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Focus Malaysia
09-07-2025
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Sad decline of Plaza Alam Sentral is a statement that more malls will follow
IT IS always a sad thing to witness another shopping mall dying. The fading crowd and growing emptiness all point towards the many struggling businesses, wasted space, and a trend that is only growing. Recently, a netizen in a video showed the lack of footfall in Plaza Alam Sentral. According to him, the place was very lively a decade back. But the man did not reveal if the video was taken during a weekday morning or was it during the weekend. If this was the condition of Plaza Alam Sentral during the weekend, then they might as well turn the entire place into a haunted house theme park. A visit to the Plaza Alam Sentral Facebook page, however, revealed that its social media platform was alive. Just several hours ago, Plaza Alam Sentral published an event where people could exchange their old electronic devices for cash. Last month there was also a blood donation drive at the ground floor. It appears to be very much alive, or is this part of the digital initiative to revive it? But Plaza Alam Sentral is not the only mall suffering from this fate. According to a Youtuber Chester Cheng – Real Estate, the Cheras Sentral Mall, 1Shamelin Mall and Quill City Mall are among some of the casualties too. But it appears this trend is not only unique to Malaysia, but across the world. According to the website more consumers are choosing to shop online and many physical retailers are struggling to keep up with the speed and ease of digital shopping. Back in their heyday, malls offered more than just a place to buy things. They served as community gathering spots. Whether grabbing a bite at the food court, catching a movie, or simply window shopping with friends, malls were central to many social lives. But today, the way people connect and shop has drastically shifted, said Social media platforms have taken over as the new public square. Apps like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, and X aren't just for sharing photos and updates. They have become full-fledged shopping tools. With a few taps, users can discover, review, and buy trending products directly from their feeds. Social shopping combines the appeal of viral content with the instant gratification of e-commerce, making it a powerful alternative to traditional retail. Another major draw of online shopping is its efficiency. Customers are turning to websites that offer fast support through AI-powered chatbots, flexible return policies, and streamlined checkout experiences. Many online stores also offer detailed product info, FAQs, and support libraries, eliminating the need for in-person help or long customer service calls. For business owners, the shift is just as stark. Running a physical store comes with significant expenses, from staffing and utilities to leasing retail space. On the other hand, digital storefronts are more cost-effective and scalable. That economic reality is pushing more brands to close brick-and-mortar locations in favor of building their presence online. In short, the retail world is changing, and malls are struggling to keep up. As consumer habits evolve, digital convenience and cost-efficiency are redefining the way people shop.—July 9, 2025 Main image: @bckupacc99 (X)
Business Journals
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
It's National Small Business Month: Consider these tools to maximize productivity and profitability
When a company implements tools to boost productivity, it allows the business owner and key employees to spend more time on revenue-generating activities than on tedious manual tasks. Meanwhile, tools that increase profitability allow a business to grow, add new equipment and make key hires. That's why, in today's competitive economic landscape, small businesses are adopting Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, social media, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and mobile apps. These tools can help with the continued success of these firms, which is important to the health of the U.S. economy – 31.7 million small businesses sell their products and services near and far. In honor of Small Business Month in May, here's a look at how these tools help with productivity and profitability. CRM: CRM is a technology tool that helps a business manage its customer database, track the progress of sales leads, send follow-up emails to potential customers and gauge the performance of marketing campaigns. The U.S. is experiencing a surge in demand for CRM software, driven by a growing focus on improving customer experiences and streamlining sales processes, according to Statista. Although CRMs won't necessarily help you land new customers, they can help sustain existing relationships by automating services and customizing customer experiences based on historical interactions, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Social media: Small businesses need to constantly attract new customers and generate repeat business and that means meeting people where they are, as noted on According to Statista, there were more than 5 billion social media users worldwide in 2024, which could increase to 6 billion in 2028. Using social media platforms like Facebook, X and Instagram can help a business boost profitability. As the business publication reports, social media increases brand awareness, drives leads and sales, fosters authentic customer relationships, breaks through advertising noise, helps you stand out from larger competitors, sends traffic to your website and enhances customer communication. An added benefit is that it's less expensive than other forms of advertising. Artificial intelligence (AI): The use of AI in business is on the rise, according to the latest McKinsey Global Survey on AI. Seventy-eight percent of companies said their organizations use AI in at least one business function, up from 72% in early 2024 and 55% a year earlier – a trend driven by larger companies. AI tools can also make money for small businesses, Forbes reported, by automating routine tasks, enhancing customer experiences, optimizing inventory management, streamlining financial management and fostering innovation and growth. Small business owners can gain the maximum benefits from AI tools by starting small, selecting AI tools specific to their needs and scaling incrementally as they gain proficiency with the technology. Such an approach enables entrepreneurs to focus on creative solutions for business challenges and pursuing new business opportunities. Cybersecurity: Ninety-four percent of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) consider cybersecurity critical to success, according to a report from Microsoft Security and Bredin. These businesses are susceptible to cyberattacks and their aftereffects because they typically lack the tools and internal IT experience to prevent, detect and respond quickly. Businesses reported spending on several tools to protect themselves, including phishing and ransomware protection. 'Savvy SMBs are taking steps to shore up protection for precious company and customer data and other assets,' the report said. 'Putting tools and technical expertise in place to prevent attacks has become a key success factor.' Not having to deal with a cyber breach allows the business owner to stay focused on core operations. Profitability is impacted by not having to pay the high cost of an incident. Mobile apps: As reported in Entrepreneur magazine, nearly 60% of small and medium-sized businesses do not have a mobile app. This means they're missing an opportunity to reach most consumers – who own and use smartphones – in a simplified way. The good news is 28% of SMBs plan to develop one in the future. 'A dedicated app for a business can strengthen a brand's voice, build brand recognition, grow loyalty amongst customers and keep a small business competitive,' the report said. 'This may sound like an expensive undertaking for SMBs; however, by choosing an ecommerce app that you own rather than an online marketplace, you won't run into the added fees that some marketplaces charge per month or per sale.' These apps impact productivity and profitability in numerous ways, according to Adobe for Business. This includes building a stronger brand, improving customer engagement and loyalty and creating personalized marketing channels.
