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| Source: Lazada. From left: Chairman of One Kampong Gelam Zaki Maarof, Singapore Minister of State and National Development, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, and Lazada Singapore CEO Loh Wee Lee. Minister Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim spoke of the enhancement of the area during the Ministry of National Development’s budget debate on 8 March. |
Over 200 businesses and merchants in the Kampong Gelam area of Singapore will benefit from the e-commerce boom as One Kampong Gelam (OKG) has partnered Lazada Singapore to drive digitalisation and support businesses in the area to go digital. OKG is the association set up to establish Kampong Gelam as a vibrant cultural district.
Shops in the area, from food and beverage (F&B) and retail, will benefit from joining Lazada’s marketplace. Lazada's Deals Nearby feature, for example, introduces digital vouchers for shoppers that can be used to buy from and redeem at stores in the precinct. Deals Nearby will also allow shoppers in the Kampong Gelam vicinity to see offerings and digital deals from the F&B businesses on the app, adding a new geolocation discovery element for residents, and for visitors to explore.
As part of this exclusive one-year partnership, Lazada will support these businesses with credits to jumpstart their digitalisation efforts, conduct seminars on e-commerce, including about livestreaming on LazLive, and running campaigns. Lazada Singapore will also be involved in various OKG events, including Ramadhan celebrations in April. Kampong Gelam will be the anchor partner for Lazada’s upcoming 4.4 campaign.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Hari Raya* celebrations in Singapore over the last two years. We have made the necessary adjustments to protect ourselves and the community even as we continue to enjoy the Ramadhan festivities. One Kampong Gelam has been working with businesses in the area to take a digital approach and tap on online platforms.
"I am happy that OKG will be working with Lazada Singapore, who can support businesses in their digital transformation through their extensive capabilities and knowhow, and help maintain the rich heritage of the Malay/Muslim community of Kampong Gelam,” said Singapore Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.
"We have seen the impact of the pandemic, and one of the ways to overcome this is through digital transformation, which not only benefits brands and businesses, but also the community. Through this one-year partnership with Lazada Singapore, we hope to tap onto their offerings, from logistics, to digital vouchers, to help struggling businesses boost their performance,” says Zaki Maarof, Chairman of OKG.
As part of the upcoming Ramadhan festival, Muslim businesses can also tap on the dedicated audience on the newly-introduced Halal Channel category on the platform that highlight Muslim and halal-related products.
RedMart, Singapore’s first fully-digital, and largest online grocer, will exclusively feature halal food products on the channel. The Halal Channel sits alongside other specialist channels dedicated to specific food products on RedMart, such as China Mart, India Mart, K Mart, and J Mart, which have been curated to better serve RedMart’s Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese audiences respectively. There are also plans to introduce a halal cooking show, as well as the distribution of groceries to those in need in the precinct.
The Halal Channel on Lazada will further list curated products and help businesses reach their intended customers through non-food related Muslim products, from fashion to home and living, including festive decorations, as well as the use of digital vouchers on Deals Nearby to support the F&B businesses in the area.
“Our dedication to helping businesses big and small succeed on e-commerce has revealed that a specialised approach to helping them can drive engagement and traffic, especially given the various cultures and communities unique to this country.
"It’s important that products and food available on Lazada is reflective of our community, and our new Halal Channel was designed to support the Muslim and halal businesses and shoppers. We’re excited to work with the community of Kampong Gelam and heartened that we can play a small role and be a part of their Ramadhan festivities,” said Loh Wee Lee, Chief Executive of Lazada Singapore.
Alan Lee, partner, CNES Shoemaker International, an artisanal shoe-making business, said: “We hope to reach another segment in the market. We understand that Lazada customers have different needs and with their support we want to tap onto their online-to-offline segment. I’m also keen to explore the digital vouchers and how it can help my business.”
*Eid.