LSFPR top 15 on the Holmes Report Global Creative Index as most creative PR agency in the world

Brand Spur
-
0
LSFPR top 15 on the Holmes Report Global Creative Index as most creative PR agency in the world

Leading public relations agency, LSF|PR has risen above its global counterparts to emerge pound for pound, the 11th most creative PR agency in the world, according to The Holmes Report’s Global Creative Index 2019.

This annual global measure of creativity – now in its eighth edition – evaluates award entries and winners from more than 25 PR, digital and marketing awards programs from around the world over a 12-month period. The index formula takes into account the expansion of public relations works across multiple categories at advertising-oriented shows such as the Cannes Lions, with a methodology that favours agencies designated for idea-creation.

In this edition of the index, LSFPR ranks 11th on a point per head table that identifies agencies which are, ‘pound for pound’, the most creative PR agencies in the world. The overall agency table is dominated by global PR networks such as Weber Shandwick, BCW, Ketchum and Edelman owing to their volume of awards, while this alternative measure of agency creativity comes from weighting agency scores according to their staff size.

Speaking on the achievement, Bidemi Zakariyau Akande, Founder & CEO of LSF|PR said, “We are delighted and extremely proud to have been listed on this distinguished index. Being a result-driven agency, LSF|PR continually strives to create and execute ground-breaking campaigns that deliver impactful outcomes for our clients and stakeholders.”

She went on to say, “We’re the first Nigerian Agency to make this list and the 2nd in Africa since the creation of this index 8 years ago, our ranking validates the hard work and dedication of the whole team. We are also inspired to demonstrate that there is really no limit to what can be achieved with hard work and resilience.”

LSF|PR’s ranking is attributed to the agency’s recent wins at the world’s largest PR awards programme, the SABRE Awards. Earlier this year, at the 2019 SABRE awards (AFRICA) LSF|PR won in the Diamond category for superior achievement in brand-building, received a certificate of excellence in the Gold category, and emerged a finalist; second runner up in the Platinum category for Best PR campaign in Africa. In addition to this, LSF|PR beat top UK agency Hope & Glory and global communications agency, Teneo to win the Diamond SABRE awards (EMEA) for superior achievement in brand-building. The brand also received two Certificates of Excellence in the IN2SABRE Awards.

From inception, LSF|PR has managed top brands across a wide range of industries. With each campaign, they have continued on their path to breaking frontiers in the Public Relations industry. With the agency’s impressive growth, it has fast become a global player set to cause a paradigm shift in the way brands to communicate their unique competitive advantages.

LSF|PR is a full-service public relations firm with core competencies in corporate communications and consumer brands.

World PR Report: Talent Is Still A Challenge, Industry Is Still Not Rising To It

Brand Spur
-
0
World PR Report: Talent Is Still A Challenge, Industry Is Still Not Rising To It

Recruiting and retaining top talent is still the most urgent challenge facing public relations leaders—but there is little evidence that they are changing their practices in ways that will help them meet that challenge.

LONDON—Recruiting and retaining top talent is still the most urgent challenge facing public relations leaders—but there is little evidence that they are changing their practices in ways that will help them meet that challenge, based on the findings of the 2020 World PR Report, released last week from ICCO.

When asked whether there was a plentiful supply of talent in their markets, survey respondents expressed concern (an average response of 5.7 on a scale of one to 10), with Africa and the Middle East most pessimistic (4.6), followed by Asia-Pacific (5.1), North America (5.5), and the United Kingdom (5.6).

Respondents in Western Europe (6.1), Eastern Europe (6.1), and Latin America (6.6) were slightly more optimistic.

But when it comes to challenges facing the industry, “Talent is number one,” says ICCO chief executive Francis Ingham. “Though all regions of the world except one say that there is a plentiful supply of talent, we simply do not attract and retain enough of it. At every level of the industry, and in every region of the world, we have a talent problem…. The reason we fail to recruit and retain the very best is perfectly simple—we do not pay enough. And we do not pay enough because we charge clients too little.”

The biggest talent-related challenge, respondents said, was retaining key talent, cited by almost half (48%) of those surveyed. A third (33%) said they were challenged by training and developing junior and mid-level staff, while almost as many admitted difficulties in hiring mid-level staff (32%) and finding people from non-traditional backgrounds (30%).

Asked whether the PR industry was doing a good job of sourcing talent from outside the industry, respondents were even more pessimistic, with an average score of 5.1 out of 10. Even more alarming, respondents from the most developed markets—the UK (4.7) and North America (4.8)—were the most pessimistic.

And yet, when PR industry leaders were asked in which of 10 areas they expected to see increased investment next year, professional development ranked dead last, cited by just 12% of respondents—one reason, presumably, why retaining key talent ranks at the top of respondents’ concerns.

And when asked where they expected to source talent this year, the most common answer was from rival agencies (70%), followed by another traditional source: journalism (51%).

By contrast, 42% said they expected to hire new people from graduate programs, 32% said they were looking for talent from advertising and marketing agencies, 22% were interested in people with research and analytics experience; 20% were sourcing talent in corporate communications and other in-house roles; and 15% were seeking people at other professional services firms.

This was despite the fact that, when asked about the most relevant skills for new talent over the coming decade, 44% cited research, insight and planning, and 42% cited data, measurement, and analytics—the two most common answers. Other talent needs will include creativity (37%), crisis counsel (28%), and multimedia content creation (22%).

Asked about the challenges of recruiting talent from outside the industry, 52% said that salary expectation was too high, while 36% cited a lack of interest from potential recruits. Other issues included lack of transferable skills (35%), the difficulty of finding a quality, good value recruitment consultants (30%), a lack of willingness to change the status quo (30%), and reluctance to invest in retraining (26%).

Finally, many regions express concern about employee diversity, and specifically whether “the diversity of people working in PR in your region is reflective of the ethnic demographics of the population in your region.” While respondents in Africa and the Middle East were most confident (7.2), respondents from the UK (3.2) and North America (4.2) expressed the highest levels of concern.

Written by: PAUL HOLMES

AB InBev pumps N123 Billion into its Nigerian Subsidiary International Breweries

Brand Spur
-
0
AB InBev pumps N123 Billion into its Nigerian Subsidiary International Breweries

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) the parent company of International breweries has injected N123bn (US$339m) into the breweries operations, committing to participate fully in the new capital raising exercise.

This follows the approval by the shareholders of IB, allowing its board to raise capital through rights issue due to the growing debt at the brewing company.

International Breweries saw its debt grow as it mounts a challenge to break the dominance of the Nigerian beer market by Heineken controlled Nigerian Breweries Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo Plc.

It completed the construction of a new brewery in Sagamu, Ogun State in 2018 at an initial cost of US$250m, with the company indicating that the final cost reached about US$400m.

Despite experiencing strong revenue growth with the expansion of its capacity, the growth came at a cost.

The company recorded a net loss of N4bn (US$11m) in the fiscal year 2018 and the losses have continued into the first nine months of 2019, recording N16.4bn (US$45m) in net loss.

According to the report, International Breweries will raise N164.39 billion (US$454m) through a rights issue of 18.266 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N9 per share.

 It will be pre-allotted on the basis of 17 new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for every eight ordinary shares of 50 kobo each held as at the close of business on November 6, 2019.

With the rights’ ratio, about 13.72 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each will be pre-allotted to AB Inbev.

International Breweries has filed for final regulatory approvals for the new capital raising after shareholders approved the recapitalisation exercise.

AB InBev holds 75.1% equity stake in International Breweries, with the Anambra State Government holding a 4.7% stake, while the remaining 20.2% equity stake is held by other minority shareholders.

AB InBev took operational management control of the breweries in 2012 from Castle Group whom previously acquired majority shareholding from Warsteiner Group in 2008.

E-commerce firm Shopnaw to make maiden entrance in the Ghanaian market

Brand Spur
-
0
E-commerce firm Shopnaw to make maiden entrance in the Ghanaian market

A new entrant in the e-commerce industry of Ghana is set to launch an online shopping market debut Shopnaw, providing tailor-made technology platform and marketing opportunities to support sellers, buyers and delivery partners.

Shopnaw a brand of Ghanaian incorporated limited, Big Ben Express will feature products categories ranging from groceries, restaurants, local markets, made in Ghana products, pharmacy, fashion to health and safety.

Speaking ahead of the grand launch, the founder and CEO, Mr Benjamin Osei Asante, said that Shopnaw customers comprise both buyers and sellers on the platform which will enable them to interact with each other on its portal.

To utilize the platform, sellers who include retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and brands will sign up without any initial investment cost while buyers, on the other hand, will access the app and web portal without any charge.

Benjamin indicating that Shopnaw will expose sellers to millions of buyers he stated that, “We do not compete with our sellers, we complement them. Our platform is used to create a digital presence of their businesses and sell to millions of consumers and other businesses.”

Benjamin emphasised that apart from the free sign up cost for sellers, they would enjoy exclusive benefits such as no commission charged on items sold, no mark-ups on prices, upfront payment on pickup to sellers, wider market reach and affordable delivery of goods to consumers.

He further added that, “We also provide delivery services to the doorsteps of consumers. Shopnaw provides advertising solutions to help businesses find, attract and engage millions of Shopnaw customers every step of the way.”

The e-commerce industry has had its successes and challenges yet the industry continues to thrive because of the many benefits it delivers to users.

Jumia, leading e-commerce player in Africa has announced it has completed the closure of its entire operations in Cameroon, firing all its staff amid mounting losses.

The closure, which started in 2014 comes a few months after an alleged fraud which cost the business up to US$1 billion.

In 2017, the online retailer closed its Rwandan e-commerce business over quality issues, focusing on its food delivery services in the country.

The firm further says it is shifting to focus more on its payment platform, Jumia pay while cutting back on the e-commerce business. Additionally, there is unconfirmed information that the platform is mulling pulling out of Congo and Gabon.

The company will now operate in 13 countries including Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, and Algeria.

Flame. Gorgeousness – 2019 Miaoli Pottery Festival

-
0
Flame. Gorgeousness – 2019 Miaoli Pottery Festival

MIAOLI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 21 November 2019 – The
2019 Miaoli Pottery Festival is being held from
November 2 to December 1.
The exhibitions
are divided into four themes, including “Contemporary Pottery Creation Exhibition”
and “Collection of the
Pottery Museum” at
Miaoli Pottery Museum, and “Miaoli Pottery Competition Exhibition”
and “Miaoli Pottery Workshop Exhibition” in No.1 Exhibition Hall and
Shanyue Studio on the 2nd floor of Miaoli
County Government Culture
and Tourism Bureau.

Ceramic Museum Exhibition Area.

 

Event curator Mr.
Chien-ching Chiu mentioned,
the theme of this
year’s event is “Flame. Gorgeousness”. Pottery artists take the soil from the earth, knead and mold with feelings and rational thinking. Beautiful works
are created through shaping, glazing, and firing. “Flame” pays tribute to the
fire that brings earthenware to life; “Gorgeousness” is the manifestation of
the works that are full of life and texture. To pass down the century-old Miaoli pottery industry, and open the innovative and refreshing future of Miaoli pottery, over 10
internationally renowned pottery artists were invited to attend the exhibition, and to share their experiences with local artists
in Miaoli. The distinguished guests include Ching-hsiang Wang (U.S.), Chien-shen Lee (Canada), Reynold Adinegara (Indonesia), Vladimir Durnev (Russia), Kosuke  Kaneshige (Japan), Jumpei Kaneshige (Japan),
Shimizu keiichi (Japan), Tanimoto Yoh (Japan), Reiko Ogi (Japan), Yuri Fukuoka
(Japan),
as well as Ming-sung Li,
Shen-chou Liu, Hsin-shan Chen, Bo-wen Yu, Ming-hsiang Hsu, Shui-I Wu,
Chien-ching Chiu, Ping-lung Lien, Lung-te Wang and Chia-Heng Hsie from Taiwan. “International Pottery Symposium” was held in International Conference Hall of Jiasheng
Memorial Library of Yu Da University of Science and Technology on November 7th
and 8th. The seminars, village residency and other exchange
activities held
during the event can allow artists to carry out in-depth dialogues with the industry operators and academia. The public is also welcome to sign up and enter this amazing world of pottery.

 

Miaoli County Magistrate Yao-chang Hsu stated that Miaoli pottery is renowned internationally. The highlights of this year’s festival are the two separate exhibition venues in Miaoli County. From 09:00 to 17:00 from November 2
to December 1 (closed on every Monday), both “Contemporary Pottery
Creation Exhibition” and “Pottery Museum Collection Exhibition” are held on in Miaoli Pavilion; “Miaoli Pottery Training Workshop Exhibition” and
“Miaoli Pottery Competition Exhibition” are held
in the Miaoli County Government Culture and Tourism Bureau. The exhibitions are expected
to allow visitors to view the development of Miaoli pottery art and diverse features of
contemporary pottery art.

 

GoFit Debuts a Smart New Way to Train

-
0
GoFit Debuts a Smart New Way to Train

Newcomer to the ‘high value, low price’ category set to revolutionise Asia’s gym scene

 

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 21 November
2019 – If your perception of a budget gym is that they are unmotivating,
uninspiring spaces to train and not that budget-friendly after all, this
newcomer to the category seeks to change your mind. Guided by its brand values of Smart, Bold, and Invigorating, GoFit presents members with a smart new way to train through
a no-frills, fuss-free gym experience. The first GoFit club in the world opened its doors to members at Central
i-City Mall in Shah Alam, Malaysia this November.

GoFit offers members a fuss-free, no-frills, technology-driven gym experience

Simon Flint, CEO, Evolution Wellness

A new concept developed and owned by Evolution
Wellness, Asia’s leading health club operator whose portfolio
also includes Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First, GoFit is the latest addition
to Asia’s ‘high value, low price’ gym category and is poised to change the way
people think about budget gyms. With membership prices starting from RM89
(~USD21), GoFit is not just affordably priced, but also very well equipped with
a wide range of cardio, strength and Olympic lifting equipment catering to all
levels of gym goers — from the new-to-fitness customer to the more serious
fitness lover. It keeps membership prices low by using technology as an enabler,
self-service approaches, and a low staffing model.

“Across Asia, the awareness around the need to be less sedentary and
live an active lifestyle continues to grow. As market leaders, we recognised a
space in the market and a unique opportunity for us to embrace and develop a
new brand in the fastest-growing industry segment of high value, low price
fitness clubs. Through GoFit, we’re looking to increase accessibility to
quality fitness facilities, and help more people get fitness into their lives,”
said Simon Flint, Chief Executive Officer, Evolution Wellness.

“GoFit’s no-frills concept effectively removes a barrier for those who
see cost as a reason for not exercising, whilst still allowing them to engage
in fitness in a modern, high quality and technology-driven environment,” he
continued.

At a GoFit club, access is gained through an app for increased security,
which facilitates 24/7 operating hours should the demographic require it, while
a self-managed membership system makes it easy for members to purchase add-on
services such as a session on the HydroMassage Lounger1, or a
FitQuest fitness assessment2. Members can also participate in a Signature
GoFit workout3, SuperCircuitTM; workoutto
scheduled or on-demand digital classes, as well as stream their own workouts
onto the large screens in the MyGoZoneTM, so you don’t have to strain
your neck or your eyes to watch a workout video on your phone anymore.

Nad Myan, Evolution Wellness’s Franchise Development Director said, “The
budget gym segment around the world has experienced exponential growth in
recent years, but we feel that there is still a lot of room for growth for this
category here in Asia. We’re excited at GoFit’s potential to change the way
people think about budget gyms, and we’d like to invite fitness-loving
entrepreneurs and individuals to join us in doing so. We have a competitive
licensing programme that we believe is the most attractive fitness business
platform for those looking to venture into the vibrant fitness industry in Asia
and beyond, with the expertise and commercial support of Asia’s leading health
club operator.”

“We have successfully combined our industry knowledge and learnings with
our team’s global experience to create an opportunity for our partners to enter
the industry with a low investment, attractive ROI and low operational
overheads by leveraging our technology platforms. GoFit has already attracted a
great deal of consumer and investor interest that will see this new brand grow
rapidly, providing more choices and better opportunities,” Myan added.

For more information about a GoFit membership or licensing
opportunities, please visit www.gofit-gym.com.

Download more images of the first-ever GoFit
club at Central i-City Mall in Shah Alam, Malaysia here.

Notes:

1.       HydroMassage
provides an invigorating recovery programme delivered by travelling water jets
under a waterproof skin (so the user doesn’t get wet) to help alleviate muscle
and soft tissue injuries.

2.       FitQuest
is a fitness assessment that utilises four simple exercises (or tasks) and a
heart rate recovery measurement that only takes four minutes to complete.  Once the tasks
have been completed, the results are displayed on the screen immediately and
are also accessible online. The FitQuest machine can also be used to perform a
body composition analysis to determine a variety of metrics including body fat
and muscle percentage.

3.       SuperCircuit™
is a proprietary GoFit programme. It is a 30 minute HIIT workout, with a
mixture of cardio and strength training to give you that full-body burn. Members
train
in a designated zone for SuperCircuit™ where our equipment selection has
been carefully constructed to ensure ease of use, adding to the efficiency the
workout.

About GoFit

GoFit was created with the intention of making
fitness accessible to more people. Guided by its brand values of Smart,
Invigorating, and Bold, GoFit aims to provide members with a convenient
approach to fitness using technology as an enabler, in line with its brand
positioning ‘to energise life through easy and affordable fitness.’ It offers
members a smart new way to train through a no-frills, fuss-free gym experience.
Malaysia is home to the pioneer GoFit club, opening in November 2019.

Get smart. Go. Get started with GoFit by visiting www.gofit-gym.com. 

About Evolution Wellness

Evolution Wellness is the owner and operator
of Asia’s largest wholly-owned network of fitness clubs. Established in 2017
following the coming together of two leading fitness brands in Southeast Asia —
Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First — we’re on a journey of growth ‘from
fitness to wellness.’


Our vision is to build a comprehensive
wellness ecosystem for our members and customers, and providing a compelling
range of propositions to help them become the best versions of themselves. With
a network of more than 170 properties across six countries, we’re focused on
leveraging the strength of our brands, and continuing to grow our business
through continuous innovation, expansion, diversification, with robust
strategic governance.


For more information about Evolution Wellness
and our portfolio brands, please visit www.evolutionwellness.com.


Robert Parker Wine Advocate Launches All New Annual Regional Guides, starting with Bordeaux 2020 and California 2020

-
0
Robert Parker Wine Advocate Launches All New Annual Regional Guides, starting with Bordeaux 2020 and California 2020

NAPA, CALIFORNIA – Media
OutReach – 21 November 2019
– From chateau to you, trusted wine reviews are closer at hand than ever. The
team at Robert Parker Wine Advocate has been hard at work and can now reveal their inaugural Annual
Regional Guides, a specialised series of guides that present the wines from
each chosen region in a full-colour, softcover book format. These new,
higher quality and larger format publications are different from the former
bi-annual print magazines, and will be shipped in time for Christmas 2019 to
provide invaluable wine information to readers for the coming years ahead. The
guides are suitable for all levels of wine connoisseurs, from beginners looking
to uncover the talking points of the region, to industry professionals and fine
wine collectors seeking up-to-date reviews and insights on icon bottles.

 

192 pages of insights

The first in the series are Bordeaux 2020 and California 2020. These two regions
represent the best of Old World and New World, and furthermore are where Robert
M. Parker Jr. first started making his reviews, which would lead to the
creation of the world’s most comprehensive wine review publication and most
renown wine scoring system. Each book distills over 1,500 Wine
Advocate reviews of the most important wines recommended over
the course of the past year, as well as retrospectives on top brands, winery
highlights, vintage reports dating to the 1970s and much more. With the success
of this attractive all-in-one handy format, collectors may get their hands on
Burgundy, Italy and Champagne in future editions.

 

Bordeaux
2020
highlights:

  • 2015, 2016 and 2017 vintage summaries
  • 100-pointer wines for 2020, including Château
    Cos d’Estournel 2016
  • Everything you need to know about 2018 En
    Primeur
  • 10 best new discoveries of under-the-radar
    wines for 2020

 

California
2020
highlights:

  • 2015, 2016 and 2017 vintage summaries
  • An essential 2007 Napa Valley retrospective
  • Vintage charts for Californian regions dating to 1970
  • 100-pointer wines for 2020, including Dominus Estate 2016

Available at https://store.robertparker.com/, the books are priced at US$29.95 for
shipping within the Continental USA, US$34.95 for shipping to Canada, Alaska
and Hawaii, and US$44.95 for the rest of the world. From 4 to 15 November, look
out for a Gift Bundle Deal that combines a year-long subscription to www.RobertParker.com and one or both guides at a discounted price. Books ordered before 15
November will be shipped in time for Christmas gifting.   

About Robert Parker Wine Advocate

For
more than 40 years, The Wine Advocate,
and later RobertParker.com, have been the global leader and independent
consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by the internationally
recognized Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the
highest Presidential honor from three countries–France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker Wine Advocate provides a
wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of
more than 300,000 professional wine ratings and reviews, in addition to
articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing,
an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy
access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more
information, visit www.RobertParker.com.

Go Global with China Broadband Communications’ SD-WAN eNet Connect

-
0
Go Global with China Broadband Communications’ SD-WAN eNet Connect
  • Companies in China
    expanding into China and Chinese companies expanding globally can now adopt a cost-effective SD-WAN solution that is easy to setup
    and simple to manage
  • CBC eNet Connect is an
    agile cloud-based SD-WAN that resolves network problems in China and beyond, while optimizing seamless access to global cloud
    based applications

 

SINGAPORE – Media
OutReach – 21 November 2019 – China Broadband
Communications (CBC) launched CBC eNet Connect, a fully-managed, transport
agnostic, cloud native SD-WAN service in Singapore today.

CBC eNet Connect is network-as-a-service (Naas) designed to
enable enterprises and businesses to migrate to SD-WAN with zero-touch provisioning, network
visibility and centralised policy management. Enterprises requiring SD-WAN for hundreds or
thousands of retail points such as food and beverage, fast retail, supermarket and convenience
stores; or companies looking for a SD-WAN or Hybrid WAN product that connects between China and their
home country, with minimal upfront cost, can expect a service, which is scalable, robust and
cost-effective Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network replacement.

 

Importantly, CBC eNet Connect is an agile SD-WAN that
enhances internet quality and performance, while optimizing access to global cloud-based applications
like Office 365, Skype for Business, Salesforce and more. CBC eNet Connect is more cost effective
compared to MPLS service as well as compared with other SD WAN providers.

Smart routing optimization for Networking

As the world’s second largest economy with 1.4 billion
population, China is a hot region for growth and many companies are still seeking to invest in China or has
China as the core to their strategy. The expanding cross border business needs smooth and fast
network infrastructure to support business operations. The smart routing optimization of CBC eNet
Connect could improve Internet performance domestically and internationally based on the CBC IPv4 and
IPv6 infrastructure.

 

CBC eNet Connect monitors path’s link quality continuously,
which is used for smart routing optimization, service accident alarm and auto operations.
Based on the link quality monitored, CBC eNet Connect leverages different uplink such as wired
internet and 4G uplink to optimize application traffic via different paths. CBC eNet Connect can also
manage customers’ sites to eNet fabric via different ECR to achieve higher quality performance.

Leveraging on both 4G and 5G networks and Cloud
technology

Another key benefit of adopting CBC eNet Connect is the
reduction of circuit costs for enterprises and business with multiple locations. Multi-protocol label
switching (MPLS) is the enterprise gold standard of WAN transport between branches. Through Hybrid Connect,
enterprises can enjoy combined internet access circuit from multiple ISP, including 4G LTE
as well as 5G technologies.

CBC eNet Connect supports enterprises move to the cloud and
offers secure connectivity to various cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Alibaba
Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform.

Quick Deployment

CBC eNet Connect supports large scale deployment with
automation, flexibility, which could be set up in minutes instead of week or months.

Intelligence Performance Management

Last but not least, CBC eNet Connect features an intelligent
performance management feature that encompasses everything from networking to dataflow into a
single platform. Users can easily and quickly monitor and report data, make changes to network
configuration. For more information on CBC eNet Connect, visit  https://www.cbccom.net

About China Broadband Communications (CBC)

CBC
is a fully licensed value-added services provider backed by CBC Capital,
offering a unique services portfolio;
supplying international carriers, cloud providers, system integrators, and
enterprises with domestic
local access, wavelength, dark fiber, Internet access, IP VPN, IDC, SD-WAN and
cloud services in
China, since 2008.

 

Headquartered
in Beijing with branches in Shanghai, Suzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore, CBC also
has offices
in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chengdu and
Changsha. Its extensive
network footprint in China connects thousands of buildings and data centres
with points of presence
covering over 90% of major business regions on the mainland.

 

Over
the past 11 years, CBC has been served many of the world’s leading businesses
in finance, insurance,
logistics, healthcare, media and content, ecommerce and more. CBC is certified
by TL9000, ISO9001,
ISO20000 and ISO27001, to provide reliable and secure services to enterprises
in multiple business
areas.

CWT: Only Half of Global Leaders in the Oil and Gas Sector Say Their Companies Have Traveler Health and Safety Programs in Place

-
0
CWT: Only Half of Global Leaders in the Oil and Gas Sector Say Their Companies Have Traveler Health and Safety Programs in Place

MINNEAPOLIS,
USA – EQS Newswire – 21 November 2019 – CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform, and
its Energy, Resources and Marine (ERM) division, found through independent
research, that only 52% of C-suite and senior executives say their
organizations have traveler health and safety programs in place. While only 32%
say their organizations measure and report on the impact of traveler
well-being, according to CWT ERM’s annual report, 2020 Vision: A Close Look at the Well-Being of Traveling
Employees, published today.

 

This year’s ERM report is the first to focus primarily on
the well-being of traveling employees and includes an independent global survey
of nearly 400 C-suite executives and senior leaders in the oil and gas
industry.

 

“The energy, resources and marine industries have long
been leaders in understanding and addressing health and safety for their
traveling workforce, not least because of the complexities ERM travelers
uniquely face en route to, and when they arrive at, their often-remote
destinations,” said Raphaël Pasdeloup, Senior Vice President and Global
Head of CWT ERM.

 

“We’re going beyond just getting employees to their
worksites safe and on time. We want to make sure they are rested when they get
to work too,” he added. “As such, we want to encourage organizational
cultures that support the well-being of traveling employees while they’re on
the job, and after they’ve returned to their normal routines through monitoring
and measured assessments. As our report shows, more work needs to be done in
this area.”

 

The ‘always-on’ work culture and impact on decision-making

As work-related travel continues to rise and traveling
employees are becoming more connected than ever before, the notion of always
being on, regardless of the time zone, and the lack of privacy and downtime, is
making travel more stressful today than in the past, the report finds. And in
ERM, this could pose an immediate safety risk, where fatigue-induced
decision-making, while on a rig or inside a mine, could put a worker in harm’s
way.

 

Organizations’ top priorities
when it comes to traveler well-being

Safety and risk mitigation emerged on top of an
organization’s highest priorities when it comes to the health and safety of
traveling employees, with concerns over productivity, health, and well-being
coming close behind, according to the report.

 

In addition to adopting new technologies to manage issues
like fatigue, jet lag, exercise and nutrition, the report also offers
recommendations on building an organizational culture that supports employee
well-being, including getting buy-in from leaders making travel-related
decisions and defining targeted interventions to support wellness while
traveling.

About the survey

The independent survey
was conducted through the oilandgaspeople.com, a jobs and news source for the
oil and gas industry with over three million members. The survey took place in
September 2019 with 388 respondents that are C-suite and senior executives in
leadership roles in the oil and gas industry globally. About 26% of respondents
were from North America, 22% Europe, 19% from Africa, and 33% from
Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.


About CWT Energy, Resources & Marine

With 40 years of
experience, CWT Energy, Resources & Marine (ERM) provides specialist travel
management solutions for many of the world’s leading companies in the oil &
gas, mining, offshore, marine and alternative energies industries. Operating in
some of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the world, as well as more
mainstream locations, ERM works to make the complex easy when it comes to
getting people safely and efficiently to their place of work. We facilitate the
movement of thousands of travelers every day, including 900 crew rotators,
across 150 countries, using innovative technology along with accurate, reliable
and simple solutions from flight bookings and crew rotations, to ground
transportation and accommodation.

 

If you
would like to find out more, follow us on LinkedIn.


About CWT

CWT is a
Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel management platform.
Companies and governments rely on us to keep their people connected – anywhere,
anytime, anyhow – and across six continents, we provide their employees with
innovative technology and an efficient, safe and secure travel experience.
Every single day, we look after enough travelers to fill more than 100,000
hotel rooms, while our meetings and events division handles more than 100
events every 24 hours.

 

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Network Performance Crucial For Business Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

Brand Spur
-
0
Network Performance Crucial For Business Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

Evolving networks today will ensure a smooth 5G switch-on tomorrow, as well as a platform for business innovation.

Optimized, flexible, and highly scalable, Ericsson’s solutions and services allow MTN to cope with growing demands.

Mobile broadband subscription penetration in the Sub-Saharan Africa region is approximately 30 percent and is forecast to reach around 50 percent by the end of 2025. Driving factors include a young and fast-growing population and an increasing demand for digital services and financial inclusion.

MTN, a leading telecommunications company with a presence in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East, is on a mission to empower its network and deliver innovative products and services relevant to the needs of their customers. An Ericsson Mobility Report article published in conjunction with the AfricaCOM 2019 event examines market growth for mobile services in Ghana and Rwanda, and how a structured customer experience program helped improve the quality of services and the end-user experience in these two markets.

Navi Naidoo, Executive: Networks Planning and Design, MTN group says: “Evolving and expanding our networks to meet ever-growing demands from consumers and business users are one of MTN’s strategic aims. Our long-term partnership with Ericsson is aimed at delivering the best possible user experience across Africa and help meet the mobile data demands of tomorrow. Ericsson’s services enable us to provide superior network performance and facilitate the evolution of nationwide mobile networks.”

Despite 13 percent of the world’s population living in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region is served by less than 2 percent of the mobile base stations installed globally with relatively low smartphone penetration. MTN’s digital inclusion framework dubbed CHASE outlines initiatives to build sufficient network coverage in rural and low-

income areas and make data-enabled devices accessible and affordable to all customers. It does so while ensuring simplified and relevant data packages and improving digital literacy and awareness of how the internet enhances how people live, work and play.

MTN uses Net Promoter Score (NPS) benchmarking for measuring and gaining insight into customer satisfaction. Taking the NPS methodology a step further, the Ericsson Mobility Report article describes MTN’sstructured and proactive approach to improving customer experience by connecting network performance improvements to customer satisfaction and ultimately commercial results.

MTN has implemented the Ericsson Customer Experience Program (ECEP) in eight networks including Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Rwanda, and South-Africa.

Nicolas Blixell, Vice President at Ericsson Middle East and Africa says: “During a time when customization of offers and understanding how to delight a customer are key to retention, growth and revenues, ECEP is all about the customer and a 360-degree view of their experience. Using weighted service KPIs to predict customer satisfaction, the program leads to actionable insights—helping MTN to sustain high performance, grab new monetization opportunities, and deliver a superior, tailored experience to every customer.”

With customers in Sub-Saharan Africa still early in the data adoption journey, MTN is delivering connectivity across its markets to realize the ambition that everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life, contributing to UN’s sustainable development goals of reducing poverty, improving health and well-being, and stimulating economic growth.

Read also: Network performance as a lever for business growth

1...4,2504,2514,252...5,508Page 4,251 of 5,508