The Knowledge to Decide

With the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) coming into play, established lubricant suppliers expect a boost in the automotive sector. How will the AEC bloc impact the lubricant industry? Japnit Singh, Senior Director of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights on key trends in Lube Report Asia’s magazine. With the establishment of AEC due this year – it signifies a major step towards a free-trade zone. This 10-nation bloc will ensure free movement of goods and services, investment, flow of capital and skilled labor. At the same time, Singh remarked that slashes in high duties (up to 30-40 %) on automotive sector will result in increased demand for lubricant oil – forecasted to reach 3.5 billion liters by 2016. As a result, it is expected to lead to greater demand for Japanese automobiles that are assembled in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Furthermore, such developments could make ASEAN the world’s fifth-largest auto market as demand for automobiles continue to

Christmas is a time for celebration and delivering joy through gifts. How do Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) celebrate Christmas and how do the holidays affect e-retailers sales? Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights in Bloomberg Businessweek Indonesia. Whether it is a family affair, attending Christmas mass or indulging in feasting, Christmas is celebrated across the globe. For CEOs in Indonesia, Christmas always brings joy. As Bahar pointed out, the festive season is synonymous with family time. His family indulges in the age-old tradition of Secret Santa where each family member receives a secret gift. At the same time, Indonesian CEOs celebrate Christmas in many ways. These include attending Christmas mass, hosting dinner receptions for extended family members as well as employees, exchanging gifts and installing Christmas icons for décor at home. On the other hand, the festive season gives e-retailers a reas

In today’s world, many women wear two hats – as care-givers in the home and as breadwinners in the workplace. Many professional women aspire to develop their careers in the same way as men. Why then do so few women hold the position of CEO in large organizations? Spire Research and Consulting conducted a pro bono survey among women executives in China, Malaysia and India to understand the aspirations of professional women, the career impediments they face and what they feel should be done to overcome them. Our findings were published in the Japanese media: Yomiuri News, Yahoo News Japan, JChere News, Mynavi News, Shogakkan Biz Lady, Antenna, Livedoor, Excite and Ameba. https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/media/flexibility-the-pathway-to-female-advancement-in-the-workplace/ The world is witnessing a dramatic social change that is still incomplete. Today’s women are more likely to hold a paid job and enjoy more economic freedom than women in previous generations. But this change

Women executives aspire to climb the corporate ladder, but child-care responsibilities have created a speed-bump. Significant minorities report experiencing discrimination and exclusion from “old boys networks” in China and India. Women would like to have more flexible working hours as well as being able to take a few years break from work and re-enter smoothly. These are the findings from a pro-bono survey conducted by strategic market research consultancy Spire Research and Consulting in October 2014. Spire’s survey of 300 female respondents holding executive and managerial positions in companies in China, India and Malaysia (100 per country) concentrated on the corporate aspirations of women, impediments they felt they faced and solutions they favored. The survey used a hybrid online and telephonic interviewing methodology. 98% of the women surveyed in India aspired to grow into a corporate leadership position. The comparable figure for both China (85%) and Malaysia (90%) is

India’s e-commerce industry has recorded massive growth during the last five years. The factors contributing to this growth include increasing number of internet users, growing acceptability of online payments, availability of a cash on delivery option and favourable demographics. Will India’s e-commerce industry continue its growth trajectory? Spire Research and Consulting conducted a research study on India’s e-tailing industry among 300 Indian retailors in the apparel, consumer electronics and food sectors. The findings of the study were further published on Asahi Shimbun’s Japanese website. According to research findings, 91% of Indian companies in the apparel, consumer electronics and food sectors offer online shopping solutions to customers. The overwhelming take-up can be attributed to the introduction of online payment systems and developments in logistics infrastructure. Over 54% of the online businesses reported a growth of more than 20% in sales revenue post increasi

The Phoenix Global Chamber aims to grow the number of people successfully engaged with cross-border trade and investment. With over 20,000 followers on its list, it strives to advance companies, careers as well as communities. Spire Research and Consulting is proud to announce its association with the Global Chamber of Phoenix as a sponsor. The Global Chamber of Phoenix, Arizona further engages leaders, companies and communities to facilitate global business growth and improve cross-border understanding. It aims to bring together like-minded people with the common mission of growing business across borders. As a sponsor, Spire will have the privilege of appearing in banner ads across the Chamber’s website, featured in regular e-newsletters and have access to speaker opportunities. Spire is proud of this new association and hopes to have the privilege of working with more Phoenix-based organizations to develop and execute their strategies in global emerging markets. This a

Japan’s telecom giant SoftBank is eyeing opportunities to expand in South Asia. With its recent investment of USD627 million into Snapdeal – an Indian e-commerce firm – Softbank becomes its largest shareholder. It is one of the largest investments ever made by a single investor in an Indian e-commerce company. Flipkart, another Indian e-commerce player, has also received foreign investment. Does this mark the start of an investment spree? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting shared his insights on the implications of these investments in Japan’s Diamond Magazine. Softbank is a Japanese internet and telco behemoth. It is listed under 33 industries classification on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Recent financial profits for Softbank’s Q2 2014 touched JPY560.7 billion in terms of net income. Softbank recently acquired the number three mobile service provider in the US – Sprint Corp – for USD21.6 billion. It has one third of shares in Chinese e-commerce g

A majority of businesses are very keen on adopting online platforms for increased revenue sales in India. Over 54% of businesses reported a growth of more than 20% since going online in revenue sales. These were the findings from a research study conducted by strategic market research consultancy Spire Research and Consulting spanning from August to October 2014. The full report is also available upon request. The research study aptly titled, ‘India’s E-Tailing Industry – Seller’s Perspective’ was released at a press conference held in New Delhi today. The study was conducted across 13 states in India spread over 300 retailers in 3 sectors consisting of apparel, consumer electronics and food. These insights concentrated on current online shopping trends and its effect on sellers. Furthermore, the data was gathered through one-on-one, online and telephonic modes of communication. More businesses are going online and using it as an extension of their brand As shown in Table 1

Spire Research and Consulting’s CEO Leon Perera was privileged to deliver the first Opening Plenary address at CloudAsia 2014 held in Singapore on 29-30 October. He shared key insights from Spire’s study on Cloud computing usage in Singapore’s financial services industry (FSI) and recommended approaches to increase Public Cloud usage in the FSI. At the Opening Plenary of CloudAsia 2014, Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting shared that some Financial Institutions operating in Singapore were already using the private Cloud for non-core applications. However the study found that Financial Institutions were hesitant to further explore Public Cloud adoption for core applications involving production data. The study recommended approaches to increasing Cloud usage for core applications through the creation of prescriptive codes of conduct for FI-vendor contracting as well as security. The study concluded that an opportunity currently exists for a multi-stake-holder

West Africa’s Ebola outbreak is the largest in history, ravaging multiple countries. A glimmer of hope has emerged in the form of the experimental vaccines that are being rushed to the affected areas. Can the virus be contained and if so how? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his views in The Business Times – Views from the Top on what Asia should be doing to maximize Ebola-preparedness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 13,268 Ebola cases have been reported in eight countries, resulting in 4,960 deaths so far. Perera commented that Ebola has so far gripped three West African countries namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Needless to say, the inter-country transport links for these countries are developed to such an extent that they help spread the virus. But these countries still lack healthcare systems to cope with an epidemic like this. At the same time, Ebola – unlike Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) aims to achieve regional economic integration by creating a single-market economy for freer movement of investments, skilled labor, capital as well as goods and services. Countries that possess qualified business resources are sure to benefit from this move. Is Indonesia prepared to provide a qualified workforce? Jeffrey Bahar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his views on Indonesia’s Koran Sindo. Indonesia – being one of the largest economies in the world – is set to become a major player in the region. However, the nation must gear up to face the upcoming regional integration for not only commodities and services but also manpower. Bahar opined that although the Indonesian workforce – which totals 90 million people – is acknowledged in terms of knowledge and professionalism abroad – at home – they get only minimum wage. This is why Indonesians need to adopt a more professional outlook and learn from the

Asia’s mobile market is poised for growth. As competition intensifies, brands are increasingly customizing their approaches to the unique needs of the Asian mobile customer. Spire Research and Consulting shared insights on key trends in Asia’s vast mobile market, published on the US Consumer Electronics Association’s blog. Global mobile technology brands are excited about the 85% mobile phone penetration in vast countries like India, China and Indonesia. At the same time, there are still over 400 million people in Asia who do not have a mobile phone, which suggests plenty of room to grow. What will set top brands apart? Three brands are taking the competition to a whole new level in the region and here is how: Xiaomi is a popular Chinese brand which has made headway into the Indian market with its recent fourth flash sale – marking a record 11,500 mobile phone units sold per second! Xiaomi’s popularity stems from its low price points ranging between USD200 and USD300, combine

In contrast with the US and Europe, bargaining over prices is the norm in China’s small consumer electronics retailers. Spire Research and Consulting posted a commentary on how Western brands should sell their consumer electronics products in China, published on the US Consumer Electronics Association’s blog. Chinese adults spend an average of USD917 on consumer electronics, compared to USD483 in the US. Over 60 per cent of China’s population will continue to spend more on this category. In Chinese computer and consumer electronics retailers, bargaining is a common practice. This stands in contrast to the American and European norm, where consumers are used to fixed prices, whether at large retailers or e-tailers. This is due to the saturation of retailers in the Chinese market. These retailers sell high-end consumer electronic items such as laptops, cameras, tablets, mobile phones and so forth at negotiable prices. So how do western vendors keep up with the competition?

Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Indonesia make up much of the nation’s economic and employment activity. MSEs constitute 98% of all businesses and provide 94% of employment. To explore the market potential of this ‘unbanked’ segment, Spire Research and Consulting conducted a study to evaluate potential demand for Mobile Money and Branchless Banking services (MM & BB). The findings of the study were published in a report released by TNP2K, a public-private coalition of Indonesian and international agencies working towards poverty reduction. Spire’s study was conducted across four provinces, namely Bali, South Sulawesi, West Java and South Sumatra. 400 survey interviews with MSE owners and 16 Focus group discussions were conducted in August and September 2013. The findings revealed that MSEs can potentially make use of a number of MM & BB services wherein neither the gender nor the province of the MSE owner would be a hindrance. This is due to the fact that women fo

In mid-2014,  Spire Research and Consulting  collaborated with global education service provider Pearson for the second time, to conduct a study of 5,145 teachers in schools and higher education institutes across 247 cities in India. The study revealed that teachers ranked skill and personality development as the most important area to focus on for improving learner outcomes. The Pearson-Spire study revealed that nearly 50 percent of students who had entered a classroom lacked the academic, vocational and cognitive skills requisite for that level. This implied that most learning environments were failing their students. In spite of these sobering findings, most teachers (79 percent) still perceived a noted improvement in India’s learning environment over the past decade. These improvements were noted to have come about through the practical exposure gained by teachers, teaching combined with technology, teacher training on new methodologies as well as an improved curriculum a

As the ASEAN region’s demand for coal surges, will the region be able to meet its future energy needs at a sustainable cost?  Leon Perera , Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts on the outlook for energy demand in ASEAN for China Daily – Asia Weekly. ASEAN’s demand for coal is expected to triple to account for nearly 30 percent of global energy growth. Coal is a popular fuel source, thanks to its abundance and cost competitiveness. The share of coal in electricity generation is likely to spike from one-third of total output today to almost half in 2035. Perera opined that  energy growth  is a function of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – which in this case will be driven by the expanding economies of Thailand and Indonesia, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam. All of these economies have substantial room for energy demand growth, due to their growing from a low GDP per capita base and with urbanization and industrialization still not h

India’s emerging cranberry market has caught the eye of The Cranberry Marketing Association,  USA . Spire Research and Consulting was commissioned by the Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC) to explore the potential of the Indian consumer market. The findings were shared on Fresh Plaza’s website, including measures taken to create a niche market for US-grown cranberry and related products. The Cranberry Marketing Association USA recently received grant support under the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service to commence a technical and educational program in  India . Spire Research and Consulting was then tasked by the CMC to explore the potential of U.S.-grown cranberry and related products in India’s market. Spire’s research clearly indicated that the market for cranberry products clustered around major Tier-1 cities in India; namely Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. This was primarily due to the presence of gourmet food stores and co

Ageing populations remain a key trend in most East Asian countries. Many age-friendly and accessible products are available on the  market . What new frontiers are yet to be explored in Asia’s silver market? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his views in The Business Times – Top Stories on how marketers should tackle Asia’s silver market. According to the Asia-Pacific Silver Economy Business Opportunities Report 2013, the projected household savings of over-60’s senior citizens is set to reach USD974 billion in Japan, USD37 billion in Singapore and USD148 billion in South Korea by 2017. At the same time, senior citizens in their mid-60’s and younger – otherwise known as baby boomers – are often healthier, wealthier and better educated. They also tend to have diverse tastes and aspirations which marketers can tap into. Perera opined that it is crucial to develop standards in elderly nutrition, eldercare and living conditions in homes

Obesity is a growing threat to quality of life, healthcare systems and economies across Asia. Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts on the implications of rising obesity levels in Asia in China Daily – Asia Weekly. According to a study by Cornell University in 2012, the U.S. spent USD190 billion a year on obesity-related healthcare. An epidemic long thought to affect only the western world has gradually crept onto Asian shores. Traditional food products are now being replaced by processed  foods and fast foods  in many parts of Asia. Perera commented that obesity is strongly linked to ailments such as Type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. Obesity has also been linked to a rise in absenteeism and medical insurance costs. Though the impact of obesity on Asia’s healthcare expenditures is currently lower than it is in the U.S., it is on the rise. Urbanization has driven the consumption of sugary and fatty foods and

Japan and China are emerging as the leading Asian countries for 3D printing adoption, thanks to government initiatives and rapid growth in industrial demand. Can these countries outstrip the West in integrating 3D printing into supply chains? In an article inspired by the  SpirE-Journal , Spire shared its views on the challenges and opportunities in Asia’s 3D printing industry. In comparison to the 3D printing market in Europe and the US, Asia’s growth is sluggish. However, the Asia-Pacific region – especially Japan and China- is now 3D printing-ready, thanks to its extensive industrial base, government funding and a supportive research and development (R&D) eco-system. The Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry (METI) has set aside USD44 million in the 2014 budget to support R&D initiatives for metal products manufacture through 3D printing. This demonstrates its seriousness in promoting Japanese leadership in 3D printing. On the other hand, China’s Ministry

Vietnam’s rural population is still struggling with access to basic financial services. With the high mobile penetration rate, can mobile phones be a platform to address their needs? Yap Far Loon, Business Development Director, Telecommunications at Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights on the untapped potential for mobile financial services to serve Vietnam’s rural population in The Saigon Times Daily. According to a Spire report, an astounding 60 million people in Vietnam do not have access to basic financial services. Only 22% of the population – predominantly those residing in urban areas – have access to financial services. Why are the rural areas being left out? Yap opined that high costs are the main reason. For instance, the cost of installation, maintenance, operation and location rental for Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) alone exceeds VND300 million annually. Moreover, as rural transaction volumes are low, economies of scale are limited, making it even