Part 9/14:
Innovation, especially in the context of AI and data analytics, is happening at an unprecedented pace. Johan notes that entrepreneurs are demonstrating resilience by rapidly pivoting their business models—such as a florist shifting from fresh to dried flowers online—highlighting that reactions driven by survival can also lead to lasting innovations.
Masari emphasizes that data becomes a business’s most critical asset for understanding consumer needs when physical interactions are limited. The pandemic has indelibly changed customer behavior—demanding health-consciousness, hygiene, and contactless experiences—elements now embedded into product and service design, such as Grab’s "Grab Protect" standards, which reinforce safety protocols.