Smart trading and info app from Trade VSA.
During the first three months of the Movement Control Order (MCO), Trade VSA that utilizes a digital model for trading on Bursa Malaysia, has seen its transaction volume increase by about 20%.
In line with the trend for computerized investing ideas and generated trades, first time investors and new millenials are particularly attracted to its mobile app that can converse with users and advise them on investing matters.
In rising or falling markets, Trade VSA’s digital market assistant called SMARTRobie comes with profit targets and sell signals, against technical readings and fundamental ratings.
With its new financial broker partner, UOB Kay Hian in Malaysia, this robo-assistant will be promoted to new account holders, and will also be used to revive dormant accounts.
With plans for regional expansion, the company aims to have its SMARTRobie app installed in every investor’s mobile device.
Trade VSA has seen good uptake of SMARTRobie that comes with a chatbot for online conversation.
“We were surprised to see 1,000 downloads from the app store, within a week of its launch in May,’’ said TradeVSA CEO and former fund manager, Martin Wong.
With a growing segment of Malay investors, the Bahasa Malaysia version of the chatbot will be made available soon, while the US markets version of SMARTRobie is targeted for year-end release.
About 50,000 downloads in Malaysia are targeted by year end.
To increase its reach, the company is working with influencers and bloggers, as well as through its own marketing program which is a daily live Facebook show called ‘The Breakfast Show with SMARTRobie.’
Collaborations with partners in the financial brokering industry will widen its reach amongst traditional investors, as well as achieve co-branding of the TradeVSA SMARTRobie.
With the digital upsurge since the MCO, the company sees an emerging trend where investors want information readily, with a lot of educational content and customized advice.
For example, some want information in the middle of the night and it is important to engage customers with the right user experience.
A financial technology company, Trade VSA focuses on volume spread analysis, which is basically the study of the relationship between volume and price to forecast market direction.
Information available on the mobile app includes stockmarket insights, stock trading ideas, fundamental stock ratings and information pertaining to undervalued stocks.
In targeting, among others, new millenials, Wong sees that they will be an ‘investing force presenting multiple opportunities in decades to come as their incomes increase over time.’
A start-up company that was formed in September 2018, Trade VSA has ten staff, and works with developers and scientists outside of the company.
Apart from UOB Kay Hian, Wong is growing the company through SMART business-to-business collaborations and partnerships with other financial players such as e-wallet, payment gateway and royalty program providers.
An increase in account openings by 30% to 40% in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and the US, has created a lot of scope for expansion overseas.
“This new demand comes from a mix of customers working from home and commuting, and want most things done conveniently through their mobile phones,’’ said Wong.
In the case of Trade VSA, this new normal has certainly given rise to creative use of technology in stock trading and investing.
By Yap Leng Kuen, Chief Story Teller, The Artisans Haven
Haven By Artisans 