Klook Completes US$200M in Additional Funding - Seite 2

New capital to accelerate the development and digital transformation for merchants

Despite being in extended lockdowns, Klook has seen merchants in such markets who are eager to digitize their business. At the height of the pandemic, Klook onboarded 150% more activities compared to the same period in 2019. With this new capital, the company will accelerate the development and roll-out of its merchant SaaS solutions. Designed to bridge the gaps faced by merchants today, these tools will empower any merchant to build, manage, and scale their business with Klook.

Today, the company's merchant SaaS solutions power millions of bookings for more than 2,500 merchants worldwide. Doubling down on its SaaS solutions will enable even more merchants who have had a challenging year to transform and accelerate their business by easily creating an online storefront powered by Klook. This is supported by a backend engine that manages ticketing, distribution, inventory management, marketing, and more.

"We are setting out to reimagine the next digital leap for the experiences sector which has traditionally been fragmented with offline practices or legacy systems that do not truly address the realities of a post-COVID world. Since day one, Klook has been working closely with our merchants, both big and small, to identify common pain points that we can solve together. With this new funding, we have additional ammunition to accelerate our technology innovation, and truly transform and empower this space for future growth," added Eric Gnock Fah, COO and Co-Founder at Klook.

In the second half of 2020, Klook piloted a series of such tools.

• Contact Tracing System: This free-to-use system was rolled out across partners' local attractions in the Philippines, allowing for quicker identification and follow-ups should the need arise.
• Attractions Plus: Made for attractions and major establishments, this module allows customers to seamlessly access all the content they need in just one app: from an in-park map and what to eat, to recommended itineraries.
• Klook Live!: Interactive livestream mobile feature, users can experience merchants' offerings up-close through entertaining and interactive instant video content. Early results observed 4 times the average uplift in conversion rates.

The company has also forged stronger partnerships with tourism boards such as the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Japan National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization, Singapore Tourism Board, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand among others, to help diversify offerings and to grow demand domestically. In Singapore, Klook was appointed by the Singapore Tourism Board as an authorized booking partner for the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRV), to boost domestic demand and reinvigorate the industry.