoning Oil & Gas sector, where it plans to increase freight volumes by 50% within a year after opening the new hubs.
JCDecaux Unveils the Digital Towers at Singapore Changi Airport
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER TRAJECTORY AT ESSILOR.
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French Companies in Singapore
Geodis Wilson Opens New Logistics Hub in Singapore to Service Global Oil & Gas Industry
I started my career working for LVMH Group in Japan. When I joined Essilor in 1993 as President Asia-Pacific, the company regional headquarters were located in Hong Kong before being relocated to Singapore in 1996.
COVER STORY - VENTURES IN THE DIGITAL MAZE
SHORT NEWS
January 2015
During an event, technology can be used to gather responses and gain vital data from the audience on their preferences and their behaviour. The collected data can create debate during the event or be analysed after the meeting to measure efficiency and maximise the return on
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GUEST EDITOR’S NOTE
Technology can be used to gather responses and gain vital data from the audience.
investment of meetings and conferences. Participants feel heard, engaged and are therefore more efficient to participate and bring new ideas. Within a company, it can also allow employees to connect with each other, enable remote working for people unable to attend certain meetings and can increase efficiency within the office.
GATHERING USABLE AND USEFUL FEEDBACK. A meeting & conference app is the perfect way to make your business gatherings memorable, interactive and provide a way to collect feedback seamlessly. The flexible nature of mobile event apps and digital technology means that you can ask questions, hold opinion polls, get useful comments to provide accurate and upto-date statistics – particularly useful for client feedback. Regular meetings, remote conferences, product launches can all be organised through the use of cloud-based technology.
INTERACTIVE MEETING MANAGEMENT Not only are event apps really useful for one-off events, they are ideal for bringing your company together during meetings. Storing meeting agendas and other useful documents can all be done through the cloud; employees and clients can then access them wherever they are, through their device. Meetings can be remotely managed all in one place without the need for lots of emails that get lost in inboxes, and the app makes it easy to alert all members of your team or regular participants of your meetings, quickly and efficiently. Digital technology and in particular event apps are set to change the way events, meetings and business are conducted. Get on board with digital technology and gain valuable information from your employees, clients and customers through an innovative and affordable solution. F
FCCS CLUB EVENTS
FOCUS MAGAZINE
| Welcome to Singapore
January 2015
Welcome to Singapore 2014! A Friendly Edition in a Garden! This annual rendez-vous brought together a very large audience, composed of friends and French newcomers. It was a great chance for new expatriates in Singapore to meet well-established ones and to get introduced to the French business community. For the first time this year, our gathering took place at Hort Park - the Gardening Hub. His Excellency Mr Benjamin Dubertret, Ambassador of France to Singapore,
graced the informative event. Led by President of the FCCS Pierre Verdière, and FCCS Executive Director Carine Lespayande, it lunderlined the essential role of the FCCS. The Chamber’s activities and services were presented and the President highlighted the great benefits that our members find in participating in our different committees, events, and functions. Representatives from Singapore’s French institutions were also present during this event.
SPONSORS
Right after the informative meeting, our guests were invited to join us for a delightful buffet dinner organised by Sodexo. This friendly environment enabled our 200 participants to create some precious networking links. We would like to thank AGS Four Winds, CIC Banque Transatlantique, Luther, and Sodexo for their valuable support. F
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FCCS PATRON MEMBERS
FOCUS MAGAZINE
January 2015
The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore would like to thank its Patron Members for their continuous support.
Focus Magazine is published by the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS). The views and opinions expressed in its columns do not necessarily reflect those of the French Chamber’s members and management.
director of publication Carine Lespayandel chief editor Nicolas Avril editorial contributors Caroline de Villèle Anne Validire Clémence Thomas design & layout Jonathan Meur Sujata Kindt advertising Nicolas Avril Jonathan Meur
colour separation & printing Toppan Security Printing Pte. Ltd.
cover photo © shutterstock.com
January 2015 4,000 copies MCI (P) 179/07/2014
French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore 541 Orchard Road #09-01 Liat Towers Singapore 238881 Tel: +65 6933 1350 Fax: +65 6933 1398 www.fccsingapore.com info@fccsingapore.com
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GUEST EDITOR’S NOTE
January 2015
Digital Advertising: Engaging, Efficient or Intrusive?
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glance at leading publications and websites in the industry will tell you one thing: digital is the way to go. And it goes without saying that our generation is highly connected. Along with Hong Kong, Singapore has the highest mobile penetration in Asia at 87% according to the latest study from Nielsen in 2014 (followed by Malaysia (80%), Australia (75%), and China (71%)). But all media professionals will agree that this is a global trend. That said, the not-quite-new digital advertising industry has seen unhampered success. Last year, PwC estimated that $110 million would be generated in online ad revenue. But as lucrative as the digital advertising world may be, it faces a huge challenge when it comes to drawing the line between maximising effectiveness and profit for the client, and increasing intrusions on user privacy. Early mobile advertising was poorly done, including annoying pop-ups that were closed as quickly as they came up, page-blocking full-screen ads, poorly formatted banner ads that froze phones, etc. However, the new age of in-app advertisements, which give applications “access to location settings,” IP-chasing based on zip codes, income and many other factors used in consumer research, and ad placement scream Orwell’s 1984. The “how far is too far” question is a complicated one to answer; such intrusiveness can foster reluctance among consumers and risks inefficiency for the brands.
In defence of advertisers, mobile and online ads are crucial to keeping the internet free. Many of the free websites that we have come to know and love use ads to pay their editors, developers, and receptionists; users would likely balk at having to pay to use sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Stomp. And advertisers rightfully need to make sure that they are not throwing money into the black hole that was the early online advertising model; considering traditional media in addition to online advertising makes for a more balanced, well-rounded and efficient campaign. At Mediakeys we truly believe in this more balanced approach and keep the consumer at the heart of our media strategies by focusing on various digital platforms when necessary – with balanced intrusiveness – but also emphasising print, TV, radio, or outdoor when relevant for both the audience and the market. Digital is sometimes quite attractive for its flexibility and reporting possibilities; but in our industry, the most important remains local relevance and value for money, with a smart balance within all media platforms to avoid excessive and unwelcomed intrusiveness and guarantee engagement.
Mrs Emilie TISSERAND APAC Regional Director, Mediakeys President, FCCS Marketing & Communication Committee
Co-author: Nedra Sandiford, Mediakeys Inc. in New York
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SHORT NEWS
FOCUS MAGAZINE
French Companies in Singapore
January 2015
Thales Inaugurates Innovation Hub in Singapore operational needs of clients in the region, and design new products and services that address these specific requirements.
Thales, a global technology leader in Aerospace, Transportation, and Defence and Security, officially inaugurated the Thales Innovation Hub Singapore on 13 October 2014. The Thales Innovation Hub Singapore represents the Group’s first multidisciplinary innovation centre outside of Europe. The concept behind this Hub is to seek inspiration from Asian concepts, Asian innovation and Asian thinking, to arrive at a deeper understanding of the
The Thales team will engage customers in user-centred innovation, codesigning, prototyping and testing new ideas and concepts across domains ranging from defence, maritime security to aerospace, air traffic management and smart cities. Among other innovation methodologies, the Thales team applies Design Thinking innovation, a new, goaloriented, problem solving approach developed to look at all potential alternatives of a particular design problem.
R&D. The Singapore team will therefore draw from considerable global support, including access to the internal network of design practitioners and a global group of experts from across all Thales’ domains, which fosters cross collaboration in order to fine-tune design and innovation. The team will be further strengthened by the partnership forged with the Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) through collaboration and internship agreements. F
Thales has world class credentials in research and technology, and invests 20% of its annual turnover in
Veolia Water Technologies to Run Centralised Wastewater Treatment Plant at JTC Surface Engineering Hub Veolia Water Technologies has been awarded a contract by JTC Corporation (JTC) to manage, maintain, and operate the Centralized Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWTP) at the multi-tenanted JTC Surface Engineering Hub (SEH), located at Tanjong Kling, Singapore, for an initial period of three years. The SEH is developed by JTC Corporation, Singapore’s lead government agency pioneering the development of innovative industrial facilities, to support and catalyse the growth and transformation
of industries in Singapore. JTC’s SEH concept aims to allow tenants to enjoy operational cost savings in the treatment of wastewater, as well as quick start-up and lower upfront capital investments. The wastewater treatment plant treats wastewater containing toxic substances such as heavy metals, cyanide and chromium discharged by surface finishing companies located at the SEH, which typically carry out electroplating, anodising, and electropolishing activities. Wastewater is segregated into three
main streams – one each for general heavy metals, cyanide, and chromium - before being centrally treated at the CWTP, where contaminants are removed. This enables the wastewater to meet the standard permissible requirements before it is discharged to public sewers. To ensure that the CWTP continues to meet the needs of users, JTC has also incorporated feedback from Veolia on its proposed plant design and worked closely with the company on the installation of equipment at the facility. F
FOCUS MAGAZINE
SHORT NEWS
January 2015
French Companies in Singapore
Geodis Wilson Opens New Logistics Hub in Singapore to Service Global Oil & Gas Industry Geodis Wilson, the global freight management and logistics provider, has announced the expansion of its global network of operating hubs dedicated to the sector, thus underlining its on-going commitment to the logistics demands of the Oil & Gas industry. In addition to existing hubs in Houston and Vitrolles (near Marseille), the company has just opened a third hub in Singapore. Two more, in Antwerp and Dubai, have just been opened, and a further two are planned for 2015. The development is
in line with Geodis Wilson’s strategic growth plan in its Industrial Projects division for the burgeoning Oil & Gas sector, where it plans to increase freight volumes by 50% within a year after opening the new hubs. From its headquarters and primary Oil & Gas hub in Houston (established in 2009) the company has developed its network of operational centres across the globe. The new hub in Singapore is strategically located to service the Oil
& Gas clusters in Southeast Asia. The North African region is served through its Vitrolles hub in the South of France. The upcoming centre in Antwerp will serve North Sea activities, Eastern Europe, and Africa, while Dubai will become Geodis Wilson’s Oil & Gas hub for the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. In 2015, the company plans to expand into China and South Africa with the launch of additional hubs. F
JCDecaux Unveils the Digital Towers at Singapore Changi Airport JCDecaux, the leading out-of-home advertising company in Singapore and No. 1 outdoor advertising company in the world unveils the Digital Towers, two first digital landmarks at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1. The first of their kind in an in-airport terminal environment, the Digital Towers are state-of-the-art digital media landmarks strategically located at both arrival immigration halls within Terminal 1. These impressive towers of seven metres in height offer high quality through nine units of high-definition 80-inch digital screens. Unique to the Digital Towers is the programmable screen rotation which can be co-ordinated with customised image reproduction, providing clients an exclusive opportunity to pioneer an all-new and highly impactful advertising medium. The Digital Towers offer maximum campaign visibility to departing, transiting, and arriving passengers with a potential reach to 1.5 million passengers per month. F
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SHORT NEWS
FOCUS MAGAZINE
French Companies in Singapore
January 2015
Teledirect Singapore Wins Award for “Best Large Outsourced Contact Center” Teledirect Singapore has won the Gold award for “Best Large Outsourced Contact Center” in the world at the Las Vegas ContactCenterWorld Top Ranking Performer Awards . This global competition opposed 1,700 entrants who had won in their respective regions and Teledirect emerged as the global winner. With 650 personnel, Teledirect is Singapore’s largest outsourced contact centre, the winner of 10 awards in 2014 and more notably the CCAS award for the best outsourced contact centre in Singapore as well as best outsourced contact centre in Asia-pacific. “Receiving so many awards this year for Teledirect feels great. Not to mention
being recognised as the best contact centre in the world” said Angie Tay, Country Director of Teledirect Singapore, as she lifted the highly coveted trophy. She added that “Winning awards is important to us as it fits into our vision to be recognised as the best provider of contact centre solutions. But the true test is what our clients say.” Teledirect is headquartered in Singapore and Laurent Junique, CEO, attributes a lot of the company’s success to its affiliation with Singapore. “Singapore is an exemplary place to do business with world recognition. It has one of the best universities in the world, the best airport, the best airline, and many many other bests. With one of the best labour
forces in the world, it seems logical for Teledirect Singapore to be able to compete and win at a global level.” F
Ewineasia.com Turns 10 Alfa International specialises in unique handcrafted and hard-to-find wines that are highly acclaimed and found in the most renowned restaurants. The company works exclusively with dedicated winemakers who each have their own story to tell.
Established in 1974, Alfa International Pte Ltd is a privately held corporation based in Singapore. It offers F&B professionals an extensive range of fine wines from France, Italy, Spain, Austria, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina.
Alfa International is the sole distributing agent in Singapore for the world’s finest artisan wineries. It is one of the pioneers, in Southeast Asia, to use an online platform to offer an exquisite selection and comprehensive knowledge to wine lovers and wine novices.
Ewineasia.com helps wine lovers explore different wines from the Old and New World, and to find the right wine to match with their favorite food. In 2014, Ewineasia.com celebrated its 10th Anniversary of partnerships with the finest artisan wineries in the world. For this special occasion, the Alfa team organised an international pairing dinner with 10 wines from everywhere to discover, a big tasting with over 120 labels, an Italian dinner with a trio of our best finest winemakers from Italy, and a Sparkling Brunch to let people explore the different tastes of the Sparkling wine from France, Italy, and Spain. F
Get on Cloud A storm is brewing and it is headed to the heart of Orchard Road. No, we don’t mean the weather but about new nightlife haunt Cloud at Pacific Plaza, which opened its glitzy doors in December. The ultra lounge-restaurant interior is a breath of fresh air, a departure from the more common industrial concept seen
elsewhere. Surfaces are glossy, marbled, and moody, with dark furnishings peppering the space. Fine art pieces would have sealed the ultra-luxe vibe of the place, but Cloud chose, instead, to have rainbow-coloured graffiti and prints featuring lego figures fill up walls and the cocktail bar. The result: a posh look that is pared-down with just a hint of grunge. F
FOCUS MAGAZINE
SHORT NEWS
January 2015
FCCS News
We Have an App for That In 2015, the FCCS releases an official app on iOS and Android platforms. This free app will allow you to consult the FCCS Members’ Directory, upcoming events, committee meetings, latest news, job opportunities, and more! The directory that’s always with you! The FCCS directory is recognised as the unique reference for people interested in doing business with or within the French business community in Singapore.
company address, email, phone, and names of the top management. Not only will you get connected more easily through the app, but your company will also benefit from greater visibility!
In addition to the online version on www. fccsingapore.com and the paper version printed once a year, you can now easily access a network of over 600 company members of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.
Do not miss any FCCS event! To give you access to information and key business contacts, the FCCS organises more than 150 events a year. Register to our events via the FCCS app and save the events details in your calendar.
Thanks to our app, FCCS members will be able to log in to get access to the full detailed version of the directory:
Privileges in the palm of your hands! The FCCS Privilege programme gives our members access to numerous
exclusive benefits in Singapore. Find out about all our partners’ offers in this app and enjoy great deals! Check out the latest job offers Looking for a job? Check out the app directly for the latest job offers, which are regularly updated by our HR consultants. Looking for a talent? Our HR department offers recruitment services and will use the app as an extra channel to promote your offers. The FCCS app will be soon available for download. Look out for more details! F
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SHORT NEWS
FCCS News
FOCUS MAGAZINE
January 2015
FCCS Releases So Chic 2015, 2nd Edition of Guide to French Shopping and Dining in Singapore French flair, French style, French fashion, French food, French joie de vivre... We are delighted to bring you So Chic 2015! This lifestyle guide in its second edition is brought to you courtesy of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and its retails members. It showcases French shopping and dining in Singapore through luxurious French Maisons, new stylish names, and off-the-beaten-track brands. With over 90 outlets featured, from stand-alone boutiques to trendy multi-label stores, it has got something for everyone. With So Chic, discover the rich heritage and unique savoir faire behind historical French brands as well as the French art de vivre and creativity in fashion, beauty, and home. No journey through France would be complete without a taste of French gastronomy and wines, so we invite you to explore and taste delicious French cuisine and wish you bon appétit! This free guide is now available in multiple locations including the various outlets presented in the guide, the French Chamber of Commerce at Liat Towers on Orchard Road, and at the Alliance Française library. You can also like the www.facebook.com/sochicfrenchguide page, which highlights all updates and special deals from French brands in Singapore. F
FOCUS MAGAZINE January 2015
SHORT NEWS
FCCS News
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PATRON MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
FOCUS MAGAZINE
Interview with a FCCS Patron Member
January 2015
Essilor Tackles Emerging Markets from Singapore Interview with Patrick Cherrier, CEO, Essilor AMERA
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER TRAJECTORY AT ESSILOR. I started my career working for LVMH Group in Japan. When I joined Essilor in 1993 as President Asia-Pacific, the company’s regional headquarters were located in Hong Kong before being relocated to Singapore in 1996. In mid 2011, Essilor decided to put more emphasis on emerging markets and added Africa, the Middle-East, and Russia to Asia to form a new region called AMERA. I was appointed CEO for this region. CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ESSILOR’S STRATEGY IN ASIA? Today, impaired vision affects 4.2 billion people around the world: it is the world’s most common disability. The Essilor mission is to improve lives by improving sight. Of the 4.2 billion, 2.5 billion have no access to visual correction, and most of them are located in the AMERA region. In order to reach out to these 2.5 billion people, Essilor has created new inclusive economic models. Today, solutions exist for every vision impairment at all price points. As the consumption growth in emerging
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Combining organic growth with acquisitions is the best way of achieving high growth and penetration in this part of the world.
The consumption growth in emerging markets is fuelled by the growing middle class population, we then need to be present in all segments to seize these market opportunities. In our industry the top segment is occupied by large multinational companies while the middle and low segments are the territory of local companies. Acquiring local companies and setting up majority partnerships are the keys to effectively penetrating these markets. External growth is a key element of our strategy and we are currently accelerating. Combining organic growth and acquisitions is the best way of achieving high growth and penetration in this part of the world. IS SINGAPORE A STRATEGIC HUB TO SERVE GROWTH AREAS? Singapore is strategically located at the centre of the AMERA region. Thanks to its world-class infrastructure and con-
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nectivity, managing a large region of emerging markets such as the AMERA out of Singapore has proven to be efficient. The growth that we are experiencing in this region requires significant talent recruitment. With our regional headquarters based in Singapore, it is easier to attract and recruit the right talents from all over the world. This is truly a key advantage for us as we need specific resources to support this fast growth in such a large territory. We are not the only one to have chosen Singapore to drive emerging markets, and we clearly see that more and more multinational companies have chosen to base their operations in the city-state to manage emerging markets. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES OF APAC REGION? Asia-Pacific is part of Essilor AMERA’s region, which includes the fastest-growing
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PATRON MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
January 2015
Interview with a FCCS Patron Member
economies in the world. Today, it is already a major market for Essilor’s growth but it represents much more for the future. This huge potential comes with a lot of challenges to overcome. To be efficient in these markets requires a very good understanding of their specificities in terms of culture, business models, consumers’ behaviours, etc. Commitment and support from the entire company and its top management is crucial to succeed. AS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF FCCS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ROLE THAT THE FCCS SERVES TODAY FOR FRENCH COMPANIES IN SINGAPORE?
Secondly, the FCCS supports Small and Medium Enterprises, and guides them in capturing opportunities that Singapore and the region have to offer. It is by going and competing out of their French base that these companies will learn and progress. Nothing is better than competition to progress. This region offers the best field for that and the FCCS is a good first coach. IN YOUR OPINION WHAT KIND OF CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITIES MAKE A GOOD LEADER? Being a leader today is very different from what it was 10 or even five years ago. Today’s workplace has a fast pace of changes and is very demanding. There is also a multicultural approach to take into account as the role involves working with teams across different time zones. A leader is responsible for delivering results. You must have a vision, know
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The FCCS helps French companies master the business environment by facilitating the exchanges of business practices and experience sharing.
where you are heading to, and be able to communicate this vision. You need to be customer-focused, and knowing your customers well is a key attribute. A leader must know how to get the work done through others. The ability to effectively coach for success and for improvement is critical to getting work group results and ultimately executing the organisation’s strategy. A good leader should encourage the team to perform to their optimum all the time and drives organisational success. Finally, a fundamental leadership capability is being able to communicate very well. This is how initiatives are launched
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I see two keys roles that FCCS serves well. First, the FCCS helps French companies master the business environment by facilitating the exchanges of business practices and experience sharing in various areas like HR, finance, legal, etc.
and results are reported. But we have to keep in mind that communication is a two-way street: listening is as important as speaking. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Several mottos suit my vision: -Everyone has talent, you need to know how to use it; -You never fail until you stop trying; -Willing is not enough, we must do; -Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal. F
OPPOSITE PAGE Essilor AMERA headquarters in Singapore THIS PAGE Patrick Cherrier, CEO, Essilor AMERA
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ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHTS
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Interviews with FCCS Entrepreneur Members
January 2015
Meet French Entrepreneurs in Singapore Interview with Damien Duhamel, CEO & Managing Partner, Solidiance Asia Pacific. WHAT MAIN CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHEN SETTING UP SOLIDIANCE AND HOW DID YOU TACKLE THEM? We probably had the same difficulties that most young companies face early on: lack of processes, lack of brand visibility, lack of support from the established ecosystem. One of the most revealing difficulties we had for a while was accepting the hard reality of running a business and leaving behind dreams associated with the start of the firm. When emotions mix with business, it can be very distracting. The ‘School of Hard Knocks’ has its own peculiar “Darwinian” way of teaching you a few things. Our choice of strategy for Solidiance has been challenging from the start: use Singapore as our HQ and go pan-Asia very fast. On day one, we set up two offices in Singapore and China. We open at least one additional office each year. Yet, we did not get any help from any government entities or any banks. It was all selffunded and we are still debt-free! The pain was less on cash flow but more on finding the right human talent to complement
our expansion. Solidiance focuses on corporate growth strategy advisory in Asia. We need very specific Asia management consulting experience to support the ambitions of our Fortune 500 clients. These skills are unfortunately not widely available across emerging Asia. That said, we do not shy away from challenges, we thrive on them. This is specifically how we create value for our company. Today, Solidiance has under 100 consultants, 10 fully-owned offices in Asia, and works exclusively with some of the largest global and regional companies. We are still growing fast across Asia, from “Dubai to Shanghai”, so our initial investment has paid off well. We have been approached several times to be acquired.
and caring, knowledgeable about the market and able to implement a good plan with strong discipline. Ultimately, an entrepreneur is resourceful, has a clear vision of what needs to be achieved, and has anticipated a market need others have not. Frankly the same set of skills is still very useful when working for a larger enterprise. I think they are just magnified under the multiple pressures an entrepreneur regularly faces in Asia. F
ACCORDING TO YOU, WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS PILLARS TO BEING A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR? I don’t think the fundamental pillars to successful entrepreneurship are the same for everyone. Some people need to be patient and humble, others resourceful or resilient, innovative and bold, organised yet fast, sincere and passionate, driven
Interview with Vincent Morello & Eric Joubert, Co-Founders, TheFrenchCellar.sg WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? We are both wine lovers but not expert in wines, which is why we have a professional sommelier in the team. I previously worked
in the healthcare industry. I have a PhD in biochemistry and an MBA. Eric worked in the online and consulting industry, and he is a graduate from HEC business school. Nicolas Rebut is sommelier by training and has worked all his life in wine business. WHAT REASONS BROUGHT YOU TO SET UP YOUR COMPANY? The reason is that many people find it difficult to choose good wines because there are so many vineyards, appellations, vintages, good and... bad wines! The idea of The French Cellar is to be sure
to receive top-quality wines and to learn more about French wines. WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICITIES OF THEFRENCHCELLAR.SG? We are quite different from what is done in Singapore. Our sommelier is based in France and is doing all the selections there, which is unique in Singapore. All our wines are imported directly from the vineyards, with Nicolas Rebut picking up the best wine from each estate. Our clients learn more about wines thanks to the wine tasting guide. F
Head to www.fccsingapore.com to read the full versions of these Entrepreneur Spotlights and more!
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VENTURES in the DIGITAL MAZE
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January 2015
Smart Nation - Better Living, Greater Opportunities, Stronger Communities By Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA)
The gentle buzzing of the nano arm chip is not what wakes you. Instead, it is the aroma of slow roasted Arabica beans and breakfast being prepared to perfection by your robot helper. The shower is tuned just right to wash away the last chills of the night, and stepping into the kitchen, lightly-buttered toast pops out as you sit with your customised news feed. Strolling downstairs, the last sips of coffee on your lips, a driverless car pulls silently into the porch for your transport. Easing smoothly onto the road, your arm chip syncs data with the car, and packaged critical information is organised and ready for your first email of the day. This scenario is an imaginary one now, but a possibility of what life could be like in a Smart Nation. THE SMART NATION VISION A smart nation is what Singapore aims to become within the next 10 years, with the vision spelt out by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in November 2014. It is a goal that matters, and one that
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Smart Nation is built on data and the ability to collect, move and interpret it will yield greater insights and solutions to challenges.
would have tremendous impact on not just the prosperity and competitiveness of the economy and Singapore-based businesses, but also the way of life for individuals by bringing together collaboration between citizens, businesses and government. It is the answer to challenging issues – big, global issues that are impacting everyone – such as increasing urban density, straining healthcare infrastructure, and transport woes. With more than 900 thousand over the age of 65 by 2030 expected in Singapore alone, there is a need to shift to top-notch preventative and out-ofhospital care, assisted by solutions such as robotics and telehealth. As the country grows, it also has to contend with demands on roads – already at roughly 12% of total land use and the same as housing – and environmental and safety impacts.
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These are just some of the megatrends Singapore is facing head on and will solve with a smart nation. It is, of course, no mean feat. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village, Singapore has developed into a bustling metropolis in just 50 years. Some of the accolades it has earned include having the best airport, one of the busiest ports, and ranking first for ease of doing business globally. Its government stability, easy access to wider Asia – 600 million within a four-hour flight radius – and strong commitment to connecting itself to the Internet with fibre. Singapore is one of the world’s safest and most digitally wired nations to work in. Yet it is continually growing capabilities with tech-savvy citizens who bring these to the companies they work for.
CASE EXAMPLE Transforming Healthcare The world is experiencing rapidly changing demographics. Higher life expectancy and falling birth rates are increasing the proportion of the elderly globally. In Singapore alone, the silver population is estimated to triple to about 900,000 by 2030. The rendering of healthcare therefore has to be made smarter, better, and more efficient. And soon. Singapore, as elsewhere, is facing a bed crunch, with 100% occupancy rates at some hospitals. While the government has pledged 11,000 more beds on top of the current 23,000 by 2020, this is not sustainable in the long term. Singapore is thus looking into areas such as preventative care standards and keeping people healthier, as well as increasing home-based healthcare options. An estimated 50% of Singapore’s disease load such as diabetes and heart illnesses could benefit from sensor monitoring situations outside of the hospital and in the comfort of the home. As a start, a Tele-Rehab system is currently being trialled at several community hospitals. Recovering patients perform prescribed exercises from a demo video at home, with sensors attached to their limbs to record movement and other relevant data. This cuts travel out of the home entirely, and therapists are able to quickly review these for anomalies, identify incorrect postures, and provide corrective feedback via live video-conferences as necessary. In Singapore’s push for more healthcare innovations, businesses will have greater opportunities to build smarter healthcare products and services and leverage on Singapore as a launchpad to reach rapidly expanding markets in Southeast Asia.
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POWER OF DATA FOR SINGAPORE A smart nation is built on data and the ability to collect, move and interpret it will yield greater insights and solutions to challenges. The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), has taken the first steps to building the infrastructure fabric - the Smart Nation Platform. There are three areas of focus for the Platform: Connect, Collect & Comprehend.
Connect focuses on enhancing existing connectivity and infrastructure in Singapore. The driving ambition is to provide “Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, All the Time” connectivity to benefit sensing and collation of data. Collect & Comprehend brings together a nationwide sensor network and data analytics abilities to provide situational awareness through data collection and efficient sharing of sensor data. The Platform is a living model and through trials and exchanges with other nations, a refined model can be developed and potentially exported globally. FOSTERING A CULTURE OF CREATING AND BUILDING Silicon Valley and, increasingly, China are large incubators for innovative tech ideas
Ventures in the Digital Maze
and new business models. As PM Lee aptly put it during the November launch event, Singaporeans and Singaporebased companies too, need to have “the ‘can-do’ spirit of experimenting and risk taking”. Schools here are equipping the next generation of talent with up-to-date knowledge and skills to use technology and also the capabilities to build future tech. A cultural mindset shift is underway to make it easier for youth to be willing to try new approaches and disrupt existing ways of work. This “fail-fast, learn quickly” learning journey is ongoing with programmes such as Code@SG and IDA Labs on Wheels, encouraging and exposing youths to programming and dabbling with the latest technologies such as Arduino and 3D printing. Young and promising Singapore-based start-up companies are important to the tech ecosystem. Nimble enough to bring new solutions to the table, and with the grit to try again upon failure, IDA is giving them a further boost with two new initiatives launched in 2014 to support them in their business pursuits – Accreditation@IDA and the Accelerator programme (managed by Infocomm
Investments Pte Ltd, IDA’s investment subsidiary). Tech companies accredited by IDA will see greater opportunities for innovative, highgrowth products to be showcased and possibly bought. IDA has already begun work, with Joyful Frog Digital Incubator the first partner. IDA’s second partner has also just begun with Startupbootcamp FinTech Asia, the Asian accelerator programme from the leading European Fintech accelerator. IDA’s Executive Deputy Chairman, Steve Leonard said, “Governments around the world are facing difficult challenges delivering critical services such as healthcare, transport, and energy, to name just three examples. With ageing populations and increasingly dense urban environments, these challenges will only grow. Singapore is committed to playing a leading role in tackling these challenges and is already working on them in our journey to be a Smart Nation.” F
TOP Executive Deputy Chairman Steve Leonard delivers the opening address at Smart Nation Dataworks in October 2014
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An Agile Way of Working By Yann Hamon, Director, why innovation!
Software technologies have entered all areas of life and business. And this is just the beginning: the 21st century will be digital. Companies need to quickly invent new ways to engage their customers. They need to create new products and services that fit the demand. They need to deliver value faster. They need to adapt to a much faster pace in their business environment. They need to welcome new generations and retain the talents required to enter the digital world. These are a lot of changes to embrace. This is all about innovation.
CREATE A CULTURE OF CHANGE Agility is the cornerstone of the required transformation. As no one can clearly envision what the future will be, organisations and their managers have to learn to walk this journey. Learning organisations change through small iterative steps to speed the feedback loop. They take risks, investigate new ideas, use “fail smart” strategies. They involve clients, staff, and partners in their change process. They foster open collaboration
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Agility is the cornerstone of the required transformation.
and trustful communication within their ecosystem. For many companies, the transformation is a challenge because of the size of the organisation, and conservative culture, power, and politics. Key success factors include sponsorship from top executives and a structured change management approach: iterative, addressing people, processes, and systems dimensions all at the same time, and closely coaching all staff and teams to enable the culture change.
A NEW ATTITUDE On the people front, it is a matter of mindset: ideation in all domains, thinking in terms of client value, valuing risk takers and intrapreneurs, breaking silos, and promoting cross-functional and multidisciplinary teamwork. Empowerment
makes the organisation more responsive and effective as decisions are made by competent people, close to the issue. Discipline and technical excellence are expected. Face-to-face, oral communication, collaborative workshops, and a getit-done attitude become the norm. At all levels of the organisation, teams regularly reflect to improve their effectiveness and experiment with new ideas.
NEW PROCESSES On the process front, innovation is a structured system that needs to be designed for speed. Processes should be lightweight, simple, and adaptive. Iterative, they address major risks early on and transform failures into learning opportunities. Frameworks such as lean start-ups, design thinking, scrum, Kanban, or extreme programming promote an outside-in approach to build fit-to-purpose solutions. The product management and software development practices accommodate with a vision and requirements that keep changing. On the tools and technologies front, modern organisations make use of mobility technologies, cloud-computing, and other BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) to offer their staff, partners or clients, an open collaborative platform to interact, develop, and share resources. They leverage Internet marketing, big data, or geolocalisation to know their clients better. They rely on modern software factories that automate release build and testing to enable fast and continuous delivery of high-quality product features. The purpose of why innovation! is to help clients win their innovation battle. Our transformation methodology is based on 20 years of organisational change management experience. From strategic planning to operational training and coaching, we transfer this know-how to our customers. F
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Crafting Compelling Digital Customer Experiences By Frédéric Abecassis , Managing Director Capgemini Consulting Hong Kong & Singapore
Creating a digital customer experience happens as a result of carefully coordinated and orchestrated use of digital technologies and platforms such as social media and mobile. However, while the opportunities for driving a great customer experience using digital technologies are significant, so are the challenges.
LOOKING OUTSIDE TO TRANSFORM INSIDE Digital leaders look at technology as a means to an end, and not an end in itself. The end-state is defined by the kind of experience that the customer desires at each touch point. Digital leaders design experiences based on a forensic understanding of customer expectations, and actively seek to understand and alleviate customer pain points. They ensure that their knowledge of customer interactions extends across all touch points.
USING DATA TO CREATE ENGAGING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES A compelling customer experience is often underpinned by a good grasp of data and customer insights. Several banks have reaped the rewards of leveraging customer insights to enhance customer experience. For instance, U.S. Bank integrates data from online and offline channels in order
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Research indicates that organisations can lose as much as 20% of their revenue due to poor customer experience.
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First, organisations need to manage an ever-increasing tide of customer expectations. Second, the complexities of integrating new digital channels with existing operations can be daunting. Third, digitally transforming the customer experience requires an overhaul of organisational culture and traditional ways of managing customer relationships. Finally, the pace of decision-making has hastened and there is a new sense of agility that companies from the Internet sector are bringing. In short, what has worked in the past is not guaranteed to work in the future.
to create a unified view of the customer. This data is then used to target prospects with personalised offers. As a result, the bank has been able to improve its lead conversion rates by 100%. The bank even tailors the content on its website, based on data analytics.
old versus new, or physical on one side and digital on the other. It is about creatively integrating their digital and physical experiences so they blend in a seamless customer experience. Digital technologies offer powerful ways of amplifying the impact of a physical experience.
Organisations across industries are faced with a deluge of structured and unstructured data. However, the ability to translate this data to meaningful insights and deliver superior customer experiences sets digital leaders apart.
Research indicates that organisations can lose as much as 20% of their revenue due to poor customer experience. So, why don’t many companies try creating great customer experiences? One obvious reason: it is very challenging to do so, the biggest reason being organisational constraints. There is very little coordination between the front-end and back-end of the organisation. Delivering a compelling customer experience requires the careful orchestration of people, data, IT, processes, and customer behaviour, as well as an exhaustive understanding of customer behaviour, smart investments in digital channels, the ability to harness customer data, and finally, the ability to mesh physical and digital experiences. F
INTEGRATING PHYSICAL WITH DIGITAL TO CREATE UNENDING EXPERIENCES Customers increasingly see their interactions with organisations as a continuum of physical and digital experiences. They do not necessarily understand and appreciate internal organisational barriers between physical and digital. Organisations will need to understand that this is not about
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Managing Communications on Digital Platforms By Gareth Mulryan, Head of Digital, ZenithOptimedia, Managing Director, Performics Asia Pacific
For a communication planner, all marketing channels and devices are now linked. Consumers engage brands in a more complex, non-linear spiral, moving across various touch points like television, search engines, social platforms, mobile devices, or shops. The agency’s challenge is to collect and analyse all this crosstouch point data in real time to make faster, more informed decisions for their client’s brands. Where (and when) is the right place to spend each marketing dollar? How do channels and devices interact with each other? Where is my brand’s next opportunity? Answering these questions requires powerful reporting and analytics tools, as well as seasoned strategists and analysts. At ZenithOptimedia, we manage this evolving world with great talent, experienced understanding, and proven technology, which all comes under our thinking around LIVE ROI.
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All starts with a strategic planning process where all available consumer data needs to be gathered.
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proprietary Global Analytics Center (GLANCE) reporting and analytics application to automatically track multichannel data TV, Online Video, paid search, SEO, display, social, as well as custom data feeds like CRM, offline sales, product-level profitability, call centre, customer surveys, etc. GLANCE tracks all online and offline participant touch points prior to the end sale. With this foundation of real-time data, we can plot intersections between paid, owned, and earned channels to exploit interactions by fluidly shifting budgets from channel to channel, in real-time, based on demand or profitability.
CROSS-CHANNEL PERFORMANCE DATA IS KEY Discovering where the consumers are and how they want to engage with a particular brand, all starts with a strategic planning process where all available consumer data needs to be gathered. This data uncovers customer needs, motivations, and barriers that inform engagement strategies, including media-mix models, campaign tactics, keyword bidding, social messaging, and website journeys. Once we are able to understand a brand’s consumers, we will be able to activate relevant cross-channel campaigns. Then, we can focus on continually elevating those campaigns. The key is having data at your fingertips that enables you to shift budgets and strategies in real-time. Performance can come within channels, and it can come across channels. This does require a strong data foundation. At ZenithOptimedia, we leverage our
Media mix modeling also plays a significant role in achieving cross-channel performance. At ZenithOptimedia, we utilise proprietary, automated modeling software to forecast outcomes like new customer volume, sales, or brand engagement from various investments. For instance, how does online media impact offline sales, and vice versa?
A common use of media mix models includes television and search modeling with the goal of integrating planning and budgets. We have seen that, directly after a brand’s commercial airs on television, tablet search volume for that brand spikes. Therefore, if you have created a cross-channel model that integrates search and television, you can dedicate paid search budget to tablets when your television ad airs to capture the demand you have created via TV, in real time. This is one of many ways that different types of media can directly influence each other. As you can see, achieving performance hinges on your ability to collect and quickly derive insights from large volumes of participants and cross-channel data. According to IBM, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each day, and 90% of all the data ever created by the world has been created over the last two years. It is no small feat for marketers to manage this data to their advantage, but with the right tools, some foresight, and an appetite to test and learn, we can achieve what we believe is LIVE ROI. F
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Using Data to Predict the Future? By Sean Catlin, Chief Technology Officer, Canopy Cloud, an ATOS company Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is a leader in digital services. Serving a global client base, the group provides consulting and systems integration services, managed services and business process outsourcing, cloud operations, big data, and security solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payments and transactional services industry. Canopy, an ATOS company, is the end-to-end cloud services provider, enabling customers to drive transformational IT via the cloud by leveraging world-class data centre and consulting services. Canopy helps you reimagine your business in the cloud.
Predictive intelligence may have been around for a while but it is only recently that forward-thinking companies have started using it to its full potential. It allows firms to become more agile by identifying emerging sales patterns, predicting customer preferences, and adapting products and campaigns in anticipation of market demands. At the same time, consumers are becoming
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The company will be able to get in touch with the customer and give an early warning sign about when the car’s equipment will need a repair.
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techniques such as ABC analysis and satisfaction survey scores. This provides
Adding sensors to parts of the car will tell the manufacturer when components’ life expectancy is coming to an end. The company will be able to get in touch with the customer and give an early warning sign about when the car’s equipment will need repair.
PREDICTIVE INTELLIGENCE PRESERVES ENVIRONMENT Taking predictive intelligence one step further, a team from the University of Hagenberg in Austria has developed an app called Evergreen. This app calculates the phasing of traffic lights across a city so motorists can drive at a speed that, in a perfect scenario, spares them from ever having to stop at a red light.
increasingly connected to the internet and demanding intuitive digital experiences.
a clear view of predicted sales, enabling firms to forecast product demand and optimum inventory levels.
BUT CAN DATA REALLY BE USED TO PREDICT THE FUTURE?
ANALYSING CONSUMER EXPERIENCE
Businesses are using predictive intelligence tools to target and retain customers likely to leave and to increase cross-selling opportunities. Customer behaviour is analysed and tracked over time by interpreting sales data, using
Others are using predictive intelligence to enhance the consumer experience. One large European car manufacturer is using big data to move from a justin-time supply chain to real-time parts monitoring.
It provides the driver with information on how long they will have to wait at the lights, enabling them to reduce carbon emissions and save money on fuel costs, as well as on parts such as brake pads, because they won’t have to accelerate and decelerate as often. It is quite clear that there is a lot of potential for businesses to use predictive intelligence to their advantage and the automotive industry is just one example. What remains to be seen however, is how many companies will truly unlock the full potential of predictive intelligence and put themselves one step ahead of the competition in the digital era. F
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Two Tips for Managing your e-Reputation By Leah Pope, Vice President of Global Marketing for Synthesio
PROVIDE REAL-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE Social media has transferred the power away from businesses, and given it to consumers. The days of a single source controlling a brand’s reputation are long gone. With social media, consumers now have a public platform to share their voice with the world, and unfortunately, all too often this is done with a negative tone. Consumer complaints, which were once hidden behind letters and phone calls, are now on display for the world to see, including potential customers. This is why excellent online customer service is crucial when it comes to a brand’s ereputation.
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Turn a negative situation into a winning customer experience.
CRISIS MONITORING FOR YOUR REPUTATION When it comes to your e-reputation, few things can be more damaging than a crisis, which is why it is crucial to know how to monitor for an online crisis: Data Spikes An unusual amount of information on one topic is one possible tip-off to a coming crisis. This is why organising data can be so important. If comments coming in are
average volume threshold for your brand, which, if surpassed by a data spike, will trigger an alert to your team. Large Conversations with Many Comments A growing conversation that is visible via an increasing number of comments may also signal a coming crisis. A good rule of thumb to begin with is that any online conversation pertaining to your brand that sparks more than five comments should be given close attention by your team. Real-Time Alerts on Sensitive Topics Setting up alerts based on sensitive keywords is also a must for any company hoping to detect and manage crises. Pharmaceutical brands, for example, can easily fall prey to attacks online. For brands launching new products, keeping an eye on those keywords is essential to ensuring that the launch goes smoothly.
In today’s world, consumers expect exceptional customer service, both offline and online, and if they don’t get it, they will tweet about it. By listening for these conversations and helping in real time, you can turn a negative situation into a winning customer experience. This allows you to develop strong, lifelong relationships with your consumers. Some may even become influencers and brand advocates for you throughout the social space and beyond helping to improve your e-reputation significantly.
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Social media gives consumers a unique platform to express their opinions to large audiences in real time. With brand-related conversations taking place across the social web, companies must work harder than ever before to manage their online reputation. Here are two big tips on what a brand needs to do to make sure that they have a handle on their e-reputation.
Much like in real life, your online reputation requires constant management to maintain, and there is no magical formula to make sure that nothing negative ever happens to it.
grouped into one topic or another, you can quickly and easily see that one topic (such as price, environmental impact, or product name) is receiving more comments than usual. One technique for identifying potential crises is to define an
However, if you are sure to interact quickly and positively with your customers, build relationships and trust, and are monitoring for any online crisis so that you can fix them quickly, you will be well on your way to making sure that your e-reputation stays positive. F
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January 2015
The Omnichannel Experience By Bastien Grandgeorge, CEO, Decathlon Singapore & Indonesia The term “omnichannel experience” has become a buzzword for the next step in the evolution of customer engagement. In the retail world right now, it is not enough for a brand to simply deliver a purchase experience; they have to do it in the channels favoured by each customer, for the entire lifecycle of the relationship between the customer and the brand. How then, does a global sports retailer as large as Decathlon S.A. adapt to evolving trends? There is definitely a big challenge in operationalising a sophisticated customer experience through an omnichannel concept, especially in a multinational company.
Founded in 1976 in France, Decathlon S.A. is today the world’s largest sports retailer, employing 64,000 staff, with more than 700 million sports products distributed annually. Armed with the vision of making sports accessible to all, and with more than 900 stores in 22 countries worldwide, Decathlon’s surprisingly unique story in Singapore is the first of its kind within the company: creating a global conglomerate’s first omnichannel concept.
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The vision of Decathlon’s omnichannel retailing concept is the development of a seamless approach to the consumer experience through all available channels.
In 2012, Decathlon entered the Southeast Asian market with a solely online business in the form of an e-commerce store in Singapore.
The success of Decathlon in Singapore has in many ways been influenced by the sporting giant’s willingness to adopt new and disruptive technologies, such as media listening software, customer relationship management programmes as well as strategic digital marketing and online ad planning.
Since then, the last two years have seen tremendous success. This was extremely surprising as the strategy was a complete reversal of what Decathlon has been used to: Singapore started business with an online presence before a retail presence, as opposed to the tradition of commencing business with a retail presence before an online presence, like in all other countries where Decathlon is present.
These have all have played a key role in contributing to the exponential growth of the online business, now boasting a turnover rivalling that of a small Decathlon retail store. With a 36,000-m2 warehouse and logistics solutions fully serving Decathlon’s online business in Singapore, the company is poised in a great position to quickly be able to satisfy the sporting needs of all Singaporeans.
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An online business allows Decathlon to enjoy an inherent advantage of versatility, since e-commerce concepts present low overheads as well as easy manoeuvrability, especially with a wealth of data and information obtained through cookies, as well as behaviour tracking in a way that is impossible to accomplish through traditional retail formats. Given that Decathlon is synonymous with giant retail brick-and-mortar stores, the natural path that the Singapore business is now headed toward is an omnichannel concept. The vision of Decathlon’s omnichannel retailing concept is the development of a seamless approach to the consumer experience through all available channels, such as retail stores, e-commerce stores,
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smartphones, tablets, computers, direct mail, newsletters, social media, and the like. With a successful implementation of such a concept, there would then be a clear blurring of the lines between “the bricks and the clicks.” In other words, there will no black-and-white, distinctive start-and-stop point for a person moving from the web into the store, and vice versa. It is an endless continuum that results in a need for Decathlon to be available as a brand for customers whenever and wherever they are thinking of Decathlon in that moment, even while practicing sports. Accomplishing this would drastically increase the likelihood of creating an interactive and experiential touch point, tremendously increasing the chance of purchase.
Located at a convenient central area in Singapore, customers encountering Decathlon for the first time can touch and feel products that were only available online for the past two years. Should customers wish to purchase a product, they can head towards one of several stations around the area, which does not house a cashier, but interestingly, a computer or tablet displaying Decathlon’s website.
With that in mind, the Decathlon team created an unprecedented concept, called The Decathlon eXperience, aptly named as a tribute to the experiential factor in the omnichannel retail concept.
This in turn allows Decathlon to create a greater customer experience, ensuring that everyone walks away a happier person. As Decathlon works on improving the omnichannel experience for their
With all customers having to go through Decathlon’s website, a treasure trove of information has opened up, allowing the team to know exactly who their customers are, what they love, and how they can improve to provide a more personalised service.
customers, several areas of focus have become apparent. With so much data available, it is imperative to select that which best suits the needs of the customers, as well as the business. Some areas of focus are: purchase history, geography, time, and patterns across a given year of similar data points. To extrapolate further, it will soon become essential to develop and build correlations between seemingly unrelated factors such as weather, geography, time of day, specific devices, and specific areas. With luck and proper direction, Decathlon hopes to be able to fully utilise technology and the omnichannel concept to create the foundation for a new future in retail for the company, especially with plans to open the first store by end 2015. Properly done, the omnichannel concept will make it easier for Decathlon to achieve its purpose: to make the pleasure and benefits of sport accessible to all. F
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January 2015
Focus on Digital Health in China: A Key Opportunity for Pharma By Rasmus Rask, Senior Digital Pharma Advisor, Valtech
China will become the world’s second largest drug market by the end of 2015. China’s healthcare management sector is growing close to 40% a year and will hit $38 billion in the next five years. With sales growth declining in most mature markets, pharmaceutical corporations and brands look to China as a key opportunity for maintaining and developing their global prominence. Prospects of greater intellectual property protection, an evolving regulatory regime, and the transition from being a supplier of ingredients and a generic drugs market to becoming a leading LSHC market are strong indicators for pharmaceutical companies that the time is right to ramp up their presence in China through drug licensing and acquisitions. Digital health plays an increasing role as China revamps a healthcare management sector impaired by chaotic patient data, underfunded rural health centres, overburdened city hospitals and a catastrophic nationwide shortage of doctors (1.5 doctors per 1,000 citizens). In fact, patients often travel hundreds of miles to see a specialist in one of the big city centres. Furthermore, the doctor-patient relationship in China is far from ideal: a recent survey stated that 67% of patients do not trust the diagnosis and treatment provided to them by their doctor. With a staggering mobile penetration of 91%, the market of mobile health in China is projected to exceed CNY10 billion by the end of 2018. The app Chunyu Yisheng – which raised USD50 million in funding in 2014, the biggest single funding round into a Chinese healthcare start-up to date – connects patients with doctors remotely to discuss and diagnose their conditions. Chunyu Yisheng has set an ambitious target of gaining 100 million users by the end of 2015.
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The market of mobile health in China is projected to exceed CNY 10 billion by the end of 2018.
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Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings recently took a major stake in popular drug information platform DXY.com and led a USD100-million round of funding into healthcare platform Guahao.com. Furthermore, e-commerce giant Alibaba has stated its ambition to build a platform for online prescription drug sales and become the e-payment platform for healthcare. The active social media penetration in China is currently 47%. Powerful social platforms like WeChat (600 million users), Tencent Wiebo (580 million), Sina Weibo (556 million) are utilised by digital first-mover brands to promote disease awareness and mobile-based patient resources directly to Chinese patients. So what is the best market penetration strategy in
2015? Putting digital health in the hands of as many patients as possible is definitely a strong contender. Valtech’s recommendation is that pharmaceutical brands promoting digital health services should run campaigns on DXY.com to compete for the attention of doctors and on WeChat to compete for the attention of patients. A parallel campaign approach will not only create a patient-doctor loop reinforcing the reach, application, and validity of the digital health services offered, it will eventually result in better access to care, improved health outcomes, and added prescription value. Valtech has in 2014 advised international pharmaceutical brands on how to develop and promote mobile-based digital health in China. F
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January 2015
Disrupting the Insurance Industry By Matthias de Ferrieres, Managing Director, Stark Group Pte Ltd Stark Group regroups a series of start-ups that focus on digital insurance transformation. They leverage on e-technology know-how, effective marketing science, and operational insurance expertise.
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The e-world announces new boundaries and defines new rules that make true innovation effective.
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and foremost in transforming existing offerings to make them not only better, but different and up-to-date. From massive IT programmes, light and agile development is now a norm. A trial-and-error approach should replace long-lasting strategic thinking and systematic industrialisation that define this capital intensive industry business model.
Today, retail consumers want not only to access anything, everywhere at any time, but also to reach everything anywhere every time. The customer 2.0 wishes to acquire customised products and personalised services promoted through mobile, tablet, or computer. The digital world, a new Far West for consumerists, opens a new era where every business must learn how to cope in order not to disappear. In the insurance industry where only price matters, risk assessment is an obsession and customer process efficiency is a key focus, how can one deal with such new yet disruptive way of doing business? While the insurance industry endorses the necessity to change, adapt, and transform, it has yet to realise that the e-world announces new boundaries and defines new rules that make true innovation effective. It must accept that the key to success is accessing the technology rather than possessing it. It has to understand that innovation comes from open source and tech sharing rather than IP (Intellectual Property) protection and control. Lastly, it should discern that innovation lies first
Insurance companies are getting there. They test new ways of working and slowly adapt their standards. They work with innovative start-ups and tech youngsters to develop micro solutions. They discover the power of the “succeed immediately or move on” attitude: that is cheaper and faster from an infrastructure point of view, and engaging and less frustrating from an organisational one. The insurance industry also endorses the need to be (more) customer-centric, (more) user-friendly and (more) prospectaccessible. It has yet to accept to walk the talk and leverage on digital capabilities to deploy such a shift. Consumers are the centrepiece of business. Everything is initiated by them, for them and through them. Such a dated statement is rather new for the industry. Insurers always face the difficulties of creating appropriate value perception through their line of
products (heavy underwriting, lengthy processes, poor marketing, and outdated distribution strategies). As a consequence ,the willingness to pay remains extremely low and price war is the main strategy to gain market share. With digital, they can now shift the paradigm from price to offer: better engagement through simplification of the purchasing cycle, nice colour scheme and dynamic design, little questions with clear language, greater customer experience with the usage of big data to segment and position prospect according to profile, and, lastly, web application flexibility that adapts the visible offer according to interest. To play a role in such heavily regulated and formatted market is not an easy task. Stringent compliance, complex legal requirement, and systematic governance do not help innovation to take off. Insurers are aware that there is no choice but to go ahead and digitalise their industry to respond to consumers’ limitless appetite. It is difficult but necessary. It must redefine the traditional methods and open doors to reinvent itself. Otherwise, someone will take over to the detriment of the big players of that noble industry. Sooner rather than later! F
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COVER STORY
January 2015
Ventures in the Digital Maze
The Evolution of the Hospitality Industry in the Digital Era Interview with Pierre-Charles Grob, Managing Director Asia, FASTBOOKING
FASTBOOKING was born in Paris, in 2000. We live through innovation, service, and performance. And for the past 14 years, we have been walking alongside hoteliers, offering them cutting-edge products, services, and expertise to help them increase profits. We do that by maximising direct bookings and brand visibility in the digital distribution environment. Our solutions are cloud-based and open to better maintainability, better support, better evolutions, and better results. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SET UP AN OFFICE IN SINGAPORE? FASTBOOKING was one of the first Internet players in the hospitality industry to set up its Asian headquarters in Singapore back in 2003, the city-state offering a strategic and central location within the whole APAC region. Singapore also meets excellent conditions for a technology company to develop itself, in a politically and economically stable environment. Eleven years later, Asia accounts for 40% of FASTBOOKING’s turnover, with subsidiaries in Japan, China, and India, and we definitely intend to keep pace. HOW IS DIGITAL IMPACTING BUSINESS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY? People used to go to a brick-and-mortar travel agent and go through brochures to pick hotels and flights together as a whole. They had the ability to compare around 10 to 20 hotels. Today, they can search, compare and book hundreds of thousands of hotels in just three clicks. New powerful entrants like review websites or Online Travel
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CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT FASTBOOKING?
Nearly 60% of the hotel business now comes from electronic distribution.
Agencies (OTAs), like TripAdvisor, Agoda, or Booking.com have replaced old intermediaries. One major opportunity for hotels was to suppress those intermediaries in order to be able to communicate directly with their potential clients online, which the whole industry failed to do at that time. Of course, it also brings hotels new opportunities. Social media, for instance. The integration of Facebook or TripAdvisor, within their brand building strategies, empowers hotels to communicate with consumers through social networks, turn them into customers, and create a special guest experience, gaining loyalty and referrals. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THIS INDUSTRY? The need to develop its direct sales on the electronic channels. Nearly 60% of the hotel business now comes from electronic distribution (Global Distribution Systems, brand websites, OTAs) and it is mostly controlled by OTAs, applying commissions up to 25%. Simply keeping up with the digital landscape is no longer an option and hospitality companies need to manage their online channels with professionalism. This is how FASTBOOKING helps the industry on a daily basis to develop its direct sales through electronic channels, and maximise profits: through traffic generation to their websites and technology platform to convert traffic into customers HOW CAN COMPANIES FOSTER THEIR INNOVATION AND/OR GROWTH? Investment. Regardless of the industry in which it evolves, a company looking
for innovation and growth needs to invest in Research & Development, but, most importantly, it is now crucial to invest in technology and marketing to provide easy and efficient tools both for the company’s internal use and for its clients, focusing on the end-client needs and preferred devices. Hotels have never been so exposed to competition but, on the other hand, the Internet gives them access to 1.5 billion potential customers. This is as much a threat as an opportunity to showcase their brand through multiple channels like OTAs, social networks, and mostly their own website. The key insight is to follow new consumer behaviours and trends. When was the last time you went into a travel agent’s shop? F
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COVER STORY
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Ventures in the Digital Maze
January 2015
Digitally Enhanced Meetings By Mélanie Bonnet, Operations Manager, PowerVote PowerVote’s solutions help you to maximise the value of your meeting or conference by engaging your audience, encouraging participation, and evaluating your participants’ feedback.
Meetings are an important part of our daily work life. In reality, 15% of an organisation’s collective time is spent in meetings. The problem is that a large part of them are unproductive and turn out to be a waste of both time and money. One reason for this is the lack of engagement from the participants, who multi-task during meetings and conferences, and, therefore, become less efficient. Using digital technology for corporate meetings and conferences is a great way to maximise the time spent by keeping the audience aware and engaged, and boosting its productivity. More and more companies are using mobile apps for their events to avoid unproductive gatherings, to bring interactivity, and gather valuable opinions and instant feedback from participants. Digital technologies enhance business meetings in lots of positive ways. During an event, technology can be used to gather responses and gain vital data from the audience on their preferences and their behaviour. The collected data can create debate during the event or be analysed after the meeting to measure efficiency and maximise the return on
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Technology can be used to gather responses and gain vital data from the audience.
investment of meetings and conferences. Participants feel heard and engaged, and are, therefore, more efficient in participating and sharing new ideas. Within a company, it can also allow employees to connect with each other, enable remote working for those unable to attend certain meetings, and increase efficiency within the office.
GATHERING USEFUL AND USABLE FEEDBACK A meeting and conference app is the perfect way to make your business gatherings memorable and interactive, and to provide a way to collect feedback seamlessly. The flexible nature of mobile event apps and digital technology means that you can ask questions, hold opinion polls, get useful comments to provide accurate and up-to-date statistics – particularly useful for client feedback. Regular meetings, remote conferences, and product launches can all be organised through the use of cloud-based technology.
INTERACTIVE MEETING MANAGEMENT Not only are event apps really useful for one-off events, they are ideal for bringing your company together during meetings. Storing meeting agendas and other useful documents can all be done through the cloud. Employees and clients can then access them wherever they are, through their device. Meetings can be remotely managed all in one place without the need for lots of emails that get lost in inboxes, and the app makes it easy to alert all members of your team or regular participants of your meetings, quickly and efficiently. Digital technology and, in particular, event apps are set to change the way events, meetings, and business are conducted. Get onboard with digital technology and gain valuable information from your employees, clients, and customers through an innovative and affordable solution. F
FOCUS MAGAZINE
COVER STORY
January 2015
Ventures in the Digital Maze
Engaging Connected Consumers: The Retailer’s Challenge By Boris Ferlet, Business Development Director APAC, Ingenico International (Singapore)
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In Asia Pacific, growth of cashless payments is over 20% per year.
players have spotted this potential and launched phone-based wallet applications. But few of these have been successful because they have not really brought any improvement to existing processes nor significantly improved the shopping experience. And above all, most of these new players have focused on a single area of the consumer journey (payments, promotions, or loyalty, rarely combined), and not been able to address use cases across all channels (store, mobile, Web). This means consumers are confronted to inconsistent shopping experiences even within a single retail brand.
MOBILE WALLETS MOBILE PHONES ARE IN EVERYONE’S POCKET
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The world of payments is changing, and it is changing fast. Technology and innovation are driving new kinds of usage, and these are particularly developing in Asia Pacific. Consider this: • Electronic payments are progressively displacing cash transactions, even for small amounts. In Asia Pacific, growth of cashless payments is over 20% per year. • Online shopping is gaining ground on traditional commerce. It is expected that 20% of global retail sales will be online by 2020. And this is particularly true in Asia Pacific, which in 2014 (and for the first time) overtook the US as the world’s largest B2C e-commerce market. • Consumers are mobile and interconnected across multiple devices. In certain markets, mobile and tablet commerce (shopping online on a smartphone or tablet) have overtaken sales over a computer.
Mobile phones are likely to become the cornerstone of next-generation consumer transactions. On average, it takes up to two days for a cardholder to realise his or her card is lost. It only takes two hours to realise the phone is gone. The reality is that the smartphone has become central to most shoppers’ everyday lives.
The combination of value-added services (loyalty, promotions, geolocated services, etc.) with payments is key to the success of mobile wallets. Mobile-driven loyalty and promotions are expected to be the greatest factor to drive consumer adoption of mobile payments. The key to a successful consumer journey lies in the ability to operate payment and offers seamlessly across all channels.
This ubiquity means the mobile phone has become a unique opportunity for merchants to engage with their consumers in a personalised manner. A number of
This is not easy for merchants, because this may require integration between multiple back-office environments and heterogeneous bank relationships.
Ingenico, the world’s leading provider of cross-channel payment services, already supports innovative Web-tostore shopping journeys and recently showcased mobile phone applications combining payment, loyalty, and locationbased coupons. In this demonstration, consumers who opt in for the service receive targeted promotions when they are within a certain range of a participating store. If the consumer wishes to benefit from the offer, a single tap of the mobile phone on the existing payment terminal will handle the payment, discount the promotion, and add up loyalty points. This, in effect, is a true improvement of the process, both for merchants and for consumers. Such use cases are expected to stir adoption of mobile wallets. The new connected consumer is already here, and merchants need to adapt or they will risk losing to the more innovative competitors who will offer better shopping experiences to consumers. With the world’s fastest growth in e-commerce, cashless payment and mobile phone penetration, it may be that the Asian markets will set the pace, leapfrogging to the most recent technologies to better adapt to tomorrow’s shoppers. F
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FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES
FOCUS MAGAZINE
French Companies in Singapore
January 2015
Newly Set Up Companies Over the last few months, various French companies have benefited from the FCCS’ Business Support services for their setup process in Singapore. Let’s welcome, among others:
The company is headquartered in France, and has international offices located in the United States and Singapore. As of today, Keosys has over 1000 reference centres across the world and offers its products through a global network of partners.
trials. Keosys is becoming a reference as well as a trusted leader in the field of Imaging Data Management Systems with a fully integrated reading workflow. Our offer includes IMAGYS, a cloud-based CTIMS (Clinical Trial Imaging Management System) and Keosys Advanced Medical Imaging software, our multimodality 2D/3D image processing software.
Solutions for clinical studies – clinical trials: Keosys provides full imaging solutions for academic studies and clinical
Contact: Mr Olivier A LO, Business Development Manager, Asia Website: www.keosys.com
mobile and tablet apps and voting keypads – and consultancy services, PowerVote has a proud history of helping their partners to meet their strategic objectives while boosting their event ROI.
and gathers accurate responses – all the while harvesting a wealth of data about the audience, their preferences, and their behaviours. After an event, we provide reports that turn complex data sets into meaningful insights.
for use in routine diagnosis, clinical research, and multicentre clinical trials.
Founded in 2001, Keosys is a privatelyowned medical imaging service provider that focuses on the development and commercialisation of innovative solutions
With 20 years of experience in the event technology industry, PowerVote recently created its first Asian subsidiary in Singapore. PowerVote works with businesses, organisations, and event professionals to help them create more effective and more engaging meetings and events. Using a unique blend of technology – including
Our technology and consultancy services work in harmony to deliver significant benefits to events and meetings of all sizes. Before an event, we work with our clients to design sessions and presentations that will engage and entertain audiences. During an event, PowerVote technology enables greater audience participation
agency masters both print and digital channels. Parade is based on a Bestof-breed business model, to always find the appropriate skills and creative style, by involving handpicked specialists in Asia and Europe (graphic designers, copy writers, photographers, digital developers...) for different projects, in line with timings and budgets. Parade Agency advises and supports companies in creating their advertising campaigns and communication tools. Advertising, promotional tools, identity, corporate communication... Parade
Founder Nelly Primault has been managing advertising campaigns and communication tools for more than 12 years for companies like 3M, BNPP,
PowerVote Singapore is the multinational’s 7th branch, with offices in France, Spain, Germany, UK, Brazil, and Mexico. Contact: Ms Mélanie BONNET, Operations Manager Website: www.powervote.sg
Colgate Palmolive, Total, Essilor, Nicolas Feuillatte... She cofounded the agency PublicAverti in Paris in 2008. Now, she takes on a new challenge in Singapore with Parade Agency. Time to convince your audience? Time to promote your image? Time to rise? Let’s Parade!
Contact: Ms Nelly PRIMAULT, Managing Director Website: www.parade.com.sg
BENEFIT FROM OUR EXPERTISE IN SETTING UP COMPANIES IN SINGAPORE! Do you wish to start a business in Singapore and set up a local legal structure? The FCCS is here to assist you and provides you with a personalised support. Please contact our business support department at bizsupport@fccsingapore.com or +65 6933 1350.
FOCUS MAGAZINE
FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES
January 2015
French Companies in Singapore
They Rely on Us... and Testify to Our Services In the last few months, the FCCS Business Support team carried out several business missions for French companies in Singapore and helped others with their implementation in Singapore. Here, one of these companies provides testimonials of our services. The FCCS team was able to guide us through all the steps, combining coordination, assistance, and necessary advice for the proper conduct of this procedure, which can sometimes be tedious. “Three years after setting up our Representative Office for the ASEAN region in Singapore, the French Chamber of Commerce appeared to us as the right partner to help Pierre Fabre DermoCosmetics create a subsidiary (Private Limited).
We have been guided through the various stages, including the preparation of all necessary legal documents, registration of the company with the relevant services, opening a local bank account, and the renewal of the work visas for our foreign employees.
We have been very satisfied with the FCCS’ business services as both the transition to a Private Limited and the renewals of the work visas were successful.” Contact: Mr Frédéric CHARLES, Managing Director, Pierre Fabre Dermo Cosmetique Singapore Pte Ltd Website: www.pierre-fabre.com
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Trade Shows
January 2015
The FCCS highlights French Expertise at Medical Fair Asia 2014 Held at Suntec from 9 to 11 September, 13 French companies joined the French Pavilion to showcase their world-class products and services at the Asia’s leading medical and healthcare exhibition. Singapore concluded the 10th edition of this biennial exhibition with optimism as the regional medical and health care scene shows rapid growth. Medical Fair Asia represents the dynamism that drives the global medical and healthcare sector, and this year’s exhibition boasted another record attendance and participation in its fifteen-year history. Held since 1997, Medical Fair Asia featured strong
international and regional presence with 694 companies from 39 countries to a bustling show floor, along with 10,780 professional visitors with significant numbers coming from the region (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam). For the 7th time in a row, the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
organised a French Pavilion where 13 French companies exhibited their latest technologies and services. The FCCS organised networking events, offering opportunities for our exhibitors to broaden their business network with qualified contacts. We look forward to welcoming you at the French Pavilion at Medical Fair Asia 2016 from 31 August to 2 September 2016! F
THE EXHIBITORS Amplitude designs, manufactures and market a complete range of implants and related instruments for hip and knee joint reconstruction since 1997.
Hygeco International Products (since 1887) is a leading European company in medical, forensic and laboratory equipment.
C2F Implants® specialises in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of knee and hip prostheses and ancillaries.
Microval is a company dedicated to the design and manufacturing of innovative implants and instruments for cardiovascular, digestive, and urology surgeries.
Cleanis is a French manufacturer and distributor of disposable protective and hygienic products. Evolucare Technologies provides information systems for healthcare professionals since 1988.
Mintcare is a provider of management and services for healthcare solutions and products in Southeast Asia. It is based in Singapore and was founded in 2012 by a team of healthcare market experts.
Fameco is the European leader in high-quality refurbished laboratory instruments.
SBM is specialised in the design and manufacturing and distribution of biomaterials for bone surgery since 1991.
Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructure, it offers nurse Call anti-microbial hand-held remote control with a magnetised contact point that enables multi-angle pull movement.
Teknimed is recognised as the reference in biomaterials devices for orthopaedics and spine. It is an innovative company with a worldwide reputation for its capabilities and product quality.
Groupe Lépine - Through three centuries of medical and surgical practices, groupe lépine has gained an unignorable experience in the orthopaedic surgery field.
Villard Medical, created in 1947, is a French manufacturer of different kinds of medical furniture such as trolleys, instrument tables, medication carts, crash carts, anesthesia carts, infusion stands, and computer trolleys.
For more information about Tradeshows and French Pavilions, please contact us at bizsupport@fccsingapore.com
FCCS BUSINESS SERVICES
FOCUS MAGAZINE
Business Centre
January 2015
The FCCS unveils its new Business Centre! This new milestone in the history of the FCCS reflects the dynamism of our Chamber. With an increasing number of company and individual members, and an increasing activity for our Business Support and HR services, our team is constantly growing to better serve our members. We officially inaugurated our expanded office space and Business Centre on Friday 5 September 2014. This ceremony
was held with guest of honour H.E. Benjamin Dubertret, Ambassador of France to Singapore.
The FCCS Business Centre offers greater capacity with 19 offices (for one to three persons) and 12 open-space work stations.
An Extended Business Centre Located right in the heart of Singapore on Orchard Road, our Business Centre provides a flexible solution. These fully equipped new offices offer our member companies a turnkey solution, allowing them to benefit from our infrastructure and wide business network.
An EfďŹ cient Solution Our flexibility and our all-inclusive solutions have already attracted many companies. Indeed, the FCCS hosted 18 companies in 2013. With this expanded Business Centre, we now have the capacity to welcome more companies looking for a hassle-free solution. F
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| Asia Committee / Banking & Finance Committee / Legal & Tax Committee
January 2015
Trends in Asia for 2015: Economic, Financial & Political This exceptional breakfast talk brought together two leading experts in economic and financial forecasting. Mr Manu Bhaskaran, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies and Director of Centennial Group International, and Mr Antoine Chery, Head of Economic Service for ASEAN Countries at the French Embassy in Singapore, presented an insightful and in-depth review of economic, financial and political forecasts of Asian countries for 2015. This event, held at the Swiss Hotel the Stamford, was a great success and gathered regional and country managing directors, chief financial officers, finance directors and managers, as well as bankers, financial advisers and consultants.
This event ended with a Q&A session that gave our attendees
the opportunity to interact with the speakers. F
shared his experience and business tips on the Vietnam market and Mrs Samantha Campbell, Partner, Gide Loyrette Nouel, finally addressed the legal aspects and
related matters. Held at the Raffles Hotel, this breakfast talk with this brilliant trio attracted many participants attentive to the trends of this fast-growing market. F
Doing Business in Vietnam Vietnam has been a rapidly developing country over the past decade with a dynamic and emerging market economy. After a slowdown during the global financial crisis, Vietnam’s economy is already bouncing back and continues to expand and modernise. Located in South East Asia with a prominent role, the country has positioned itself as an attractive focal point for investments. Presented by three eminent speakers, experts of the Vietnam market and based in the country, this session provided our members with the essential information needed to tackle this growing market! Mr Nicolas du Pasquier, Senior Country Manager, Natixis, covered the financial and banking aspects, then, Mr Chafiq Hammadi, General Manager, Bel Group,
Updates on the Latest Changes to Accounting On November 14th, the Banking & Finance Committee welcomed two speakers from PwC Singapore, Mr Senthilnathan Sampath, Associate Director, and Mrs Chen Voon Hoe, Engagement Leader, for a precise update on the latest
changes to accounting standards: IFRS 9, Leasing, IFRS 15. The two experts covered key challenges that companies face, and this committee meeting allowed participants to exchange views on the main issues they meet with these recent accounting changes. F
FOCUS MAGAZINE January 2015
FCCS CLUB EVENTS
Banking & Finance Committee / Energy/Infrastructure Committee / Legal & Tax Committee|
Gas Market Trends in Asia - Impact of the US Exports Significant new LNG export capacity is currently proposed in North America, with the first projects already under construction in the US. But what are the real prospects for largescale North American exports? Could these be a game-changer for the current global gas market dynamics? How could they impact the spot and long-term LNG markets in Asia? With LNG imports in Asia accounting for 75% of global demand these are key questions for the global LNG industry as well as the Asian gas markets. The FCCS Energy-Infrastructure Committee invited two experts to address these questions: Mr Steve Hill, President, Global Energy Marketing and Shipping, BG Group, a world-class LNG actor, and Mr Daniel Mallo, Managing Director, Head of Natural Resources & Energy Project Finance & Metals and Mining Finance, Asia Pacific at Société Générale CIB. First, these two specialists of global
LNG trends and US gas exports shared their views on these questions. Then, Mr Hugo Virag, Managing Director, StormHarbour Securities, moderated the panel discussion on the challenges faced by buyers and suppliers of LNG in Asia.
Supported by the British and Australian Chambers of Commerce in Singapore, this exceptional seminar was a great opportunity to learn from very highlevel speakers, and to mingle with an international audience. F
In Asia, Egis Rail a New Player in Design Engineering and Rail Consulting Market The need for infrastructure investment in Asia is huge and estimated to represent about US$750 billion annually during 2010-2020. In rail market, the role of consultants from feasibility study to detailed design is often constraint into a given framework/concept with limited room for innovation.
During this talk, Mr Bruno Vantu, General Manager of Egis Rail in Singapore, talked about the company’s vision of design engineering and elaborated on the elements of the “French touch” for infrastructure projects. F
Banking/Finance, Energy/Infrastructure & Legal & Tax Networking Event On Thursday 30th October, the FCCS organised a joint networking event for the Banking/Finance, Energy/Infrastructure and Legal & Tax Committees at The Auld Alliance. Located within the recently restored Rendezvous Hotel heritage building, the warm tones of the Auld Alliance’s wooden furniture and button back leather sofas made for a warm and relaxed atmosphere. This friendly gathering offered a unique opportunity to discuss with like-minded professional around the cosy whisky bar. F
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Aeronautics, | Space, Defence & Security Committee / R&D Committee
January 2015
Aeronautics, Space, Defence & Security Networking Event The FCCS invited its Aeronautics & Defence Committee members to a dedicated networking evening. This event, which gathered professionals from Aeronautics, Space, Defence & Security, represented a unique opportunity for our members to broaden their network and to exchange with like-minded professionals. We are looking forward to the next Aeronautics, Space, Defence & Security networking event. F
R&D Site Visit at Airbus Group
Three National Chambers joined this exceptional R&D Site Visit at Airbus Group. The R&D Committee of the SingaporeanGerman Chamber, the HiTec Committee of the Dutch Chamber and the FCCS R&D Committee were invited to attend
a presentation on Airbus R&D activities followed by a tour of the facilities. Over 35 R&D professionals attended this event where Dr Timo Bretschneider from Airbus Group Innovations introduced their latest R&D activities in Singapore.
Our members were then invited to visit the training facilities of Airbus Helicopters. This R&D event was a great opportunity to get more information on Airbus’ latest projects and to network with other R&D professionals. F
Surfing the Waves of Change to break out of the box of fixed thinking patterns. This presentation by Mr Cyriel Kortleven, Motivational Speaker was very interactive with various tailor-made examples and stories. Our members had the chance to get hands-on tips and tricks to boost creativity. This evening talk jointly organised by the Belgian Luxembourg Business Group
and the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore helped our participants
This session was followed by a networking session with BLBG’s members. F
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Business | Women Committee / ICT Committee
January 2015
Women in Diplomacy Commission of Canada in Singapore and Mrs Mary Thurston, Deputy High Commissioner at the New Zealand High Commission in Singapore. This breakfast talk represented a unique opportunity to discover the world of diplomacy and public affairs but also to understand how to embrace and build a diplomatic career as a woman.
The FCCS Business Women committee along with the Societe Generale Singapore Women Network were glad to invite their members to a cosy conversation with three senior women
diplomats from three different continents: Mrs Laurence Beau, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in Singapore, Mrs Lisa Rice Madan, Head of Political and Public Affairs at the High
During this very successful and wellattended event, these senior women diplomats shared with the audience their personal stories and career aspirations as “women in diplomacy.� They lifted the veil on the role of a diplomat and talked about their personal impressions of being a woman in diplomacy with respect to career, personal life, as well as mobility. F
Start-up MyRepublic Challenges Telcos Purpose-built for the fastest Next Generation National Broadband Network, Internet service provider MyRepublic has redefined the standard of fibre broadband services in Singapore and the region. Leveraging a thin operator model and innovative go-to-market approaches, MyRepublic continues to disrupt the Telco industry with its bold vision and userfocused product innovation. For this last ICT Committee Meeting of the year, we wel-comed Mr Greg Mittman, V.P. & Co-Founder of MyRepublic, who
shared with our members the story of this exciting telecom start-up. It was also a great opportunity to introduce our new
ICT members and allowed us to discuss the agenda 2015 for future events and topics to be tackled. F
ICT Inter-Chamber Networking Night Back to School! We organised a night of fun and networking with the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Committee industry members on Tuesday 26 August 2014.This event represented a great opportunity to connect with ICT professionals across many of the leading Chambers in Singapore. The participating Chambers included the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. F
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FCCS CLUB EVENTS
January 2015
Healthcare Committee|
Singapore’s Ambitions in the Biomedical Science and Healthcare Sector To kick off this newly created Committee, we invited Mr Kevin Lai, Director Biomedical Sciences, Singapore Economic Development Board to discuss Singapore’s ambitions in the Biomedical Science and Healthcare sector. This session was facilitated by Mr JeanLouis Grunwald, Vice-President, Asia Pacific, Japan and China, Sanofi Pasteur and by Dr Philippe Guibert, Medical Director, Medical Consulting, Asia, International SOS. Acknowledging the importance of the biomedical sciences and healthcare sector in Singapore and with a significant number of its members in this industry, the FCCS decided to launch a new Healthcare Committee. This Committee promotes
and represents the healthcare industry in Singapore and the region, providing a platform for information sharing among various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and equipment, healthcare & wellness and services.
Mr Antoine Chery, Head of the French Economic and Financial Service in ASEAN at the French Embassy in Singapore, also shared his views on the importance of the sector for France and French companies. F
Healthcare Committee Meeting: Roadmap for 2014/2015 Biomedical and Pharmaceutical sectors, to a first session of its newly set up Healthcare Committee, in order to address the future topics to be tackled and the agenda for 2014/2015. We welcomed 25 professionals from this industry who shared their inputs and ideas for the Committee.
After a successful kick-off event on “Singapore’s Ambitions in the Biomedical
Science and Healthcare Sector”, the FCCS invited its members from the Healthcare,
Healthcare Networking Event In order to facilitate the connections between our members from the biomedical science and healthcare industries, we organised a networking event at Café Gavroche. This event gathered more than 35 professionals from the sector and was a great opportunity to broaden their network and exchange with their peers in a relaxed atmosphere. F
Led by the two Vice Presidents of the Committee - Mr Jean-Louis Grunwald from Sanofi Pasteur and Dr Philippe Guibert from International SOS, this session was a great way for our members to introduce their company profiles and discuss expectations from this Committee. F
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| Human Resources Committee / French Maritime Cluster
FOCUS MAGAZINE
January 2015
How to Increase Your Workforce Engagement and Leadership Satisfaction Scores In this highly interactive session with Global Leadership Agility Practice Leader, Dr Paul Aitken, 30 participants were introduced to the undiscovered world of personal values and how sensitivity to these could increase their ability to motivate themselves, engage and lead their colleagues and staff.
Some of the modules covered include: • How engagement happens; • Brief Introduction to 12 leadership agility practices; • Motivational Power of Personal Values sensitivity; • Brief Personal Values Assessment and discussion. F
Understanding Millennials in Asia During this interactive session organised by the HR Committe, our members had the opportunity to discuss their challenges with 20 peers from MNCs and SMEs and to learn more insights from our two guest speakers: Mr Henri Allegra, Consulting Manager, SEA for Universum, and Mrs Véronique Augier Nel, HR Marketing Manager, Accor Asia-Pacific.
Our speakers addressed the following key topics during the committee meeting: • Global Millennials Trends; • Differences between Millennials in Europe and Asia and; • Best approaches for multinational companies when hiring/employing Millennials in Asia. F
HR Club: How non-French Executives Experience French Management The purpose of the FCCS HR Club is to build an active and dynamic Professional Network covering the local, regional and global HR challenges. For this HR Club meeting, we were pleased to welcome Ms Helen Luo, VP HR Total Oil Asia Pacific who shared with other HR professionals the outcome of a survey about ‘How non-French Executives Experience French Management’. F
Maritime Security in Southeast Asia For this French Maritime Cluster committee meeting, we welcomed Commander François Ceccaldi, French Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Centre to discuss the Maritime Security in Southeast Asia. With globalisation, maritime trade takes an increasingly important place in the global economy. Source of wealth, this maritime activity also arouses envy and gives rise to various illegal activities. If piracy is regularly publicised, other threats to maritime safety are also present
in the region such as illegal immigration, trafficking, contraband, smuggling... To these illegal activities must be also added the increasing intensity of maritime traffic which poses a potential threat to safety and environment. Indeed, collisions, groundings or wreckages are not uncommon. The hypothesis of a major disaster that could impact not only the region but also the entire global economy is not to be excluded. To deal with these threats and fight against transnational criminal activities, coastal
States gradually organised themselves. Among the means established to improve maritime security, the Information Fusion Centre, created by Singapore in 2009, is a remarkable initiative. Through information sharing between all partner countries, the aim of the centre is to provide actionable information on MARSEC threats, contribute to the regional knowledge repository on MARSEC and enhance the awareness, information sharing and sense-making capability of partners. F
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Platform for SMEs & Entrepreneurs / Legal & Tax Committee / Smart Cities Committee|
SMEs and Entrepreneurs’ Drink This new monthly networking evening aims to offer SMEs and Entrepreneurs a platform and an opportunity to mingle
with like-minded individuals to exchange about their respective businesses. This first session enabled 50 participants
to meet with some of our FCCS board members as well as the FCCS team within the premises of the FCCS. F
Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques This session considered various mechanisms for foreign companies operating in Singapore and Southeast Asia to resolve their commercial disputes in Singapore. The talk was presented by Mr Jonathan Leach, partner at Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee. Beyond the dispute resolution techniques, the speaker assessed the recent steps taken by the Government to consolidate Singapore’s position as a “dispute resolution hub” for the region. This meeting was an opportunity to get reliable and helpful information for our members going through commercial dispute in Singapore and in the region. F
French Retirement Plans: Understanding the Law to Optimise your Benefits French retirement plans are often neglected by French expatriates, once they have decided to live abroad. Mr Bruno Renardier, CEO of Novelvy, and Mr Maurice Nhan, Novelvy representative in Asia, addressed the main rules of the French retirement plans, including the changes following the pension reform in 2013. They developed on the impact of international professional careers on pension benefits. This year again, this talk attracted many members from various backgrounds, looking for wise advice on their retirement plans. F
Update on FCCS Smart City Cartography Project Created in early 2014, the Smart Cities committee has been launched to identify and promote French expertise in smart cities, through a booklet dedicated on Urban solutions developed by French companies.
This meeting aimed at welcoming new companies on the project, updating members on the booklet and brainstorming on the next steps of this project. 30 companies have now taken part into this initiative. F
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Marketing | & Communication Committee / Asia Committee
January 2015
Live your Consumer’s Life - Brands at the Heart of your Everyday Activities During this committee meeting, Mr Ismael Ibnoulouafi, General Manager - South East Asia, Sparkle Design Agency, Open D Group addressed the great benefits of “Ethnography insight” named consumer immersion that allows companies to uncover customer motivations that can impact how brands and products are viewed, lived. He explained to the audience the benefit of what he considers the fastest ways for a project team to gain empathy for the people they serve, and to uncover
the motivations that drive customers’ opinions by going beyond traditional market research methods. He exposed how being able to interact with a customer and personally observe their environment (as opposed to relying on their perception of it) represents an invaluable way to understand them. This session gave our members the opportunity to be initiated to “Ethnography insight” aiming at ideating great solutions fast where empathy and understanding are the central focus. F
Changing Media Landscape and What This Means for Stakeholder Engagement Global changes in media consumption patterns have led to concentration of media ownership (also known as media consolidation or media convergence).
posing challenges to companies managing their external relations. Against this backdrop, this committee meeting animated by Ms Yu Poh Leng, General Manager, Ruder Finn Asia, aimed to provide an overview of the changing media landscape and how companies can become better at engaging their external stakeholders to strengthen their reputations. F
The convergence of social and news content across new mobile platforms is also altering the environment in which journalists and communication professionals operate, as well as
Innovation Networking Night
Chinese Business Etiquette Ms Aurélie Damperon and Ms Ge Guo, Founders of Bonjour Beijing, introduced our members to basic notions of Chinese etiquette in order to build better work relationships with Chinese counterparts. They emphasised on the concept of “face”, which is essential to ensure high-quality interactions with Chinese business partners. The speakers also helped attendees familiarise themselves with some Chinese day-to-day sayings to make Chinese language more practical. F
The FCCS invited its members to a Networking Event jointly organised by its Marketing & Communication and R&D Committees.
DiGital Content Technologies (DGCT) showcased Alioscopy and Quividi digital technologies. French buffet was served together with wines in tubes thanks to Drink In Tube.
This event was held in a traditional shop house at Arab Street in the new Mediakeys offices, where
More than 60 members from various fields attended this event to network and exchange with like-minded professionals in an innovative atmosphere! F
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January 2015
Sourcing & Supply Chain Committee|
Logistics Providers, Quality of Information and Efficiency of Operational Processes Globalisation, evolutions in consumption modes and technology breakthroughs have created an ever-changing environment for companies to work in. Increased competition on a worldwide scale has strengthened companies’ awareness of supply chain sensitivity and potential. In this context, more and more companies fully integrate supply chain management into their general strategy. Be they partners or mere suppliers, logistics providers have to adapt to their customers’ evolving constraints to guarantee quality of service and customer satisfaction. Mrs Agnès Bouyssou, Manager in charge of Supply Chain Business Unit, and Mr Jérôme Argentin, Partner and Founder of BC Consulting Group addressed these
specific topics and questions, with their extensive knowledge in Supply Chain
Management, and expertise in shipping and freight forwarding. F
Managing Your Transportation Tender In order to optimise transportation tenders and save time, Mr Alexandre Yamada, Regional Client Manager Support & Services for SDV Asia shared his experience and gave recommendations for preparing tenders: tools, documents and information necessary to a freight forwarding service provider to make its best offer. This meeting was well attended by buyers and supply chain managers. F
Sourcing & Supply Chain Networking Event The FCCS invited its Sourcing & Supply Chain Committee members to a dedicated networking evening. This event, which brought together professionals from Sourcing & Supply Chain, represented a unique opportunity for our members to broaden their network and to exchange with like-minded professionals. F
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Sustainability | Committee
January 2015
The Shared Value Created by Saipem Sustainable Business During this sustainability committee meeting, Mr Fabrizio Pecoraro, South East Asia & Oceania Sustainability Coordinator, Saipem Singapore, presented Saipem’s sustainability strategy which aims to maximise the local content of its activities. That means achieving the integration of the business within the local socioeconomic context and demonstrating
the competitive advantage to be gained on promoting the creation of value. This approach is a way of ensuring long-term growth and value creation, considering our responsibility towards all stakeholders. Given the size and the importance of its activities, Saipem is conscious that it plays a significant role in the market and in the economic development and welfare of the individuals who work for or collaborate
with the Company and of the communities in which it operates. The complexity of the situations where Saipem operates, the challenges of sustainable development and the need to take into consideration the interest of all stakeholders, has strengthen the importance of defining clear policies and values, responsibilities, and a clear sustainability business approach to contribute to a better future for everybody. F
How does Sodexo Integrate Food Waste Resource Efficiency into its Business Model 34,000 sites. The company has indeed a significant presence in Singapore and South East Asia. Food service accounts for a majority share of Sodexo’s revenues and the food resources used in the food service operations are considerable given its scale and size. Where studies show that more than 30% of the global food produced is being wasted, Sodexo has a responsibility to eliminate food waste in its direct operations and also by working with its food value chain stakeholders to address system wide challenges.
In 2009, Sodexo defined a worldwide corporate responsibility roadmap called the Better Tomorrow Plan, which is central to its mission and strategy. Sodexo Group has been independently recognised by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index
(DJSI) as the global sustainability leader in its industry (Consumer Services) for the 10th year in a row. As a Quality of Life service provider, Sodexo serves 75 million consumers around the world daily through our 420,000 employees in
Eco Pen by Ibis Singapore Bencoolen Executive Assistant Manager at Ibis Singapore Bencoolen, Ms Jade Stunden, was pleasantly surprised upon arriving in Singapore by one project created by her team at Ibis Singapore Bencoolen, the Eco Pen. The project arose after the Accor Group released its new CSR commitment strategy, Planet 21. In an effort to raise awareness and share the story, she was able to assist with developing the project
further and engaging even more staff and guests to get on board with a project that not only recycles paper and reduces the use of plastics but also creates income for under privileged families, maintains a school which provides education and also supports the wellbeing of a community in need. During this inspiring meeting, Jade presented and exchanged on this sustainable initiative which could be duplicate in another company. Every one could order and use the Ecopen. F
In this meeting, Mr Roshith Rajan, Senior Manager CSR and Sustainability, Asia, Australia engaged an open and interesting discussion on how food waste resource efficiency is integrated into Sodexo’s business model. He presented simple practical business initiatives that help tackle food waste. F
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January 2015
FCCS Events / French Gourmet Committee|
InterChamber Holiday Networking Night at S.E.A Aquarium 220 persons joined our InterChamber Networking Night on December 11th. This evening held in an unusual and fantastic venue, the S.E.A Aquarium, was a perfect opportunity to meet people and start the holiday celebrations in a relaxed environment. The participating Chambers were: the American Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, the British Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the French Chamber of Commerce, the Irish Chamber of Commerce, and the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. F
Voilah! French Festival Singapore - Gastronomy Meeting
During this committee meeting, L’Institut Français de Singapour, the FCCS,
Sopexa, and Ubifrance were pleased to introduce “Voilah! French Festival Singapore” in May and June 2015. This festival aims to promote all aspects of French creativity and culture through a range of events in music, visual arts, gastronomy, fashion, dance, science, street art, cinema, and multimedia. Sébastien Bouvatier from the French Embassy and
Business + Gastronomy = FCCS Monthly Luncheons Every first Friday of each month, the FCCS organises a business luncheon in a French restaurant, every time in a different venue with a new menu. These informal networking sessions create excellent opportunities to develop new contacts and exchange ideas on business issues while enjoying some great French food. Our last luncheons took place at So Sofitel, Laurent at Portsdown, Napoleon and Bistro du Vin (Zion Road). Visit our website www.fccsingapore.com to see our next business luncheons and broaden your network! F
Grégoire Debré from Sopexa, presented in details the French gastronomy component of the Voilah festival, which will focus on promoting French food and beverages through special menus, offers and animations. Hotels, restaurants, bars, retailers, and other companies promoting French gastronomy and F&B products would join the network of partners. Other specific events will enrich the programming of this gastronomy festival. F
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| Welcome to Singapore
January 2015
Welcome to Singapore 2014! A Friendly Edition in a Garden! This annual rendez-vous brought together a very large audience, composed of friends and French newcomers. It was a great chance for new expatriates to Singapore to meet well-established ones and to get introduced to the French business community. For the first time this year, our gathering took place at Hort Park - the Gardening Hub. H.E. Benjamin Dubertret, Ambassador of France to Singapore, graced the
informative event. Led by President of the FCCS Pierre Verdière, and FCCS Executive Director Carine Lespayandel, it underlined the essential role of the FCCS. The Chamber’s activities and services were presented and the President highlighted the great benefits that our members find in participating in our different committee meetings, events, and functions. Representatives from Singapore’s French institutions were also present at this event.
SPONSORS
Right after the informative presentation, our guests were invited to join us for a delightful buffet dinner proposed by Sodexo. This friendly environment enabled our 200 participants to create some precious networking links. We would like to thank AGS Four Winds, CIC Banque Transatlantique, Luther, and Sodexo for their valuable support. F
FCCS RECRUITMENT SERVICES
Recruit talents through FCCS to develop and support your business in Singapore We provide assistance in: • Defining your needs • Sourcing for candidates • Advertising job openings • Screening applications • Selecting suitable candidates • Integrating your selected candidate within the company
For more information, contact us at
emploi@fccsingapore.com
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French Business Fair
January 2015
French Business Fair: a Successful First Edition! The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore launched the first edition of the French Business Fair on Tuesday 14 October 2014 afternoon at the prestigious Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This event aimed at raising awareness about French companies in Singapore, increasE company profiles, and appeal among future Singapore graduates. Fourteen French companies joined this initiative to take an opportunity to meet and network with future graduates. On site, students were given a booklet with the
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
GIFT SPONSORS
companies’ descriptions and were invited to meet the professionals at their booths or attend the companies’ presentations. One-on-one discussion, presentations, lucky draw, a taste of French gastronomy with a free buffet and wine tasting classes for students... The afternoon was intense for both exhibitors and visitors! This first edition, opened to students from all universities and business schools in Singapore, attracted more than 450 students and was a real success for all the French participating companies. F
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French Business Fair
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French Marché
January 2015
French Marché Brings a Touch of France to Singapore During five days in August, the French Marché organised by the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore brought to Great World City some touches of our French Culture, smell and taste of our French gastronomy, and French Art de Vivre! This edition showcased a wide variety of regional products and specialties, offering to Singaporeans the best of French distinctive heritage and the experience of a traditional French market.
PARTICIPATING BRANDS
One could meet French Artisans, taste and buy regional products such as cheeses, tapenades, foie gras, wines and liquors, discover French art living products and learn more about the French culture! We would like to thank all the vendors who participated and contributed to make this marché real and lively by educating customers on France’s gastronomy, art de vivre and culture! F
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French Marché
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FCCS Gala Dinner
September 2014
250 happy guests for the third edition of La Paulée! Originally from Meursault in the heart of Burgundy, la Paulée celebrates the end of the grape harvest. This celebration used to include wine makers, cellar workers and the surrounding community. It has since evolved to become an international wine event.
On Sunday 23 November, the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore together with the Restaurateurs de France-certified restaurants L’Angelus and Brasserie Gavroche launched the third edition of La Paulée de Singapour at Fort Canning Park!
SPONSOR
More than 250 happy guests enjoyed a typical three-course French meal served by Brasserie Gavroche, L’Angelus, and Laurent Bernard Chocolatier along with a unique variety of French burgundy wines! We would like to thank our official sponsor AGS Four Winds, our supporting sponsors, PAUL for the bread, and ALSCO for the table cloths, as well as
our gift sponsor Le Creuset who kindly offered 3 Round French Ovens in Palm hue from its brand new collection for the lucky draw! Thanks also to all the wineries: Café Calva, Jeroboam, The Vintage Wine Club, and Wine Caviar who presented their exquisite wines, as well as Quartier and its selection of delicious cheese! A special thanks goes to Gabriel de Balasy, Philippe Hoyez and David Lim from L’Angelus as well as Frédéric Colin from Brasserie Gavroche for coorganising this successful event. We look forward to seeing you soon at our next event! F
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FCCS MEMBERSHIP
January 2015
New FCCS Members|
New FCCS Members CORPORATE MEMBERS CA COMMUNICATION
NESPRESSO
Contact: Ms. Anne-Laure CHIPEAUX, Chief Representative Website: www.ca-com.fr Sector: Media / Communication
Contact: Mr. Matthieu POUGIN, Country Manager Website: www.nespresso.com Sector: Consumer Goods (Food)
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD (S) PTE LTD
PEP COCKTAIL HOUSE PTE LTD
Contact: Mr. Simon MARION, Regional Business Development Director Website: www.cushmanwakefield.sg Sector: Real Estate Services Firm
Contact: Mr. Pierre-Emmanuel PLASSART, Owner Website: http://barlaiglon.com Sector: Cocktail Bar
FONTAINEBLEAU LANGUAGES & COMMUNICATION PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Christophe KIJEWSKI, Director Website: www.flc-int.com Sector: Education & Training
POWERVOTE PTE LTD Contact: Ms. Mélanie BONNET, Operations Manager Website: www.powervote.sg Sector: Digital Technology and Consultancy Services
FULLCOLORS EVENT PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Alex PHILIPPOT, Owner Managing Director Website: www.fullcolorsevent.com Sector: Media / Communication
S4M PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Antoine COLLET, General Manager Website: http://s4m.io Sector: Software / Information Services
GUCCI SINGAPORE PTE LTD
SAFT BATTERIES PTE LTD
Contact: Mr. Emmanuel DELRIEU, General Manager, South East Asia Pacific Website: www.gucci.com Sector: Consumer Goods
Contact: Mr. Thai Keong WAN, Sales and Marketing Manager Website: www.saftbatteries.com Sector: Batteries
HOLMAN FENWICK WILLAN SINGAPORE LLP Contact: Mrs. Marine PESRET, Associate Website: www.hfw.com/Singapore Sector: Law Firm
SAPA SINGAPORE HOLDING PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Remy EL ZOUKI, Sales Manager Website: www.sapa.com Sector: Aluminium Solutions
SERVIER PTE LTD JETMOBILE PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Jean-Francois D’ESTALENX, President Website: www.jetmobile.com Sector: Software / Information Services
Contact: Dr. Florence KEIME-GUIBERT, Director International Center for Therapeutic Research SEA and India Website: www.servier.com Sector: Biomedical
LACTALIS SINGAPORE PTE LTD
THE AULD ALLIANCE PTE LTD
Contact: Mr. David SABOT-GARRELON, Country Manager Website: www.lactalis-international.com Sector: Consumer Goods (Food)
Contact: Mr. Emmanuel DRON, Owner Website: www.theauldalliance.sg Sector: F&B / Bar
LALIQUE CRYSTAL SINGAPORE PTE LTD
Contact: Ms. Lucie HULME, CEO Website: www.trilake-partners.com Sector: Wealth Management Services
TRILAKE PARTNERS PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Daniel ONG, Regional Director, Southeast Asia & Oceania Website: www.lalique.com Sector: Consumer Goods
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January 2015
MORE CORPORATE MEMBERS UNRULY
VALTECH SINGAPORE PTE LTD
Contact: Mr. Gregory FOURNIER, Director Strategic Partnerships APAC Website: http://unruly.co Sector: Media / Communication
Contact: Mr. Henri PETITET, Managing Director Website: http://sg.valtech.com Sector: Media / Communication
ENTREPRENEUR MEMBERS ASA ADVISORY PTE LTD
IN-FLUENCY COMMUNICATION
Contact: Mr. Eric SAINT-ANDRE, Director and Lead Advisor Website: www.asaadvisory.com Sector: Professional and Transformation Services
Contact: Ms. Caroline ARLANDIS, Managing Director Website: www.in-fluency.pro Sector: Media / Communication
BFS BLUE ASIA PTE LTD
Contact: Mrs. Isabelle PERSENDA, Managing Director Website: www.insitu-sg.com Sector: Consumer Goods
IN SITU DESIGN PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Stroïazzo MOUGIN, Founder and CEO Website: www.bfsblue.com Sector: Energy
JEROBOAM PTE LTD BONJOUR BEIJING PTE LTD Contact: Ms. Aurélie DAMPERON, Director & Trainer Website: www.bonjourbeijing.com.sg Sector: Mandarin School
CREME SIMON PTE LTD Contact: Ms. Felicia SOH Website: www.creme-simon.com Sector: Consumer Goods
Contact: Mr. Bruno VAILLANT, Director Website: www.jeroboam.asia Sector: Wine
LA CURE GOURMANDE ASIA PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Michel BEAUGIER, Managing Director Website: www.la-cure-gourmande.fr Sector: Consumer Goods (Food)
LE LIT CABANE EPICURIO PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Clément HOCHART, Co-Founder & CEO Website: www.epicurio.net Sector: Wine Social Media & Market Place
FAB EXCLUSIVE SELECTION Contact: Ms. Fabienne PASQUET, Managing Director Sector: Gastronomy and Luxury
Contact: Mr. Clément MORIN, Director Website: http://lelitcabane.com Sector: Furniture
LYS ENERGY PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Jerome BACO, Head of Business Development Website: www.lysenergy.com Sector: Energy
NAPOLEON PTE LTD GAC CONSULTANTS PTE LTD Contact: Mr. Jean-Michel SEVERYNS, Managing Director Sector: Consultants
Contact: Mr. Jean-Christophe CADORET, Director Website: www.napoleon.sg Sector: Restaurant
HORUS DEVELOPMENT & CONSULTING
OUR LITTLE COMPANY
Contact: Mr. Benoit BADUFLE, Managing Director Website: www.horusdvcs.com Sector: Consultants
Contact: Mrs. Olivia DISSESCOU, Director Website: www.our-little-company.com Sector: Media/Communication
PARADE AGENCY PTE LTD Contact: Mrs. Nelly PRIMAULT, Director Website: www.parade.com.sg Sector: Media/Communication
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FCCS MEMBERSHIP
January 2015
New FCCS Members|
MORE ENTREPRENEUR MEMBERS PULSIUM
SALINA CONSULTANTS CO PTE LTD
Contact: Mr. Pascal JOUBERT DES OUCHES, Founder and CEO Website: www.pulsium.com Sector: Innovation Agency
Contact: Mr. Fabrice BRECHET, Managing Director Website: www.salinaconsultant.com Sector: Services
REZ PTE LTD
ZAOUIDEV’ SINGAPORE
Contact: Mr. Dimitri GOCHGARIAN, Cofounder Website: http://rezcreativelabs.com Sector: Media/Communication
Contact: Mrs. Corinne ZAOUI, Entrepreneur Sector: IT Services
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AGIR FINANCE HONG KONG LTD
CYCLE & CARRIAGE FRANCE PTE LTD
Contact: Mr. Alexis BLANCHET, Managing Director Sector: Investment Services
Contact: Mr. Alvyn ANG, Director Of Operations Website: www.citroen.com.sg Sector: Car Dealer
ALFA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
DELEPORTE WENTZ AVOCAT
Contact: Ms. Celine GAULTIER, Marketing Manager Website: www.ewineasia.com Sector: Wine
Contact: Ms. Benedicte DELEPORTE, Avocat Website: www.dwavocat.com Sector: Lawyer
ARTISAN BOULANGERIE CO
Contact: Mr. Emmanuel STROOBANT, Chef/Owner Website: www.emmanuelstroobant.com Sector: Restaurants
EMMANUEL STROOBANT GROUP Contact: Ms. Sonia NAYAHAM, Director Website: http://artisanbakery.com.sg Sector: Bakery
PRO-DATALGI SINGAPORE PTE LTD AUBADE PARIS Contact: Mr. Francois THOREL, Area Export Manager Website: www.aubade.fr Sector: Consumer Goods
CESAMES Contact: Mr. Damien JUAN Website: www.cesames.net/en Sector: BTP / Environment / Transportation
CUCKOO Contact: Mrs. Francesca RATHBONE, Co Founder Website: www.cuckoo.com.sg Sector: Consumer Goods
Contact: Mr. Olivier ROTH, CEO Website: www.prodata.sg Sector: IT Services
RE GLOBAL PTE LTD Contact: Ms. Rashi TALWAR, Director Website: www.angelina-paris.fr Sector: Consumer Goods (Food)
TENDANCE Contact: Mr. Francis LOTZER, Managing Director Website: www.tendance-formations.com Sector: HR / Trainings
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Ms. Geraldine MABILLE, Technical Sales Engineer, DARCO ENGINEERING PTE LTD Sector: Water Treatment Solutions
Mr. Antoine VIDAL, Global Sales Manager, INTERCALL ASIA PACIFIC HOLDINGS PTE.LTD. Sector: Software / Information Services
Mr. Florent ROUSSET, Asia Pacific Regional Director,
Mr. Sébastien LUQUE, Finance Director Asia-Pacific, MAPEI
GAFFNEY, CLINE & ASSOCIATES Sector: Oil and Gas
FAR EAST PTE LTD Sector: Chemicals Products
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FCCS Privilege Card
January 2015
FCCS Privilege Card Terms & Conditions apply. Visit www.fccsingapore.com for more details.
SERVICES
WINE & DINE
RETAIL & LEISURE
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
EDUCATION & TRAINING
GALA DINNER
2015
A tribute from France in honour of Singapore's 50 th Birthday
7 March 2015 at Marina Bay Sands Ballroom In 2015, the French institutions in Singapore are jointly hosting an exceptional Gala Dinner to celebrate Singapore’s 50 th Birthday.
BOOK NOW! $480* per person $4,800* per table (10 persons) (*+GST 7%)
For more information, contact gala2015@fccsingapore.com.