There are 240 million Muslims in Southeast Asia and 600 million Muslims in South Asia, representing a $2.2 trillion dollar market, and with Ramadan just around the corner, brands are racing to stand out in the busiest season of the year.
Digital platform ADA have put together some useful research covering how marketers can reach consumers during this period.
Ramadan Digital Trends 2020 [PDF]
A few key Ramadan trends for marketers in Southeast Asia and South Asia:
Travel to hometowns is common – but travel patterns may differ by country.
Visits to mosques, prayer rooms and cemeteries shift.
The usage of religious apps fluctuates.
Muslims start eating out less.
Last minute buying of big-ticket items.
Muslims are searching for different content at different times
Digital transformation is expected to have the single biggest impact on Malaysia’s economy in the near future, contributing at least 20% to the country’s GDP by 2020. But what does this mean for Malaysia’s telecom industry – and its consumers?
Thanks to the government’s sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure over the last 20 years, Malaysians are now more connected than ever – through social media networks, mobile and other digital services – with broadband penetration approaching 90%, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The telecommunications industry has been the biggest beneficiary of this investment. Today, Axiata Group, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company, has over 350 million subscribers across multiple Asian countries.
On the other hand, growth in connectivity has also spurred an increase in cyber attacks. While Malaysia ranks 3rd in the 2017 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), a Microsoftsurvey estimates that economic costs to the Malaysian economy due to cyber attacks can reach as high as US$12.2 billion.
A common target for cyber-criminals is the Domain Name System (DNS)– a first line of protection for a company’s network. Businesses that are targeted face the prospects of lost revenue as well as reputational damage due to breaches of customer trust. The consequences are perhaps most damaging for the telecom industry; EfficientIP’s 2018 DNS Threat Reportfound that the telecom industry had the most sensitive customer information stolen across all sectors from DNS attacks, with nearly a third of companies in Asia-Pacific becoming victims of data theft.
Following DNS attacks, Malaysian political party websites went down on the day of last year’s general election. In response, Malaysia’s National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) issued an advisory to all government and private organizations that improving their network security is critically important in safeguarding the continued growth of the digital economy. At around the same time, the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation partnered with the Axiata Group to develop greater capabilities for Malaysia’s cybersecurity industry.
While EfficientIP’s reportfound that the rate of DNS attacks is steadily on the rise, the news isn’t all bleak – many telecom companies already monitor and analyze DNS traffic in real time to detect data exfiltration attempts. Businesses can further improve their cybersecurity capabilities by adopting simple measures such as optimizing IT infrastructures with high-performance DNS servers and decentralizing the DNS architecture. These measures build resiliency to withstand attacks and more often than not, also improve the user experience.
At this critical juncture point in Malaysia’s development, the telecom industry has a critical role to play in ensuring the continuity and success of the nation’s digital transformation. The challenges being faced are high and the stakes are even higher – but such challenges can be overcome and safeguarded with a holistic approach to cybersecurity, starting with DNS.
Aparna Krishnan, Associate Director of Strategic Planning, Mindshare, Malaysia
From the Internet of People (IOP) to Internet of Things (IOT): we are at the cynosure of behavioural change and technology. Asia Pacific known for its heterogeneity is a motley of sub-cultures and mind-sets, yet consumers in the region are unvaryingly relinquishing control and giving authority to technology. The screen bathing Asian consumer is appraising Connected Living as an evolution mandated by reliance on technology and the need for convenience. The numbers say so.
Within the APAC region, the adoption rates for smart technologies/connected objects have been slow yet steady. The most popular connected object being Smart TV, followed by Smart wristbands and then the Smart watch. In terms of appetite of markets towards connected objects – China leads ahead of the curve, followed by Thailand and then Japan.
Source – Global Web Index, Q4 2016
In lieu of the profusion of data and our knowledge on adoption of smart technology, below is a realistic prophecy at APAC’s ‘smart’ future both from a Consumer and Marketer perspective.
The Consumer Perspective
The jarring digital sever at home
With the multitude of solutions that smart objects provide, more and more consumers could fall prey to the Ostrich problem – the tendency to bury their head in sand and intentionally avoid or reject information. Picture this – a family sitting around a smart dinner table not talking to one another in the real world, the parents looking at data records transmitted to the table from the kid’s shoe that monitored how the kid had been holing up and not interacting with friends!
Connected living could be constructing glass walls between individuals who can communicate with each other but instead choose not to. We could be rewiring ourselves to function better online than offline!
Return of TV time!
With Connected living freeing up more time in consumer lives there is bound to be a rise in Couch Culture, this could possibly spell the comeback of TV time in Asia. It might not be linear TV or a streaming service on the TV screen it could be content being rendered on any flat surface in a smart home. This surface agnostic content streaming could be intuitive and customized with input feeds from other smart objects such as their mood info relayed from their smart clothes.
Picture this – In Singapore, an overworked millennial is trying to get some sleep after a long day at work, however brain activity measured predicts that sleep will be induced only 3 hours later thereby turning the ceiling into a screen streaming his favourite TV show that automatically switches off when he dozes off.
Circle of Trust will wear out
Due to the eavesdropping ability of connected objects privacy concerns in consumers will touch an all-time high. Mindfulness of consumers towards the types of data being collected and shared by connected objects will be questioned; they will empower themselves to read the labels (like wash care labels) on smart objects. Because of a chunk of responsible and mindful consumers there will emerge conversations around what kind of data can be shared and stored by smart objects. This could possibly also create room for housekeeping rules related to privacy.
Living in the moment, we are all aware that though data steers the marketing of today, it is the consumer who keeps control. This is explicit from the fact that in spite of exponential growth in mobile penetration advertising is not embraced to the same extent. In such a chaotic context, we marketers cannot be desperate for order and a rulebook – we must avoid being overwhelmed by the data and avoid a fool’s rush in mentality.
The Marketer Perspective
Real time data will deliver immediate insights
There will be a new source for observed behavioural data of consumers that could feed in as inputs enabling faster insights into product performance, consumer trends and purchase behaviour. For example, through connected vending machines, Coca-Cola reports spikes in its beverage consumption on college campuses before certain television shows air, a specific insight that not only leads to better understanding of customer demographics, but one that also presents opportunities for targeted marketing.
Diversity in devices and skills
There will be richer diversity in the ‘devices’ and ‘skills’ that can integrate with AI systems , fuelled by an open source model.
Eg: C by GE is a table lamp that incorporates the Alexa Voice Service, a microphone and a speaker, and consumers can use it without possessing an Echo – or even a smartphone.
Hyundai providing members of its My Hyundai program with the ability to start their vehicle, set the internal temperature and switch on the lights before leaving the house.
Shift in the dynamics of advertising
There will be a transformation in the way low involvement products are being purchased.
FMCGs being the key Adex contributors in the APAC region could be frontrunners and the biggest beneficiary of Smart living. The replenishment of detergents by the washing machine through e-commerce partnerships, the refrigerator ordering milk for you to pick up on your way back home etc. The categories and brands with loyalty and high frequency of purchase stand to benefit the most. It might even usher in a change in the dynamics of advertising – with marketers having to focus only on brand building efforts.
A breakthrough example of Connected objects used as a marketing tool to deliver sales is the case of Rexona Deodorant in Malaysia. We used Wearables to communicate the Motionsense technology that releases freshness withheld in capsules on moving. This was a great example of media integrating with Smart objects to deliver business results, a 2% increase in penetration!
Undoubtedly, adrenaline times are here!
As marketers in the quest to future proofing businesses in the Connected landscape, we need to win both hearts and minds; the trick is to be User first, technology second and to dwell in the possibilities.
New digital advertising firm Rodeo have created Malaysia’s first interactive in car advertising platform, which provides advertisers with a captive audience on a programmatic buying platform.
Clients already signed up to the service include Lenovo, Li TV, Sling Apps, Zepto, Rainfilms, and eBizu.
The innovative concept works by installing 10.1inch HD tablets on the back of car seat head rests, which entertain passengers and creates a dynamic platform that allows interaction with brands, offers and promotions designed to catch the passenger’s eye.
According to Rodeo CEO, Valens Subramaniam, the majority of passengers spend 10 minutes or more travelling per car journey. Advertising slots are sold in blocks of 16 (max) and run on a loop. Each advertisement is shown for 15 seconds, ensuring that ads have high frequency to maximise the exposure.
A major challenge for today’s advertisers is maintaining attention long enough for potential customers to buy into the benefits of products and services offered. Rodeo’s digital out-of-home (DOOH) media applications solve this problem by placing advertising platforms in vehicles, thereby maximising customers’ engagement with the content.
The interactive platform allows passengers to provide their contact details and ask for more information on a particular product or service. Leads are funnelled through to advertisers in real-time. Clients can also track customer data in order to enhance understanding of target audiences, and cutting-edge technology such as facial-recognition will be able to assist advertisers in providing personalised content.
Rodeo’s DOOH system also presents vital public service announcements and real-time information such as police reports on crimes or missing persons, which can help resolve these issues quicker by increasing the reach of information being spread.
Mr Valens – former CEO of iCab Malaysia – spoke of the benefits it can bring to advertisers and drivers. “In recent years, advertisers have faced a considerable challenge of keeping the attention of potential customers as they promote their products and services. Our innovative media application helps to solve that problem by offering a captive audience for each advertiser, every time.
“Our full-time drivers complete, on average, 140 rides per week, which translate to over 550 unique passengers per month, per driver. This is an excellent opportunity for advertisers to maximise their reach and generate real-time leads.”
He added, “Our drivers are also offered incentives to boost their income by generating additional income for themselves, as well as meeting their KPIs, and so this is a perfect opportunity for everyone involved to take advantage of the benefits offered by the in-transit media industry. It is truly an exciting time for the Rodeo team, and it is my goal to expand to other Malaysian states and South East Asian countries over the next two years.”
The DOOH media industry could be worth over $US60 million to Malaysian economy by 2019.
The latest MasterCard Mobile Shopping Survey covering Asia Pacific finds consumers embracing the convenience of mobile shopping. Almost half of consumers – around 45% in total – made a purchase using their smartphone in the three months preceding the survey.
Exactly 50% of respondents across Asia Pacific cited convenience as the most compelling reason for shopping on their smartphone. Other motivating factors include the ability to shop on the go and the growing availability of apps that make it easy to shop online.
Fig 1: % consumers who have made a purchase using a smartphone
2014
2013
2012
Asia Pacific
46%
39%
35%
Korea
54%
48%
40%
China
70%
59%
54%
Thailand
59%
51%
51%
Hong Kong
38%
40%
41%
Taiwan
62%
45%
28%
Singapore
37%
31%
40%
Vietnam
45%
35%
34%
Indonesia
55%
47%
55%
India
63%
47%
30%
Malaysia
46%
32%
25%
Philippines
34%
33%
21%
Japan
26%
23%
26%
New Zealand
21%
15%
18%
Australia
20%
25%
19%
In addition to using their mobile phones to make purchases, shoppers in the region are also using it to compare prices between physical and online stores. Close to half (45%) of respondents have conducted price comparisons, with a similar proportion (44%) also stating that they have conducted research online prior to making a purchase in-store.
Overall, consumers from China (70%), India (63%) and Taiwan (62%) are the most likely to shop using their smartphones with the most popular mobile shopping purchases amongst Asia Pacific shoppers include clothing and accessories (27%), followed by apps (21%) and daily deal coupons (19%).
Asia Pacific consumers are also adopting new mobile technologies, with 28% of respondents saying that they use mobile banking apps. Group buying apps (40%) and digital wallets (28%) are the most popular amongst Chinese consumers.
Increased smartphone ownership is clearly having a massive impact on the way people across Asia Pacific shop and spend. Brands and online shopping portals need to continue to develop easy and simple ways to browse and pay, as convenience remains paramount to consumers whether they are shopping on their phones or in-store.
Two in every three Asian shoppers has already researched and made a decision regarding which brand of consumer electronics product they will buy before they approach point-of-sale, online or offline, according to Text100’s Digital Index: APAC Consumer Electronics Study.
Vserv in partnership with the MMA have compiled a series of presentations covering key mobile consumer stats for many of the Asian markets. These provide comprehensive summaries of the mobile landscape in each market, covering apps, ads and social amongst other topics. Continue reading Mobile Marketing in Asia→