Industry News

Watsons, Singapore’s leading health and beauty retailer, has unveiled the nation’s first retail pharmacy eConsultation service, a digital platform aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility. Available via the Watsons website and mobile app, this service allows users to consult with certified pharmacists for free on various health issues, including minor ailments and medication guidance.

The eConsultation service offers personalised advice, complete with price transparency and product recommendations, which can be ordered online for home delivery. Irene Lau, Managing Director of Watsons Singapore & New Markets, stated, “We’re bringing the trusted expertise and personalised care of our pharmacists directly to you.”

The service addresses common health concerns such as coughs, fevers, digestive disorders, and skin conditions. Consultations are secure, confidential, and encrypted, ensuring customer privacy. The process involves visiting the Watsons platform, registering, and speaking with a pharmacist. Customers can then purchase recommended products online.

Watsons offers three delivery options: express within three hours, same-day evening delivery, and next business day. The service operates Monday to Friday, 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM, excluding public holidays, and requires a valid photo ID for pharmacy-only medications. This initiative marks a significant step in making healthcare more accessible and convenient for Singaporeans.

Affiliate marketing is becoming a crucial growth strategy for brands in Singapore, as revealed by a new report from impact.com. The Global State of Affiliate Marketing Report 2025 highlights that 75% of brands in Singapore have boosted their affiliate marketing investment over the past year, seeking cost-effective and measurable growth solutions amidst rising marketing costs.

The report, which surveyed over 1,500 marketers, creators, and publishers across eight markets, including Singapore, shows a significant shift towards affiliate marketing. In Singapore, 61% of brands now attribute more than 21% of their total revenue to affiliate marketing. Additionally, 65% of brands reported stronger returns on ad spend, and 70% experienced revenue growth in the past 12 months.

A notable trend is the increasing focus on creator partnerships, with nearly half of the brands planning to allocate 25–50% of their affiliate budgets to creators next year. Influencer-led affiliate growth is expected to rise by 37 percentage points, the highest among the surveyed markets. Sarah Ann Lim, Global Partnership Manager at Castlery, noted, “As customer acquisition costs keep rising, creators have become one of our most effective performance channels.”

The report also indicates a shift in partnership models, with brands moving from flat fees to hybrid reward structures that combine commissions with performance-based incentives. Despite challenges such as budget constraints and data privacy concerns, Singaporean marketers are building sophisticated ecosystems that connect brands with creators and media publishers.

Adam Furness, Managing Director APJ at impact.com, stated, “Brands in Singapore are reallocating budgets based on what is driving measurable, cost-effective growth.” As affiliate marketing continues to demonstrate its value, it is poised to become a central pillar in the digital strategies of Singaporean brands.

Financial wellbeing has emerged as the leading life priority for 57% of Asia Pacific consumers, surpassing health and wellbeing (49%) and family and relationships (48%), according to a new report by Personetics. The company, a global leader in Cognitive Banking services, has expanded its reach to 25 million users in the region.

The survey, which included 2,000 consumers with a quarter from Asia Pacific countries such as Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, highlights the growing importance of financial wellbeing. Notably, Gen Z respondents in the region, aged 17-27, show a higher prioritisation of financial wellbeing at 65%, with 85% expressing strong interest in related services.

A significant 80% of Asia Pacific consumers indicated they would switch banks to receive more timely financial advice, with Gen Z leading this trend. This underscores the need for banks to offer personalised, AI-driven insights to retain and attract customers, particularly younger demographics.

Udi Ziv, CEO of Personetics, stated, “This survey is further evidence of what forward-looking banks in the region already understand: that they cannot afford to be complacent about consumer loyalty and that AI-driven personalisation is critical to customer satisfaction and business growth.”

Despite a lower trust level in financial advice from banks compared to Europe and North America, Asia Pacific consumers are increasingly embracing AI-driven financial insights, with many seeking features like double-billing alerts and savings nudges. Personetics continues to innovate with products like PrimacyEdge, aimed at enhancing customer loyalty and financial engagement.

Grab Holdings Limited has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2025, revealing a 22% year-over-year revenue growth to $873m. The company also achieved its 15th consecutive quarter of EBITDA growth, with adjusted EBITDA rising by 51% to $136m. User numbers reached a record high of 48 million monthly transacting users (MTUs).

The on-demand gross merchandise value (GMV) saw a 24% year-over-year increase, reaching $5.8b. This growth was driven by a 16% rise in on-demand MTUs and a 27% increase in the total number of on-demand transactions. Grab’s profit for the quarter was $17m, marking a $2m improvement from the previous year.

Anthony Tan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Grab, highlighted the company’s focus on building a resilient, technology-driven platform. “Grab’s growth engine continues to gain momentum,” he stated, emphasising the company’s commitment to innovation and profitable growth in its core on-demand business.

Looking ahead, Grab plans to continue investing in financial services and exploring opportunities in autonomous vehicles and remote driving. The company has also upgraded its full-year revenue guidance to $3.38b to $3.40b, with adjusted EBITDA expected to reach between $490m and $500m.

These results underscore Grab’s robust performance and strategic focus on expanding its business whilst maintaining financial discipline.

Chick-fil-A, the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the US, is set to open its first Asian outlet at Bugis+ in Singapore on 11 December 2025. This move signifies the beginning of a 10-year, $75m investment in the region. The restaurant will operate from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and will be closed on Sundays, adhering to the company’s tradition.

The new Chick-fil-A Bugis+ will offer a menu featuring its iconic Chicken Sandwich, Waffle Potato Fries, and a variety of milkshakes. A new Spicy Chilli Sauce, exclusive to Singapore, will also be available. The restaurant aims to provide a remarkable dining experience with quality ingredients and warm hospitality.

In a bid to support the local community, Chick-fil-A has donated S$25,000 to The Food Bank Singapore. The company has pledged to donate the same amount for each new restaurant opened in Singapore. Hugh Park, Head of Asia Pacific Operations at Chick-fil-A, stated, “As we begin this next chapter in Singapore, we are honoured to partner with The Food Bank Singapore to help strengthen food support for those who need it most.”

The restaurant will also participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table programme, redirecting surplus food to local non-profit partners. This initiative has globally contributed to over 42 million meals.

Chyn Koh, the local Owner-Operator, will lead the Singapore outlet. Koh, with over two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry, emphasised the importance of creating a welcoming environment for both guests and team members. The restaurant is expected to create 60 to 80 job opportunities, fostering growth and development for its team members.

Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital and Income Insurance Limited have introduced Singapore’s first cashless value-added service for pet surgeries. Launched on 4 November, this initiative allows Income Happy Tails policyholders to have their pets undergo pre-approved surgeries at Beecroft without upfront cash deposits, thanks to a Letter of Guarantee. This service is set to minimise out-of-pocket expenses for pet owners.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s veterinary and pet insurance sectors by implementing a direct claims processing and financing infrastructure for animal healthcare. This model, akin to the cashless hospitalisation system in human healthcare, is expected to encourage broader adoption across the veterinary industry, enabling pet owners to access timely care without financial hesitation.

Dr Patrick Maguire, founder and specialist surgeon at Beecroft, stated, “This partnership is a turning point for Singapore’s veterinary landscape. As one of the few locally owned independent hospitals, we’re proud to champion a model that ensures financial inclusivity, medical transparency and timely care for all pets.”

Income Insurance’s Chief Customer Officer, Dhiren Amin, highlighted the growing number of pet owners in Singapore and the need for accessible veterinary care. “We are proud to partner Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital to introduce Singapore’s first cashless value-added service for scheduled pet surgeries,” he said.

This initiative aligns with national goals set by the Animal & Veterinary Service and the Singapore Veterinary Association to enhance accessibility and welfare standards. The Beecroft–Income collaboration is expected to pave the way for similar partnerships, offering new models of financial support and administrative efficiency in veterinary medicine.

CUSTA, a regional customisation e-commerce platform, has revamped its Singapore service by doubling its catalogue to 4,000 items and introducing unlimited customisation options. This innovative approach allows users to view instant best-price and lead-time displays, significantly reducing traditional procurement cycles from 8–15 days to within a week, with some orders fulfilled on the same day.

The platform’s relaunch is timely as Singapore’s digital economy continues to grow, reaching $82.7b (S$113.2b), with an 11.2% compound annual growth rate since 2018. Despite 83% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) having digital strategies, fewer than half succeed due to cost and complexity. CUSTA’s frictionless, automation-led platform addresses these challenges, making it increasingly relevant in the market.

Joe Takagi, CUSTA’s CEO, highlighted the impact of the platform, stating, “Real-time pricing and AI-assisted quoting are redefining B2B and SME procurement.” The platform’s mass customisation capabilities are set to transform Singapore’s design, retail, and creative sectors.

To celebrate its second anniversary, CUSTA has launched a Service Renewal Campaign, offering promotional discounts and free design support for orders exceeding $73 (S$100). The company also plans to expand into enterprise-grade customisation and regional markets, aligning with Singapore’s digital economy goals.

CUSTA’s innovative platform is poised to enhance digital adoption among SMEs, balancing cost, creativity, and efficiency, and setting a new standard for customisation in Singapore.

Singapore’s primary-listed companies have collectively repurchased S$1.91b worth of shares on the open market in the first 10 months of 2025, marking a 90% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This surge in buybacks surpasses the previous high of S$1.89b recorded in 2015, as reported by the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

The increase in buybacks is attributed to market volatility, with the Straits Times Index (STI) experiencing an 8% drop in April, which coincided with a quarter of the total buyback value for the year. Companies often engage in share buybacks to enhance financial metrics such as Earnings per Share (EPS) and Return on Equity (ROE), as well as to deploy surplus capital effectively.

Among the notable buybacks, 17Live Group repurchased S$6.2m of its shares at an average price of S$0.925, representing 3.4% of its market capitalisation. The group emphasised its disciplined approach to capital deployment in a recent investor presentation. Global Investments also made significant buybacks, acquiring S$4.5m worth of shares at an average price of S$0.126.

The buyback activity was predominantly driven by 11 stocks with market capitalisations exceeding S$10b, contributing S$1.76b, or 92%, of the total consideration. Smaller and mid-cap stocks accounted for S$144m, whilst those with market capitalisations under S$100m contributed S$6m.

As the year progresses, the trend of share buybacks is expected to continue, reflecting companies’ strategies to manage capital and respond to market conditions.

NetLink NBN Trust has announced a Distribution Per Unit (DPU) of 2.71 Singapore cents for the half-year ending 30 September 2025, marking a 1.1% increase from the previous period. The rise in DPU is attributed to a revenue increase of $2.3m, reaching $207.1m, primarily due to higher ancillary project and co-location revenues.

The company’s core fibre business remains resilient, with ancillary project revenue up by $2.2m, reflecting the completion of more government projects. Co-location revenue also saw a $1.3m boost, supported by increased rack space take-up and a one-off cost recovery from the Nationwide Broadband Network upgrade. However, these gains were partially offset by a decline in connections revenue.

Despite a slight decrease in EBITDA due to increased operating expenses, the NetLink Group’s net cash from operating activities stood at $108.6m. Profit After Tax (PAT) fell by 10.2%, primarily due to higher depreciation and amortisation costs from the Seletar Central Office.

The NetLink Group remains committed to distributing 100% of its cash available for distribution semi-annually. Unitholders will receive their distribution on 28 November 2025, with the register closing on 17 November 2025.

Looking forward, the group plans to continue strategic investments to meet growing demand and enhance its fibre network infrastructure. It also aims to explore new opportunities in telecommunications and infrastructure-related businesses, aligning with its strategic objectives. The group is focused on cost management and operational excellence to support Singapore’s digital ambitions and maintain sustainable distributions.

Meta has unveiled a series of new anti-scam tools and expanded digital literacy initiatives to bolster online safety for Singaporeans. In the first half of 2025, the company acted against nearly 12 million scam-linked accounts globally, including over 68,000 fake accounts and 650,000 scam-related ads in Singapore alone.

The new safeguards include alerts on WhatsApp when users attempt to share screens with unknown contacts and advanced scam detection on Messenger. These tools are designed to help users identify and avoid scams before any harm occurs. Clara Koh, Head of Public Policy for Central Southeast Asia & ASEAN at Meta, stated, “At Meta, protecting our users from scams is a top priority. The launch of these anti-scam tools in Singapore and our ongoing public education campaigns underscore our continuing commitment to user safety.”

Beyond technology, Meta participated in the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Digital for Life Festival, offering resources to help parents and youths develop healthy digital habits and recognise scams. Doreen Tan, Assistant Chief Executive at IMDA, expressed gratitude for Meta’s support, noting the importance of collaboration in fostering a more inclusive digital society.

Meta has also partnered with local podcasts to spread awareness, encouraging Singaporeans to enable two-step verification and use block and report features on WhatsApp. John Chua, CEO of GRVTY Media, highlighted the significance of these initiatives in building a safer digital environment.