傳媒報導
A Global Marketplace with Shrinking Distance & Expanding Business Horizon
HONG KONG, Jan 01, 2002 -- Stepped into the 21st century, the concept and the mode of conducting business has been transformed. At the age of globalization and economic dynamism, quick response, effective communication, acquisition of comprehensive market information are dispensable to enhance competitiveness and to survive. Information technology means opportunity to stimulate business growth. Through computer network, the barrier of entry into the global marketplace is eliminated. Internet makes huge market information available online and speeds up information exchange, so even small enterprises are able to do sourcing and marketing with the outside world without paying high transactional fee. It saves the huge cost of store-fronts and helps companies of different scales to gain competitive edge.
e-Commerce in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a favorable environment for the development of digital economy. Internal strengths like excellent infrastructure, free flow of information, government support and a comparatively high rate of computer literacy of the public indicate a strong potential for e-commerce to take hold and flourish in Hong Kong. It is predicted that accession of China into WTO is a catalyst to a new bloom of e-commerce.
"Its leading position in terms of Internet usages and world-class business environment in Asia are two main factors for the coming wide-spread application of e-business in Hong Kong," said Mr. Mark Lee, the Director of e-jing Technologies Ltd. "The rate of Internet access for Hong Kong population is 44% for men and 42% for women, whereas the rate in United Kingdom is 34% and 26% respectively. Hong Kong's GDP-per capita is US$25,400; UK's GDP-per capita is 22,800. Hong Kong definitely has an enormous capacity for developing e-business." Mr. Lee remarked.
The Government takes initiatives to position Hong Kong as a leading digital city in the Asian Pacific Region. Organizations such as Hong Kong Productivity Council, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation , chambers of commerce and the Chinese University of Hong Kong implement comprehensive programs to promote e-commerce to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). These programs include the provision of practical and cost-effective e-commerce solutions and software for SMEs, organizing seminars, workshops and exhibitions (e.g. the Information Infrastructure Expo held every year).
"The Government plays a strong role in enhancing understanding of e-commerce in different strata of public life through legislation, application, education, funding (e.g. Information and Technology Fund) and commitment to develop a knowledge-based commercial city" said Mr. Lee. The Electronic Transaction Ordinance (ETO) enhances network security in the conduct of electronic transactions. The Hongkong Post makes use of digital certificates to secure transactions via the Internet. The Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Scheme provides online service for more 60 public utilities.
China's WTO entry will accelerate the acceptance of e-business in China. According to Forrester Research, it is expected that the total revenue of e-commerce in Hong Kong and China will reach US$ 79 billion in 2004. Mr. Lee stated out that the rapid enhancements of IT infrastructure and general office computer skill in the major cities of China such as Shanghai provides a strong background for the development of e-business. The government wants to make sure that Chinese enterprises can get the benefits of the WTO accession by enabling the opening of the international market. Through the application of e-business, enterprises can link the trading centers and manufactories in different domestic locations with the worldwide market in an efficiency way.
Despite the enormous potential and the positive forecast in Hong Kong and Mainland China, Mr. Lee pointed out that the usage level of e-business in Hong Kong is still at the beginning stage compared to Western Europe. "Hong Kong enterprises are expecting some technologies can help them to move into the Internet business era without the hassle of changing their existing procedures too much. But there is a lack of e-commerce software catering Hong Kong business needs in Chinese language. Language barrier discourages companies with a strong Chinese background from trying this brand new method of trading."
On the whole, Hong Kong's potential to be the hub of e-commerce in the Asia Pacific Region is prominent. The recent economic downturn does not discourage the development of e-Commerce. On the other hand, it made people adapt a down-to-earth approach towards the use of Internet to improve business. People now expect the real e-business can help facilitate key activities along the supply chain so as to achieve cost reduction and better customer service.
e-Supply Chain Management
The previous stage of e-business is mainly about transactions. In the next stage, e-Supply Chain Management (e-SCM) definitely is a more effective way to increase productivity than just purely transactional type of e-business. e-SCM improves communication between suppliers, production manufactories, buyers and retailers via the Internet. According to Mr. Lee, Hong Kong enterprises can benefit from the adoption of e-Supply Chain Management in a number of ways:
- Lower Inventory Level - e-SCM enables collaborative production planning between suppliers and buyers. Better planning and control reduces inventory. In the rapidly changing environment, low inventory level means less risk as the storage cost is reduced.
- Higher Customer Satisfaction - e-SCM helps suppliers obtain accurate information about quantity, product type, time and location of the customers. Suppliers can also estimate delivery time accurately and reply customers' request prompy.
- Maximize Revenue - e-SCM helps maximize production capacity by intellig$ arranging production orders, thus revenue is increased.
- Lower Operational Cost - redundancy and errors are reduced due to better communication and planning. Labor cost is saved. Studies show that a reduction of procurement processing costs by 70% and material cost by 10% can be achieved.
- Shorten Production Time - better production planning and reduced errors make production time-effective.
It is obvious that e-Supply Chain Management is the most cost-effective way to lower overall supply chain cost and initiate prompt response through better planning, control and speedy flow of information.
"Basically, e-Supply Chain Management is useful to all kinds of industries. It is specially helpful for industries in which quick response is crucial for survival. Industries are electronics, IT equipment, fashion & garment and drugs are subject to rapid change. For computer equipment, component value is high, high inventory level can create great risk. For these industries, e-Supply Chain Management enables efficient and flexible business planning that effectively reduces risk. It also helps companies which involve complicated production order," said Mr. Lee.
About e-jing Technologies- The leading software for SCM and e-business
"e-jing" is a cutting edge e-Business and Supply Chain Management software system to help Asia's industries to achieve quick response and lean production on the internet. e-jing Technologies Limited is a spin-off company from the Chinese University of Hong Kong led by a group of more than 20 internationally recognized scientists and researchers. Comparing to other overseas software, e-jing is much more affordable for local enterprises. e-jing software covers e-SCM, e-procurement, e-sale, e-marketplace, e-contract management, e-tendering and revenue management.
e-jing is a user-friendly system for Hong Kong and Chinese companies. It is easily understood by ordinary staff and has a high prospect of widespread popularity. "e-jing is tailor-made for local companies. It has a distinguished feature of Chinese language support in both traditional and simplified Chinese." Mr. Lee explained the advantages of e-jing.
"The system can help companies reduce inventory level by 10% to 30%; ordering time by 10% to 50% operation cost by 5% to 20%. Level of customer service can be increased by 5to 15% and revenue by 5% to 15%," he added.
Due to the lack of highly qualified professionals in of SCM in Hong Kong, the development of software system in Supply Chain Management and e-Commerce with similar advanced technologies as e-jing is rare in Hong Kong. Over the five years, e-jing has gained a sound reputation in certain sectors like Telecom, Garment, Health Care, Utility and Estate Management.
To know more about e-commerce development in Hong Kong, the following websites may help you:
Digital 21 Strategy: http://www.digital21.gov.hk
Doing Business in Hong Kong: http://www.business.gov.hk
Hong Kong Productivity Council: http://hkpc.org
Hong Kong Trade Development Council: http://www.tdctrade.com
Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) Information Centre: http://www.sme.gcn.gov.hk
e-jing Technologies: http://www.e-jing.net
Centre for the Advancement of E-Commerce Technologies, the Chinese University of Hong Kong: http://www.aect.cuhk.edu.hk
Source: Global Sources - Premium, Gifts & Houseware
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