Local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and strategically use influencer marketing to achieve increased productivity and efficiency while expanding their market reach.
Ganesh Kumar Bangah, Executive Chairman of Commerce.Asia, said integrating AI into business processes can significantly improve operational efficiency and provide valuable insights into customer behavior.
“AI can now handle many menial tasks, allowing HR to focus on the most important goals: growing market share and increasing sales,” Ganesh said. He cited a study showing that currently, 80% of staff efforts are spent on menial tasks, with only 20% going towards increasing sales.
“It should be the other way around, with 80% of the effort focused on growing the business. Thanks to the latest advances in AI, 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 gives businesses access to established communities, making it easier to build trust and credibility with potential customers,” Ganesh said.
Ganesh was speaking at Alliance Bank’s BizSmart business conference yesterday, hosted by Freda Liu in her usual jovial but professional style.
He had participated in a round table entitled “Tech Together: Coexisting in a Digital World” alongside Arjun Prasad, Head of Midmarket Business, Amazon Web Services (ASEAN), and Kevin Shum, Head of Digital SME, Alliance Bank.
The session was brilliantly moderated by Accio Technologies CEO, Dr. Lau Cher Han.
After the panel discussion, Ganesh cited the case of one of Malaysia’s leading bedding brands, AKEMI, which has seen its online business grow by around 30 times since 2019/2020 thanks to its partnership with Commerce.Asia Group.
“We have deep admiration for AKEMI,” said Ganesh. “At the heart of AKEMI’s success is an unwavering 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 offers.
“AKEMI’s growth has been propelled by expansion into new channels such as SenHeng MAHB and the launch of its own online presence coupled with TikTok Shop via Xamble Live,” Ganesh shared.
“Additionally, Commerce.Asia’s assistance in expanding AKEMI’s online operations in Thailand and Vietnam has further strengthened the brand’s growing regional presence.”
Xamble Live is Commerce.Asia’s technology and business solutions tool for brands and businesses looking to grow their online business through live streaming.
“We provide solutions and work hand in hand with businesses that want to sell live and activate their business through social networks such as Facebook and TikTok,” explained Ganesh.
“Through the intelligent integration of our influencers, content and e-commerce expertise, we not only provide end-to-end live commerce solutions, but also focus on the brand’s social commerce strategy and execution.”
At the same time, CommercePay serves as the payment gateway of choice for online B2B transactions, enabling seamless integration of technology in enhancing business operations.
Since its launch in August 2022, CommercePay payment gateway has rapidly gained popularity among online merchants and eCommerce platforms. To date, CommercePay has gained popularity, with hundreds of merchant users on leading platforms like Bizapp, SiteGiant, Xamble Creators, and eShoplive.
“The solution offers a user-friendly experience, allowing customers to make secure and hassle-free online payments,” Ganesh said, adding that unlike many competitors, CommercePay eliminates annual setup and maintenance fees, making it an attractive choice for merchants looking to minimize upfront costs and streamline payment operations.
The Commerce.Asia Group of Companies is today a complete ‘all-in-one’ e-commerce ecosystem, supporting brands, enterprises and SMEs across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
By offering a wide range of services – from online store development to marketing, delivery and order management – the Group enables businesses to focus on their core offerings while easily navigating the complexities of digital commerce.
“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 our customers’ success by integrating the best technological innovations, from automated features to big data analytics,” said Ganesh.
