Emerging markets are worth $70 billion to digital brands

The 2016 Developing Markets Mobile Commerce report says that tech brands need to address these markets strategically.

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A new report has revealed that engaging consumers in high growth markets could offer a $70 billion revenue opportunity to digital services providers. The findings, however, also show that tech brands need to address the intricacies of each market and adjust their strategy accordingly.

The 2016 Developing Markets Mobile Commerce report, commissioned by Upstream, a leading mobile commerce accelerator in high growth markets, reveals that if cost wasn’t an issue, Netflix is the brand that consumers across the markets questioned would like to access most via their mobile device.

More than a quarter (26%) named Netflix, ahead of Apple Music (25%), BBC News (20%), Amazon Prime (17%) and Spotify (13%) as the biggest mobile brand. The report reveals that the top factors which influence the decision of consumers in emerging markets to purchase a digital mobile service are pricing adjusted to local currency (88%) and low data charges (87%).

The data also reveal that 61% of consumers in the markets questioned feel unsatisfied with their current mobile connection, with 25% stating it is unreliable and 36% stating it is slow. As a result, over a third of consumers (40%) want brands to provide ‘lite’ versions of their digital services.

The findings highlight that localisation of content is key for consumers in emerging markets; with more than 75% wanting the digital services they consume to have a substantial local feel. In Brazil, video services are used by 62% of consumers, with 92% of respondents requiring at least a balanced mix between local and international content in their preferred streaming services.

* The study was carried out in January 2016 by YouGov on behalf of Upstream and was based on 5,215 consumers in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria and South Africa. The survey sample was age and gender representative of each of the markets covered.

UK social shopping site Styloko appoints new CEO

Shannon_EdwardsIncreasingly influential London-based social shopping site Styloko has appointed Shannon Edwards as CEO for global business.

Styloko is a digital shopping tool/service that learns what customers like as they browse and then presents the items and the styles they want to see. Styloko uses advanced algorithms to build a fashion portrait and then curates an infinite personalised stream of products for customers.

The company’s customers can add products to their virtual boutiques either from Styloko’s own website, which aggregates almost 700,000 products from most major UK retailers, or from any other site across the web – simply by using their browser button. Continue reading

LOVEFILM needs to open its ears to subtitles for the deaf

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A 10,000-strong change.org petition, backed by the UK’s largest deaf charity and TV stars and writers, is calling on LOVEFiLM to provide subtitles for viewers with hearing loss.

Currently, deaf customers of LOVEFiLM are not aware if will receive the latest movies or hit shows with subtitles until they arrive, something that can be extremely frustrating especially during Christmas.

According to Ofcom, 67% of people with hearing loss say that TV is important to them, rising to 74% of people who are severely deaf. People with hearing loss watch TV for an average of 4.3 hours a day, compared with average viewing across the UK of 3.46 hours a day.

The change.org petition is urging the distributor to offer subtitles for their On-Demand and postal service, and information on subtitle availability on films and boxsets before payment.

Stephanie McDermid, who is deaf, said: I wish they would make it clear at the outset whether content is subtitled or not. They should, like Netflix consider the 10 million people in the UK with hearing loss. Despite numerous correspondence flagging this issue, LOVEFiLM refuses to engage and I am urging people to sign the petition, which will hopefully force a response.’

Digital is bringing football to the point of collapse

GUEST POST: Joel Windels tweets here and is the Community Director for social media measuring company Brandwatch

digital footballFootball is on the brink of financial collapse. It’s an issue that relevant governing bodies have scrambled to address in varying ways, but the problems are rooted far deeper than fickle billionaires and greedy footballers.

The digital revolution has been stampeding through almost every entertainment industry – which few will deny is what football ultimately is – as the footsteps of technological advances leave no cultural opiate untrodden. Continue reading