TODAY

Work Experience

CMO at Red Dot Network 
(February 2014 – Present
(1 year 7 months)Yangon, Myanmar)

Business Development Consulting
January 2013 – January 2014 (1 year 1 month) Sydney Area, Australia

Senior Product Manager Applications at Optus
October 2009 – January 2013 (3 years 4 months)

Media Solutions Manager at Optus
January 2005 – October 2009 (4 years 10 months)Sydney Area, Australia

Executive Producer/Business Owner Screen Production Services
1995 – 2005 (10 years)Melbourne Area, Australia

The following is what we learnt from Mr Andy Whelan, Chief Marketing Officer, Red Dot Network Myanmar about Red Dot Myanmar.

Red Dot’s Vision….

Our aim is to create a payment network in Myanmar and it is definitely envisioned. We have come in because cash-centered Myanmar has virtually no credit card, and little bank penetra-tion. Not mobile money not credit card, Red Dot is Cash Acceptance Network (CAN). CAN is industry space for payment gateway. The con-sumer was cash, while we offer digital service.
Our first phase is Top Up service and retailers. Next comes Bill Payment, then Rewards. Bill payment is the major service. Later on we will service Deposit and withdrawal for Mobile Money. But we are not mobile money. The Bill is not only for electricity, but also for airlines, bus lines, etc. Once booking is done on website, you just pay up at a Red Dot store. Then confirmed for payment reaches you via email. It is bill payment gateway.

Red Dot’s Customers…

We are customer-led/ Customer-focused orga-nization. Our Customer are Retailers, like, road-side vendor, shop house, convenience store, or mobile service shop. Consumer is the user of our service through Customer.

The market status…

Market prospects are good. By May 2015 Red Dot retailers reached its 3000th. It will reach up to 7500 shops by the year-end. They are spread in Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw, and expected to reach the towns near them in a few months.

Marketing strategy..

Our Marketing strategy is focus on Retailers, as 70 percent are Retailers and 30 percent consumers. It is important that our progress be made known to consumers. More importantly, consumers on visiting retailers need to know of Red Dot service and products.
For the time being, our strategy of building Retailer Network is successful. On this will go our services layer upon layer. All our efforts are for a better relationship between Red Dot and Retailer.

Is Myanmar ready for such technology?

Yes, Myanmar has a complete set of conditions to initiate such a technology. It is suited to countries, Myanmar included, which are cash-centered with very low Credit Card use and Banking penetration.

Challenges you face as a foreign Businessman…

They are structural challenges, like, consistency of internet, consistency of power unsure for a short time on our arrival. Here credit card use, online payment, etc are frustrating to us as well as other foreign companies. We were online 24/7, with no need for resenting to Wi-Fi at home.

Again, another challenge we face like others is capacity of local Myanmar Talent. We have to focus that ours is Young Business as well as New Business, while Digital industry is in great flux. In this industry one thing true two years ago could not be held so today. Therefore our best opportunity is to recruit exuberant, enthu-siastic youths and train them. They should have skill in 1-2 years.

Young Myanmar and mobile use…

In Myanmar 80 percent of phone users have the smart phone. It is a large percentage, making for digital campaigns and digital platforms. A campaign on facebook leads to a good response, like our Top Up and win Campaign. It bodes well for businesses. Most of our activities are on web, via the mobile, taking up 60-70 percent of our time. At percent Digital Strategy is Mobile first.

What about Myanmar IT Industry in 5 years time…

The industry is very fairly dynamic, and 5 years is an attractive proposition. It will be worth-while to watch Myanmar’s young and strong IT Culture.

Shocking experience on your arrival here..

The economic gap: people who are too poor and those who are too rich. Let us call it eyes-opening experience rather than shocking.

Challenges you encounter as an expat…

My challenge here is to build up an enjoyable network – be it eating, tennis playing, on seeking adventure.

The food you like best..

love Shan noodles, tofu salad, curries. My favourite is Mohinga with strong stopping onions, chili powder, and a Squeegee of lime.

Your best-loved place in Myanmar

A best-loved place is Ngwesaung Beach. Mandalay’s flat landscape and ancient pagodas are attractive and alsoYangon is quite livable.

Where do you like most to hang out?

Two Vietnamese shops on York Road and those selling Shan style noodles and Chinese food. Good cafés and Japanese noodles shop also. My favorite restaurants included Hummingbird, L’Opera, and Green Gallery. One I like best is ShweSaBwe. I like Savoy’s cocktail and tapas. Le Planteur has good wines and tapas also.

Websites and Apps you like to visit

The Myanmar Times and for an international perspective I follow lowyinterpreter.org and yangon.coconuts.co. I enjoy music blogging sites such as soul-sides.com. The TuneIn radio app on Apple or Android is also great.

Motto’s

The saying that has always resonated with me is ‘do to others as you would be done by’ in other words treat others as you would like to be treated.

Books

I just finished “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” by Australian author Richard Flanagan.

What did you get to study before coming to Myanmar?

I read a lot, wondering what it will be like here.

Books on Myanmar you have read..

Very soon after my arrival here I got to read several books on Myanmar History and other material to know of its present status.

How would you describe Myanmar?

Myanmar people are very interesting and Myanmar is a developing country of great attraction with a dynamic culture.

Translated by-Khin Aung (Eng)