APAC Insider Magazine Issue Q1 2020 Inside this issue: Study Finds Gen Z Workforce Drives Tech Purchasing Decisions in Workplaces The Renewable Energy Solution Tackling Delhi’s Air Quality Crisis Asia Dominates When it Comes to Passport Power in 2020 Profit for Purpose Pioneers It can be easy to settle into a routine, not searching for the next great opportunity to push you, and your company, to the next level. This routine can lead to stagnation, which is risky in today’s changing climate. The globally recognised ACI Global is dedicated to improving organisations and people, ensuring that they aim above where they are to new and exciting heights. ACI Global See Sustainable Success
2 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 Happy New Year and welcome to the Q1 issue of APAC Insider magazine, your source for all of the latest news and updates from across the Asia Pacific region. This quarter’s issue has a firm focus on corporate social responsibility as part of our ‘Year in Review’ feature. There’s been a sort of paradigm shift over the last few years as companies of all shapes and sizes pivot their focus to other interests besides purely generating profit. With all things considered, it seemed an almost inevitable change. As the world’s largest companies become everlarger, their CEOs become almost akin to political leaders, directing thousands of employees and controlling wealth greater than that of some nations. Today, where knowledge is more widespread and more easily accessible, these business leaders are forced into the spotlight, and held accountable for their company’s actions. Running parallel to all of this is the greater movement towards more social responsibility as a whole, as people become more aware of their input and contributions to society. And so, we come to two companies that have chosen to focus their efforts on ethical business operations. First up is IPA Australia. As a Profit-for-Purpose company, they have become a significant force in spearheading real change in their industry and region. The other is ACI Global, which is dedicated to improving organisations and people across New South Wales and beyond. Find out more in our ‘Year in Review’ supplement feature. Here at APAC Insider, we truly hope that you thoroughly enjoy reading our Q4 edition and look forward to hearing from you and your thoughts on this issue. Laura Brookes, Senior Editor Phone: +44 (0)20 3970 0082 Email: [email protected] Website: www.apac-insider.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 3 , 4. News 6. Study Finds Gen Z Workforce Drives Tech Purchasing Decisions in Workplaces 8. Asia Dominates When it Comes to Passport Power in 2020 10. Changes At The Top 11. New Center of Excellence to Deliver Excellence 12. Teijin and Envision Virgin Racing Announce Multi-Year Partnership 14. Entering The Next Stage of Growth 16. The Renewable Energy Solution Tackling Delhi’s Air Quality Crisis 18. Klarna Launches in Australia 20. Waterfall’s Unidirectional Gateways Deployed at Hyundai Steel 22. Joining Forces 24. Ecosphere Economy 25. Best Health Platform Year in Review 28. Gaining Deeper Insights 30. ACI Global See Sustainable Success Contents
4 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 NEWS , Meeting Increasing Credit Needs
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 5 NEWS , InfraRisk Pty Ltd. (InfraRisk), a leading supplier of credit management solutions in Australia, today announced a new cooperation with Judo Bank to support the neobank’s lending business with a smart and highly efficient cloud-based SaaS solution. Judo Bank is the first challenger bank focused on serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) financing needs in Australia, and has been granted a full banking license as an authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) that has allowed it to launch full deposit-taking capabilities. “InfraRisk has over 10 years of experience in providing services for financial institutions in Australia,” said Nicholas Davies, founder and CEO of InfraRisk. “With our advanced and mature cloud-based solution, we can help Judo Bank service SMEs efficiently to meet their increasing credit needs.” InfraRisk’s solution is centered on Credit Value Maximiser (CVX), an intelligent fully featured credit management platform for a wide range of commercial and corporate lending segments. The modularized tool is built around key origination functionalities, from profile to pricing, with each module connecting via defined APIs. Leveraging data and automation, the solution is expected to help drive improved risk analysis, create efficiencies in governance and compliance activities and provide a framework for ongoing analysis and portfolio optimization. Australia is a nation of SMEs. Statistics from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman show that SMEs create around seven million jobs, contributing to 67% of total employment and 57% of Australia’s GDP, which makes the sector the backbone of the Australian economy. “The cooperation is a good fit between us,” said Victor Li, head of Pintec International Business. “InfraRisk is a leading fintech innovator and Judo Bank is a challenger to traditional banks. Together we will apply cutting-edge technologies to provide superior lending services for SMEs.” InfraRisk is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pintec Technology Holdings Limited, a leading fintech solutions provider that specializes in intelligent retail finance covering “buy now pay later” instalment loans, personal loans, SME loans, corporate and commercial segments, wealth management and insurance services. Benshaw Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based, privately held manufacturer of applied motor control solutions for mission critical industrial applications. Recently it has finalized an agreement to acquire a New Zealand based manufacturer of soft starters. Benshaw Inc. has finalized an agreement to acquire Aucom Electronics LTD, a New Zealand based manufacturer of soft starters. The combined organization, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., offers a full range of applied motor control solutions, and is the leading supplier of low and medium voltage soft starters worldwide. Global operations now include facilities in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Middle East and Asia. Pete Morgan, the former General Manager of Aucom North America, has been appointed as President of Benshaw Inc. effective immediately. Prior to his employment with Aucom, Morgan served as General Manager of Benshaw’s OEM Division. His career includes extensive experience in engineering, operations, sales and business management in the soft starter and industrial controls industries. “The integration of Benshaw and Aucom provides a bright future for the entire organization,” said Fran Livingston, Executive Chairman at Benshaw. “We believe the acquisition of Aucom provides an incredible opportunity that will benefit Benshaw and Aucom customers, our employees and our entire network of distributors across North America and around the world,” he added. Benshaw Inc. Acquires Aucom Electronics LTD InfraRisk cloud-based solution to support Judo Bank’s SME lending in Australia.
6 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Study Finds Gen Z Workforce Drives Tech Purchasing Decisions in Workplaces Global Gen Z research reveals how organizations can make the most of the tech skills and experience of digital natives. Gen Z, the newest generation to enter the workforce, is already having an impact on employers’ technology problem-solving and purchasing decisions, according to new research from Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation. Nintex’s Gen Z study findings are contained in a series of reports titled “The Gen Z Effect” that examine the career drivers and values of Gen Z employees in four geographic regions including: Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. Each report sheds light on factors organizations must consider to recruit and retain the newest and most tech-savvy generation of workers. A key finding is that Gen Z, also known as Zoomers, are the first digitally-native generation in the workforce and frequently considered the office’s resident tech expert. In fact, 70 percent of Gen Z employees report they have been approached by a senior team member to fix a technology problem. “Gen Z grew up with technology in hand, and as they begin their careers, they aspire to do meaningful work,” said Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. “It’s becoming increasingly important for organizations to leverage technologies that help all employees to perform at their best. One of the best ways to do that is with a process management and automation platform like Nintex, which makes it fast and easy to manage, automate and optimize any business process, simple or sophisticated, across the entire enterprise.” According to three Nintex reports, titled: “The Gen Z Effect on the U.S. Workplace,” “The Gen Z Effect on Workplaces in the UK,” and “The Gen Z Effect in Australia and New Zealand,” 80 percent of decisionmakers across Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and the UK have selected a technology tool suggested by a Gen Z employee. Other findings show that the Zoomer, as an employee, is thoughtful and driven with 63 percent of Gen Z selecting a college major due to “personal interest” rather than career longevity. Interestingly, half of Gen Z also expect a promotion within their first year on the job. This generation is not one to accept the first job offer they receive; before deciding, they will consider their opportunities for growth and the impact that they will have. The research also highlights how Gen Z attitudes differ by region as to salary, company culture, career advancement and automation. U.S. respondents rank “salary and company culture” as the biggest factors in making a job decision, while UK Zoomers value “work flexibility ahead of salary and work-life balance.” In New Zealand and Australia, “salary and company values” top the list. While Gen Z shares high digital know-how and comfort with technology across all four geographies, their concerns about workplace automation vary widely from region to region. Fifty-seven percent of Gen Z in the U.S. are concerned that AI and automation will cost them their jobs, compared to 30 percent in the UK and 43 percent in New Zealand and Australia. In regard to Gen Z’s commitment to an employer, 31 percent of Gen Z in the UK and U.S., and 29 percent in New Zealand and Australia, plan to leave a job after just one year. “Business and HR leaders and front-line managers need to keep this generation’s career advancement goals in mind if they want to retain Gen Z workers long-term,” Johnson said.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 7 Study Finds Gen Z Workforce Drives Tech Purchasing Decisions in Workplaces
8 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Asia Dominates When it Comes to Passport Power in 2020 As we enter the new decade, Asian countries have firmly established their lead on the Henley Passport Index, the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. For the third consecutive year, Japan has secured the top spot on the index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191. Singapore holds onto its second place position with a score of 190, while South Korea drops down a rank to third place alongside Germany, giving their passport holders visa-free/ visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations worldwide. The US and the UK continue their downward trajectory on the index’s rankings. While both countries remain in the top 10, their shared 8th place position is a significant decline from the number one spot they jointly held in 2015. Elsewhere in the top 10, Finland and Italy share 4th place, with a score of 188, while Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain together hold 5th place, with a score of 187. The index’s historic success story remains the steady ascent of the UAE, which has climbed a remarkable 47 places over the past 10 years and now sits in 18th place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 171. On the other end of the travel freedom spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to visit a mere 26 destinations visa-free. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says the latest ranking provides a fascinating insight into a rapidly changing world. “Asian countries’ dominance of the top spots is a clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements. Over the past few years, we have seen the world adapt to mobility as a permanent condition of global life. The latest rankings show that the countries that embrace this reality are thriving, with their citizens enjoying everincreasing passport power and the array of benefits that come with it.” As ongoing research shows, these benefits are extensive. Using exclusive historical data from the Henley Passport Index, political science researchers Uğur Altundal and Ömer Zarpli, of Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh respectively, have found that there is a strongly positive correlation between travel freedom and other kinds of liberties – from the economic to the political, and even individual or human freedoms. Altundal and Zarpli observe that “there’s a distinct correlation between visa freedom and investment freedom, for instance. Similar to trade freedom, countries that rank highly in investment freedom generally have stronger passports. European states such as Austria, Malta, and Switzerland clearly show that countries with a business-friendly environment tend to score highly when it comes to passport power. Likewise, by using the Human Freedom Index, we found a strong correlation between personal freedom and travel freedom.” Looking ahead: an increasingly pragmatic approach to migration While the latest results from the Henley Passport Index show that globally, people are more mobile than ever before, they also indicate a growing divide when it comes to travel freedom, with Japanese passport holders able to access 165 more destinations around the world than Afghan nationals, for example. Analysis of historical data from the index reveals that this extraordinary global mobility gap is the starkest it has been since the index’s inception in 2006. The impact of these and other key developments is analysed in depth in the 2020 edition of the Henley Passport Index and Global Mobility Report — a unique publication that offers cutting-edge analysis and commentary from leading scholars and professional experts on the latest trends shaping international and regional mobility patterns today. Commenting in the report, Dr. Parag Khanna, bestselling author and the Founder and Managing Partner of FutureMap in Singapore, notes: “Migration, as with almost everything else, is a function of supply and demand — and, increasingly, it is accepted that more migration creates more demand, stimulating much needed economic growth. As the world economy heads into a synchronized slowdown, we must view migration as part of the solution, not the problem.” Khanna points out that with the USChina trade war showing no signs of decelerating, Western investment has shifted out of China towards Southeast Asia, bringing a new wave of foreign talent into ASEAN countries that have encouraged greater migration through streamlined visa policies. Thailand’s strong upward movement in the Henley Passport Index’s rankings over the past year is a clear illustration of this emerging trend; benefitting from mutually reciprocal visa waivers, the country has climbed three spots in the past year and now sits in 65th place, with a visafree/visa-on-arrival score of 78.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 9 Asia Dominates When it Comes to Passport Power in 2020 Middle Eastern countries have also made strong gains as part of overall efforts to boost trade and tourism. The UAE and Saudi Arabia each climbed four places, while Oman climbed three. Saudi Arabia is now in 66th place, with citizens able to access 77 destinations around the world without a prior visa, while Oman sits in 64th place, with a visafree/visa-on-arrival score of 79. Despite these positive regional developments, Dr. Lorraine Charles, Research Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Business Research, warns that migration and mobility trends in the Middle East are largely driven by conflict, which looks set to continue in 2020. Citing deepening conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, and with renewed anti-government protests in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon, Charles notes that “forced displacement will most likely continue to dominate migration and mobility patterns within the Middle East.” Brexit, talent migration, and the gap between policy and rhetoric Following the Conservative government’s landslide victory in the UK late last year, the future of mobility and travel freedom between Britain and the EU remains uncertain. Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, says, “The Conservative government has promised an ‘Australianstyle’ points-based system that would be more liberal than current policies towards non-EU citizens, though still much more restrictive than free movement. As with all big migration policy changes, what this will mean for actual levels of mobility, however, remains extremely difficult to predict.” Noting that the looming threat of Brexit has potentially made Britain a less attractive destination for EU citizens, Sumption points out that net EU migration to the UK fell by 59% between 2015 and 2018. Prof. Simone Bertoli, Professor of Economics at Université Clermont Auvergne (CERDI) in France, says that while countries around the world insist that they are taking steps to attract “the best and the brightest”, a rather different picture is currently emerging: “When it comes to talent migration, a worrying gap between policy and rhetoric has been opening up over the past year. The sluggish improvement of labor market conditions after the 2008 crisis, and the concomitant rise of nativist political parties, is reinforcing the perception of immigration as a threat rather than as an opportunity.” Citizenship-by-Investment countries retain strong positions Going into the new year, countries with citizenship-byinvestment programs continue to consolidate their positions on the index. Malta sits in 9th place, with access to 183 destinations around the world, while Montenegro holds on to 46th place, with a visa-free/visaon-arrival score of 124. In the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda secure 27th and 30th spot, respectively. Discussing the increasing popularity of investment migration programs for both wealthy investors and the countries that offer them, Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, says: “Demand for these programs is accelerating, just as the supply has grown globally. The past year has shown that, increasingly, nations and wealthy individuals see investment migration as more than a competitive advantage. Today, it is viewed as an absolute requirement in a volatile world where competition for capital is fierce, and it’s very clear that we will see more of this in 2020.”
10 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Changes At The Top FX Transparency appoints Joseph Conlan as Head of Business Development. FX Transparency (FXT), the largest independent provider of FX transaction cost analysis (FX TCA), announced the hiring of Joseph Conlan to expand the adoption of its suite of nextgeneration analytical tools. FXT customers can now take advantage of business intelligence (BI) dashboards for data visualization, pre-trade cost estimators, and real-time posttrade capabilities, all of which are offerings inside the firm’s flagship software: FXTanalytics. “Joe has the FX domain and marketing expertise to manage the rapid growth we’re experiencing due to compliance mandates like MiFID II, PRIIPs, and the FX Global Code of Conduct,” said John Galanek, FXT’s CEO. “Our sophisticated and loyal client base continues to demand new ways to improve FX oversight and lower trading costs. Everything we build is clientdriven, and we are lucky to have some of the brightest investors in the world as our clients.” Conlan joins FX Transparency with more than 25 years of foreign-exchange experience, most recently as global head of sales for digital-currency startup San Juan Mercantile Bank. Prior to that he ran the FX sales team at INTL FCStone for 11 years. Earlier in his career, Conlan helped migrate the CME’s FX futures from the Exchange Floor to e-trading platform Globex, and worked in senior FX sales roles for EBS, Congotec, Integral, and Currenex. “FXTanalytics delivers sophisticated data-mining tools as a complement—not a replacement—to our expert consultations where actionable directives are prescribed to help our clients reduce trading costs,” said Conlan. “Personal attention to each client has always been this company’s differentiator in the FX TCA space, and I will continue to build on that high level of service that our customers expect from us.”
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 11 , New Center of Excellence to Deliver Excellence New office opening in India focused on enhancing quality assurance, help desk and hosting support represents an important step in Logile’s continued growth and investment in infrastructure to maintain world-class customer value delivery. Logile, Inc. has recently announced that its new Center of Excellence in Bhubaneswar, India will open in March 2020 to support the company’s ongoing Customer Success initiatives. After a decade of steady customer and solution growth, this new center brings the scale and resources to maintain and deliver on Logile’s high standards of product quality and customer support with 24x7 service. “We are excited to open our new Center of Excellence, which will play a critical role in reinforcing Logile’s true mission: helping our customers achieve operational excellence with exceptional solutions that perform,” said Purna Mishra, Logile founder and CEO. “We will never lose our customer focus. This critical investment in expanded quality assurance and support will streamline and ensure our ability to continue our tradition as a dedicated partner for life—both in supporting our extended solution portfolio and our valued customers throughout their journey.” Based in the United States, Logile is a global organization with teams in Mexico, China, India (Pune), the United Kingdom and across Europe. The company supports its retail customers worldwide. In conjunction with the opening of the new Center of Excellence, Logile will expand its quality assurance and help desk specialist teams and introduce new training and process initiatives. Logile has been ranked as a Top 20 Retail Software Vendor by RIS News’ Software LeaderBoard for three consecutive years. With its history of customer satisfaction and growth through customer recommendations and referrals, expanding its product and customer support resources with a formalized program and presence is an important step to ensure that Logile continues to deliver the product innovation, support and ROI that its customers have come to rely on into the future.
12 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Teijin and Envision Virgin Racing Announce Multi-Year Partnership The Teijin Group and Envision Virgin Racing jointly announced that they have agreed a multi-year sponsorship contract which will support the team’s participation in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Envision Virgin Racing has been competing in the all-electric Formula E race series since its inception, becoming one of the sport’s most successful teams with 11 wins and 26 podiums, and energizing its “Race Against Climate Change” initiative, while pursuing further sustainable mobility solutions. Headquartered in Japan with over 170 companies worldwide, Teijin is a leading technologydriven global group, operating in the fields of advanced fibers, plastics, composites, healthcare and IT businesses. The Teijin Group and Envision Virgin Racing are now committed to exchanging know-how and complementing each other’s state-of-the-art technologies. In particular, the Teijin Group will develop high-performance materials and products that will help improve the comfort of Envision Virgin Racing drivers. In the future, Teijin will also explore new business opportunities through the development and provision of lightweight, high-performance automotive components, leveraging the freedom of design that will be required for next-generation automobiles. Teijin will also take the opportunity of this sponsorship agreement to raise awareness of the Teijin brand in related industries. “Through ceaseless evolution and ambition, we are aiming to be a company that supports the society of the future by creating new value,” said Jun Suzuki, President and CEO of Teijin Limited. He added, “By supporting Envision Virgin Racing, which competes in races with electric vehicles (EVs) as a means of raising awareness of global warming, we will develop technologies and accumulate the know-how and solution capabilities required for future EVs that satisfy ever-stricter environmental regulations.” The team’s Managing Director Sylvain Filippi commented: “Formula E is one of the most competitive motorsport series there is, meaning any advantage that can be gained is crucial. To ensure we have this, Envision Virgin Racing aligns with likeminded, innovative, climatefocused brands and hence why we’re very excited to have The Teijin Group join our family. Being able to tap into their wealth of expertise and composite technologies will help us on track, whilst away from the track we’re looking forward to working together on our Race Against Climate Change program.” Franz Jung, Chairman of the Board of Envision Virgin Racing, added: “Everyone is delighted to be welcoming The Teijin Group to the team, and for them to be joining our ever-growing list of world class partners, all of whom help us achieve the success we generate both on and off track.” Launching in 2014, Formula E is the world’s first fully-electric single-seater racing series, competing on city center circuits throughout the globe. The championship represents a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions. The next Formula E race takes place in Mexico City on February 15, where The Teijin Group will officially commence its full support for the UK-based team.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 13 Teijin and Envision Virgin Racing Announce Multi-Year Partnership
14 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Entering The Next Stage of Growth MemVerge appoints first VP of Product as the firm enters next stage of growth. MemVerge, the inventor of Memory-Converged Infrastructure (MCI), today announced that Hiren Chandiramani has joined the company as its first vice president of product. Chandiramani brings over two decades of experience in product management. At MemVerge, Chandiramani will help guide the company’s product roadmap as it prepares its flagship technology for general availability this year. “It was clear to me from the start that MemVerge’s technology is leveraging storage class memory in a way that will disrupt the market and lead the industry to look at storage and memory through an entirely new lens,” said Chandiramani. “This type of technology is exciting to me – it’s outside of the box and addresses data pain points in a way that no other company is doing right now. I’m thrilled to join a team led by founders who have had experience building successful breakout companies, creating innovative products and getting those products seeded in the market.” Prior to joining MemVerge, Chandiramani served as vice president of product management at SwiftStack, a software-driven data storage and management platform, for close to four years. He spearheaded SwiftStack’s transition from an on-premise object store into a hybrid cloud data management platform which was key to growing the company’s year-over-year revenue and expanding its customer base. Prior to SwiftStack, Chandiramani spent five years at Cisco where he built a product management team in India from the ground up. Chandiramani was responsible for launching Cisco’s 800M Series Integrated Services Router in India and later expanded into South America and other markets. His experience also spans roles at companies including VMware, NetApp and Brocade. “Hiren’s strong experiences and ability to lead a product organization, successfully develop product strategy and grow product revenue will make him an invaluable part of our team,” said Charles Fan, CEO and co-founder of MemVerge. “Hiren’s expertise will help us advance our technology to solve the data challenges of today and tomorrow for our customers.”
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 15 Entering The Next Stage of Growth
16 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , The Renewable Energy Solution Tackling Delhi’s Air Quality Crisis QUBE Renewables, creators of ‘flat pack’ anaerobic digestion kits that create energy from waste, is installing fifty QUBES in the paddy fields of the Punjab in a bid to tackle Delhi’s air quality crisis. Farmers in the region will be able to turn their problematic crop stubble into electricity, cooking and vehicle fuel. This is a commercial venture in partnership with Haryana Agricultural University, it is anticipated to be significantly scaled-up in the future to help combat Delhi’s annual air quality crisis. QUBE Renewables, creators of ‘flat pack’ anaerobic digestion (AD) kits that create energy from waste, is working on a project with Haryana University to install fifty QUBES in the paddy fields of the Punjab in a bid to tackle Delhi’s air quality crisis. QUBE Renewables, creators of ‘flat pack’ anaerobic digestion (AD) kits that create energy from waste, is working on a project with Haryana University to install fifty QUBES in the paddy fields of the Punjab in a bid to tackle Delhi’s air quality crisis. QUBE is an innovative selfassembled kit that converts biodegradable wastes into energy to provide heat, power and sanitation. The QUBE’s flexible, fabric design can be used virtually anywhere in a warm climate and with any biodegradable waste. Each year India’s rice farmers burn the stubble of their harvested crops, contributing to a seasonal smog that damages the health of those in and around the capital. By harnessing QUBE’s technology, farmers will now be able to turn one hundred and fifty tonnes of stubble into 50,000m3 of biogas, the equivalent of 584,000 hours of cooking on a 1.5kw biogas stove. All whilst negating the harm that burning their crop causes. Hearing of the success of QUBE Renewables’ deployment in the Philippines, Haryana Agricultural University have partnered with the British company to make better use of the Punjab’s problematic crop stubble. A QUBE can be built and operating in under two weeks, turning waste rice straw (the crop stubble) into fuel (through a process of anaerobic digestion) for clean cooking, generators and even running vehicles. QUBE also creates a fertiliser enabling waste rice straw to be used to grow the next crop. Crop burning in the region is estimated to make a 40% contribution to Delhi’s hazardous pollution levels. It is estimated that one hundred and fifty tonnes of rotting rice straw releases approximately sixteen tonnes of methane, it is anticipated that QUBE will provide a GHG CO2 equivalent saving of four hundred and thirteen tonnes per batch processed. The instillation of QUBEs in the Punjab is a grant free, commercial venture with Haryana Agricultural University. QUBE Renewables manufactures and distributes ready to assemble flat pack energy from waste kits that are used by retailers and farmers. The kits, originally designed in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to turn soldier’s faeces into something more useful, come in a range of sizes and capabilities, dependant on the volume and nature of the biodegradable material (e.g. its Lagoon QUBE can float on dirty water and capture latent gas). For this particular project the manufacture of the QUBEs will occur in both the UK and India, with the British company providing the blueprint to create components that do not require specialist construction in the UK, to be made by the host country. This solution keeps both costs and carbon emissions down, enabling more QUBE’s to be deployed and more of Delhi’s air to remain clean. Joanna Clayton co-founder of QUBE Renewables: “We’re very proud to be involved in helping tackle literally one of the most burning issues in India. QUBE Renewables can play an important role in improving Delhi’s air quality, whilst also helping to solve a related issue that gets talked about far less. Cooking with solid fuels is one of the five biggest killers in developing countries, by using the cooking fuel that QUBE can produce, we can help improve people in the region’s health, productivity and quality of life.” Professor K P Singh – Vice Chancellor of CCS Haryana Agricultural University: “Haryana Agricultural University is delighted to be working with QUBE Renewables on the installation of dry digesters for rice straw processing. Burning rice straw is a major environmental problem, and we look forward to rolling out this innovative low-cost solution to help mitigate rice stubble burning in the future, and make useful biogas for cooking and power production in rural areas.”
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 17 The Renewable Energy Solution Tackling Delhi’s Air Quality Crisis
18 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Klarna Launches in Australia ‘Smoooth’ shopping available at any online retailer. Klarna, the global payments and shopping provider, officially launches in Australia by introducing the Klarna Shopping app. The app which, has recently launched, will be available to download on iOS and Android, enables consumers to shop and pay with Klarna at any online retailer, bringing a unique consumer centric shopping experience to the Australian market. The Klarna app, which has been downloaded over 12 million times, offers Australian consumers an elevated one-stop shopping experience and allows them to Pay in 4 equal instalments at any online retailer with no interest or fees, when they pay in time. Consumers will also have the ability to browse top brands, create universal and curated wish lists, receive price drop notifications, and have access to shopping inspiration, exclusive deals and discounts from local Australian retailers, all from the comfort of their smartphone. “Australian consumers’ expectations are evolving, they demand seamless, intuitive and transparent online shopping services that better meet their daily needs. Klarna streamlines this experience from browsing to payment at checkout to post-purchase which allows consumers to take control and shop on their terms all from a single app. This partnership with CBA is rooted in a shared obsession on how good digital experiences can truly serve consumers today. We believe the future of retail is high tech powering high touch experiences, so regardless of how and when consumers want to shop and pay, we need to be there for them,” Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski Klarna partnered with The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), which invested in the global fintech company last year to launch services in Australia and New Zealand. CBA app users now will be able to easily connect their CBA account to a Klarna account, enabling a smooth shopping experience in a few easy steps. “We are excited to be partnering with Klarna to bring their innovative payments technology and integrated shopping experience to the Australian market. Together with our market leading digital technology, merchant relationships and strong customer network, we will deliver a range of innovative new services to benefit Australian consumers and merchants,” Matt Comyn, CEO of CBA says. Founded in 2005 in Stockholm, Klarna offers a wide range of products within payments, shopping and personal finances to make it easier for people to shop on and offline, including buy now pay later services, in-store payment solutions and a new direct-to-consumer shopping app. Today more than 85m consumers use Klarna, and the company partners with over 205,000 merchants in North America, the UK and Europe including H&M, Michael Kors, Wayfair, Adidas, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, Microsoft, ASOS, Peloton, Boohoo, Sonos, RayBan, Levi’s, Ticketmaster, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Nike. As part of the company’s recent $460M equity raise, Klarna was confirmed as the largest private fintech in Europe and as one of the largest private fintechs globally. How Klarna’s in-app shopping works: • Users will need to be 18 years of age or over • Once verified and approved, Klarna will determine each customer’s ability to repay at each time of purchase, including by carrying out a credit check • Thanks to Klarna’s ghost card - a single-use, prepaid card - all purchases and payments can be managed directly in the app, giving consumers flexibility and control over their spending • When creating a Ghost card in the app, users will be able to enter the dollar amount they plan to spend • Once ready for checkout, the single-use card details are added in to complete the purchase rcfotostock - stock.adobe.com
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 19 Klarna Launches in Australia
20 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Waterfall’s Unidirectional Gateways Deployed at Hyundai Steel Safely enabling IIoT applications for a continuous casting plant. Waterfall Security Solutions, the OT security company, announced the successful deployment of its Unidirectional Security Gateways to protect Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) deployments in a pilot project at the Hyundai Steel continuous steel casting plant in Dangjin, South Korea. This deployment is part of an ongoing project between Waterfall and Hyundai Steel, allowing Hyundai Steel to assess the added benefits of using IIoT and Cloud technology, while balancing cybersecurity concerns. With the steadily increasing connectivity of digital devices in smart manufacturing plants comes a steadily increasing exposure to attacks. To ensure safe, continuous and efficient operations, modern highly connected manufacturers must keep attackers out, while providing enterprise, cloud and IIoT systems visibility into production operations in order to analyze and optimize production. “Hyundai Steel partnered with Waterfall, because Waterfall is the world’s #1 OT security company,” said Dr. Joung Han Lee, Senior Plant Manager at Hyundai Steel. “Waterfall technology enables the benefits of IIoT connectivity and big-data analysis without the attack exposure that always comes with software-based security systems. We look forward to publicizing our findings on the added security that Waterfall brings to the table.” “Waterfall is very pleased to be selected to secure Hyundai Steel’s industry-leading IIoT installation,” said Lior Frenkel, CEO and Co-Founder of Waterfall Security Solutions. “Hyundai Steel is leading the industry by demonstrating how to both address modern threats and improve production efficiencies through safe IT/OT integration.” The Unidirectional Gateways deployment provides Hyundai Steel with protection from remote cyberattacks by unidirectionally replicating OPC-UA servers to Hyundai’s enterprise network. The Waterfall replicas provide Hyundai’s enterprise and IIoT systems with safe, transparent access to detailed real-time production data.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 21 Waterfall’s Unidirectional Gateways Deployed at Hyundai Steel
22 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Joining Forces UnionPay International and PayPal enter global partnership agreement to accelerate growth of digital payments. UnionPay International (UPI) and PayPal, have recently announced a global partnership where both companies will work together to accelerate the growth of their networks. As part of the agreement, PayPal has committed to supporting UPI acceptance globally where PayPal is accepted – giving UnionPay cardholders more choice when shopping. In the future, UPI will explore opportunities to support PayPal’s merchant and consumer ambitions in China. “At PayPal, we are proud of this landmark agreement with UnionPay International and the global impact that this creates for our joint customers, building on our status as the first foreign payments platform licensed to process online payments in China,” said Jim Magats, senior vice president of global payments, PayPal. “The partnership will give UnionPay customers more choice when shopping cross border and has the ability to contribute to the overall growth of China’s e-commerce ecosystem. It will also give PayPal the opportunity to explore the option to expand PayPal’s digital wallet to physical retail locations where UnionPay is accepted in China, or internationally.” UnionPay cards can now be added to PayPal wallets in Australia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. During 2020, PayPal and UPI plan to add more than 30 markets, which means that once a UnionPay card is added to the PayPal wallet these cardholders will have the ability to shop at any of the 24 million merchants globally where PayPal is accepted via the PayPal wallet. As part of the agreement, PayPal and UPI have also committed to collaborating to better serve joint customers and merchants to grow digital payments in China and globally. This will include the opportunity for PayPal customers from around the world to use PayPal at the merchants where UnionPay is accepted. “With about 130 million UnionPay cards issued outside mainland China, UnionPay cards are becoming an important payment option of more and more global customers,” said Larry Wang, vice president, UnionPay International. “We are very glad to deepen collaboration with PayPal, the global leader in e-commerce. Both parties will jointly explore and implement the application of new products and new payment modes in the field of cross-border payment, hoping to better serve our cardholders and create greater value for both sides.” The global partnership also includes a commitment from both companies to create joint customer awareness campaigns to “Pay with UnionPay” at PayPal merchants worldwide.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 23 Joining Forces
24 APAC / Issue Q1 2020 , Ecosphere Economy Xinhua Silk Road: “Ecosphere Economy” to inject new impetus into globalization, says Yili chairman. “Ecosphere Economy” featuring openness, inclusiveness, innovation and win-win cooperation will inject new impetus into economic globalization, stated Pan Gang, chairman of China’s dairy giant Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co.Ltd. Speaking at the Conference on China Economic Outlook during the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in the snow-capped Swiss town of Davos, Pan Gang pointed out that “Ecosphere Economy” is becoming an important development pattern of the world economy in the future. His remark has aroused wide attention during the meeting. “Yili will build a Global Health Ecosphere for the win-win development of global health industry and team up with all parties in discussing health issues, constructing a sound ecosystem and sharing health benefits towards a sustainable bright future world,” said Pan. The thematic focus of this year’s Davos Forum is on Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World. Pan noted that the sustainable development of health food industry stems from worldwide full-chain cooperation that collectively forms a mutually beneficial ecosystem. Pan was the first Chinese food industry entrepreneur debuting on the Davos Forum when he attended the Davos Forum in 2006, and was awarded Davos Young Global Leaders that year. Under the leadership of Pan, Yili has grown from the No.1 dairy company in China to be the No.1 dairy company in Asia and it now ranks among the leading players on global stage. Yili has made initial results in building the “Ecosphere Economy” through integrating global resources and capacity, such as upgrading Europe Innovation Center in the Netherlands, establishing SinoU.S. Food Wisdom Valley in the United States, unveiling Oceania Production Base in New Zealand, acquiring New Zealand’s second-largest dairy co-operative Westland, buying Thailand’s largest ice cream company Chomthana Co. Ltd, and building Yili Future Intelligence and Health Valley in China’s Hohhot. During the process of building the “Ecosphere Economy”, Yili has expanded its global reach and upgraded its international capacity through comprehensive cooperation. Moreover, Yili has teamed up with 20-odd partners in setting up Global Health Partnership Development Alliance; and worked with 13 global strategic partners such as Tetra Pak, Firmenich, Cargill to form a sustainable global supply chain network. Yili shares its vision with partners in other sectors as well, joining hands with World Wildlife Fund to co-advance wetland protection and cooperate on organic ranch construction. “Ecoshpere Economy” shines its advantages especially in the context of economic globalization, said Pan, noting that all-side cooperation will contribute to a grander dream of “World Integrally Sharing Health”.
APAC / Issue Q1 2020 25 , Nov19506 GHP / Q4 2019 9 Nov19506 One Asian-based start-up rises above the sea of fitness and health-related apps. Founded by two-time Olympian Jeremy Rolleston, Active8me is an all-in-one mobile platform that incorporates all aspects of healthy living – exercise, nutrition, mindset, tracking and wearables, and even Nutrigenomics DNA. A solution for tackling chronic diseases and an engaging SaaS solution for partners. Active8me is where technology meets real life to build a healthier future. We profiled the platform to learn more. Best Health Platform Getting fit and healthy isn’t always easy. So imagine a platform that puts the ultimate personal trainer, dietician and life coach in your pocket. Available anytime, anywhere. Convenient and easy to use. With everything in one place right there in your hand. And based on science and the expertise of a team of passionate professionals – Olympians, exercise physiologists, dieticians and doctors. Let us introduce you to Active8me. The platform distinguishes itself from the competition in a number of ways such as: • A total integrated solution – Rather than focus on one key area of health or wellbeing, the Active8me platform is a holistic solution. It combines all the major areas of exercise, nutrition, mindset and tracking to ensure that clients are achieving health across all areas of their lives. After all there is a difference between fitness, health and wellness. • A range of customisable programs – The Active8me application goes far beyond simply tracking, tips, or generalised wellness content, it offers carefully-curated programs and plans designed by a team of incredible experts. Programs include the likes of Diabetes Prevent, Lose Weight, Lean Fit & Toned, Post-Baby, Pregnancy, and Running (10km, 21km, 42km). All designed to effect lasting change and influence health outcomes. • Localized and personalized content – Importantly, Active8me programs adjust to a user’s level of experience, their preferences and their lifestyle. An Asian who eats out has different needs to a Westerner who enjoys cooking at home. A beginner on the Lose Weight program who prefers to work out at the gym, does not follow the same plan as a new mother regaining fitness, with a need to work out at home. • Built by a team of impressive health experts – It’s often difficult for everyday people to have access to the calibre of experts they need or want. However, with the Active8me programs every person can benefit from the expertise, passion and knowledge of Active8me’s incredible professionals - every day. Delivering inspiration, education and coaching so users can cut through the misinformation out there and see real and lasting transformation. • A white-labellable platform for partner companies -– the best part for partners is that they can license, rebrand and api the entire Active8me platform. Insurers, health companies, pharmaceutical, supplement and lifestyle companies, gyms and even governments can leverage the technology and benefit from all of the expert programs and content – saving time and money in the process. As a SaaS platform, Active8me provides an incredible opportunity for partners to leverage the platform to achieve their many and varied business aims. Insurers will find Active8me is a scalable and cost effective preventative health solution to tackle escalating payouts related to chronic disease and unhealthy members. Corporates can add value, engage and see positive ROI with health and wellness solutions for their employees. Forward thinking gyms can offer customer solutions beyond the four walls of their gym. And governments can leverage the platform to deliver preventative digital health programs. And for their underlying members, patients, employees and customers, thanks to the Active8me platform, with just a few clicks on their mobile phones, users can get customized daily workout plans and videos; nutritious Asian or Western recipes and meal plans; mindset and motivation videos; and a range of tracking tools – all to support them in transforming their fitness, health and wellness. A holistic solution that they can access anytime and anywhere, without the need for a gym membership, and that is localized and personalized. The power is in the users hands. As digital solutions within the health and wellbeing space continue, Active8me will continue to remain at the forefront and make a difference in real everyday lives. Company: Active8me Contact: Jeremy Rolleston Website: www.active8me.com
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