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Banker and Regulator Agree Chat Commerce can Radically Shift Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

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Chat Commerce

Consensus from both Ecobank and CBN guest panelists at Clickatell’s annual event underscores Chat Commerce holds huge potential to drive both inclusivity and revenue opportunities

LAGOS, Nigeria, October 26, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Clickatell (www.Clickatell.com), the Chat Commerce and business messaging leader, discussed with attendees at Clickatell’s Connect Interact and Transact (CIT) annual event earlier this month how they could drive financial inclusion and reach their revenue goals by adopting Chat Commerce. The event took place at the Radisson Blu, Anchorage in Lagos with industry experts from Clickatell, Ecobank and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sharing insight and tips with an audience of business and technology leaders. 

Werner Lindemann, Clickatell’s Senior Vice President of Enterprise Sales, Growth Markets, kicked off by pointing out how global brands, like Amazon and Uber, have built their entire business model on convenience commerce – where businesses find ways to deliver services and products to their customers wherever they are and at a time that works for them.

Lindemann went on to share that the best way to reach customers where they are is on their phone. However, he said apps have a very limited shelf life, saying the average customer regularly uses just five apps on their phone. He advised instead of focusing on building apps, brands should be looking to leverage the power of chat, especially since WhatsApp is the most used (https://bit.ly/3Nab6Q1) social media platform in Nigeria. What’s more, when combined with USSD, companies will be able to reach almost every person in the country. 

The power of Chat Commerce is especially relevant for the Nigerian banking industry and Lindemann shared that banks can now onboard new clients and conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) standards using chat, meaning banks can serve customers anywhere in the country, in real time.

Lindemann shared other use cases where Clickatell had radically changed how Southern African businesses engaged with their customers, these included:

  • How a national retailer was able to cut their broadsheet print production and distribution from 5 Dollars to just 3 cents
  • How that retailer now has a 40% to 70% engagement rate on their product specials using WhatsApp, compared to 3% on SMS
  • How a national retailer now uses WhatsApp to enable self-service for their loyalty programme and has eliminated more than 20 000 call centre calls per month to block or replace loyalty cards
  • How a national healthcare chain now allows customers to order and arrange collection of their chronic medication at their nearest outlet, no matter where they are in the country
  • How a Southern African low-cost airline allows travellers to check in and receive their boarding pass on the WhatsApp channel 

People are already on these chat platforms, and we aim to serve them with payments where they are

An engaging panel discussion followed the keynote, introduced by Clickatell’s West Africa Managing Director, Samson Isa and facilitated by Uzo Nwani, Commercial Director of Clickatell.

Opening the discussion, panelists highlighted how their organization had used technology to boost inclusivity. For CBN, this was achieved by its introduction of the eNaira digital currency. For Ecobank, its move to offer a WhatsApp channel allowed them to reach their customers more easily. And for Clickatell, it has been the company’s drive to help banks in Africa improve their reach by moving to the more ubiquitous chat channel.

“One out of three Nigerians are financially excluded. Therefore the work we have done with Clickatell on the eNaira USSD channel is so exciting. We are also looking to the eNaira to lower the costs of remittances as well as bring down the high costs of cash management. We believe the eNaira will drive inclusive growth and make the Central Bank, as an institution, much more effective in carrying out its mandate,” said Stephen Ambore, Assistant Director, CBN.

Osahon Akpata, Group Head of Consumer Payments at Ecobank shared the power of mobile with the audience.

“Across 33 countries, Ecobank Group processed $5.1 billion through our mobile app in 2021 and we built an agency banking network of 110,000 agents, leveraging the ubiquity of mobile devices. While Chat Commerce is still in its infancy for us, we are scaling up the platform for better customer service. We have integrated artificial intelligence into our chatbot, Rafiki, to help solve customer queries quicker and seamlessly. We also have customers using the chat channel for transactions and we plan on expanding its use to product information as well. People are already on these chat platforms, and we aim to serve them with payments where they are,” he said.

Akpata went on to share that being able to generate QR codes on the WhatsApp channel, make transfers and buy airtime have all been met with great enthusiasm by Ecobank customers, adding that chat will be a key part of the bank’s drive to reach its target of 100 million customers.

CBN will also be looking to chat to connect with people in Nigeria further in the future.

“We are looking at chat to help us deliver financial literacy and boost inclusion. When it comes to innovation, chat, including USSD, can help us reach new customers and I am excited about the future opportunities, especially at the base of the pyramid,” said Ambore.

Lindemann wrapped up the proceedings by saying: “We’ve just kicked off a project with a major bank with around 15 million active customers, and we will be building them a chat banking wallet in just six weeks. In my opinion, chat is allowing us to fast-forward innovation for enterprises. I believe every enterprise has a responsibility to deploy products that have a real impact on their customer and society, and to see this happen in six weeks is testament to the power of chat.”

For more information on how Chat Commerce will help your business connect, interact and transact with your customers visit www.Clickatell.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Clickatell.

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OPPO Find X8 and Find X8 Pro Launches Globally with Ultra-Grade Hasselblad Cameras, Next-Gen Performance and ColorOS 15

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  • OPPO Find X8 and Find X8 Pro launched in global markets
  • Find X8 Series delivers ultra-grade cameras, performance and battery life
  • ColorOS 15 debuts on Find X8 Series with cutting-edge OPPO AI

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 November 2024 -OPPO, the world’s leading smart device brand, today announced the global availability of its Find X8 and Find X8 Pro flagship smartphones. Each delivers ultra-grade experiences across camera, performance, and battery life and debuts ColorOS 15 with its suite of advanced OPPO AI solutions.

“With Find X8 Series, we have broken through barriers that have held smartphones back for generations. An exquisite, ultra-slim design, along with ultra-grade cameras, ultra-long-lasting battery life, and ultra-powerful performance, are now a reality for the first time. Thanks to our intelligent ColorOS 15, OPPO AI, and our close partnerships with industry leaders, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro make creativity, productivity, and everyday tasks easier, quicker, and more seamless than ever. Find X8 Series really is the new global standard for smartphone excellence.”— Pete Lau, SVP and Chief Product Officer, OPPO

Stylish, Slim & Durable

Both Find X8 and Find X8 Pro are premium, elegant, and durable, with rich glass and aluminium construction plus striking Cosmos Ring design, delivering a super-comfortable in-hand experience, whichever you choose. Despite ultra-beating camera systems, each sets a new benchmark in its class for ultra-slim flagship camera phone design.

Find X8 represents a golden size. With its 6.59″ display and an easy-to-hold design, it balances being both compact and immersive, and the slender 7.85mm profile and light 193g weight ensure whatever the scenario, it’s a perfect fit.[i] Fans of big-screened smartphones will love Find X8 Pro’s expansive 6.78″ Infinite View Display. Its size is offset by its elegant, curved frame and quad-curved glass on the front and back, creating a soft, easy-to-manage hold.

Both Find X8 and Find X8 Pro are IP68 and IP69 dust and water-resistant, able to withstand being submerged in 1.5m of water for 30 minutes and jet sprays of water up to 80ºC for total peace of mind. Find X8 also adds Swiss SGS and Military Grade certification, tested to whole-phone drop resistance and MGJB 150.18A MIL-STD impact standards.

Available in Star Grey, Space Black and Shell Pink, Find X8’s diffuse finish is elevated and fingerprint-resistant, whichever colour you choose. Find X8 Pro is available in Space Black and Pearl White. Both carry forward this sleek, diffuse aesthetic, but each Pearl White Find X8 Pro adds a unique pearlescent pattern, infusing an exclusive quality to the colour.

Less Bezel & More Screen

Find X8 and Find X8 Pro deliver immersive views and stunning, bright, crisp, high-quality screens. Each phone features a super-smooth 120Hz display and up to 1600 nits peak brightness for easy outdoor viewing, even on a sunny day. When playing back HDR content, Find X8 Series beams at up to 4500 nits, and the ProXDR displays support the Ultra HDR standard, so your photos look glorious across compatible apps and services.

For Find X8 and Find X8 Pro, the bezels surrounding the displays have been shrunk to create a futuristic, immersive view. Find X8 showcases the thinnest bezel of any OPPO phone, symmetrical on all sides at just 1.45mm, creating a nearly edge-to-edge impression. Find X8 Pro’s visually symmetrical 1.9mm bezel is also ultra-slim, with the larger size and quad-curved glass elevating the look and feel further still.

Splash Touch technology means you can use Find X8 Series outdoors in the rain or when your hands are wet without interruption, and with high-frequency PWM dimming, DC dimming, and TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort 4.0 certification, enjoy a view that’s easy on the eyes across both Find X8 and Find X8 Pro.

Hasselblad Master Camera System

OPPO Find X8 Series introduces OPPO’s all-new Hasselblad Master Camera System with ultra-beating zoom and cutting-edge AI-powered capabilities. Both phones feature all-50MP cameras, with Find X8’s combination including a 15mm (0.6x), 24mm (1x), and 73mm (3x) periscope camera mix, while Find X8 Pro has a quad-camera, adding a 135mm (6x) periscope camera for further-reaching zoom and a larger 23mm wide-angle camera sensor.

Both Find X8 and Find X8 Pro debut OPPO’s triple prism periscope camera with a flagship 50MP, 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT600 sensor, capturing superior lowlight photos and videos despite its compact size. Find X8 Pro is also the first globally available smartphone to feature two periscope cameras, offering industry-leading gapless zoom performance.

With Hasselblad Portrait Mode, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro put the iconic Hasselblad look in your pocket – a perfect pairing with the periscope cameras – and Find X8 Pro is the only global smartphone to offer optical 135mm portraits for high-impact, dynamic photos of people and pets.

When you need next-level zoom, AI Telescope Zoom takes Find X8 Series’ incredible hardware even further, breaking through limitations to create stunning photos at up to 60x. So whether it’s a picturesque landscape or a performer on stage, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro go the distance.

OPPO Find X8 Series also introduces Lightning Snap, capturing a burst of photos at up to seven frames per second with a long press of the shutter button, and all without sacrificing image processing. This means each frame looks like a dedicated still image, taking full advantage of OPPO’s HyperTone Image Engine. Find X8 Pro owners can also access Lightning Snap by using the Quick Button, a touch-sensitive strip on its right side that can quickly launch the camera and control zoom.

With its all-50MP rear camera system, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro aren’t just photography champions; they also record Dolby Vision HDR video at up to 4K resolution, 60fps from all cameras, including the front camera, making both phones ultimate creator tools.

Transforming the Livephoto experience, Find X8 Series marks an end to poor-quality accompanying video clips. Capturing the essence of every moment with movie-grade dynamic range and stabilisation in every clip, Find X8’s Livephoto quality means each frame can be turned into a potential photo for maximum flexibility.

The Ultra-Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9400

With the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro pack class-leading power. Built on TSMC’s 2nd generation 3nm process and featuring MediaTek’s 2nd generation all Big Core design, the Dimensity 9400 delivers 35% faster CPU and 41% faster GPU performance. More than just powerful, MediaTek has achieved game-changing efficiencies of 40% from the CPU and 44% from the GPU, and with AI tasks using 35% less power, the Dimensity 9400 and Find X8 Series are future-proofed performance champions.[ii]

OPPO and MediaTek have worked closely to optimise Find X8 Series with the all-new Trinity Engine, and each phone features a customised cooling system, harnessing a high-performance vapour chamber, graphite layer, and thermal conductive gel to deliver improved heat dissipation for ultra-powerful performance.

The Ultimate Concert Phone with AI LinkBoost

Find X8 Series features OPPO’s new AI LinkBoost for unrivalled connectivity. With a total of 20 antennas, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro ensure you stay as connected as possible, even in challenging environments.

Perfect for concerts, AI LinkBoost is optimised for stadiums, enabling 79% faster video uploads in congested environments.iii Together with industry-leading zoom capabilities and ultra-long battery life, you can capture higher-quality, further-reaching clips and share them with ease like never before.

AI LinkBoost’s superpowers take Find X8 Series beyond stadiums. In weak network conditions, such as in an elevator or a basement, AI LinkBoost enhances uplink and downlink throughput by 50%. AI LinkBoost also makes sure connectivity won’t hold back your gaming, thanks to a triple Wi-Fi antenna, so no matter how you hold it, you’ll benefit from the best possible connection and experience up to 40.11% less latency during playback.iii

Slim Style; Huge Battery Life

Pioneering silicon-carbon battery technology adds ultra-beating battery performance to Find X8 Series despite both phones’ sleek profiles. Find X8 has a better-than-flagship 5630mAh battery, and Find X8 Pro’s incredible 5910mAh higher-than-ultra capacity delivers true multi-day performance.

More than just long-lasting, Find X8 and Find X8 Pro are also fast-charging, with 80W OPPO SUPERVOOCTM charging for hours of power in minutes of charge time. Both phones deliver ultra-beating wireless charging with 50W AIRVOOCTM, and when paired with an OPPO Mag Charge case, Find X8 Series can enjoy the speed of 50W AIRVOOCTM with the convenience of magnetic charging and mounting.

ColorOS 15 & OPPO AI

OPPO Find X8 Series introduces ColorOS 15, setting the bar for ultra-smooth experiences and ultra-smart AI capabilities.

By overhauling more than 800 elements to create a sleek, minimalist aesthetic with refined effects, navigating ColorOS 15 is a seamless, fluid experience, and Flux Themes creates easy-to-swap visual profiles you can switch between in moments. ColorOS 15’s fluidity is made possible by OPPO’s Luminous Rendering Engine, resulting in an 18% faster touch response and 40% superior stability.[iii]

Launching with Android 15, Find X8 Series will receive six years of security updates for long-lasting peace of mind.

To streamline photo edits, OPPO AI Eraser has been upgraded for superior object detection and generative fill, while three new AI-powered creative tools have been added.

AI Clarity Enhance transforms a low-resolution photo or cropped image into a crisp, clear, natural-looking ultra-high-definition image. AI Unblur restores natural details, colours and textures, such as skin and hair, so you can breathe new life into action shots and blurry photos. AI Reflection Remover removes glare and reflections to reveal the photo you were trying to capture all along.

Dare to dream with OPPO AI Studio, and create countless generated images, choosing between realistic, illustrated and a host of fantastical styles to create your next avatar, profile picture or social post.

From creativity to productivity, ColorOS 15 upgrades OPPO’s AI ToolBox. This context-aware menu is in the Smart Sidebar when you need it, with AI SummaryAI SpeakAI Reply and AI Writer returning to streamline reading and writing for Find X8 Series, whether browsing the web or writing a message.

AI Assistant for Notes restructures and streamlines content in an instant, while also correcting spelling, grammar and tone, and it can intelligently expand or shorten notes. Within the new Documents app, existing text files, spreadsheets and presentations can be summarised in seven languages. It also supports pro-grade translation and can rewrite documents in more formal or casual styles. Recorder can capture hours of audio in multiple languages, generating a transcript and a summary for personal assistant-level support, so you can focus on the task at hand.

ColorOS 15 also introduces Google Circle to Search for OPPO smart devices. With a simple long press, users can instantly search for whatever’s on-screen without needing to switch apps. And with the Google Gemini app and Gemini as ColorOS’s digital assistant, whether checking the weather, chatting with Gemini, or planning your next vacation, OPPO and Google are on hand to make life easier.

With Touch to Share, OPPO continues to break through established barriers, enabling one-tap wireless file-sharing between iOS/iPadOS and ColorOS 15 devices using NFC.[iv]

OPPO Find X8 and Find X8 Pro availability

Find X8 is available with 12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB, Find X8 Pro is available with 16GB + 512GB.


[i] Dimensions and weight vary depending on colour

[ii] Data from MediaTek and OPPO Labs

[iii] Data from OPPO Labs

[iv] Touch to Share requires O+ Connect app to be installed from the App Store. The feature currently supports wireless file-sharing between ColorOS 15 and iOS/iPad OS devices, with NFC touch to share made available in a future update.

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OPPO Launches Find X8 Series Globally, Marking Steady Progress in Globalization

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OPPO
  • OPPO Find X8 and Find X8 Pro launched in global markets
  • Overseas markets have become the growth engine for OPPO, contributing approximately 60% of its total shipments
  • OPPO’s globalization is rooted in localization and driven by its focus on premiumization

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 November 2024 -OPPO, the world’s leading smart device brand, today announced the global availability of its Find X8 and Find X8 Pro flagship smartphones. Each delivers ultra-grade experiences across camera, performance, and battery life and debuts ColorOS 15 with its suite of advanced OPPO AI solutions.
The global release of the OPPO Find X8 series underscores OPPO’s commitment to globalization and its dedication to delivering top-quality products and services to users worldwide.
 
“Our progress in globalization stems from OPPO’s commitment to understanding local communities and delivering exceptional products and services.” said Billy Zhang, President of Overseas Marketing, Sales and Services at OPPO. “As we expand in overseas market, we remain committed to creating diverse and innovative solutions that enhance the users experience.”

Overseas markets as OPPO’s growth engine

Overseas markets have become the growth engine for OPPO. Currently, the company operates in over 70 countries and regions, with more than 300,000 retail spaces worldwide. OPPO now ranks No. 4 globally in smartphone shipments, and overseas shipments account for approximately 60% of its total volume.

Southeast Asia remains a core market for OPPO, where the brand holds the top position. Newly established markets in 2024, such as Brazil and Argentina, underscore OPPO’s commitment to expanding in Latin America. Now OPPO ranks NO.5 with a 62% year-on-year growth in Latin America.[1]

OPPO’s ambitions of globalization extend beyond smartphones as it evolves into a comprehensive global technology company. With a diverse product portfolio that includes internet services—engaging 700 million ColorOS users worldwide[2]—and a growing lineup of IoT products, OPPO is dedicated to expanding its presence in global markets.

Strengthening local connections through retail, manufacturing, and cultural engagement

A significant part of OPPO’s globalization success comes from its commitment to connect with local communities.

With the goal of resonating with people and understanding their unique cultures, OPPO partners with Discovery Channel this year to launch the “Culture in a Shot” initiatives, celebrating cultural diversity through OPPO imaging technology. To date, over 330 million people worldwide have been inspired by these cultural images and stories.

OPPO’s understanding of local culture is also evident in its retail strategy. As part of its retail 3.0 Pro upgrading plan with a $60 million investment, OPPO integrates the local culture into its retail space to create a welcoming and familiar environment for customers. In Indonesia, for example, OPPO stores feature coffee corners with locally sourced coffee.

To ensure reliable quality for local consumers, OPPO is not just sold globally but also made globally. With manufacturing centers in 8 countries, OPPO’s local production capabilities enable it to efficiently meet regional market demands while strengthening connections with local communities and economies.

Driving premiumization through joint innovation with global tech giants

As OPPO expands globally, it is also focusing on premiumization. By collaborating with leading tech companies such as Google, MediaTek, Ericsson, and Hasselblad, OPPO continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI, imaging, and connectivity. For example, featuring AI Telescope Zoom and Lightning Snap, OPPO Find X8 Series is the perfect Matchday Phone for fans, under the collaboration between UEFA and OPPO.

These partnerships empower OPPO to deliver exceptional, premium experiences that cater to discerning consumers worldwide, and strengthening its influence in premium markets.

With a focus on global expansion, local engagement, and premium experiences, OPPO is committed to bringing innovative, high-quality solutions to users worldwide. The OPPO Find X8 series global launch exemplifies this commitment, and it is backed by OPPO’s dedicated global service network in over 62 countries and regions. As it moves towards globalization and localization, OPPO remains dedicated to delivering technology that empowers and connects communities around the world.
 



 

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OPPO Elevates ColorOS 15 with Microsoft’s Advanced AI Productivity Features

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SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 November 2024 -OPPO has strengthened its cooperation with Microsoft to deliver advanced AI productivity features to ColorOS 15, OPPO’s next-generation smart device experience.a

“To deliver advanced AI experiences, we are incredibly proud to partner with Microsoft, a pioneer in the field. At the cutting edge of global AI development, Microsoft lays a strong foundation for ColorOS 15’s language features. These save OPPO users time and headspace, ensuring meaningful, advanced AI productivity tools are always just a tap away”.—Nicole Zhang, General Manager of AI Product at OPPO
 
ColorOS 15’s AI Speak uses Microsoft’s advanced AI productivity features, reading web pages aloud so users can consume content hands-free while reducing their screen time. These ultra-intelligent models also power OPPO Documents’ translation features and the Voice Translate application, breaking down language barriers in seconds.

Microsoft’s AI capabilities enhance ColorOS 15 with practical, time-saving features, including accurate audio transcription within the new Recorder and Notes apps, boosting organisation and delivering time-saving benefits.

ColorOS 15, featuring Microsoft’s advanced AI capabilities, will debut at the global launch of OPPO’s upcoming Find X8 Series.
 



 

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