The less bumpy way to ride e-commerce = Rakuten (Seite 631)

[FlankerStan]

Das eröffnet große Chancen, die sich m.E allerdings nur schwer abschätzen lassen

It is still very much a work in progress, though. To fortify the offer, and burnish its software credentials, Rakuten has signaled its interest in targeted acquisitions. It has already pounced on Innoeye, a US developer of operational support systems that complement the business support systems provided by Netcracker for Rakuten's own network. Externally, Amin evidently believes this "back-office" part of the business needs a dose of innovation that his newly acquisitive employer can administer.

Buying the companies that contribute to its Japanese network is not a complete departure from Rakuten's previous approach. Before today's announcement, it had taken a major stake in Altiostar, another US firm whose software powers radios built by Airspan, NEC (Netcracker's owner) and Nokia. When Altiostar does deals with other service providers, Rakuten indirectly benefits as one of the US company's main investors.

Clearly, though, Rakuten is not out to purchase all the companies that have contributed to its network. These range from industry giants like Cisco and Nokia to much smaller software specialists such as Altiostar and Innoeye. The overarching plan is to bundle the applications and software developed internally, through acquisition and with external partners into what Rakuten calls the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP). This will then be made available to customers through an app store interface, allowing other service providers to customize their own platforms. If all goes to plan, it will be launched at the end of this year, said Amin.

https://www.lightreading.com/asia/rakuten-mobile-launches-as…

[FlankerStan]

Das müsste dann bei Lyft ähnlich sein

Uber CEO sees ‘signs of life’ after ridership plummeted 80% in April
Published: May 29, 2020 at 11:49 a.m. ET
By Nicole Lyn Pesce

Dara Khosrowshahi tells The Today Show he ‘certainly’ thinks the worst of the coronavirus crisis is over for Uber

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/uber-ceo-sees-signs-of-lif…

[FlankerStan]

Strong job-offerings of the US-companies of Rakuten

https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Rakuten&l=San+Francisco%2C+CA

[FlankerStan]

Wall Street Has Given Up on These 3 Stocks, and That's a Huge Mistake

There are hundreds of stocks that would have to more than double to revisit their 52-week highs. Let's check out three out-of-favor stocks that are ready to prove the naysayers wrong.

Rick Munarriz
(May 29, 2020 at 8:31AM

Lyft

It's probably been a long time since you've hailed a Lyft ride from a phone app, but the momentum that it and Uber (NYSE:UBER) had before their models got icky shouldn't be forgotten. Lyft saw its revenue more than triple in 2017, going on to more than double in 2018 before last year's 68% ascent.

Lyft was growing faster than the larger Uber, but this year's sell-off has been kinder to the global market leader. It certainly helps that Uber has seen its Uber Eats business take off. Lyft has refrained from entering the crowded realm of third-party delivery apps.

When it comes to flagship personal mobility services, both Uber and Lyft have been hurt because high-margin fares that combine different passengers have been suspended until the pandemic passes. Uber may still be 27% below its 52-week high, but Lyft has surrendered 54% off of its peak value.
The case for Lyft recovering is that ride requests have started to improve since bottoming out in the second week of April. Lyft has also tried to make the most of the new normal by testing out the delivery of essentials without a passenger involved, possibly a gateway drug to taking on Uber Eats. In the meantime, when passengers are ready to ride again, Lyft should resume its role as the growth leader.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/29/wall-street-has-gi…

[FlankerStan]

Carousell launches CarouBiz Booster Package to help SMEs digitise business

Online classifieds marketplaces startup Carousell announced the launch of CarouBiz Booster Package, an initiative supported by Enterprise Singapore, that seeks to help 1,000 local retailers and service merchants in Singapore in digitising and growing their businesses online.

From May 25 to December 31, eligible merchants will receive a one-time 90 per cent support from Enterprise Singapore when they sign up for the CarouBiz Booster Package. Each package is valued at US$508 before support, comprises a six-month CarouBiz (Carousell for Business) subscription, and US$338 worth of Carousell coins (marketing credits) to purchase additional seller ads and promotional tools on Carousell.

CarouBiz provides tools include video listings, custom collections for product categorisation, profile cover photo for branding, and premium seller badge for credibility.

https://e27.co/news-roundup-carousell-to-help-smes-digitisin…

[FlankerStan]

10 Things I Learned Starting the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber Community

By Paul Bradbury 24 May 2020

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/made-in-croatia/43794-vib…

[FlankerStan]

Rakuten Ready can help

We have never seen so much change, so quickly. Order for Pickup is now top of mind at every restaurant brand we talk to as it is one of the only options available to keep their businesses running. To do this, brands must make the fulfillment experience as efficient and safe as possible for customers and employees.

If you’re looking for a partner who has experience with brands of all sizes, we can help. Our Rakuten Ready ARRIVE product predicts customer arrival times so employees can optimize order throughput and provide a better, safer (ideally Contactless) fulfillment experience.

Connect with us to understand how ARRIVE can assist your brand through these troubling times.

https://rakutenready.com/resource/contactless-can-differenti…

[ellexi]

Autonomous drones inspect Rakuten Mobile’s new cell towers

In the year 1920, the aviation industry was at a pivotal point. Airplanes had taken off just a few years earlier, and the first world war had propelled the technology to new heights. By the turn of the decade, flying machines had begun to evolve from futuristic airborne wonders to revolutionary practical tools.

100 years later, the drone is undergoing a similar evolution. While drones themselves are not necessarily new, rapid advancements in drone tech have finally seen them adopted by private institutions for practical applications.

In April 2020, Rakuten Mobile announced it would be using drones to conduct inspections of its brand-new network of antennas nationwide, in partnership with airspace mapping company Rakuten AirMap, Inc.

Rakuten Mobile: Pioneering technology

Rakuten Mobile has been dominating headlines again since its full-scale mobile carrier launch in early April. Japan’s newest mobile network operator is using pioneering technology to build the world’s first end-to-end fully virtualized mobile network. The cost and time reductions from this technology have allowed the company to offer a mobile plan that is less than half the price of competitors.

While software and automation are a principal focus, physical antennas are still required to make the connection between Rakuten Mobile’s network and its customers. Rakuten Mobile is building out its network of base stations, starting from Japan’s most populated areas.

Drones can easily reach towers that for human inspectors would commonly require more time and pose physical dangers.

But Rakuten Mobile isn’t letting the constraints of physical hardware get in the way of efficient operations. Drones—loaded with special software—are stepping in to conduct the completion inspections of thousands of new base stations going up around Japan, flying directly to the antennas and making a visual record of the devices from multiple angles.

By eliminating the need for inspectors to physically access the devices, the initiative promises to save an untold number of man-hours and perilous tower-climbing.

Rakuten AirMap has just the tool

The service—called TowerSight—is provided by California-based airspace intelligence outfit AirMap, with whom Rakuten formed the joint venture Rakuten AirMap, Inc. in 2017. In Japan, the venture provides UTM (unmanned traffic management) services and mapping tools for landowners and drone operators looking to safely and legally navigate Japan’s skies.

A virtual representation of the drone’s inspection route on the TowerSight system.

AirMap’s TowerSight system allows companies to leverage off-the-shelf drones to autonomously conduct tower inspections, automatically create 3D reconstructions and record a complete digital portfolio of all owned tower infrastructure. As mobile carriers across the globe build out brand new networks, the company expects strong demand for more efficient inspection workflows.

Two of Rakuten’s most innovative services, combined

Heading up Rakuten AirMap, Inc. is Hideaki Mukai. Mukai has racked up years of experience at the helm of Rakuten Drone, conducting dozens of trials of drone-related services all over Japan, including drone highways over powerlines, delivering supplies to remote islands, sending goods to disaster-struck Fukushima and even making a delivery to a private residence.

Mukai recently led an initiative to deliver groceries to a remote island via Rakuten Drone.

“Conducting the inspections with drones greatly improves the safety and the speed of the process,” Mukai says. “AirMap’s TowerSight system also provides a single platform where Rakuten Mobile can manage its base station site data with a single simple interface.”

The platform allows Rakuten Mobile staff to check on each base station remotely without needing to visit them physically. “This is especially beneficial right now, as we’re all working from home due to the coronavirus.”

The initiative was made possible in part thanks to the team’s extensive experience. “Rakuten has been utilizing drones for delivery since 2016 and inspection services since 2018,” Mukai explains.

“Our experience with drones in Japan and AirMap’s technologies made us a perfect fit to provide such solutions to Rakuten Mobile. Our knowledge of local aviation laws and our network of DSPs (drone service providers) through Rakuten AirMap contributed to the quick launch of the service.”

The age of the drone is upon us

Rakuten Drone has been ambitious with its trial services aimed at the general public, but industrial applications like those of Rakuten Mobile represent a giant leap towards widespread adoption.

“AirMap also provides a product for construction sites and buildings,” Mukai explains. “Utilizing our experience with building inspections using drones, we would like to expand our business to that realm as well.”


Just a speck: A Rakuten drone conducting a ‘drone highway’ test over power lines in rural Japan.

Inspecting high, free-standing structures like antennas and buildings seems a perfect use-case for drone technology. But Mukai hasn’t forgotten about the potential applications of drones in the realm of logistics. “We would also like to strive to realize drone delivery as early as possible as the global need for it is high due to the situation with the coronavirus.”

As serious industrial applications begin to take off, it’s clear that drones have become more than techy toys or futuristic folly. It took 100 years, but—just like the airplane—the drone may have reached that pivotal point.


https://rakuten.today/blog/autonomous-drones-inspecting-raku…

[FlankerStan]

About Japan’s largest marketplace

Rakuten. Japan’s largest marketplace in revenue has more than 100 million members and is strongest in fashion and food. American brands that sell on Rakuten’s platform have their own storefront and product listings. They can also advertise via sponsored product listings and leverage other advertising features on Rakuten, such as coupons, newsletter ads, and banner ads. Rakuten has its own fulfillment service called Rakuten Super Logistics.

https://www.practicalecommerce.com/japan-is-a-enticing-marke…

[FlankerStan]

Antwort auf Beitrag Nr.: 63.826.781 von FlankerStan am 28.05.20 08:05:05

Significant opportunity for Alitostar

Intrigued by Rakuten Mobile’s approach, mobile network operators around the world are evaluating whether they can use its streamlined architecture to dramatically lower the cost of deploying and operating 5G. For Altiostar, which is a major contributor to the Rakuten Communications Platform, that represents a significant opportunity. “Operators recognize that their customers want the high performance and low latency of 5G, but they want it at the same price as 4G,” says Dahod. “There has to be a different way, with a completely different supply chain, and the network has to be able to adapt to what the user is doing, which requires a lot of software intelligence.”

https://rakuten.today/blog/rakuten-mobile-partner-profile-altiostar.html