Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and strategically employ influencer marketing to achieve greater productivity and efficiency while broadening their market reach.
Commerce.Asia Executive Chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah said that integrating AI into business processes can significantly enhance operational efficiency and provide valuable insights into customer behaviour.
“AI can now handle many menial tasks, allowing human resources to focus on the most important goals: growing market share and increasing sales,” said Ganesh. He cited a study showing that currently, 80% of staff effort is spent on menial tasks, with only 20% focused on growing sales.
“It should be the other way around, with 80% of efforts concentrated on growing the business. With the latest AI advancements, this is now possible,” he added.
By leveraging influencer marketing, SMEs can effectively engage with their target audience, build brand loyalty, and expand their market presence.
“Influencer marketing allows businesses to tap into established communities, making it easier to build trust and credibility with potential customers,” said Ganesh.
Ganesh was speaking at the Alliance Bank BizSmart Business Conference held yesterday, and which was emceed by Freda Liu in her usual jovial yet professional style.
He had participated in a panel discussion titled ‘Tech Together: Co-existing in a Digital World’ alongside Amazon Web Services Head of Mid Market Business (ASEAN) Arjun Prasad and Alliance Bank Head of Digital SME Kevin Shum.
The session was moderated brilliantly by Accio Technologies CEO Dr Lau Cher Han.
Post-panel discussion, Ganesh cited the case of one of Malaysia’s leading bedding brands, AKEMI, which has seen its online business grow approximately 30-fold since 2019/2020 due to its partnership with the Commerce.Asia Group.
“We have our fullest admiration for AKEMI,” said Ganesh. “At the heart of AKEMI’s success is a relentless commitment to innovation. The brand regularly updates its collections, designs, and promotions, ensuring a dynamic and engaging customer experience.”
Now present in nine countries across Southeast Asia, AKEMI has made its premium bedding products more accessible, ensuring that more customers can enjoy the comfort and style that AKEMI provides.
“AKEMI’s growth was propelled by expanding into new channels such as SenHeng MAHB, and launching their own online presence coupled with TikTok Shop through Xamble Live,” Ganesh shared.
“Additionally, Commerce.Asia’s assistance in expanding AKEMI’s online operations into Thailand and Vietnam further established the brand’s growing regional presence.”
Xamble Live serves as Commerce.Asia’s commerce technology and solutions enabler for brands and businesses looking to scale their online business through live streaming.
“We provide solutions and work hand-in-hand with businesses aiming to sell live and activate their business via social media channels such as Facebook and TikTok,” explained Ganesh.
“Using intelligent integration of our influencers, content and e-commerce know-hows, we not only provide end-to-end live commerce solutions but also focus on brand social commerce strategy and execution.”
Meanwhile, CommercePay serves as the chosen payment gateway for online B2B transactions, enabling seamless integration of technology in enhancing business operations.
Since its launch in August 2022, the CommercePay payment gateway has rapidly gained traction among e-commerce and online platform merchants. To date, CommercePay has gained considerable traction, with hundreds of merchant users on prominent platforms like Bizapp, SiteGiant, Xamble Creators, and eShoplive.
“The solution offers a user-friendly experience, enabling customers to make secure and hassle-free online payments,” said Ganesh, adding that, unlike many competitors, CommercePay eliminates setup and annual maintenance fees, making it an attractive choice for merchants aiming to minimise upfront costs and streamline payment operations.
The Commerce.Asia Group of Companies is today a comprehensive ‘all-in-one’ e-commerce ecosystem, supporting brands, businesses and SMEs across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
By offering a wide array of services – from online store development to marketing, delivery, and order management – the Group enables businesses to focus on their core offerings while navigating the complexities of digital commerce with ease.
“With over 28,000 active sellers across seven countries and a notable gross merchandise volume (GMV) of RM7.6 billion in 2022, we are on a mission to ensure the success of our clients by incorporating best-of-breed technological innovations, from automated functionalities to big data analytics,” said Ganesh.
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