Digital agency Appnovation expands into Singapore after HK foray

Appnovation, a Vancouver-based digital agency, has expanded into Singapore, in aims to strengthen its presence across APAC and enhance its digital capabilities. The move addresses growing demand in APAC for strategic and innovative digital solutions, the agency said, providing more opportunities to serve large global clients and work more closely with its partners. This comes as the agency acknowledges the acceleration of the digital economy. 

In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Yvette Yanne, general manager, APAC at Appnovation said Singapore was chosen for its expansion as the agency sees it as a "strategic growth market". Additionally, Singapore’s status as a center for digital and innovation makes it an ideal setting for the Appnovation’s expansion. Yanne (pictured) also said that Appnovation will continue to expand its operation in Southeast Asia by putting talents in Singapore to service customers in the region. While Singapore will be its primary focus for now, the agency is also having conversations with clients in other Southeast Asia markets such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, according to Yanne.

One of the agency's key priorities is to build up its brand awareness and thought leadership in the market. Yanne told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that the agency will be doing so by "proactively participating" in industry events and building connections with other key industry players, local associations, industry experts and local and regional media. "We will also leverage our expertise in digital marketing to drive content marketing and social media marketing strategies in our target markets," Yanne said.

Appnovation's Singapore office will be led by Hema Thiagarajah, VP, client partner, Asia Pacific at Appnovation, who is in charge of driving its business growth in the region and oversees overall operations in Singapore. According to Yanne, Thiagarajah is an experienced digital professional with specialties in digital strategy, customer experience, service design and digital transformation. She was previously the business director for XM Asia Pacific and digital consulting, and was also one of the founding members of Deloitte Digital in Southeast Asia, where she helmed the role of a director. 

Thiagarajah said Southeast Asian markets are incredibly diverse and unique and are "sometimes considered challenging" by some foreign companies. "I’m looking forward to combining Appnovation’s global experience with our local expertise in the region, and building a team that will deliver the best digital solutions for our clients’ toughest challenges in Southeast Asia," she added.

The agency said it is currently working with its existing clients in APAC to understand their needs for Singapore and Southeast Asia. It looks to delve into key industries such as financial services, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and retail. Some of its clients in APAC include AXA, Prudential, Shiseido, Hongkong Land and Hong Kong Jockey Club. Yanne added: "We believe our approach and experience in digital transformation and technology solutions in other parts of the world have value to customers in Southeast Asia." 

Appnovation first established its operations in Asia Pacific in 2016 with its Hong Kong's office. It is added that to catch up with the growth in the region, the team in Hong Kong has recently moved into a new office, while the team in Singapore is currently looking to hire talent for the growing business. Open roles at Appnovation Asia Pacific include technology, business development, delivery, as well as people and culture.

Yanne said: “We’re excited about the expansion into Singapore. Together with the team in Hong Kong, which are located in the strategic regional hubs in Asia Pacific, we believe that this will further complement our growth and help us stay competitive in the digital industry." She added that the expansion will help the agency bring local relevance and knowledge to its clients, while it continues to drive focus on innovation and seamless digital experience for them by leveraging on its global resources and expertise. 

Going up against some fierce competitor in the industry, Yanne said Appnovation's unique selling point lies in its agility, local relevance, and its drive to strive for a seamless digital experience for clients. "Ultimately, a constant evolution of skills and offerings is essential as the digital industry is constantly evolving. The skills of today are not the skills of tomorrow. By taking a forward-looking approach and investing in building skills and capabilities before they reach mass popularity, Appnovation enables its customers to be ahead of the curve as well," she added.

Appnovation currently has 300 staff across 16 offices globally. According to its website, the agency places focus on customer satisfaction, openness, innovation, teamwork and growth. It also takes an experience-led approach to help brands understand the role digital can play in realising opportunities, solving business problems and delivering tangible results. 

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