Press Release
Zebra and Salesforce Introduce Retail Cloud POS Solution on Android to Streamline Store Operations
SYDNEY – Oct. 16, 2025 – Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a global leader in digitising and automating workflows to deliver intelligent operations, today announced the company is working with Salesforce to deliver a first-of-its-kind joint solution, Retail Cloud Point of Sale (POS) on Android at Dreamforce 2025. The solution is designed to improve store operations, empower store associates and elevate customer engagement for retailers globally. “Our new collaboration with Salesforce marks an exciting chapter in retail innovation, and the Retail Cloud POS launch is just the beginning of what we’ll achieve together,” said Joe White, Chief Product & Solutions Officer, Zebra Technologies. “By integrating Zebra’s intelligent Android-based solutions with Salesforce’s customer platform, we are enabling retailers to better connect with their customers and associates.” Retail Cloud POS addresses some of the biggest challenges faced by retailers today such as missed sales, slow store associate training and inaccurate inventory counts. The integration of Zebra’s Android TC5 series and EM45 series mobile computers with Salesforce’s cloud-based platform provides real-time, location-based data for frontline teams so they can be more efficient and productive in performing critical tasks. It also enables retailers to make faster, smarter decisions and quickly adapt to evolving market demands."In a new era of agentic commerce, we're bringing together Salesforce’s Retail Cloud POS, Zebra Technologies’ innovative devices, and Google’s Android operating system to empower store associates with cutting-edge tools and smart, AI-powered insights for enhanced productivity,“ said Nitin Mangtani, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Salesforce Commerce and Retail Cloud. “This collaboration creates seamless, unified shopping experiences that will help businesses attract a new generation of shoppers. Retail Cloud POS on Android helps us deliver on our mission of architecting powerful solutions that help retailers connect with their customers and grow revenue." This innovative offering is the first of many solutions the two companies plan to co-create as Salesforce expands its mobile POS solution globally, leveraging Zebra’s expertise in devices, software, and analytics designed for the frontline which provide the foundation for intelligent operations. As the market leader in the enterprise-grade Android category, Zebra works closely with Google to ensure its devices are purpose-built to support modern workflows driven by a secure, connected frontline. “Our work with Zebra has unlocked new use cases at the intersection of mobile, AI and cloud technologies, enhancing both employee and retail customer experiences,” said Sean Ginevan, Head of Global Technology Partnerships, Android Enterprise, Google. “The Retail Cloud POS solution on Android will benefit from the easy deployment and secure management, which helps them gain the insights they need to drive the best outcomes.” Together, Zebra and Salesforce will help retailers unlock new levels of efficiency, collaboration, and personalised experiences, setting the stage for a wave of powerful solutions that help retailers better connect with their customers and drive incremental growth. By leveraging Zebra’s innovative hardware portfolio and Salesforce’s software ecosystem to deliver cutting-edge solutions like the Retail Cloud POS on Android, retailers can optimise their frontline workflows and streamline retail operations. According to the recent Zebra study on the “Impact of Intelligent Operations” in collaboration with Oxford Economics, retailers reported a 21% improvement in customer satisfaction and achieved up to 1.8 percentage-point increases in revenue and profitability growth through improvements in their inventory management workflows. Zebra’s recent Elo acquisition broadens Zebra’s current portfolio and enables future innovation as part of the collaboration with Salesforce to drive further value to joint customers. KEY TAKEAWAYS Zebra Technologies and Salesforce unveil Retail Cloud POS on Android at Dreamforce 2025. The solution, built on Google’s Android operating system, tackles inefficiencies in manual data capture, inaccurate inventory and fragmented workflows with a solution that enhances frontline productivity and customer experience. The new strategic collaboration with Zebra and Salesforce marks an exciting new chapter in retail innovation and arms store associates with stronger tools to serve customers. ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES Zebra provides the foundation for intelligent operations with an award-winning portfolio of connected frontline, asset visibility and automation solutions. Organisations globally across retail, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and other industries rely on us to deliver outcomes today while driving innovation for what’s next. Together with our partners, we create new ways of working that improve productivity and empower organisations to be better every day. Learn more at www.zebra.com. Follow Zebra on our blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. ABOUT SALESFORCE Salesforce helps organisations of any size reimagine their business with AI. Agentforce — the first digital labour solution for enterprises — seamlessly integrates with Customer 360 applications, Data Cloud, and Einstein AI to create a limitless workforce, bringing humans and agents together to deliver customer success on a single, trusted platform. Visit www.salesforce.com for more information.
marketing 28 Oct 2025
Australians plan to spend 43% more this Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend as shoppers start earlier and prioritise value
SYDNEY, Australia — 27 October 2025 — Confidence in Australian retail is rising, with nearly eight in ten (78%) businesses feeling more optimistic than last year and 76% expecting higher sales this holiday season, according to Shopify’s Holiday Retail Report. Consumer optimism is also improving, with planned Black Friday Cyber Monday spending up $98 year-on-year, from $226 in 2024 to $324 in 2025. That optimism is paired with a more intentional approach: 58% of shoppers are setting clear caps on how much they’ll spend, and over a quarter (27%) plan to be stricter with their budgets this year, though 39% say sticking to their budget is a major challenge. Over a quarter (27%) of Australians also plan to start shopping earlier this year, rising to 30% among the country’s highest spenders — those planning to spend over A$1,990. “Planned holiday spending may be up, but it’s still more focused than freewheeling,” said Shaun Broughton, Managing Director, APAC and Japan at Shopify. “Australian shoppers are entering the season with optimism, clearer budgets, and higher expectations. They’re starting earlier, switching channels seamlessly, and seeking real value in every interaction. Retailers that respond with precision, blending early engagement, frictionless checkouts, and the right mix of AI and human touch, will be best positioned to convert intent into lasting loyalty.” “For us, preparing for Black Friday Cyber Monday is fundamentally about earning our customers’ trust when it matters most,” said Karim Zuhri, CTO at Koala. “We’ve focused on delivering seamless, high-performance experiences under peak load — from optimising site speed and stability, to investing in SEO and GEO, and building intelligent agentic systems that connect directly with Shopify and help us drive efficiency. This foundation lets us move faster, test more, and serve customers better. Ultimately, the retailers who treat customers with intelligence, delivering fast, factual, conversational experiences, will win their attention and loyalty.” “Our customers treat Black Friday like a game - building their shopping list early and waiting for the perfect deal, so our promotions have to be compelling from the start,” said Stephanie Moore, Global Brand Director at Princess Polly. “It’s vital for brands to meet customers where they are - which for us means doubling down on live shopping, especially on TikTok, while also investing in smart ad spend and creative content that cuts through the noise.” AI use rises, but shoppers still want human connection AI is becoming a trusted sidekick for shoppers and merchants alike. Nearly two-thirds (61%) per cent of Australian consumers say they’d likely use AI for at least one task when doing their holiday shopping, while nearly half (47%) plan to use it to help them save money this year. Half (50%) of shoppers believe AI will make their shopping experiences better, especially when finding deals (31%) and inspiration (19%). Among retailers, 86% feel positive about the impact of AI-driven features in the year ahead, and 89% are already or planning to invest in it to help customers discover or buy their products through AI shopping assistants. Many are also exploring ways to optimise their operations, focusing on AI-generated content ( 51%) and using AI to forecast inventory or demand needs more effectively (32%). Yet, trust remains a challenge: 72% of Australians remain wary of the technology, the highest rate globally, and 78% say buying from a person still matters. Retailers that pair AI with transparency, clear opt-ins, and easy access to human support will see the greatest success. Businesses sharpen strategies to navigate economic conditions While confidence is up, retailers are still navigating headwinds such as rising costs (50%) and economic uncertainty (46%). Many are responding by sharpening their promotional strategies, with businesses expecting two-fifths (40%) of their sales to come from promotional pricing: 66% intend to introduce new types of deals to attract cost-conscious shoppers 53% plan to offer bigger or more frequent discounts 65% intend to start sales earlier and run them longer Meanwhile, almost a third (31%) of businesses plan to focus on loyalty programs to build deeper customer loyalty this season, and 33% plan to launch new products or collections to boost results. However, brands risk missing opportunities if they launch promotions too late. Businesses expect to run promotions for just over 12 days on average, with 36% planning to start promotions from early November, and a further 22% kicking off either the week before or over the Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend. Meanwhile, two-fifths (40%) of Australian shoppers are already writing lists and preparing purchases well before the holiday rush. Discovery and hybrid shopping define the season Australians are discovering products across more channels. Nearly half (44%) of shoppers are more likely to make a purchase based on discovering a product from in–store and online browsing respectively, up from 42% in-store and 41% online in 2024. This is followed by: Word-of-mouth recommendations: 37% Online product reviews or product comparison sites: 35% Through friends and brands they already follow on social media: 30% Traditional online advertising (Search or website/app banner ads): 26% Direct social media ads: 25% Social media influencer endorsements or promotions: 21% Traditional offline advertising (TV‚ radio‚ billboards etc): 19% Meanwhile, retailers are increasing their investment in: Social media ads: 46% Online advertising: 37% Digital video campaigns: 31% Email marketing: 28% Search engine optimisation (SEO): 24% Influencer partnerships or creator collaborations: 23% In-store promotions or events: 23% Hybrid shopping also continues to dominate. When it comes to how consumers are planning to do their holiday shopping, more than a third (38%) plan to split it evenly between online and in-store this year, while 31% plan to do a majority in-store and 25% plan to do a majority online. 50% prefer to shop online for smaller items and head in-store for larger purchases. Checkout friction, however, remains a dealbreaker. More than half (52%) have abandoned a purchase due to complex checkout processes — especially higher spenders. Discounts (54%), free shipping or returns (44%), and excellent service (38%) are the top loyalty drivers. Methodology The consumer survey was conducted among 18,000 consumers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US, including 2,000 in Australia. The interviews were conducted online by Sapio Research in August 2025 and commissioned by Shopify. The SMB survey was conducted among 7,500 owners and business decision makers (not exclusive to Shopify merchants) across Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US, including 500 in Australia. Respondents surveyed were from companies with less than 1,000 employees. The interviews were conducted online by Sapio Research in August and September 2025 and commissioned by Shopify. Definition: “Festive shopping period” was defined in this survey as including the following holiday periods: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Small Business Saturday, Boxing Day, Singles Day, New Year’s Day, Hanukkah, and Diwali About Shopify Shopify is the leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, scale, market, and run a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for speed, customisation, reliability, and security, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers online, in store, and everywhere in between. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as JB HiFi, July, Victoria Beckham, Heinz, Patagonia, Tupperware, Netflix, LSKD, Culture Kings, HiSmile, and many more. For more information, visit shopify.com/au
marketing 28 Oct 2025
Intuit Mailchimp Supercharges Retailers' Marketing Efforts to Drive ROI
October 14, 2025 — Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, today announced a suite of powerful new Intuit Mailchimp features designed to help retailers reach new customers and drive revenue growth during the busiest shopping season of the year. Mailchimp’s recent Holiday Shopping Unwrapped report found that 43% of shoppers made a purchase tied to at least one holiday moment during the Early Lead-Up phase (October 1–31), underscoring how critical it is for marketers to prepare their holiday marketing strategies earlier than ever. “For years, holiday marketing has centred around a handful of peak moments. Our research shows shopping is now spread across a longer, more fragmented season, which raises the bar for Australian businesses to be timely and relevant,” said Anthony Capano, Regional Director, APAC, Intuit Mailchimp. “These enhancements and improved integrations give local businesses the tools they need to orchestrate truly omnichannel journeys, capitalise on festive-season demand, and build lasting relationships with their customers.” To help retailers meet this seasonal moment and reach their sales goals, the latest Mailchimp release includes an improved Shopify integration, smarter segmentation tools, advanced ecommerce analytics, global and multi-audience SMS capabilities, and a refreshed email template library—all powered by the Intuit platform. These innovations can make it easier for ecommerce marketers to get more customers, deliver high-performing omnichannel campaigns, and show the revenue impact of every touchpoint, with the aim of more money, less work, and more confidence. “With these improvements, businesses can move faster, personalize with more precision, and measure the tangible business impact of every omnichannel campaign," said Diana Williams, vice president, product management at Intuit Mailchimp. “The holiday season is an enormous opportunity for retailers, but brands must move beyond traditional major retail moments of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to gain a significant competitive advantage. With these new tools, Mailchimp delivers the confidence and clarity marketers need to turn customer engagement into reliable revenue growth, extending their impact far beyond the peak holiday shopping windows.” Here’s what’s new: A Smarter Shopify Integration Mailchimp’s updated Shopify integration unlocks deeper behavioral insights and new triggers—like product views, checkout started, page views, and search terms—and turns them into revenue-driving triggers. Additional capabilities include: Single-Use Shopify Discount Codes: Minimise code sharing and personalise offers at scale. Expanded Segmentation: Improved Shopify data compatibility lets retailers segment audiences by more behaviours, statuses, and browse activity. "Right now, marketing owned platforms like Mailchimp are more important than ever," says Intuit customer Connor Swegle, co-founder and CMO of Priority Bicycles. “The very bottom of the funnel—anybody who's willing to add something to cart, or get four pages into the content on your website—is very important. Having really strategic, Shopify-specific campaigns built in Mailchimp helps us convert with confidence every customer we legitimately can. And since we can easily track the revenue uplift of those initiatives, we only continue to optimize and improve.” Global SMS with Multi-Audience Control Meeting customers where they are is critical and integrating SMS into an omnichannel strategy is now easier than ever with Mailchimp. In fact, according to a recent QuickBooks’ study, 65% of consumers say they’ll use their phones to browse, compare prices, and buy gifts this holiday season. Retailers who want to reach customers in the US, UK, Australia, and Europe can now send SMS campaigns across multiple countries from a single Mailchimp account. Plus, with multi-audience capabilities, customers can send personalised messages to different customer segments, without toggling between tools. Additionally, Mailchimp Transactional (formerly known as Mandrill) builds on its reputation as the go-to engine for reliable, event-triggered communication by expanding into SMS. With Mailchimp Transactional SMS, retailers can strengthen shopper relationships by delivering critical, timely, one-to-one text updates about their purchases at every step, offering choice and convenience to customers as they engage with their favourite brands. Now available in 10+ countries: the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Ireland. Advanced Reporting & Supercharged Insights New dashboards surface real-time trends across email, SMS, revenue attribution, and store behavior, helping marketers measure campaign ROI and optimise faster. Additional capabilities include: Audience Analytics: Better identify contact sources and source performance with improved UI and growth tracking. Conversion Insights Tool: Customers now have full visibility of their sales funnel with data from user behaviour to help boost conversion. Blotout API Integration: Cookieless tracking helps restore visibility across the funnel. Holiday-Ready Email Templates and Journeys Holiday sales are a make-or-break moment for retailers of all sizes. According to Mailchimp’s Holiday Shopping Unwrapped report, the top holiday moments with the highest spending propensity in Australia are Christmas Day (61%), News Year’s Day (37%), Christmas Eve (35%), News Year’s Eve (33%), Halloween (25%), Advent Season Dec. 1-24 (4%), and Epiphany/Three Kings Day (4%). For shoppers in Australia, the post-Christmas period rivals the November sales season in importance, with Boxing Day (32%) ranking as top shopping moments during the “Betwixtmas” period. This underscores the critical need for marketers to prepare their holiday-specific marketing strategies earlier than ever. New seasonal templates and automation flow templates can help retailers build beautiful, on-brand campaigns in minutes—just in time for the early shopping window. With these latest innovations, Mailchimp is delivering enterprise-grade tools to high-growth ecommerce brands. “When marketers can quickly and accurately turn data into action, they unlock new ways to serve existing customers and acquire new ones,” Williams adds. “Whether it’s through done-for-you workflows, streamlined omnichannel marketing tools, or just smarter reporting, the Intuit platform continues to offer solutions that help every business reach their full potential.” About Intuit: Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at Intuit.com and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.
financial technology 28 Oct 2025
VIOOH partners with London Lites to expand programmatic DOOH footprint across London's premium locations
23 October 2025, London - Today, VIOOH, the leading premium global digital out of home (DOOH) supply-side platform, announced a programmatic partnership with London Lites, a new generation DOOH media owner offering brands an affordable solution to target audiences in must-have central London locations and London neighbourhoods. London Lites offers brands the opportunity to connect with diverse London audiences through high-quality, cost-effective DOOH screens that can run static or full-motion campaigns. This partnership gives advertisers programmatic access to 49 strategically placed premium LED screens generating 74.5 million monthly impressions, representing 23% of the London roadside digital OOH market. The comprehensive inventory spans London neighbourhoods and central London, including roadside locations delivering 63 million monthly impressions, rail environments at Clapham Junction generating 2.7 million monthly impressions, and premium mall locations in Mayfair and Bond Street contributing 8.5 million monthly impressions. As a new-generation provider established in 2012, London Lites offers greater flexibility and agility than traditional DOOH media owners, enabling brands to be bolder and more responsive in London advertising campaigns. VIOOH, with its advanced technology platform and global footprint, seamlessly connects buyers and sellers in the DOOH space, offering a streamlined programmatic advertising experience. “Our partnership with London Lites represents further expansion of our programmatic marketplace, offering brands access to premium central London locations through a uniquely agile and flexible media owner. Its strategic coverage provides advertisers with exceptional opportunities to reach diverse London-centric and internationally travelling audiences. Its new-generation approach to flexibility and responsiveness perfectly complements VIOOH's real-time trading capabilities,” said Gavin Wilson, Global Chief Commercial Officer at VIOOH. “Partnering with VIOOH opens new programmatic opportunities for brands to connect with London's dynamic audiences across our premium network. Our positioning in must-have Central London locations, from Mayfair and Covent Garden to key neighbourhood hubs, allows advertisers to reach Londoners where they live, work and socialise. VIOOH's programmatic expertise enables brands to leverage our flexible, agile approach with the precision and efficiency that modern London advertising demands,” said Mike English, Commercial Director at London Lites. Through programmatic buying, advertisers can benefit from enhanced flexibility, precision targeting and improved efficiency, ensuring maximum impact and engagement with London's diverse and dynamic audiences. About VIOOH: VIOOH is a leading premium global digital out of home supply-side platform. Launched in 2018 and with headquarters in London, VIOOH’s platform connects buyers and sellers in a premium marketplace, making OOH easily accessible. Led by a team of digital OOH and programmatic tech experts, VIOOH is pioneering the transformation of the OOH sector, championing its role in enhancing omni-channel digital campaigns through the use of programmatic capabilities and data. VIOOH currently trades programmatically in 35 markets and drives demand through partnerships with +50 DSPs globally, with more to follow. For more information about VIOOH, please visit www.viooh.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About London Lites: London Lites, a digital out-of-home media owner, combining premium Central London locations with agile, data-enabled activation. Our high-quality LED screens support full-motion or static formats, and are programmatic-ready, enabling brands to deploy campaigns in real time, tailor creative by audience signals, and access measurement insights that demonstrate impact. As an agile DOOH provider, we offer affordability and flexibility without sacrificing scale or sophistication, helping brands spark genuine connections with Londoners in contextually relevant and high-footfall settings. For more information about London Lites, please visit: londonlites.co.uk.
advertising 24 Oct 2025
Anonymised Partners with Index Exchange to Enable Custom Algorithms for Incremental Outcomes via Index Marketplaces
23 October 2025, London - Anonymised, a privacy-enhancing technology company specialising in incremental targeting and measurement of ID-less audiences, today announced a new partnership with Index Exchange, one of the world’s largest independent supply-side platforms (SSP), to pioneer supply-side targeting, measurement and optimisation capabilities. Index Exchange is the first SSP to integrate Anonymised's proprietary data and custom algorithms as a containerized solution to unlock closed-loop optimisation of programmatic campaigns on the supply side.? This integration allows Anonymised’s custom algorithms to run natively within Index Marketplaces, applying its logic at the point of impression - before the bid request is sent to a DSP. By adding decisioning closer to the supply side, the partnership helps media owners unlock more value from their inventory and enables marketers to improve campaign performance in ID-less environments. It reduces reliance on external identifiers, supporting incremental reach and more efficient optimisation in low-bid environments. “Partnering with Index Exchange represents a significant advancement in making high-quality, incremental audiences accessible and performant at scale,” said Mattia Fosci, CEO at Anonymised. “It is a fundamental step towards making our unique, high-quality data interoperable with the programmatic ecosystem. Anonymised and Index Exchange are boosting revenue across channels such as Safari, iOS, and CTV. All without compromising user privacy.” “We believe the future of programmatic lies in intelligent decisioning on the sell side, applying data, custom algorithms, and business logic before the bid request ever leaves the exchange,” said Paul Zovighian, Vice President of Marketplaces at Index Exchange. “Our partnership with Anonymised brings this vision to life - enabling privacy-focused, performance-driven targeting across ID-less environments. It’s a strong example of how Index Marketplaces empowers our partners to innovate and drive better outcomes, helping publishers unlock more value and giving marketers smarter, more efficient ways to reach their audiences.” The collaboration reflects a broader industry movement toward applying intelligence on the supply side - where targeting, optimisation, and measurement happen within the exchange itself. For Anonymised, it offers its buyers a more direct and scalable path to activate its targeting and measurement technology across premium programmatic supply. For Index Exchange, it reinforces its role as the infrastructure for sell-side decisioning, enabling partners to apply their own algorithms and data strategies earlier in the workflow, with greater control and efficiency. About Anonymised Anonymised is the ID-less audience solution for the future - helping advertisers target and measure relevant audiences for increased reach and performance - without using or exposing personal data. Its privacy-enhancing technology couples cross-site data with on-device machine learning to allow accurate targeting and measurement of 100% consented audiences, across all browsers and devices. ID-less advertising is crucial for the future of digital advertising since 60% of the web is already ID-less. Anonymised makes unaddressable audiences targetable and measurable again. For more information visit: anonymised.io or follow us on LinkedIn.? About Index Exchange Index Exchange is a global advertising supply-side platform enabling media owners to maximize the value of their content on any screen. We’re a proud industry pioneer with over 20 years of experience connecting leading experience makers with the world’s largest brands to ensure a quality experience for consumers. To learn more, visit: www.indexexchange.com or @indexexchange.
business 23 Oct 2025
Tech Week Singapore 2025 Returns with AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation
SINGAPORE, 22 September 2025 – CloserStill Media, a global producer of market-leadingevents, has unveiled the notable attendees and programme highlights for Tech Week Singapore2025, returning to Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 8–9 October 2025. Under the theme ‘Connected Futures, Boundless Impact,’ the award-winning event will spotlighthow artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating cross-industry collaboration – from cloud, AI, AIinfrastructure and cybersecurity to digital marketing and e-commerce – positioning Tech WeekSingapore as Asia’s platform for industry-defining conversations and strategic partnerships. Opening Ceremony and Exclusive Tour Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, will be theevent’s Guest of Honour (GOH), alongside VIPs including senior diplomatic members andambassadors from top embassies, chambers of commerce and key associations. The opening ceremony will be followed by an executive tour for the GOH and VIPs, providing anexclusive showcase of the most innovative companies and technologies across Tech WeekSingapore’s co-located shows. The tour goes beyond a guided visit and aims to be a prestigenetworking experience, facilitating discussions for GOH, VIPs, industry leaders and policymakersto highlight Singapore as a hub for innovation and cross-border collaboration. More Voices, More Insights: Inspiring Collaboration in Tech Over 550 regional and international speakers from leading organisations and government bodiessuch as The Coca-Cola Company, OpenAI, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Oracle, World TradeOrganisation, the UK Government, the Government of Estonia and more will be speaking at theevent. Key stakeholders across different industries will showcase groundbreaking innovations inAI and digital transformation through insightful keynotes, panel discussions and conferencetheatres, inspiring meaningful collaboration across the region to create boundless impact withtech. “AI is already reshaping industries like finance, aviation, manufacturing, and electronics –helping businesses cut through complexity, speed up decisions, and bring new ideas to market,”said Andy Brown, Head of Go-to-Market for APAC, OpenAI. “With our latest model, GPT-5, we’reseeing that progress accelerate in very tangible ways. Tech Week Singapore is a compellingevent to share these lessons, collaborate with industry leaders, and explore how we can push AIeven further to deliver real-world value for organisations and communities.” Launch of Tech Week Shanghai 2026 , ASIA-ISAC and New Data Centre Technology Tech Week Shanghai 2026 will also be officially unveiled at Tech Night 2025. Tech Week’sexpansion in the region is timely and aims to accelerate tech-driven discussions on dataecosystems and compliance that will fuel international growth across different sectors. TechNight 2025, Tech Week’s inaugural, high-impact networking session starting from 5pm on thefirst day, will further aid in catalysing collaboration between speakers, VIPs and exhibitors. Itprovides attendees with a golden opportunity to network and engage directly with C-suiteleaders, influential decision-makers and tech trailblazers shaping the future of digitaltransformation. In addition, Tech Week Singapore is launching Asia Information Sharing and Analysis Center(Asia-ISAC) in response to the growing challenge posed by cyber threats. IBM’s 2025 X-ForceThreat Intelligence Index revealed that APAC experienced the most cyberattacks in 2024,accounting for 34% of all incidents investigated. With cyber threats continuing to escalate in theregion, the need for organisations to bolster their cyber defences collaboratively has never beengreater. Asia-ISAC is the first and only cross-industry, non-profit hub to help companies reducethe cost and impact of cyber attacks, and it will officially launch at Tech Week Singapore 2025.This cements Tech Week’s reputation as an all-in-one event for all things tech, providing industryleaders with insights and announcements aligned with evolving threats and trends in the sector. Lastly, ECOLAB will be exclusively unveiling a new technology for data centres at theirexhibition. Distinguished guests from government bodies and international business associationswill also be present to witness the launch. 6 Co-Located Shows, 9 Country Pavilions: Refreshed to Showcase Global Innovation To deliver unique perspectives from a wide array of industry leaders, Tech Week Singapore 2025includes co-located shows, including Cloud & AI Infrastructure Asia, DevOps Live, Cyber SecurityWorld Asia, Data Centre World Asia, Big Data & AI World Asia and eCommerce Expo | DMEXCOAsia. Attendees can attend workshops by Google Cloud at Big Data & AI World Asia, lectures byISACA and the opportunity to collect CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points at theseevents. Cloud Expo Asia’s rebranding to Cloud & AI Infrastructure Asia in 2025 shows that cloudcomputing is no longer in siloes, but intertwining with AI to signal technology’s advancementacross industries. Asia’s leading data show, Data Centre World Asia is also returning as theworld’s largest data centre event, expanding by 75% in space for a line-up of exhibitors this timeround. The co-branded eCommerce Expo | DMEXCO Asia event, launched in partnership withKoelnmesse and BVDW, highlights Singapore’s position as a dynamic hub for digital businessacross sectors, including marketing and retail innovation. This year, nine country pavilions will be featured – an increase from six pavilions last year – toallow more opportunities for local tech companies to showcase their innovations at a globalscale. These include the Singapore pavilion, Zhejiang pavilion, Cooperation Council of the ArabStates of the Gulf pavilion, Shaanxi pavilion, Austrade pavilion, Australia Global Victoria pavilion,Taiwan Taitra pavilion, Jiangsu pavilion and Pakistan pavilion. CloserStill Media’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Andy Kiwanuka, said: “With this year’stheme of ‘Connected Futures, Boundless Impact’ at Tech Week Singapore 2025, we are bringingtogether technology leaders from diverse industries to showcase how AI convergence canunlock innovation and growth across sectors. The launch of Tech Week Shanghai marks animportant milestone and augments our vision to spark more conversations on how technologycan drive collaboration, innovation, and growth across the region.” Tech Week Singapore 2025 is expected to attract over 28,000 senior IT leaders, with more than550 global exhibitors and over 550 regional and international speakers participating. The eventwill be held at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 8–9 October 2025. Registration is now open. For all technology professionals, secure your complimentary pass at:https://bit.ly/Registration_MediaAlert. Download the Tech Week Singapore 2025 application from the Apple Store or Google PlayStore for a go-to guide to navigating Southeast Asia’s premier technology event.About CloserStill Media CloserStill Media specialises in producing high-value, content-driven events that fosterprofessional communities across Business Technologies, Healthcare, and Future Transport andInfrastructure sectors. CloserStill Media's portfolio includes the acclaimed Tech Week Singapore,featuring popular events such as Cloud & AI Infrastructure and Data Centre World Asia. Headquartered in London with 10 global offices, CloserStill Media operates with a robust team of800 professionals across Singapore, the U.K., USA, Germany, and Spain. The company isrecognised for its industry leadership, having won more exhibition awards than any otherincluding accolades such as Best Exhibition, Best Event Launch, and Best Brand Expansion. Formore information, visit www.closerstillmedia.com
artificial intelligence 1 Oct 2025
Brand Collective brings 19 brands together on Shopify
SYDNEY, Australia, 23 September 2025 — Shopify, a leading commerce technology company, today announced the success of its partnership with Brand Collective, one of Australia’s largest retail groups. Over the past two years, with the support of digital agency partner DotCollective, Brand Collective has migrated its direct-to-consumer (DTC) portfolio of 19 brands to Shopify, cutting launch times in half, improving conversion rates, and reducing fraud-related chargebacks by 99%. Brand Collective manages a diverse portfolio of fashion, sport, and lifestyle labels including Canada Goose, Reebok, Superdry, Champion, Hush Puppies, Shoes & Sox, and Elka Collective. Following its 2022 merger with PAS Group, the company made a deliberate shift away from fragmented legacy platforms to consolidate its digital infrastructure. “We wanted to move faster, innovate more, and simplify how our brands go to market,” said Aaron Gard, Group General Manager, Digital and Ecommerce at Brand Collective. “Migrating our entire portfolio onto Shopify has given us that foundation, but it’s our team’s ability to make the most of it that’s driving the real results. We’re now launching brands in record time, optimising customer journeys, and focusing more energy on growth than on maintenance.” “Brand Collective is a great example of what’s possible when a multi-brand retailer puts adaptability and simplicity at the centre of their commerce strategy,” said Shaun Broughton, Managing Director, APAC & Japan at Shopify. “By unifying their brands on our platform, Brand Collective has embraced a more agile way of working, one that removes complexity, accelerates execution, and unlocks growth.” A foundation for speed and scaleBy consolidating on Shopify, Brand Collective has created a common architecture built around reusable frameworks, shared themes, and streamlined workflows. This has enabled the group to halve new brand launch timelines from six months to three while maintaining consistency and governance across a diverse brand mix. Smarter, more secure checkoutsWith Shopify Payments, Shop Pay, and one-page checkout, Brand Collective has transformed the customer checkout experience. Fraud prevention tools have cut manual reviews to almost zero, and smoother checkout flows have lifted conversion rates by 15–25%, supporting a 10% year-on-year increase in online sales. From maintenance to growthMoving off maintenance-heavy platforms has reduced overhead by 60%, freeing the digital team to focus on innovation and customer experience. Shopify’s AI-enabled commerce assistant, Sidekick, is also providing valuable insights that speed up decision-making. Working alongside agency partner DotCollective, Brand Collective now operates with a unified digital ecosystem that supports rapid test-and-learn execution and positions the group for sustainable growth across its entire portfolio. About Brand CollectiveBrand Collective is one of Australia’s leading retail groups with a significant wholesale and direct-to-consumer presence. Its DTC portfolio includes 19 fashion, sport, and lifestyle brands, such as Canada Goose, Reebok, Superdry, Champion, Hush Puppies, and Elka Collective, alongside a broader wholesale business spanning many other brands. Formed through the merger of Brand Collective and PAS Group in 2022, the company brings together heritage labels and global icons under a unified digital and retail strategy. With a focus on customer experience, innovation, and long-term growth, Brand Collective is shaping the future of multi-brand retail in Australia. About Shopify Shopify is a leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for reliability, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers everywhere. Proudly founded in Ottawa, Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as JB HiFi, July, Victoria Beckham, Heinz, Patagonia, Tupperware, Netflix, LSKD, Culture Kings, HiSmile, and many more. For more information, visit shopify.com/au
business 24 Sep 2025
Car dealership Thurlow Nunn Group appoints Kinase to digital marketing account
September 8th, 2025: UK car dealership Thurlow Nunn has appointed Kinase as its digital marketing partner following a competitive pitch. The UK-based car dealership, which represents brands such as Vauxhall, Peugeot, MG, Leapmotor and Hyundai and sells over 8,000 cars a year, made the appointment to support its growth by increasing new car sales, while also boosting aftersales. Kinase, a leading independent digital marketing agency, delivers bold strategies that grow clients’ businesses by constantly innovating in a fast changing market. It combines technical expertise with a strategic understanding of business to transform performance. Kinase will handle all UK PPC activity. Central to the brief will be a data-driven, full funnel approach to encourage prospective customers to book a test drive. The activity joins up all Thurlow Nunn’s marketing channels, from understanding the search terms people use when researching a car, right the way right through to linking up the tracking with its CRM and campaign activity. Richard Brooks, Chief Executive of Kinase, said: “I’m so pleased to be working with Thurlow Nunn at this important time in the company’s growth plan. Thurlow Nunn’s strategy to increase new car sales plays right to our strengths in the ability to optimise for the most qualified and profitable leads within this sector. I can’t wait to see the results.” Dev Valand, Group Marketing Manager at Thurlow Nunn, said: “Kinase understood the importance of supporting our growth through new car sales. And the complex and varied route that customers undertake when buying a car. We are delighted that Kinase will partner with us to help more customers discover all the famous brands that are available to them in our dealerships.” Kinase won the business following a competitive pitch against three other agencies. About Kinase Transforming Digital Marketing to Exceed Your Goals. Kinase is a digital marketing agency that transforms digital marketing to grow clients’ businesses and consistently exceed expectations. For 15 years, we have been delivering bold digital marketing strategies that grow clients’ business in innovative ways they haven’t yet thought of. Our expert practitioners move vertically through your business, combining fundamentals, technical expertise and a commercial understanding of our clients to redefine what can be achieved through digital marketing. Think of us as performance problem solvers. Kinase has successfully delivered long term growth in partnership with B2C and B2B clients including Goldsmiths, Dreams, Purplebricks and Nisbets.
digital marketing 16 Sep 2025
5WPR’s Wavytalk Campaign Scores PRNEWS Platinum Nod
NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 5WPR, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the U.S., announced that it has been named a finalist in the 2025 PRNEWS Platinum Awards for its campaign with Wavytalk, "5WPR x Wavytalk: From TikTok Trailblazer to Market Leader." The campaign has been recognized in the Campaign of the Year: Beauty & Fashion category. The PRNEWS Platinum Awards celebrate the most innovative and impactful communications initiatives across industries. 5WPR's partnership with Wavytalk has supported the brand's growth from a TikTok-born sensation into an established leader in the broader beauty space. Designed to elevate Wavytalk beyond its origins as a viral favorite, the campaign combined high-profile partnerships, celebrity integrations, fashion week activations, and immersive influencer events. These efforts generated widespread recognition and positioned the brand as both aspirational and accessible, appealing to professional stylists and everyday consumers alike. Reflecting on the recognition, Ilisa Wirgin, Managing Partner & EVP, Beauty, Health & Wellness at 5WPR, said the honor is a testament to collaboration and creativity. "This campaign reflects the power of strategic storytelling and bold partnerships in building a brand that resonates across both digital-first audiences and traditional beauty circles. We are proud to have partnered with Wavytalk to showcase their innovation, and it has been incredibly rewarding to play a role in their journey from trailblazer to industry leader." The campaign delivered significant results, including more than 872 media and influencer placements, generating 33.8 billion total impressions. Wavytalk secured major national coverage, including segments on Good Morning America and The TODAY Show, and saw its Share of Voice increase by 36% year-over-year, rising to the top spot in its category. The brand was further recognized with multiple industry honors, including awards from Marie Claire, Glamour, Bustle, and NewBeauty. Winners of the 2025 PRNEWS Platinum Awards will be announced later this year. For more information on 5WPR's award-winning campaigns, visit https://www.5wpr.com. About 5WPR 5WPR is a full-service PR agency known for cutting-edge programs that engage with businesses, issues, and ideas. Founded in 2003, 5W has been named a top US and NYC PR Agency by leading industry publication O'Dwyer's, as well as awarded Agency of the Year in the 2024 American Business Awards®, and continuously brings leading businesses a resourceful, bold, and results-driven approach to communication. The agency has more than 250 professionals serving clients in B2C (Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, Nonprofit), B2B (Corporate Communications and Reputation Management), Public Affairs, Crisis Communications and Digital Marketing (Social Media, Influencer, Paid Media, SEO). In addition to its business accolades, 5W was named to the 2024 Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year list. For more information and to join our team, visit 5W Careers.
marketing 28 Aug 2025
VIOOH partners with Vengo to expand U.S. programmatic advertising footprint across grocery, dining & lifestyle locations nationwide
26 August 2025, London - Today, VIOOH, the leading premium global digital out of home (DOOH) supply-side platform, announced a new programmatic advertising partnership with Vengo, one of the largest premium U.S. DOOH media owners. Vengo has reach and scale across all 50 states and popular DOOH verticals, including grocery stores, convenience stores, bars and casual dining venues, offices, gyms, malls and recreational facilities. The new partnership gives advertisers programmatic access to over 65,000+ strategically placed digital screens generating 13 billion monthly impressions, representing 9% of the US digital OOH market. The comprehensive inventory spans high traffic environments in key cities including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Vengo's grocery environment alone delivers over 1 billion monthly impressions through partnerships with major retailers. The bars and casual dining network generates over 3 billion monthly impressions, while convenience stores deliver over 2 billion monthly impressions through brand name locations such as 7-Eleven and Stewart's Shops. Vengo’s office network has reach across Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington DC and New York, plus Vengo offers premium mall locations in New York, Las Vegas, Houston, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles. The network also extends to gyms across major cities and recreational facilities throughout New England. VIOOH, with its advanced technology platform and global footprint, seamlessly connects buyers and sellers in the DOOH space, offering a streamlined programmatic advertising experience across Vengo's diverse environment portfolio. “Our partnership with Vengo represents another significant expansion of our US programmatic marketplace, offering brands access to one of the most comprehensive and diverse DOOH networks in the country. Vengo's unique positioning across everyday consumer environments - from grocery stores to gyms to casual dining - provides advertisers with unparalleled opportunities to reach audiences throughout their daily routines. With over 65,000 screens generating 13 billion monthly impressions, this partnership delivers exceptional scale and targeting precision across the US market,” said Gavin Wilson, Global Chief Commercial Officer at VIOOH. “VIOOH's global programmatic expertise combined with Vengo’s U.S. footprint creates significant value for both media buyers and Vengo’s location partners,” said Brian Shimmerlik, CEO at Vengo. Through programmatic buying, advertisers can benefit from enhanced flexibility, precision targeting and improved efficiency, ensuring maximum impact and engagement across diverse consumer touchpoints throughout the United States. About VIOOH: VIOOH is a leading premium global digital out of home supply-side platform. Launched in 2018 and with headquarters in London, VIOOH’s platform connects buyers and sellers in a premium marketplace, making OOH easily accessible. Led by a team of digital OOH and programmatic tech experts, VIOOH is pioneering the transformation of the OOH sector, championing its role in enhancing omni-channel digital campaigns through the use of programmatic capabilities and data. VIOOH currently trades programmatically in 34 markets and drives demand through partnerships with +50 DSPs globally, with more to follow. For more information about VIOOH, please visit www.viooh.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About Vengo: The Vengo Media Network is one of the largest programmatic DOOH publishers in the US. With over 65,000 screens, Vengo’s proprietary ad server provides media buyers with speed, scale and trust, to execute campaigns within the venues where consumers spend time. Located in all 50 states and every major market, Vengo’s network provides a “path to purchase” opportunity to reach consumers in Grocery, C-Stores, Bars/Casual Dining, Malls, Offices, Gyms, and more. For more information about Vengo, please visit Vengolabs.com or follow us on LinkedIn or reach out at advertising@vengolabs.com.
advertising 27 Aug 2025
Page 19 of 31
