KrASIA Weekly: Witnessing how tech disruption is changing the way we live

Hi there, its Khamila from Jakarta.

As a tech reporter, it’s always fascinating for me to see how technology has changed the way we learn, work, and interact with each other.

In the past few years, people started talking about the fourth industrial revolution where the combination of technologies and techniques will create more intelligent machines to change the way products and services are produced and provided. Ready or not, we are getting closer to that.

This week, JD.com announced that it has completed its first drone flight in Indonesia with government approval. The drone delivery technology is expected to revolutionise the logistics sector, benefits those live in the remote areas across Indonesia.

Not only to provide more convenient service for JD.id‘s customers, but the technology is also believed to be giving greater impact to humanity as it could improve access to vital medical or supporting natural disaster relief in remote areas.

Digitalisation inevitably has penetrated to almost all trade sectors, including traditional retail.

Earlier this week, Indonesia’s tech retail startup Warung Pintar announced new series B funding to enhance its tech layer in order to further supporting traditional street vendor shops. Besides Warung Pintar, Indonesia’s e-commerce giants like Tokopedia and Bukalapak have adopted similar concept and branching out more into new retail sector to help micro-enterprises benefit from tech advancement. It looks like new retail will keep evolving and we are excited to see more innovation and developments from it.

Speaking of digital disruption, it seems like fintech is still a heated topic.

Several updates from Southeast Asia’s fintech sector this week include Singapore-based money-lending platform Credit Culture’s new huge funding from RCE Capital, Indonesian startup Ajaib that caught attention from big-time investor Softbank, and the announcement from Indonesian state-owned banks association that will launch a centralised QR payment platform which integrates Alipay and WeChat Pay. With the new platform, Alibaba and Tencent are expected to extend their payments platforms so that local residents can also use their services.

In China, technology developments seem to know no limits. Chinese property developer Country Garden currently expressed its interest in the robotics industry as the company’s chairman Yang Guoqiang proposed a new structure that involving robots to build houses in the near future. Will technology eventually replace labour force? I guess only time will tell.

It may not be exaggerating to say that today is a great time to live as we see how tech development provides unlimited possibilities and opportunities for our lives. Rapid technology changes are disruptive and impressive. So it is now up to us how we take advantage of this astonishing dynamic changes called the digital era.

Here are some stories you shouldn’t miss:

Southeast Asia

Technology investment in Southeast Asia reached record US$11 billion in 2018

Indonesian state-owned banks team up to launch QR payment platform

“We’re seeing $2.5b for food delivery in Indonesia alone”:Go-Jek on transaction value, international expansion, and IPO plans

Southeast Asia has two new unicorns, three more might hit the mark this year

Indonesian startup Ajaib opens up investment opportunities for millennials

Credit Culture raises $29m from Malaysian RCE Capital to compete with personal bank loans

Travelstop launches in 7 markets to expand further in Asia’s business travel sector

Indian budget accommodation unicorn OYO enters Philippine market

Gobi Partners enters the Philippines with health and education investments

Singapore ride-hailing app TADA enters Vietnam