By RAHIMI YUNUS / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd launched a three-partner rewards programme with AirAsia BIG, B Infinite by Berjaya Group and Bonuslink.

Backed by three of the country’s most prolific affiliate partners, the first of its kind loyalty programme is
aimed at attracting digital-savvy retail investors with a wide range of reward choices.

Rakuten MD Kaoru Arai said it is vital for the company to continue its efforts to enhance product servicing which is different from the current industry standards.

“Redefining the equity broking industry is important to us as a financial-technology company,” he said in a statement.

Through the Rakuten rewards ecosystem, investors will automatically get rewarded with Rakuten Trade Points (RT Points) when signing up as a new client, trading, transferring shares and through a referral system, which then can be converted into AirAsia BIG, B Infinite and/or Bonuslink points of the same value.

“The new ecosystem provides us with an ideal way to not just attract retail investors who may have never
traded before, but to also continue to impress and entice existing traders. We look forward to building this three-way partnership into something very special and long lasting,” Arai added.

Meanwhile, AirAsia BIG loyalty programme head of commercial (Singapore and Malaysia) Kathleen Leong said the partnership is a win-win for the broker, affiliate and investor.

“The collaboration with Rakuten expands our system and exposes our customers to wider options for earning and redeeming points.”

“The affiliation is well-timed as AirAsia Freedom Flyer programme was recently launched — allowing a then-exclusive range of rewards, recognition and privileges to be enjoyed by as many people possible,” she added.

BLoyalty Sdn Bhd retail and innovations director Yau Su Peng acknowledged the importance of tap- ping into digital-based consumers due to growing demand.

“As B Infinite progresses in its transformation from the physical world to the realm of mobile, it is imperative that it prepares for the growing preference among consumers for digital-based channels,”she said.

From Bonuslink’s perspective, BonusKad Loyalty Sdn Bhd GM Victor Goon said the partnership will bring their brand to greater heights.

“We view the partnership with Rakuten as an avenue to elevate our brand to another level. With this savvy new trading platform that is already making waves in the market, there are now more ways to collect Bonuslink points.”

The launch of the three-partner programme came with an announcement of the FC Barcelona GOAL Campaign. Investors will enjoy double RT Points for every successful trade whenever FC Barcelona wins a match in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League and 2017/18 La Liga. The campaign began on Sept 5, 2017, as part of the newly formed partnershi between Rakuten and FC Barcelona.