WHAT’S BUZZING
Singaporean business professionals ready for meetings in the metaverse
More than two-thirds (71%) of Singaporean business professionals foresee the metaverse becoming part of existing work practices, according to a study by Ciena, a networking systems, services and software company.
Four out of five would participate in work meetings in the metaverse instead of on video conferencing platforms. The majority (88%) would also feel comfortable conducting more formal, HR-type meetings in a virtual space such as the metaverse.
Despite a growing appetite to use enhanced reality tools, the inability to read in-person expressions and emotions, unreliable network performance, and virtual meeting fatigue are among the main drawbacks to using virtual collaboration tools at work.
The belief that immersive applications/tools are not yet widely available, and concerns about network reliability are also hindering widespread business adoption of immersive/virtual reality-based environments like the metaverse.
See also: Younger consumers in Singapore more receptive towards AI agents
“As businesses and employees [in Singapore] opt to retain their present hybrid work arrangements, enhanced reality tools will provide a whole new dimension for collaboration and innovation in the new world of work. But its exciting use cases can only be achieved with a robust and always-on underlying network,” says Dion Leung, regional managing director of Ciena Asean.
He continues: “While service providers in Singapore have already laid a strong foundation to make networks faster, smarter and safer, they must continue to invest in and ensure that networks are capable of handling the ultra-high bandwidth and ultra-low latency demands of the metaverse.”
Sustainable travel a focus for 88% of businesses in Singapore
See also: Nearly four in five Apac retailers will increase their tech investment in 2025
Almost nine in 10 businesses in Singapore are actively considering sustainability when managing corporate travel, according to the SAP Concur APAC Sustainability Survey.
The top reasons for doing so are to cut costs, increase operational efficiency, and increase brand reputation.
The survey also reveals barriers to developing a more sustainable corporate travel programme. These include a lack of personal knowledge/training on sustainability issues (28%), a lack of professional tools to visualise the environmental impact of travel (21%), and a lack of employee engagement (17%).
Fortunately, 68% of businesses in Singapore already realise the need to harness technology to become sustainable effectively. Nearly a third (28%) currently have software in place to support corporate travel and expense management, while 40% plan to acquire such software “very soon”. Fifty-seven per cent also say they have good or excellent business travel data for their software to analyse.
“It’s clear from the study that organisations are brimming with interest and intent to embrace sustainable travel. For those that lack implementation know-how, technology could point a way forward — in terms of helping guide employees to sustainable itinerary options, tracking emissions, and ultimately formulating more efficient and sustainable travel strategies. Firms should examine how these tools can support their broader sustainability goals,” says Dr Carl Jones,
managing director for Southeast Asia at SAP Concur.
IN PICTURE
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Photo: Siemens
The Fédération Internationale de ’Automobile (FIA) will begin implementing the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to enable the design of vehicles and regulations that reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Through this collaboration, Siemens will support the FIA in achieving its sustainability goals through innovative thinking, pioneering approaches in motorsport and new technological advances that could be impactful across the automotive industry.
Having achieved carbon neutrality and obtaining the IS014001:2015 certification in 2021, the FIA is continuing to explore new areas for development. This new initiative builds on previous collaborations driving digital transformation at the FIA and applying Siemens’s expertise and innovation to help improve urban mobility, safety, efficiency, affordability, accessibility and reliability.
DIGITAL LIFE
Web 3 promises the rise of an ownership economy, where control lies in the hands of users instead of tech giants. Here are some Web 3 social media platforms that are decentralised and beneficial to creators.
Photo: Mastodon
Instead of a single website, Mastodon is a network of millions of users in independent communities that can all interact with one another seamlessly. Each community has its guidelines and moderators to keep its members safe, and robust blocking and reporting tools help prevent abuse.
Photo: Niche
Niche is an ad-free, decentralised social media platform consisting of user-owned communities, where members can own and sell their content. Each club has its own unique tokens that accrue real value over time and can be used for commerce, event admission, and membership status. The token can be exchanged for real currency.
