Another week, another chapter in the streaming industry war–and another chance for Amazon to surprise us with a completely new solution. Yes, this was a busy week in which the topic was technology. While Disney announced that their streaming service will launch in Brazil in 2020, pushing the anxiety of Brazilian consumers to the highest levels, Amazon started testing a new payment method that dismisses the use of smartphones or the Internet, requiring that the user have a prior registration which would allow him or her to confirm payments with just a wave of the hand and voilà. Yes, you heard right, no touching, just a wave. And as you can imagine, this is pushing the market’s anxiety to extreme levels. Everyone wants to see if it will really work. 

But not only of technology news was this week made. When economy is the topic of the conversation, Argentina is often the center of the discussion in Latin America, and unfortunately not for a good reason. A Survey of the Argentine Central Bank revealed that the country’s GDP could decrease in the next two years. 

And all this without mentioning the “new Black Friday” that the Brazilian government is supporting, Uber‘s victory in Brazil with the court decision that drivers aren’t employees and Walmart‘s announcement of three-hour delivery in Mexico.

Have you missed any one of these headlines? Well, no need to worry, LABS Plus One is here to save you! 

Check it out the main news of the week and our extra tip for enjoying the weekend in a Latin American way!

5-  EBANX releases the first images of AliExpress guide experience store in Brazil: 

Have you imagined a way to try some AliExpress‘ products before making a purchase? Brazilian consumers will be able to do this thanks to the new experience guide shop of the brand launched today in the city of Curitiba and offered by EBANX, the Brazilian fintech that processes the payments of the Chinese e-commerce in Brazil. Among the physical products that will be available in the store are Xiaomi’s smartphones.

“We are excited to participate in the initiative by EBANX, bringing together online and offline experiences. AliExpress is one of the most popular platforms for e-commerce in Brazil, and we are always looking for ways to increase the integration of digital and physical environments with the aim of offering our consumers more options, more fun, and more convenience while they shop,” affirms Kang Huang, regional leader of AliExpress in Brazil. “Like EBANX, we strive to innovate and make the experience of buying with AliExpress all the more distinctive, allowing our customers to explore the brands and products available in the platform.” 

4- Walmart launches three-hour delivery in Mexico to beat Amazon

The same-day delivery in several e-commerces isn’t a US privilege anymore. Regarding Amazon, already the first option in Mexico since 2015, now Walmart decided to improve their logistical system in the country to beat the competition. 

This year the company has already opened two new distribution centers focused on the e-commerce orders in Mexico, now Walmart has officially announced that around 12,000 selected products-such as laptops, smartphones, televisions, and appliances-could be delivered in just three hours in the country. 

3- Slack stocks drop after first results report post IPO

A new market battle line is being drawn between two giants: Slack vs. Microsoft Teams. Yesterday, Slack’s quarter results were revealed, and not even the great news on revenue wasn’t enough to stop the shares from going down, leaving into a decrease of 16% after the announcement. 

The company’s revenue climbed to $ 145 million, reaching 58% more than the revenues for the same period of 2018 and overcoming the $ 140.7 million expected by analysts. But investors are still unsure whether or not Slack will be capable of overcoming Microsoft Teams. 

2- Brazil Week, the Brazilian Black Friday, is the country’s new shopping date

You might have heard us talking about a “new Black Friday” that the Brazilian government suggested to stimulate the economy, right? Well, if you missed the first chapter of this story, you can catch up by reading this news from July. The fact is that on the last few days this campaign actually turns into a reality and is the new shopping date in Brazil is starting today (Friday 6th). 

Among the participating companies, big players such as Via Varejo, Magazine Luiza, Lojas Americanas, Mobly, Fast Shop, and Grupo Pão de Açúcar announced discounts and special promotions for the date. In the service sector, airline companies such as Gol and Latam; and operators such as Vivo and Tim also joined the initiative.

But the traditional date of Black Friday is still the most important sales date for retail companies in the country. 

1- Brazil’s STJ sets decision that benefits Uber in the country

While the British market decided that Uber’s drivers are employees and California courts in the United States decided that the drivers are independent contractors, Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ) decided in Uber’s favor. In a case from an Uber driver in the state of Minas Gerais, STJ has ruled that they may not be considered employees of the ride-hailing firm in Brazil. 

It doesn’t mean that it would be the same decision for all Brazilian cases, but it tends to be the more likely path from now on in the country. Even so, the decision is still generating divergent opinions in the country and LABS talked with the lawyer Marco Aurélio Guimarães to get a better understanding of the issue. Check out the full content! 

LABS+1: Netflix ‘Coisa Mais Linda’ explores the rise of Bossa Nova clubs and women’s rights in Brazil 

Brazilian TV series Coisa Mais Linda (Most Beautiful Thing) is set in the late 50s in Rio De Janeiro and celebrates the emerging Bossa Nova culture in the city. Depicting the country during a period before the Citizens Constitution of 1988, which improved women’s rights in the country, the Netflix series shows the transformation of leading character Maria Luiza, a common housewife, into Malu, a strong business woman starting her own Bossa Nova club. Cinematography and soundtrack are definitely some of these show’s main highlights. Watch in Portuguese with subtitles to get the best experience.