(Hong Kong, 11 Mar 2016) As a strategic move to accelerate the enhancement of mobile engagement with customers, AS Watson Group (ASW) eLab has announced today the appointment of Mtel as its Asia mobile solution partner for the next three years. In 2016 alone, MTel will deliver 9 mobile apps for ASW eLab in Asia. Operating in 25 markets worldwide, AS Watson Group is the largest international health & beauty retailer in Asia & Europe. This appointment would make Mtel, a leading digital solution agency based in Hong Kong, a strategic partner of ASW’s customer-centric retailing approach.
Since 2014, ASW invested US60 million in the establishment and development of its technology platform to drive Customer Relationship Management and digital experience for its retail shoppers. The Group now has over 105 million loyalty members, 7 eStores in Asia and 8 eStores in Europe.
The new addition of Mtel as its extended mobile arm will help to accelerate the implementation of ASW’s digital strategy.
This appointment focuses Asia, covering retail brands including Watsons, PARKnSHOP, FORTRESS and Watson’s Wine.
Malina Ngai, JP, Chief Operating Officer of AS Watson Group is excited about this partnership, “Our global web traffic has increased by 98% last year to over 568 million, and 40% of the traffic is from mobile. It is of utmost importance that we accelerate to enhance the mobile experience for our shoppers. In Asia, the Watsons brand in particular is the most trusted health and beauty retailer brand, and our core customer groups across the region are increasingly mobile savvy. I believe that Mtel expertise can support us to stay relevant to our customers and further strengthen our relationship with them. The 9 mobile apps that we are building this year will all have mCommerce function and also allow customer to carry mobile loyalty card.”
Willy Wong, CEO of Mtel is thrilled with being appointed as the eLab Partner, “While many companies look at mobile app development as a project, it is evolving into a strategic tool for consumer brands to engage its customers. I am pleased to create a long-term partnership with a successful international retailer like AS Watson who sees mobile as more than a one-off project. Our initial scope is in Asia and I am confident that we will help AS Watson to make a difference in the role mobile plays in their business.”
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About AS Watson Group
Established in Hong Kong in 1841, AS Watson Group is the largest international health and beauty retailer in Asia and Europe with 12,400 stores in 25 markets. Each year, over 3 billion customers and members shop with our 13 retail brands, both in stores and online. In Hong Kong, we operate over 650 stores under four retail brands – Watsons, PARKnSHOP, FORTRESS, and Watson’s Wine. In addition, we manufacture and distribute high quality drinking water brand Watsons Water, as well as famous juice drinks Mr. Juicy and Sunkist. For the fiscal year 2014, AS Watson Group increased its revenue by 6% to HK$157.4 billion. We have over 120,000 employees worldwide, including 12,800 in Hong Kong.
AS Watson Group is also a member of the world-renowned multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, which has major interests in ports and related services, retail, infrastructure, energy and telecommunications in over 50 countries.
Please visit www.aswatson.com for more in-depth information about AS Watson Group and its brands.
You may also stay in touch with us via our digital presence (eCommerce, social media, mobile app & more); more details are at https://www.aswatson.com/en/our-customers/digitalasw/.
About ASW eLab
eLab is an in-house digital division of AS Watson, a dedicated digital team to offer a global support to the Group’s eCommerce business. Working alongside with business units, eLab helps build their eCommerce offers and to engage customers online, advising on strategies and consulting, web and mobile development, design and platform development. There are currently 80 people working in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Milan to support the eCommerce initiatives across Asia and Europe.
About Mtel
Established in 1999 and headquartered in Hong Kong, Mtel has developed into one of the leading digital solution providers with offices in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Taipei. With a team of over hundred professionals, Mtel provides digital solutions to renowned international and local clients from a wide spectrum of industries including retail, finance, insurance, telecommunications, public utilities and advertising. Mtel supports these clients with development of mobile, web and social applications, digital installations and cloud platform. http://www.mtelnet.com/about.html
