WHAT’S BUZZING
APAC B2B marketers keen to prioritise brand building despite economic uncertainty
According to a recent LinkedIn survey, 59% of B2B (business-to-business) marketers across the Asia Pacific (APAC) do not plan to reduce their spending on brand building in the next six months, while 20% plan to increase investment in this area.
A solid brand as a foundation for supporting sales was the most common reason marketers decided to maintain or increase their spending (62%). This is followed by the need to stay top of mind during times of economic uncertainty (55%) and cushion themselves against potential price fluctuations (45%).
The survey also reveals that APAC marketers are looking at purpose-led creative campaigns to drive effective results in B2B marketing. They are focused on showcasing how they are helping their customers in this uncertain macroeconomic and business landscape.
Additionally, they plan to demonstrate how their brand is serious about sustainability when they look at strategising and focusing their efforts and spending in the next six to 12 months.
See also: Younger consumers in Singapore more receptive towards AI agents
“It is refreshing to see that marketers are positive about their future and making intelligent investments. Savvy operators will use this moment to their advantage, harnessing the power of creativity during these challenging times and showing how they are adding value to customers. By doing so, they can continue to drive growth and a strong return on investment for their organisations in the long run,” says Prue Cox, director for Enterprise SEA and ANZ, Marketing Solutions at LinkedIn.
FSIs in APAC struggle to use data for decision-making
Most (87%) financial services institutions (FSIs) in APAC are frustrated when using data for decision-making. The top reasons include not getting data from all the necessary sources and delayed access to data.
See also: Nearly four in five Apac retailers will increase their tech investment in 2025
The study by InterSystems, a provider of next-generation data solutions, also highlights a disconnect between how FSIs perceive themselves versus actual practice in data management.
Three in five surveyed FSIs believe they are keeping pace with the rest of the industry in data management. However, 46% say that their organisations have a range of 1 to 24 data and applications silos, while 33% claim that the data used for decision-making is at least one to three days old.
“To address data silo issues and get up-to-date data, architectural approaches like data fabrics can speed up and simplify access to disparate data across the organisation by providing an integrated source of information. When the concept of a data fabric was explained, 79% of the respondents across APAC said they would consider implementing one,” says Kenneth Kuek, country lead at InterSystems.
A data fabric accesses, transforms and harmonises data from multiple sources and on-demand, making it usable and actionable for various initiatives. Hence, organisations gain more accurate, current, and comprehensive information while maximising the value of their previous technology investments.
Besides data fabrics, FSIs can consider other next-generation solutions to manage their data effectively, such as analytics tools, AI and machine learning platforms, and cloud-first data platforms, among others.
IN PICTURE
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Photo: PICO
Consumers in Singapore can now enjoy VR experiences that seamlessly fit with their lifestyles with PICO 4.
The PICO 4 headset has a hardware design that balances innovative features with functions to create an accessible and immersive experience. This includes a headset with evenly distributed weight, providing stable yet comfortable gameplay.
The VR headset is built with a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, 4K+ level 90Hz display, proprietary pancake optical lens, and 105° ultra-wide field of view. The upgraded optical sensors and 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) touch controllers with all-around sensors also ensure that every movement is swift, intuitive, and seamless when using the device.
Accompanied by a robust suite of over 130 applications across fitness, gaming, cinematic adventures and social platforms, PICO 4 will connect users to a world of infinite possibilities.
DIGITAL LIFE
As the holiday season nears, here are some apps to help you plan your upcoming travels.
Available only on mobile, Hopper aims to help you find and secure the best price for flights and accommodation. It provides clear advice on the best time to book your travels and even predicts when the price will likely rise.
TripCase helps organise all your trip details and plans into one streamlined itinerary. You need to forward travel confirmation emails to TripCase, and the app will show a chronological lineup of your trip once you log into it.
