Illustration by Đàm Minh TríViet Nam News by Chu Lan Hương We’ve all been woken up by an early morning sales call, right? Good morning, I’m calling from so-and-so, are you interested in buying land/an apartment or taking out a loan? The callers speak to you like long-lost friends, but once they get your attention they won’t stop talking until you finally realise it’s a sales call. If you are in good mood, you answer and refuse gently and politely, but if that call catches you at the wrong time, all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately for the telesales staff, they’re just doing their jobs. Telesales staff are often given a script they have to learn by heart and lists of telephone numbers for them to reel of their patter. It is easy to understand why their unsolicited calls are sometimes met with abuse. Phương Linh (not her real name), a student from the northern province of Nam Định, said: … [Read more...] about There are times when it’s not good to talk
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YOLO digital bank expected to make a breakthrough in mobile financial service
Director of YOLO Shameek BhargavaViet Nam News VPBank recently launched a digital bank called YOLO in which users can access not only daily services such as taxis, movies, hotel bookings and food and beverage orders, but also banking services including savings and loans associated with Master Card. Director of YOLO Shameek Bhargava talks with local media about the unique digital banking platform that VPBank is proud to add to the market Can you tell us about the background of the digital bank? The idea of forming YOLO originated from the desire to create a digital platform capable of reaching and serving millions of new customers quickly – a digital banking platform that has the potential to thrive and break through what we see as the traditional banking model. With such big ambitions, we have used a completely new, independent technology platform that is different from current banking platforms which use the traditional core banking system. This platform allows us to grow … [Read more...] about YOLO digital bank expected to make a breakthrough in mobile financial service
Facebook in talks with banks to share customer details, expand customer service
Facebook has asked major US banks to share customer data to allow it to develop new services on the social network's Messenger texting platform, a banking source told AFP on Monday (Aug 6). Facebook in talks with banks to share customer details, expand customer service, photo AFP Facebook had discussions with Chase, JPMorgan, Citibank, and Wells Fargo several months ago, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. The Silicon Valley-based social network also contacted US Bancorp, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news. Facebook, which has come under intense criticism for sharing user data with many app developers, was interested in information including bank card transactions, checking account balances, and where purchases were made, according to the source. Facebook confirmed the effort in a statement to AFP, but said that it is not asking financial institutions for transaction data. "Like many online companies with commerce businesses, we … [Read more...] about Facebook in talks with banks to share customer details, expand customer service
Experts talk up mobile e-commerce
As more and more people are using smart phones for online shopping, businesses should learn how to and make full use of this potential, experts told a conference on mobile e-commerce in HCM City on Friday. According to Huynh Bich Tran, associate director of Neilsen Viet Nam, around 51 per cent of the Vietnamese population uses smart phones, and this can increase to 59.2 per cent by 2020. Generation Z (a demographic born between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s) is a potentially lucrative market that typically depends on smart phones and the internet, and by 2025 will be aged 20-30 and number 14.7 million or 21 per cent of the workforce. Many young customers – referred to as “connected spenders” – utilise the internet and modern technology for their shopping. They are more likely to read reviews and do thorough research on products and company reputations and look around to find the best deals. Tran said businesses looking to produce advertising videos or articles … [Read more...] about Experts talk up mobile e-commerce
Experts: Social media useful to control HIV/AIDS
Illustrative image (Source: internet) Hanoi (VNA) - Digital technology and social media are powerful in supporting Vietnam’s goal to eliminate HIV by 2030, heard a forum in Hanoi on March 23. The forum brought together representatives from the government, the private sector, and communities to discuss how to further integrate HIV services and support into the digital age. Dr Phan Thi Thu Huong, vice director of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, said that over 50 percent of Vietnamese people have access to the internet, and a majority of them use social media. “We need to find creative ways to reach them through new and exciting social media channels,” she said. Le Minh Thanh, director of social enterprise G-link, said that our online community on social media provides a safe space for people at risk of HIV to learn and talk about safe sex and services such as HIV self-testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). “We can reach more people … [Read more...] about Experts: Social media useful to control HIV/AIDS