Industry News

A recent study by Tanium highlights significant financial losses for Southeast Asian businesses due to endpoint security issues. The State of Endpoint Management in ASEAN 2026 report surveyed 333 IT and security leaders across the region, revealing that 62% of organisations have experienced operational disruptions, resulting in downtime, data exposure, and revenue loss.

The report found that financial losses exceeded $1m for some organisations, with 46% losing more than $100,000. Despite 59% of respondents expressing high confidence in their device visibility, 43% admitted that over 10% of their endpoints remain unknown, unmanaged, or non-compliant. This gap in endpoint management is a critical concern, especially in sectors like healthcare, where legacy devices are increasingly integrated into networks.

Satyen Desai, RVP ASEAN at Tanium, commented on the findings: “Geopolitical conflict has gone digital, whilst AI is accelerating both innovation and attacks. The devices connecting it all are increasingly outside the visibility of the teams responsible for protecting them.”

The report also highlights that only 29% of organisations can detect critical issues within minutes, whilst 55% take hours to identify threats. This delay poses a significant risk, particularly in industries like telecommunications, where infrastructure failures can lead to prolonged disruptions.

With 79% of respondents planning to invest in new security solutions within the next year, the focus is on consolidating onto unified, real-time platforms to improve visibility and response times. Tanium’s full findings and recommendations are available on their website.

DBS has announced a significant upgrade to its AI-enabled virtual assistants, DBS Joy and DBS digibot, now serving over 10 million customers in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The enhancements introduce Generative AI and agentic AI capabilities, allowing these virtual assistants to handle more than one million chats monthly, streamlining banking tasks for retail, wealth, and corporate clients.

DBS Joy, tailored for corporate and SME customers, has become fully agentic in Singapore, enabling users to perform simple banking tasks through a single conversation. This feature will expand to Hong Kong in September and other markets thereafter. Meanwhile, DBS digibot, designed for individual customers, will soon offer wealth-related conversational capabilities and later integrate agentic AI to facilitate tasks like checking card usage and managing rewards points.

Derrick Goh, DBS Group Chief Operating Officer, stated, “The true value of AI lies in delivering meaningful outcomes for customers at scale. Today, DBS Joy and DBS digibot serve more than 10 million customers across the region, enabling us to bring Gen AI and agentic AI into everyday banking interactions.”

The advancements aim to make banking more intuitive and efficient, reducing the need for manual searches and enhancing customer satisfaction. DBS digibot’s integration into the digiWealth platform from August 2026 will further empower customers in wealth management, providing seamless access to tailored advice and banking solutions. As DBS continues to innovate, these AI capabilities are set to redefine customer service in the banking sector.

OCBC has introduced its agentic AI platform, HELIOS, to streamline the onboarding process for wealthy clients, reducing the time to open private banking accounts to 15 business days. This is a significant improvement from the industry median of six weeks. The platform, part of OCBC’s Next Frontier strategy, automates the collection and verification of customer data, completing much of the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process before relationship managers engage with clients.

HELIOS’ intelligence-gathering capabilities allow for a more thorough and efficient due diligence process, maintaining high compliance standards. The platform also generates high-quality leads for relationship managers, a first for a bank in Southeast Asia. This initiative aligns with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s goal to reduce account opening timelines to within one month by the end of 2026.

The rollout of HELIOS is underway in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai, with completion expected by the third quarter of 2026. It will also extend to OCBC’s Premier Private Client segment by year-end. Loretta Yuen, OCBC’s Head of Group Legal and Compliance, highlighted the platform’s ability to identify potential concerns earlier and assess financial crime risks more holistically. Jason Moo, CEO of Bank of Singapore, noted that HELIOS provides a competitive edge by combining risk intelligence with business growth.

Beyond onboarding, HELIOS will support ongoing customer monitoring, enhancing risk management and compliance reviews. This development is part of OCBC’s broader investment in AI, digital, and data-driven growth, with plans to spend over $1b annually for the next three years.

ST Engineering has announced a significant achievement with the award of an $840m contract for the Taoyuan MRT Brown Line in Taiwan. The contract, granted by the Taoyuan City Government, is part of a consortium with Hyundai Rotem and marks a substantial expansion of ST Engineering’s involvement in Taiwan’s rail infrastructure, where it has been active for over 30 years.

The project will see ST Engineering taking charge of overall project management and systems integration. The company will also provide essential rail electronics solutions, including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), communications systems, automatic fare collection, and platform screen doors. Hyundai Rotem will supply the rolling stock and power supply system. The project is set to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026 and is expected to be completed over an eight-year period.

Gareth Tang, President of Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, stated, “Transport agencies are increasingly seeking trusted partners who can seamlessly integrate technologies and systems whilst managing large-scale project delivery. This contract reflects our customer’s confidence in our ability to deliver large-scale rail infrastructure projects.”

The 11.38km Taoyuan MRT Brown Line will feature seven stations, providing a direct rail link between Taoyuan City and the Greater Taipei area, significantly enhancing connectivity and reducing travel times for commuters. This project adds to ST Engineering’s extensive portfolio, which includes over 200 rail projects across 50 cities worldwide, highlighting its expertise in delivering comprehensive rail solutions.

Mapletree Investments has announced the launch of its first China logistics Renminbi (RMB) core fund in collaboration with China Life Capital. The Mapletree China Logistics RMB Fund, valued at approximately RMB1.5b, comprises five stabilised logistics assets. This fund has attracted commitments from international insurance companies, underscoring the confidence in China’s logistics sector and Mapletree’s reputation as a leading logistics real estate developer.

The fund’s portfolio includes high-quality logistics assets located in Nanjing, Wuxi, and Chengdu, with a total leasable area of around 382,000 square metres and an average occupancy rate of 95%. These assets are strategically positioned in key economic regions, benefiting from robust market fundamentals and a diverse tenant base, including third-party logistics providers and e-commerce operators.

Mapletree’s Regional Chief Executive Officer for China, Goh Chye Boon, stated, “The successful launch of the Mapletree China Logistics RMB Fund underscores our ability to grow our domestic investor base in China by unlocking value from stabilised logistics assets.”

The fund marks Mapletree’s first RMB fund in China, combining the expertise of a leading state-owned institutional investor with Mapletree’s asset management capabilities. It aims to deliver stable recurring income and long-term value through proactive asset management and capital recycling strategies.

Mapletree’s commitment to sustainability is evident, with all five properties in the fund incorporating renewable energy solutions and achieving LEED certifications. This initiative is part of Mapletree’s broader strategy to optimise its portfolio and unlock value for investors, further solidifying its position in China’s logistics real estate market.

A new study by Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) reveals that 58% of C-suite leaders in Asia Pacific (APAC) view technological change and geopolitical uncertainty as the joint top threats to their organisations. The findings, drawn from RRA’s H1 2026 Global Leadership Monitor, highlight significant gaps in leadership preparedness across the region.

Despite the prominence of geopolitical risks, only 36% of APAC leaders feel equipped to handle such volatility. Similarly, whilst 44% recognise talent and skills availability as a major threat, just 33% feel prepared to address it. The study also notes a disparity in enthusiasm and execution regarding Generative AI (GenAI); although 94% of leaders see it as crucial, fewer than 40% report its use in daily operations.

The research underscores the importance of soft skills over technical expertise, with strategic thinking (57%) and change management (29%) identified as critical capabilities. However, next-generation leaders face challenges in career progression, with only 40% seeing a clear path forward in their current roles.

Country-specific insights reveal varying concerns: in Greater China, geopolitics is the highest threat (73%), whilst Japan struggles with talent preparedness (27%). In Singapore, cyber readiness is high (87%), yet GenAI skills lag at 20%.

The study suggests that APAC leaders must bridge the gap between AI strategy and execution and address the high mobility of top-tier talent, driven by cultural alignment and career advancement rather than compensation alone.

AI is transforming the workplace across Asia, with a new e-guide from Robert Walters revealing that whilst 93% of professionals actively use AI, only 75% believe it will positively impact their careers. The guide, titled “The Jobs of Tomorrow: How AI is Reshaping Work Across Asia,” draws insights from nearly 5,000 professionals and companies across 10 Asian markets, including Singapore.

AI adoption is widespread, with 58% of Asian employers having implemented it in their operations. However, the perception of AI’s impact varies by region. In Vietnam and the Philippines, optimism is high, with 98% and 95% respectively viewing AI positively. In contrast, Singapore and Hong Kong show more scepticism, with only 67% and 66% of professionals, respectively, expecting positive career impacts.

In Singapore, 89% of professionals use AI, yet only 59% feel confident in maintaining relevant skills. Concerns about AI include job displacement, bias, and skills obsolescence. AI is primarily used for research, content creation, and data analysis in Singapore, enhancing efficiency rather than replacing human judgement.

Kirsty Poltock, Country Manager of Robert Walters Singapore, noted, “AI is reshaping how work is done, shifting routine tasks to automation whilst elevating human responsibility for judgement and decision-making.” She emphasised the need for companies to invest in reskilling, highlighting critical thinking, data analysis, and adaptability as essential skills in an AI-driven workplace.

The findings underscore the necessity for organisations to rethink job roles and career pathways as AI continues to influence the job market across Asia.

Ant International’s Alipay+, a unified wallet gateway, is expanding its network by adding more bank partners amid a surge in demand for cross-border mobile payments in the Asia Pacific region. The latest addition is Hang Seng Bank, marking Alipay+’s first banking partnership in Hong Kong. This collaboration allows Hang Seng Mobile App users to make payments via QR code at over 100 million merchants across more than 55 countries and regions.

Alipay+ is accepted in over 220 markets globally, enabling banks to offer cross-border payment services through a single integration. This system allows banks to expand app functionalities by integrating partner mini-programmes and plug-in solutions, enhancing user engagement. The platform’s established network with over 10 national QR systems, including Malaysia’s DuitNow and Thailand’s PromptPay, facilitates efficient scaling of mobile payment scenarios without the need for individual agreements between banks and merchants.

The demand for outbound cross-border payments from Asia Pacific is projected to grow faster than the global average, with consumer-to-consumer and consumer-to-business payment volumes expected to reach 3.7 trillion by 2032. This growth presents significant opportunities for banks to offer seamless transaction experiences through familiar interfaces.

Banks in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have already connected their users to the Alipay+ network, providing convenient cross-border payment experiences. Beyond Alipay+, Ant International collaborates with banks through other services, such as the Falcon TST AI FX model, which offers long-term FX forecasts with up to 93% accuracy, and the AI-powered blockchain platform Whale for near-instant cross-border liquidity transfers.

Mastercard has unveiled significant upgrades to its virtual card number (VCN) platform, Mastercard In Control, enhancing security and scalability for enterprises and financial institutions. The enhancements include new issuer controls, improved clearing controls, and expanded embedded payments capabilities, allowing for better management of virtual card programmes across 43 countries and 174 currencies.

The platform’s new features aim to address the complexities of cross-border operations, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, which is a key trade corridor. Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President of Commercial and New Payment Flows at Mastercard, highlighted the importance of virtual cards in managing supplier relationships and working capital without adding risk. “Virtual cards give finance and procurement teams a way to extend that flexibility without adding risk or friction to the supplier relationship,” she stated.

Mastercard’s collaboration with partners like Coupa and HSBC has already led to the first fully embedded finance virtual card transaction in Asia Pacific, demonstrating the growing role of virtual cards in streamlining payment workflows. The platform’s integration model reduces onboarding complexity, making it easier for issuers, platforms, and corporates to adopt.

The introduction of Issuer Enforced Controls and enhanced Clearing Controls further strengthens security, reducing fraud risk and ensuring compliant controls. Citi is set to be the first issuer to deploy these capabilities globally, reinforcing Mastercard’s leadership in secure B2B payments.

As virtual card adoption increases, Mastercard’s innovations provide a robust foundation for businesses to scale their payment solutions with greater confidence and efficiency.

UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) has unveiled its third-quarter 2026 investment strategy, emphasising the global economy’s resilience despite ongoing challenges such as inflation, tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and energy market volatility. The strategy highlights robust corporate earnings and resilient labour markets, with continued investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure driving growth.

UOBAM’s analysis suggests that the US Federal Reserve is likely to maintain its current interest rate pause, given moderating inflation pressures, particularly in housing and wages. The firm has upgraded its outlook on Onshore China to overweight, citing strong earnings momentum and attractive valuations in Asia. Anthony Raza, Head of UOBAM Multi-Asset Strategy, noted, “The global economy has repeatedly withstood shocks without derailing growth.”

The strategy remains overweight on equities, favouring the US and Asia, and maintains a positive outlook on gold due to its role as a safe-haven asset. UOBAM continues to see opportunities in sectors linked to AI, semiconductors, energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing in China. The firm manages 63 unit trusts in Singapore and oversees $443b in client assets as of 30 June 2026.

UOBAM, a subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Limited, has been recognised for its digital innovation and sustainable investing, receiving numerous awards across Asia. The firm’s strategic alliances and presence in multiple Asian countries bolster its investment capabilities.