
Empowering Asia-Pacific's SMEs: The Next Chapter In Global Trade
Today's trade landscape is defined by both complexity and possibility. Evolving regulations, shifting supply chains and rapidly changing consumer demand present SMEs with a unique mix of challenges and opportunities. While they may not possess the scale of global enterprises, SMEs bring to the table something equally powerful: agility, deep community roots and an entrepreneurial spirit that propels transformation.
What SMEs Need Now: Clarity, Agility And Connectivity
To thrive in this evolving environment, SMEs require three essential enablers: clarity, agility and connectivity.
Charting The Future, Together
SMEs have long been the quiet force propelling Asia-Pacific's growth. As the region enters a new era of transformation, these businesses are poised not only to adapt, but to lead.
At FedEx, we're investing in the capabilities that matter most, with intelligent delivery solutions, scalable logistics infrastructure and a digitally enabled network designed for agility. Coupled with our global reach and customs expertise, we are committed to empowering SMEs to compete with confidence, grow sustainably and deliver excellence in an increasingly connected world.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Bloomberg
17 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Stock Movers: Datadog, FedEx, Synopsys
On this episode of Stock Movers: - Software company Datadog (DDOG) will be added to the S&P 500 index next week, replacing Juniper Networks Inc. after its recent acquisition by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. - FedEx (FDX) is double-upgraded to outperform at BNP Paribas Exane, with the broker saying the stock is 'arguably oversold,' expecting the firm's relative operational outperformance vs. rival UPS to continue. UPS is meanwhile upgraded to neutral from underperform. - Synopsys (SNPS) and Cadence Design both gain 6.1% in premarket trading after the US lifted export license requirements for chip design software sales in China, clearing the way for the companies to resume services in the world's second-biggest economy.


Entrepreneur
21 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Luma Fertility, FitFeast Raise Seed Capital to Redefine Reproductive Care and Protein Consumption
The below brands have announced their latest funding rounds. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Luma Fertility Raises USD 4 Mn Seed Funding Luma Fertility, a patient-centric and tech-enabled fertility startup, has secured USD 4 million in seed funding led by Peak XV's Surge, with backing from Ameera Shah of Metropolis Healthcare and Vijay Taparia of B2V Ventures. The funding will support the expansion of Luma's full-stack fertility clinics, starting in Mumbai and scaling to other cities over the next two years. Founded by Neha K Motwani in 2023—after her personal struggles with fertility—Luma aims to revolutionise reproductive care in India by prioritising empathy, transparency, and clinical excellence. "Fertility care in India is broken. It's optimised for systems, not people," said Motwani. "At Luma, we've rebuilt it from the ground up—designed entirely around the patient." Luma offers a wide range of services, including IVF, egg and embryo freezing, fertility assessments, pre-conception consults, and at-home semen analysis. Its integrated digital platform includes a proprietary app and LumaAI—an AI-enabled support system for 24/7 cycle guidance. The clinic also offers outcome-enhancing support like nutrition, acupuncture, and emotional wellness sessions. Notably, Luma claims that it is the first IVF clinic in India with a see-through embryology lab and a dedicated care specialist for every patient. Backing Luma's mission is a seasoned team including Chief Embryologist Chirag Shah and Medical Director Dr Radhika Sheth. "What drew me to Luma is their full-stack, customer-first approach," said Ameera Shah. With India's fertility rate declining and demand rising, Luma is poised to redefine fertility care for the modern Indian family. Protein-Focused Nutrition Brand FitFeast Raises INR 5.5 Cr FitFeast, a flavour-first protein brand, has raised INR 5.5 crore in seed funding led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), with participation from industry leaders including Raghav Singhal (Founder at Swasthum Wellness), Santosh Govindaraju (Sustainability Executive, Investor and Board Member), Abhishek Chopra and Aabhas Khanna from HSBC. The funds will be used to strengthen FitFeast's digital presence, scale marketing, expand leadership, and launch protein-rich innovations across India and global markets. Founded in 2021 by Aditya Poddar, FitFeast aims to make protein consumption mainstream without compromising on taste. Its offerings include Malai Kulfi protein shakes, dessert-inspired bars, protein chips, and nut butters tailored to Indian palates. "At FitFeast, we're rewriting how India consumes protein—deliciously and accessibly. IPV has believed in that vision from day one," said Poddar. The brand's D2C-first model, supported by platforms like Zepto, Amazon, and Flipkart, delivers across 20,000+ pin codes. FitFeast has already sold over 10 million grams of protein and gained significant traction after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 4. The round also welcomes retired Australian cricketer Shane Watson as an investor and brand partner, joining Indian all-rounder Axar Patel. "After trying FitFeast's chips and shakes, I was genuinely hooked. I believe in this brand for the long run," said Watson. FitFeast has grown 5x in the last four months, now crossing INR 50 lakh in monthly revenue.


Forbes
30 minutes ago
- Forbes
AI's Blind Spot: Uncovering The Hidden Integration Challenges In ERP Systems
Hemanth Volikatla is a senior technical service manager at SAP. As global businesses continuously pursue innovation and efficiency, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is rapidly reshaping organizational capabilities. Despite significant progress, several critical yet overlooked challenges remain. Addressing these gaps can propel enterprises toward sustainable growth, enhanced operational resilience and strategic agility. The Emerging Power Of AI In ERP AI is revolutionizing ERP by automating complex decision-making processes, enabling real-time analytics and optimizing resource allocation. This technology significantly boosts productivity and predictive accuracy, directly contributing to strategic growth and long-term sustainability. From a technical perspective, AI models in ERP systems often utilize: Machine Learning (ML) Algorithms: For demand forecasting, anomaly detection and predictive maintenance. Natural Language Processing (NLP): For interpreting unstructured data such as vendor contracts or customer feedback. Deep Learning Models: For complex pattern recognition across supply chains. Reinforcement Learning (RL): For dynamic decision systems in procurement and inventory optimization. These AI capabilities are deployed using containerized microservices on cloud platforms and connected to ERP core modules via APIs or OData services. Overlooked Challenges In AI Integration While AI promises transformative efficiencies, integrating these advanced technologies into established ERP systems often reveals unexpected complexities. Organizations often encounter discrepancies between AI capabilities and traditional ERP frameworks, leading to performance bottlenecks and integration delays. Technical Example: ERP systems may operate on rigid schema-driven databases, whereas AI applications require flexible data lakes or real-time event streaming (e.g., Kafka). Bridging these data architectures demands advanced ETL pipelines and API orchestration layers. AI thrives on high-quality data; however, many ERP systems grapple with inconsistent, outdated or poorly governed data. Establishing comprehensive data governance frameworks ensures AI can function effectively, accurately forecasting trends and managing resources without compromising data integrity or compliance standards. Technical Example: AI models require clean, labeled training data from ERP modules (e.g., sales orders, BOMs, material movements). Data harmonization engines and master data management (MDM) tools are necessary to synchronize input data across business functions. Introducing AI into ERP systems inevitably affects organizational culture and workflow. Businesses often underestimate the resistance from users accustomed to traditional systems. Effective change management and targeted training programs are crucial in fostering user acceptance and maximizing AI-driven ERP investments. Technical Recommendation: Embed explainable AI (XAI) components and intuitive dashboards using tools like SAP Fiori or web-based BI portals. These provide transparency and trust in AI decisions, increasing end-user engagement. AI integration into ERP introduces new security risks and ethical dilemmas, particularly around data privacy and AI-driven decisions. Enterprises must proactively manage these challenges through rigorous security protocols, transparent ethical guidelines and comprehensive compliance checks to maintain stakeholder trust and operational integrity. Technical Concern: AI-enhanced ERP modules using external APIs or cloud inference models must implement zero-trust security architectures, encryption-at-rest and continuous vulnerability scanning to ensure data protection. Scalability is vital as businesses grow and evolve. Yet, scaling AI within ERP systems often presents unique maintenance and adaptability challenges. Organizations must establish dynamic strategies for updating and refining AI models to keep pace with changing business environments and demands. Technical Strategy: Leverage CI/CD pipelines, container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes) and automated model retraining workflows with data drift detection mechanisms to maintain AI relevance and accuracy. Real-World Applications And Lessons Learned Organizations that proactively address these integration gaps demonstrate significantly improved operational resilience and agility. For instance, businesses successfully deploying AI-driven inventory and supply chain management solutions have achieved higher efficiency and reduced costs, illustrating the tangible benefits of addressing these critical integration challenges. A Pathway To Sustainable Growth Recognizing and addressing these often-overlooked integration challenges is essential for executives, technology leaders and ERP specialists striving for sustainable business success. By strategically integrating AI into ERP, organizations can unlock unprecedented opportunities, driving innovation and sustainability in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?