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Lazada Announces Suite of GenAI Features to Transform Shopping and Seller Experiences in Southeast Asia

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The GenAI features will transform four key dimensions of eCommerce shopping, termed 4Ds, including discovery, dependability, deals, and decision making, to deliver a more personalised and interactive experienceLazada is also leveraging Alibaba’s newly-launched improved iteration of its AI translation tool, Marco MT, to support language localisation needs in the diverse region of Southeast AsiaIn parallel, Lazada has partnered with Kantar to launch its inaugural “Artificial Intelligence Adoption in eCommerce in Southeast Asia” whitepaper on consumer preferences, sentiments and behaviour towards AI

SINGAPORE, Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Lazada, Southeast Asia’s pioneer eCommerce platform, today announced a major leap in online shopping with the launch of all-new GenAI-powered in-app features. These enhancements promise to revolutionise the shopping journey by offering shoppers a more personalised, engaging, and dynamic experience. Alongside this, Lazada also launched its Artificial Intelligence Adoption in eCommerce in Southeast Asia whitepaper, jointly developed with Kantar, to better understand AI awareness, trust and preferences, shopping behaviour, and consumer pain points in the region.

 

Lazada’s GenAI features include an AI-powered personal shopping assistant – AI Lazzie, smart recommendations, AI-generated product information, and even AI-generated models, which position the platform at the forefront of a rapidly evolving eCommerce landscape in Southeast Asia. Lazada is also leveraging Alibaba’s newly-launched improved iteration of its AI translation tool, Marco MT, to support language localisation needs in the diverse region of Southeast Asia. The AI translation tool is based on Alibaba’s proprietary model Qwen, and is designed to help sellers create product pages in the language of their target market. The improved version – Marco MT, is powered by large language models, with the ability to interpret contextual clues such as cultural and industry-specific terms.

As AI and GenAI continue to serve as major growth catalysts, Lazada is addressing the four critical dimensions (4Ds) that are transforming online shopping:

1.     Discovery: Enhancing Product Search and Shopping Inspiration

AI is reshaping how shoppers discover products by providing personalised recommendations and improving search efficiency. The whitepaper reveals that nine out of ten respondents in Southeast Asia believe that AI enhances their search efficiency when shopping online. Lazada’s AI tools, such as the personal shopping assistant, AI Lazzie, are designed to help shoppers not only find products, but also discover new ideas and lifestyle additions, offering 24/7 tailored assistance to enrich and elevate the shopping experience.

2.     Dependability: Building Trust and Loyalty through Tailored Experiences

With the new GenAI updates, Lazada will now be able to offer more dynamic and engaging content on its platform. For instance, AI-generated product descriptions and images can be tailored to different regions, languages, and cultural nuances, ensuring that shoppers feel a deeper connection with the products they are browsing. This capability is particularly valuable in Southeast Asia, where linguistic and cultural diversity are both varied and vast.

Insights from our whitepaper also revealed an exceedingly high level of trust towards AI-powered platforms, where a majority of shoppers trust and rely on AI for personalised recommendations (92%) and product summaries (90%). Here, Lazada’s GenAI features such as its AI-powered smart reviews and personalised product recommendations based on shopping habits and past purchases can enhance shopping experience by offering shoppers quick, comprehensive, and reliable product insights. These tools foster customer loyalty by enabling dependable and seamless interactions that build trust, while helping shoppers make more informed decisions.

Given the impact that AI delivers, we are witnessing a huge majority of shoppers using AI features on eCommerce platforms at least once a week (80%), with a high willingness to pay more for AI-powered shopping experiences (83%).

3.     Deals: Helping Shoppers Find the Best Value

The whitepaper highlights that approximately a third of Southeast Asian shoppers are price-conscious and actively seek out deals (41%). In fact, more than half of the respondents identify competitive pricing (54%) and the availability of vouchers and discounts (51%) as key factors that influence repeat purchases.

Lazada’s AI-curated offers, exclusive vouchers, and the integration of LazCoins as a rewards mechanic further ensure that shoppers can access the best value for every purchase. By leveraging AI, Lazada helps shoppers discover deals tailored to their personal preferences, habits, and interests to ensure that the best deal is secured.

Going above and beyond, the humanised aspect of GenAI means that Lazada is also able to gamify the shopping experience, by rewarding positive behaviour such as high user engagement rate with additional surprise discount voucher codes and bundle deals.

4.     Decision-Making: Smarter Shopping Choices

Lazada’s findings reveal that an overwhelming 88% of respondents in Southeast Asia make purchase decisions using AI-generated content and product recommendations, and over half (51%) indicate that product and seller reviews are key features they prioritise when shopping online. Harnessing this insight, Lazada’s GenAI update is designed to create unique content by harnessing product reviews, product key selling points, as well as tailored product recommendations to optimise the shopper research process and support their purchasing decisions with facts and data.

To further expedite the decision-making process, AI Lazzie can answer shopper queries promptly to address concerns, which can result in increased order conversion rates, as well as enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.

James Dong, Chief Executive Officer of Lazada Group, commented, “At Lazada, we have embraced GenAI as part of our customer-centric, long-term growth strategy to enhance customer experiences, as we stribe to stay ahead and steer into a new era of online shopping. We foresee that GenAI will accelerate an eCommerce revolution and reshape the way we currently shop, sell, and engage. Our goal is to make every experience sharper, more individual, efficient, and enjoyable. Through these innovations, we’re not only supporting our shoppers, but also empowering our sellers to make smarter, data-driven decisions, from product positioning to customer engagement.”

Dong added: “As Lazada implements AI at scale, we strive to create win-win scenarios for all eCommerce players, while maintaining the human touch that remains essential in fostering authentic, lasting relationships with our shoppers, sellers, and partners in the ecosystem. By embracing GenAI, we aim to create a more accessible, inclusive, and personalised shopping experience for all.”

About the Whitepaper

 

The Artificial Intelligence Adoption in eCommerce in Southeast Asia whitepaper is derived from the research conducted in partnership with Kantar in six Southeast Asian markets – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines – which surveyed more than 6,000 eCommerce users between the ages of 18 and 60 in September 2024.

Download the Lazada app: Apple App Store | Google Play Store

About Lazada Group

Lazada Group is Southeast Asia’s pioneer eCommerce platform. For the last 12 years, Lazada has been accelerating progress in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam through commerce and technology. Today, a thriving local ecosystem links about 160 million active users to more than one million actively-selling sellers every month, who are transacting safely and securely via trusted payments channels and Lazada Wallet, receiving parcels through a homegrown logistics network that has become the largest in the region.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lazada-announces-suite-of-genai-features-to-transform-shopping-and-seller-experiences-in-southeast-asia-302290849.html

SOURCE Lazada Group

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Apas Port Launches $20M Vehicle Loan Initiative with HARVEST FLOW on Plume Network to Empower Financial Inclusion in Emerging Countries, Starting in Cambodia

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NEW YORK, Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Apas Port Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-based Web3 company dedicated to deploying “kando”—a Japanese term for deep emotional engagement—into the digital realm, has announced the launch of HARVEST FLOW, a social impact-driven cryptocurrency lending platform. Committed to “social action”ーdelivering stable returns alongside meaningful social impact, HARVEST FLOW’s inaugural project is a $20 million initiative offering loans to TukTuk and four-wheel vehicle drivers in Cambodia who don’t have access to the financial system. This venture is set to operate on Plume Network, the leading Layer 1 blockchain specialized in Real-World Asset Finance (RWAfi), offering the necessary infrastructure to transform HARVEST FLOW’s vision of financial inclusion into scalable action.

Bridging Real-World Challenges Through Blockchain Innovation

HARVEST FLOW’s mission is to empower underserved communities and small businesses by granting access to affordable financing solutions. By leveraging blockchain technology, the platform addresses critical societal issues such as poverty alleviation and economic development, creating pathways for stable financial growth while delivering measurable social impact.

The initial focus of this initiative is to provide affordable financing options for TukTuk and four-wheel vehicle drivers in Cambodia—vital tools for local livelihoods. The project not only supports job creation but also enhances financial inclusion in emerging economies.

Why Plume Network?

As the first fully integrated L1 modular blockchain tailored for RWAfi, Plume Network provides the foundation for scalable, secure, and transparent financial ecosystems. With over 180 projects onboarded in its private devnet, Plume enables seamless tokenization and distribution of RWAs through its composable, EVM-compatible infrastructure.

How Plume Powers HARVEST FLOW:

End-to-End Tokenization: Streamlines the conversion of vehicle loans into blockchain-based assets.Investor Transparency: Advanced tools to track and visualize the social and financial impact of investments.Global Scalability: Infrastructure designed to handle the growing demands of HARVEST FLOW’s multi-region projects.DeFi Integration: Unlocks liquidity through decentralized finance primitives within the Plume ecosystem.

IoT-Backed Innovation for Loan Security

HARVEST FLOW’s projects are uniquely supported by embedded IoT technology within TukTuk engines, ensuring an exceptionally low loan default rate while building investor confidence.

Justin Chen, Head of Asset Strategy at Plume Network, noted: “This project highlights the power of combining blockchain and IoT devices to create innovative financial products that drive real-world impact. We’re excited to see HARVEST FLOW’s success on Plume and the positive change it will bring to the urban motility market in Southeast Asia.”

Looking Ahead

Starting with the vehicle mobility sector through 2025, HARVEST FLOW plans to expand into other sectors addressing social challenges and needs beyond 2026. This approach aims to ensure sustainable growth while delivering meaningful societal benefits, powered by Plume’s blockchain technology.

Masaki Minamide, director of HARVEST FLOW, stated: “Plume’s infrastructure empowers us to amplify our impact and support communities in need while offering our investors transparent and reliable returns. With this launch, we continue our mission to combine blockchain technology with meaningful social action.”

For more information, visit Plume Network or contact press@plumenetwork.xyz.

About Plume Network
Plume is the first fully integrated L1 modular blockchain focused on RWAfi, offering a composable, EVM-compatible environment for onboarding and managing diverse RWAs. With 180+ projects on its private devnet, Plume provides an end-to-end tokenization engine and a network of financial infrastructure partners, simplifying asset onboarding and enabling seamless DeFi integration for RWAs.

About HARVEST FLOW
Founded in April 2023, Apas Port Co., Ltd. is a Web3 production company with a mission to deploy “kando” (deep emotional impact) globally. The company leverages blockchain technology to connect carefully curated content with a co-creative community, acting as a “passport” to a new world of Web3 experiences.

X: https://x.com/HarvestFlow_io
Website: https://www.harvestflow.io/

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SOURCE Plume Network

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South Clackamas Business Resource Center Launches Digital Community Platform

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The Business Resource Center (BRC) of South Clackamas County unveils a new digital platform featuring an innovative business mapping system developed by COBID-certified IronGlove Studio. The website integrates advanced mapping technology with resource management tools to serve local businesses across nine communities, offering free consultations and scholarship opportunities for eligible residents.

OREGON CITY, Ore. and SOUTH CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore., Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ —  The Business Resource Center of South Clackamas County (BRC) is proud to announce the launch of its new website, https://brcscc.org, developed by Oregon City-based IronGlove Studio, LLC. The launch marks a significant expansion of its online presence and services, representing a major step forward in the BRC’s mission to support and empower local businesses and community members in the South Clackamas area.

This initiative offers an unbiased and equitable opportunity for every small business in the South Clackamas region to connect, discover, and grow through access to training, resources, and support.

Who is the Business Resource Center of South Clackamas County

The Business Resource Center (BRC) of South Clackamas County is a vital hub for small business support, resources, and training opportunities, dedicated to fostering economic growth and development in the region. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and operating until December 31, 2024, or until funding is exhausted, the BRC provides free consultations, training programs, and scholarships to empower small business owners in Gladstone, Oregon City, Beavercreek, Canby, Molalla, Mulino, Colton, Eagle Creek, and Estacada. Through initiatives like its comprehensive website and Local Business Map, the BRC connects entrepreneurs with the community, creating opportunities for growth and promoting sustainable, community-based economic development.

Key Offerings

Free Business Resource Consultations: Local entrepreneurs can access expert advice and guidance at no cost, ensuring they are not alone in their small business journey.

Exclusive Scholarship Opportunities: The BRC offers scholarships for Clackamas Community College’s Career & Technical Education programs, covering up to $3,500 per semester for eligible students in select zip codes.

Local Business Map: As part of its marketing initiative, the BRC features an innovative Local Business Map developed by IronGlove Studio. This custom solution integrates advanced mapping technology with COBID certification filters, enabling small businesses to connect with one another while providing valuable demographic insights for community stakeholders.

Website Performance

Since its soft launch in August 2024, the BRC website has quickly become a vital resource for the South Clackamas business community. The platform has attracted nearly 3,000 visitors, with users spending an average of 4 minutes engaging with the site’s resources and information. The site’s success is particularly evident in its scholarship program, which has already received 82 applications, including 6 from Spanish-speaking community members, demonstrating the BRC’s commitment to serving our diverse business community.

Strategic partnerships with Here is Oregon and Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory allowed us to create targeted social media campaigns that have helped drive over 2,000 visitors to the site, resulting in more than 7,000 total pageviews. Visitors are actively engaging with the platform’s resources, averaging 2.7 actions per visit, including accessing business resources, downloading materials, and utilizing the local business map.

The platform, developed by IronGlove Studio, LLC of Oregon City, a COBID-certified firm, showcases innovative integration of WordPress with proprietary Angular mapping technology. “The BRC website demonstrates how enterprise-level solutions can be scaled down to serve community needs,” says Derek Neuts, Owner of IronGlove Studio. “By incorporating advanced features like COBID certification filters and demographic reporting capabilities, we’ve created a platform that not only connects consumers to businesses but also provides valuable insights for community development.”

Community Support

The BRC extends its gratitude to its advocates, partners and supporters, including the previous Oregon State Senator Bill Kennemer, previous Oregon State Representative (now Senator) — Mark Meek, the Chambers of Commerce for Canby, Estacada, Molalla and Oregon City, the Cities of Colton and Gladstone and the Hamlets of Beavercreek and Mulino.

“The launch of our comprehensive website marks a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting the South Clackamas County business community,” said Shatrine Krake, Director of Communications at the Business Resource Center of South Clackamas County. “This initiative offers an unbiased and equitable opportunity for every small business in the South Clackamas region to connect, discover, and grow through access to training, resources, and support.”

For more information or to schedule a free business consultation, visit https://brcscc.org.

Media Contact

Shatrine Krake, Director of Communications, Business Resource Center of South Clackamas County, 1 503-656-1619, shatrine@brcscc.org, https://brcscc.org/

Technical Development Contact: Derek Neuts, IronGlove Studio LLC, 1 503-501-4645, contact@ironglove.studio, https://www.ironglove.studio

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/south-clackamas-business-resource-center-launches-digital-community-platform-302338692.html

SOURCE Business Resource Center of South Clackamas County

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Tickets to the $1 Billion Mega Millions Draw available this Christmas Eve on Jackpot.com

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One lucky winner could take home game’s seventh billion-dollar prize during Christmas Eve drawing

New Jackpot.com customers can claim a free Mega Millions ticket on their first play with promo code XMAS

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With Christmas Day just hours away, lottery players across the country are preparing for an extraordinary opportunity to take home Mega Millions’ seventh-largest Jackpot as a winner has not won the grand prize in the last 29 drawings, dating back to September 10th when a Texas resident took home $810 million.

2024 has already been a record-breaking year for the lottery as it hit the ground running with a massive $842.4 million Powerball win on New Year’s Day. Shortly after, a second lucky winner took home a staggering $1.13 billion Mega Millions prize in March, followed by a $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot in April, all of which signify some of the largest prizes ever awarded.

2025 represents a significant year for Mega Millions players, as the game as they know it will undergo a variety of changes come April. The game will feature larger starting jackpots, expedited rollover growth, and better odds. Lottery courier services like Jackpot.com eagerly await these welcome changes, which will not only enhance gameplay, but also elevate player experience(s).

“There’s a lot to like about the upcoming changes to Mega Millions,” said CEO and co-founder of Jackpot.com, Akshay Khanna. “Whether you’re a casual player or avid lottery user, the faster-growing jackpots, improved odds, and built-in multipliers will offer an entirely new feel to the game – hopefully one that encourages new players to get in on the action. That said, we have a one billion-dollar prize just before Christmas and potentially the ultimate present for one lucky winner, a life-changing gift at that.”

While tonight’s drawing occurs on Christmas Eve, the Mega Millions jackpot has been won just once on the “Eve.” Back in 2002, a $68 million jackpot was won in New York, unfortunately going unclaimed.

Currently available in Colorado, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Arizona, New Jackpot.com customers can get in on the fun this holiday by scoring a free Mega Millions ticket on their first play by using promo code XMAS.

Amid the Mega Millions frenzy, Jackpot.com remains committed to upholding responsible gaming protocols through the integration of modern conveniences and safety guardrails, one of the standout features of digital lottery platforms. Through responsible gaming protections including spend limits, default limits on daily deposits, access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior arise, Jackpot.com ensures safe and secure transactions and play. The platform is also the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling.

To get started, download the Jackpot.com Lottery App on the iOS or Android App Stores, or visit www.jackpot.com to learn more.

About Jackpot.com

Jackpot.com allows customers to order official state lottery tickets from their mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Currently available in Colorado, Massachusetts, Arkansas, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas, Jackpot.com is expanding its safe and secure lottery courier service to additional markets across the US. An Associate Member of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), Jackpot.com has invested significantly in responsible gaming safeguards, with default spending limits and other features built in throughout the experience, earning it iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gaming. To learn more, visit www.jackpot.com or download the iOS or Android app.

Jason Heller
Senior Vice President
212.584.4278| 5WPR.com
3 Park Avenue, Floor 19
New York, NY 10016

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tickets-to-the-1-billion-mega-millions-draw-available-this-christmas-eve-on-jackpotcom-302339022.html

SOURCE Jackpot.com

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