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Southeast Asia Could Have A $200B Internet Economy With Improved Skills & Leadership

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BANGKOK – The Southeast Asian startup scene is strong and getting stronger. Across the region, companies are emerging in fintech, edtech, insurtech, blockchain and many other areas.

In 2017, Southeast Asian startups received $7.86 billion in investor funding, which is triple the investments seen the year before, according to Tech in Asia. The region also boasts four unicorns, including Grab and Go-Jek, reports CB Insights.

Yet Southeast Asia’s startups are hindered by skills gaps, particularly when it comes to hard tech skills and business leadership. Research from Google and Temasek predicted that Southeast Asia’s internet economy could grow to $200 billion, but it will need more homegrown talent to get there. The report noted that the region’s biggest players often seek developers and other hires in places such as China and India due to skills gaps in smaller markets. Increased tech and leadership ability are essential to Southeast Asian markets achieving their full potential.

The Leadership Gap 

Efraim Pettersson Ivener, founding partner at the Bangkok-based TechGrind, says a dearth of leadership skills is the top problem is preventing companies in the region from becoming more successful. However, he also says that closing those gaps is difficult if other elements, such as basic tech skills, professionalism and adherence to contracts are missing. Ivener says his company, which operates accelerator and incubator programs and invests in regional startups, repeatedly sees these problems among business-side hires. He attributes these issues to the lightning-speed growth that is transforming countries that are, in many ways, still developing nations.

ImpacTech’s team members mentor startups in the accelerator program with soft skills necessary for strong leadership. (Photo: ImpacTech)

 

“Because SEA is so rapidly evolving from a third-world economy and society into the second-world economy (manufacturing), and now with tech attempting to build companies in the first-world economy, society can’t evolve as quickly as their economies have,” Ivener says via email. “The skills, concepts, and abilities needed to work in each next economic phase requires generations of learning, and this has all happened in SEA in one generation, effectively. So it will take time for universities, primary schools, and society as a whole to understand these concepts of being part of the global economy.”

But startups vying for funding today can’t wait generations to catch up. Kineret Karin, cofounder of the social good accelerator ImpacTech, says thriving startup ecosystems are now essential to national economies. For Southeast Asian startups to launch genuinely innovative products, as opposed to iterating on existing models, they’ll need leaders who are skilled and confident enough to break new ground. Her organization mentors startups on developing soft skills such as negotiation and creativity for this reason and coaches them to think beyond national borders toward creating globally-minded platforms.

ImpacTech co-founders Kineret Karin (left) and Yoav Elgrichi prepare a workshop for accelerator participants. (Photo: ImpacTech)

 

Karin says strong leaders who are willing to buck conservative, risk-averse cultures will be key to attracting more investments. “Without taking more risks, creating breakthrough solutions, it is challenging for the startups to be attractive to big international investors or MNCs (multinational corporations) that are looking for acquisitions or partnerships,” she says. “Leadership skills are a must for taking a company to the next steps.”

First Education, Then Innovation 

Both Ivener and Karin say education and cultural norms must shift if Southeast Asia is to produce the level of tech talent needed to push the region’s economies forward. That’s why their organizations emphasize soft skills and mentorship. Ivener says TechGrind makes a point of investing in startups that have gone through its programs because they’re able to train entrepreneurs and their teams on the vital skills they need for their businesses to succeed. “We help them create a viable tech startup that is not only capable of succeeding regionally and globally but that is also investable,” he says.

CoderSchool, a Ho Chi Minh City organization that offers training in design, programming and data science, sees education as the way forward as well. “There’s definitely a shortage of leadership-level talent,” says CoderSchool’s Director of Operations Edgar Camago. “Even just a cursory overview of the tech scene [in Vietnam] will show you that startups and companies across the board are struggling in their search for CTOs, architects, and project managers. Ask around and you’ll hear that a big part of the problem is cultural. The education system here doesn’t give students the tools and mindset to participate as leaders in multinational companies and foreign startups.”

 

The winning team at a 2017 CoderSchool Demo Day shows off their winnings at the event. (Photo: CoderSchool)

 

But coder-School provides an antidote to the problem by giving ongoing support while students are enrolled in courses and even after they’ve completed them. The organization’s rigorous coursework includes lectures, hands-on development and a range of other approaches to ensure that students are fully immersed in their subject areas. Camago says the market’s demands are evolving, and to help Vietnamese tech professionals become more competitive, CoderSchool recently launched programs in hyperledger blockchain and machine learning.

“Our vision is that great people are everywhere,” Camago says. “But as we’ve grown, we’ve seen that ecosystem can matter a lot.” He is optimistic about Vietnam’s ecosystem, describing it as “vibrant and poised for breakout growth.” But like its neighboring countries, it will need the right mix of skills development and mentorship to reach the next level.

There’s a lot at stake. As Ivener notes, the most successful companies produce sustainable results, create jobs and are data-driven. And those types of businesses are built by leaders who possess attributes such as professionalism and a deep sense of how to motivate and guide their teams. Accelerators, incubators and tech education programs can provide the resources, but entrepreneurs must be willing to accept there are things they don’t know and skills they have not yet mastered. That’s critical because in Ivener’s view, “I believe this will make or break the entire tech industry in Southeast Asia.”

 

By Casey Hynes
Forbes.Com

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

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(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

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Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

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