Reset with Lynlee

According to a recent report by Deloitte and software firm Autodesk, which looks into the adoption of digital technologies in the construction industry, construction and engineering in Asia Pacific accounted for 45% of the global industry in 2022, and is forecast to account for nearly half of the global industry by the end of the decade. Disruptive new technologies combined with a challenging business outlook have led construction and engineering leaders across Asia Pacific to seriously rethink their tools, workforce skill needs and how they interact with clients and contractors. How can technology help mitigate some of the challenges in this sector? Importantly, is the construction sector ready to adopt these new solutions? Sumit Oberoi, Senior Manager, Construction Strategy and Partnerships, Asia Pacific, Autodesk shares his insights.

If you drive, you may have experienced getting stuck at a car park gantry. It is a common occurrence when motorists forget to top up their value cards and subsequently experiencing awkward moments at the carpark gantry. Singapore payment platform AXS has a solution. It recently launched AXS Drive, a mobile app that auto-deducts parking fees through the driver's credit or debit card linked to their car details. Available on Android and iOS, drivers can download the AXS Drive app, input their car plate and In-Vehicle Unit (IU) number, and link a credit or debit card for payments. AXS says the initiative is the first such innovation for Singapore and the Southeast Asia region. Jeffrey Goh, Group Chief Executive Officer, AXS shares more on the future of contactless payments at the car park.

This week has been a roller coaster ride for investors. A weaker than expected US jobs number and an interest rate move by Japan’s central bank made markets topsy turvy. On Monday (5 August), the Nikkei lost 12 per cent, which was the worst day for the index since the “Black Monday” of 1987. The Straits Times Index sank 4 per cent. Was this an overreaction? Or could we see worse? Dan Chang, an investment specialistfrom PhillipCapital weighs in and shares his views on the current volatility and the Singapore market.

Singapore is a hotspot for some of the world's top video game makers. Homegrown TrueWorld Studios, an independent video game developer recently clinched a deal to partner with Japan's Shueisha Games, the game division arm of Japan's largest manga publisher, famed for publishing iconic manga like Naruto, One Piece, SPY X FAMILY, and Dragonball Z. The collaboration is a big win for TrueWorld Studios. It is the first Singapore firm to work with the Tokyo-headquartered Shueisha Games which will be the global publisher for the Singapore-made first-person shooter action game, UNYIELDER, set to launch in 2025. One of the founders of TrueWorld Studios, Don Baey who is also Chief Business Development Officer, shares more.

Global real estate services providerSavills recently released its Asia Pacific Investment Quarterly report. In the second of a two-part conversation with Simon Smith, Head of Research for the Asia Pacific region at Savills, we zoom in on Southeast Asia and the preferred asset classes for investors, as well as emerging markets that Savills is watching. Most importantly, Simon shares his view on why this is an ideal time for investors to position their portfolios in the Asia Pacific real estate market. Take a listen.

There has been a significant buzz among investors and businesses since Singapore and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on a new Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in January. While details of the SEZ in the southern Malaysian state are still being finalised, what should businesses consider to tap into growth opportunities in the upcoming SEZ which is touted as a potential “Shenzhen of Southeast Asia”? President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Lennon Tan, who is also part of the Singapore Business Fedaration’s Johor Singapore-SEZ Singapore Business Working Group (SBWG) shares more insights.

You probably know of the well-loved Dickson Nasi Lemak in Singapore's charming Joo Chiat neighbourhood. Its founder has recently sold the business to focus her efforts on several traditional fast food concepts including Champion Bolo Bun, the world's first bolo bun concept store in Tanjong Pagar. Hoh Loyi, founder of F&B multi-concept business, The Platform Collective, shares about reinventing local food in the Quick Service Restaurant industry and her dream of setting up an enduring homegrown fast-food brand.

Authorities are investigating a mass food poisoning incident that has affected more than 100 people at the Chinese tech giant Bytedance’s Singapore office. This is the second major food poisoning incident within a fortnight in Singapore, and elsewhere, news out of Japan and Malaysia too have reported mass food poisoning cases.  Is food poisoning increasingly becoming more prevalent? What are the common culprits that are likely to cause such incidents? Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospitaloffers his insights and helpful tips to prevent getting sick with food poisoning especially when you are travelling.

If you haven’t heard, technology company Dyson, renowned for its vacuum cleaners and hairdryers recently unveiled its first-ever audio-only headphones. It has entered one of the most crowded and competitive sectors with its engineering know-how and the kind of eye-turning design that Dyson is known for. What are the headphones' key features? How do they match up to other headphones in the market? Priced at S$699, are they worth the premium? Lynlee Foo chats with Nirmal Gokani, Graduate Design Engineer at Dyson about the new Dyson OnTrac.

Recently, 800 flat owners got into trouble when the Housing Development Board (HDB) took action against them for flouting regulations like not fulfilling the minimum occupation period and unauthorised rentals. On Viewpoint, Debra Teng, Group Associate Director from real estate firm, Orangetee, gives her take on this and shares more about what you can and cannot do with your HDB flat.