Category: #mco

Web browser use gains over apps amid work@home

Mobile usage has increased during typical working hours, possibly
indicating that consumers are using their smartphones while also
relying on their desktop computers to work from home during the
coronavirus pandemic, as per a new study. Consumers also are
staying up later on weekdays while using their phones.

Mobile users have tended to increase their usage of web
browsers rather than apps as their media consumption habits
change. The growth in internet usage is linked with consumption
of information rather than entertainment. Consumers have
tended to view more serious topics like finances, the economy and
healthcare, while cutting back on lighter topics like celebrity
entertainment news. Location data revealed unsurprising results
as authorities ordered lockdowns on public gathering places.
Consumers showed greater demand for products such as books
and news, electronics, food and entertainment and toys, a sign of
doing more stay-at-home activities.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200505005144/en/Valassis-Real-time-Insights-Inform-Marketing-Strategies-COVID-19

May 8, 2020
Grab asks staff to take no-pay leave to cut costs

Ride-hailing giant Grab has offered its employees “flexible working
arrangements” such as no-pay leaves, reduced working hours, and
sabbaticals. The company has opened the options to teams across
the region with “excess capacity.” Employees can take them on a
voluntary basis. The company might no longer be able to provide
drivers with extra financial support if the city-state decides to
extend its circuit breaker restrictions beyond June 1.

https://www.techinasia.com/grab-offers-leaves-reduced-working-hours-staff

May 5, 2020
Tesco enables click & collect orders via WhatsApp

Customers can now get Tesco staff to do their grocery shopping on their
behalf, using the hypermarket’s Order & Collect service. The service
enables customers to send their shopping list to the store via
WhatsApp, which will then be fulfilled by a personal shopper. According
to the FAQ, orders can only be placed for essential groceries and fresh
items due to limited resources at the stores. In the event a product is
unavailable, the personal shoppers will contact customers to offer a
suitable substitution.

Customers may accept or reject the substitution.
After completing the order, the personal shopper will send back an
estimated collection time and personalised barcode for the total price
via WhatsApp. Using the personalised barcode, customers can pay for
the items at a dedicated checkout using cash, e-wallet, credit or debit
card. Customers are required to pick up their order within 30 minutes
of the collection time.

https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2020/04/23/tesco-offers-order–collect-service-customers-can-place-orders-via-whatsapp

April 28, 2020
Grab to assist merchants embrace digital economy

Grab will add five more markets across Selangor to its ‘Pasar by
GrabMart’ service in its endeavour to empower and ensure that
small traditional businesses and micro-entrepreneurs will not be
left behind as the country transitions to a digitised nation. The
initiative allows customers to buy fresh produce, spices, poultry,
seafood and meat directly from the TTDI Market in the comfort of
their home. Grab’s Ramadan partnership with local governments
and organisations will also give it a larger stage to accelerate its
support for small traditional businesses and micro-entrepreneurs.

The company has been actively supporting restaurants with
immediate cash flow through its zero-interest, ‘Deferred
Commissions’ programme. It further introduced zero-commissions
for self-pickup orders and absorbs all related transaction costs for
orders received via social channels with a GrabPay payment option.
The company also mobilised more than 100,000 GrabCar drivers
not only to support the increase in demand for delivery services but
also to ensure that the latter continue to have an income
throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) period which has
greatly impacted the e-hailing business.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2020/04/22/grab-doubles-down-to-help-small-traditional-businesses-embrace-digital-econ/1859253

April 27, 2020
Dating app offers a 3D ‘Virtual Quarantine’

Dating site Moonit, is offering its “Immersive Virtual Dating” features
for free until May 30. These fun, high-tech cyber environments give
lonely singles more than one way to connect on a flirtatious,
lighthearted, and even deep emotional level. Users can Play “Hot or
Not,” or meet up for virtual dates in a 3D museum or nightclub. There
are themed chat-rooms, voice chat, and video chat inside Moonit. And
the most exciting part is the 3D dating aspect. You can have a ‘Street
Date’ in your hometown, or travel across the globe to the Eiffel tower
and meet your match. Moonit also has 3D games, so you can tic-tac-toe
your way to love. The site’s Quarantine Features allow users to “Take
off the Mask” metaphorically and physically where you can chat, hear,
and see your matches — virtually and safely.

https://www.aithority.com/technology/virtual-reality-technology/virtual-quarantine-features-in-dating-startup-moonit-close-the-gap-for-isolated-singles/

April 25, 2020
Foods from IKEA Restaurants can now be delivered at your doorsteps!

We’ve been trapped in the house for over a month. We believe many may start to miss their favorite IKEA meal. If you’re like us food lovers craving for some good meatballs, the good news today is that you can order them right at home.

Some of the dishes available are Swedish beef balls, Swedish chicken meatballs, salmon fish and carp. Orders must be made through the BUNGKUSIT app from 10am to 5pm daily. All orders will receive a 15% discount off the regular sale price. The complete list of prices and menus can be viewed through the link below.

https://bungkusit.com.my/

April 23, 2020