Helping businesses manage their customers more effectively and efficiently – that is the work of our guest for today, Salesforce.

Founded in 1999, Salesforce pioneered a Software as a Service or SaaS model by bringing Customer Relationship Management or CRM software to the cloud.

You might have heard of the term CRM for quite some time, but while CRM might seem like a buzzword that came about towards the end of the twentieth century, the concept is fairly easy to understand, and has been practised for thousands of years by traders.

To a company selling goods or services, CRM basically means keeping a record of a customer’s profile and transaction history, and analysing that information to help it better sell to the customer again.

Take for instance, how you might receive a voucher in your email inbox during your birthday month to buy your favourite cake from the neighbourhood grocery store.

But these days, Customer Relationship Management goes beyond just promotions, it includes managing a firm’s internal resources against demand, its marketing and channel strategies, its data storage processes, its customer service platforms and even more.

Salesforce’s software is enabling over 150,000 companies, including notable names like FairPrice Group, Panasonic, Schneider Electric and Singapore Airlines to do all of that.

The firm is also helping its customers around the world deploy its digital labour platform Agentforce. Companies can use Agentforce to build and deploy autonomous agents that can reason, decide, act and drive meaningful outcomes 24/7 – think service agents, sales development representatives, sales coaches and marketing campaign assistants.

So what should we know about Salesforce’s Agentforce platform and how will the solution augment its growth trajectory right here in ASEAN?

Meanwhile, Salesforce had in March 2025 pledged to invest over US$1 billion in Singapore over 5 years – but what was the rationale behind the move and how far is Singapore a bright spot for the firm?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager, ASEAN, Salesforce.

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It is the time of the year where Singapore’s state investor Temasek releases its latest financial performance.

Founded in 1974, Temasek is a global investment company whose purpose is to make a difference for today’s and future generations “So Every Generation Prospers”.

With a global network of 13 offices in 9 countries around the world, the Singapore headquartered firm seeks to build a resilient and forward-looking portfolio that will deliver sustainable returns over the long term.

Speaking of portfolio and returns, Temasek reported a Net Portfolio Value (or NPV) of S$434 billion for the financial year ended 31 March 2025, up S$45 billion from a year ago.

On a mark to market basis, Temasek said its net portfolio value would stand at S$469 billion, reflecting a value uplift of S$35 billion from its unlisted portfolio.

The firm largely attributed the increase in portfolio value to the strong performance of listed Singapore-based Temasek Portfolio Companies and direct investments in China, the US and India.

Meanwhile, the state investor’s 20-year and 10-year Total Shareholder Return (TSR) remained resilient, at 7% and 5% respectively. But how would Temasek assess its latest performance given an uncertain macroeconomic environment, complicated by heightened trade and geopolitical tensions?

Covering the annual release for the fourth time, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to Temasek’s office in this “On the Go” Special episode of Under the Radar, where she spoke with Png Chin Yee, Chief Financial Officer, Temasek.

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There is arguably no higher recognition than the Michelin star in the Food and Beverage scene.

And the company we’re speaking to was once called the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant chain in the world.

Make a guess, and perhaps think on the lines of dim sum and BBQ pork buns. Bingo if you’ve guessed Tim Ho Wan!

Tim Ho Wan’s story can be traced back to 2009. That’s when Chef Mak Kwai Pui, who’s formerly from the prestigious three Michelin starred Lung King Heen restaurant in Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel teamed up with Chef Leung Fai Keung to open a 20-seater dim sum restaurant in Mongkok.

The business thrived as people came for its hot steaming buns, chee cheong fun, and siew mai, and the restaurant earned one Michelin star just a year later.

The rest, as they say, is history, as more restaurants opened, with each earning its own Michelin star.

In 2013, Tim Ho Wan made its international debut by opening its restaurant at Plaza Singapura in Singapore, drawing long lines and widespread attention. The chain has since gone on to open more locations around the world, and boasts over 80 outlets globally.

But while Tim Ho Wan may be a household name, did you know that it is closely related to a fast food chain from the Philippines called Jollibee?

In November 2024, Jollibee’s parent company, or Jollibee Food Corporation, announced the full acquisition of Tim Ho Wan, by paying S$20.2 million for an 8 per cent stake of the company held by other investors.

So how has the firm fared some six months after being a subsidiary of Jollibee Foods Corporation? How will the company ensure the quality of its menu items amid the change?

And how will being a part of the Jollibee ecosystem help the firm achieve its growth ambitions around the world?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Yeong Sheng Lee, CEO, Tim Ho Wan International.

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