Singapore Volume 10

7 8 | S U P E R B R A N D S V O L U M E X MARKET The brand Philips has its roots in lighting for almost 130 years. Since May 2018, Signify has become the new company name for Philips Lighting. Philips, the world’s most loved lighting brand, continues under the stewardship of Signify, which embodies the lighting evolution from conventional to LED and continues to develop it further. More than just lighting up, Signify transforms lighting into a mode of communications where lighting and its data convey meaning in the Internet of Things (IoT), where an ecosystem of smart devices, processes and people interact with one another. Lighting enables meaningful interactions with useful, and actionable insights gleaned from the analytics of data. Signify is a global company, with a presence in over 70 countries. In 2019, Signify celebrates its 50th year in Singapore. To stay ahead, Signify invests close to 5% of its revenue in R&D, with emphasis on sustainable and connected LED lighting. Other than home lighting, Signify has a solid track record in lighting up the interiors and facades of iconic landmarks, commercial buildings and public spaces worldwide. These include bridges, skyscrapers, airports, stadiums, museums and galleries, retail outlets and malls, hotels, offices, warehouses and even roads and tunnels to keep drivers and passengers safe. Within the Asia Pacific region, Signify will extend its global lead in lighting into sectors for horticulture, aquaculture, animal farming and solar-powered systems. These are deeply ingrained in Signify’s purpose in using light to enable Brighter Lives, Better World, and doing so in sustainable ways. ACHIEVEMENTS In 2018, Signify became the first lighting company in Singapore to be accredited with the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) status and in the most stringent category by the Singapore Green Building Council. These accreditations affirm the use of Philips luminaires in businesses and offices. Also, in 2018, Philips was recognised by Superbrands as Singapore’s favourite lighting brand among consumers. These attest to the R&D investment Signify has made toward continuous innovation. Between 2016 and 2018, there were three major feature launches: Philips SceneSwitch with three brightness settings; The “EyeComfort” trademarked range of Philips LED bulbs which are backed by stringent lab tests and claims, and followed by the introduction of Philips MyCare LED bulbs with Interlaced Optics that can further reduce glare by up to 35% Philips Hue, a personal wireless lighting system (using Zigbee protocol) with new-gen of Hue App and Hue Sync, as well as the launch of Hue Entertainment to sync Philips Hue lighting effects with games (such as Razer), music and movies. HISTORY Philips was founded in 1891 as a lighting company and commercialised the light bulb. The lighting industry has changed more in the last ten to fifteen years than it did in the previous century. In 2008, the company then sold 35W, and 40W retrofit LED lamps and by now is selling more LED lamps than other companies in the same category. Globally, LED now accounts for over 77% of Signify’s business. Philips acquired Color Kinetics more than 20 years ago which has since given the company an edge in architectural lighting with landmarks and monuments. In 2012, the company’s first connected lighting systems were launched - Philips CityTouch (now Interact City) for public street lighting and Philips Hue for homes. In May 2017, Philips Lighting assumed a new name, Signify, which is listed among the top 25 on the Amsterdam Exchange Index (AEX). PRODUCT Innovation is the foundation of Signify, and this continues today. Signify serves both professional and consumer markets. With Philips Hue, everyday home lighting has entered the smart era. Personalised, controllable and easy-to- use, Hue will change the way we use and experience light in homes.