Commentary

Keeping businesses connected in Hong Kong's skyscrapers

Now home to more than 3,000 buildings that qualify as skyscrapers, Hong Kong’s first structures of notable height stood just six stories tall. Although less impressive today, these so-called high rises of the early 20th century brought about an age in which Hong Kong and the world fell in love with skyscrapers.

Keeping businesses connected in Hong Kong's skyscrapers

Now home to more than 3,000 buildings that qualify as skyscrapers, Hong Kong’s first structures of notable height stood just six stories tall. Although less impressive today, these so-called high rises of the early 20th century brought about an age in which Hong Kong and the world fell in love with skyscrapers.

Here's where B2B businesses in Hong Kong should head in 2017

If you run a B2B business in Hong Kong, these days your clients are making decisions about your offerings based on more than your price and specifications – they are evaluating your products or services in multiple dimensions. An increasing number of these are digital and in 2017, B2B businesses that neglect these digital dimensions are putting themselves in peril. Let’s start with social media marketing.

Chinese capital investment creates job growth in Hong Kong

Chinese capital investment in asset management firms and private equity fund houses is creating new job opportunities for qualified accountancy & finance professionals in the non-banking financial services industry.

Genuine startups and entrepreneurs being turned away by HK banks

Hong Kong has strongly built a reputation as a world-class business centre: not only is it one of the largest financial centres in the world, but it is also the jurisdiction where most foreign investments going to mainland China originate from, as well where most mainland Chinese investments going to the rest of the world are structured.

Here's why Hong Kong-listed companies should play catch-up on ESG reporting

Since the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) announced the upgrade of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure requirement to 'Comply or Explain' in December 2015, listed companies have been acting more proactively in preparing their ESG reports.

How the age of digital disruption is transforming the employment landscape in Asia

According to a recent IDC survey commissioned by Workday, only 28% of Hong Kong workers said they found their work engaging and satisfactory. That compares with 59% in the Philippines and India, and 42% in Australia.

Creativity, innovation, and fun make tech giants the most popular places to work in Hong Kong

Google, Apple, and Facebook top the tables in the latest jobsDB Top Ten Companies report. But big local players like MTR, Cathay Pacific, and HSBC are also proving popular for other reasons.

Chinese institutions drive demand for talent with regulatory experience

Candidates with regulatory experience will be a hot commodity in Hong Kong this quarter. The drive is led by newly launched securities houses by Chinese investors and the expansion of Chinese bank branches.

Building smarter Hong Kong retail with in-store AI

Behind the bright facades of their shop windows, there is a darkening gloom enveloping Hong Kong retailers. And it's no wonder: August 2016 was the 16th consecutive month of declining sales in the sector.

Busting myths about background screening – what Hong Kong companies should know

Any business leader will tell you the importance of attracting and retaining quality hires in a company – after all, we're only as strong as our weakest link. In spite of this, research by Robert Half International revealed that many companies still made poor hiring decisions. In fact, it is estimated that supervisors still spend 17 percent of their time managing bad hires in the company – precious time that could otherwise be used more productively.

Hong Kong needs to get ready: Pokémon Go is a sign of things to come

Who could have imagined that in 2016, millions of Hong Kongers from 6 to 60 would be walking for kilometers together to find a Ditto, Aerodactyl, or Snorlax? – Yes, I’m talking about some of the hardest-to-find creatures in Pokémon Go, the augmented-reality game that has captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans here. Many public parks, formerly deserted in the evenings, are now crammed full of groups of families and friends hoping to catch the next creature. 

Developing successful customer relationship in Hong Kong

Not long ago, Hong Kong businesses were in full agreement that the keys to success were a good quality product, a low price, and excellent customer service. Suddenly it seems that these rules have changed – today, success is reliant on providing the best ‘customer experience’.

The hottest IT jobs in Hong Kong

The IT industry is a vibrant and active market, with strong hiring activity within both financial services and commerce. We have also seen an increase in the number of temporary and contract roles on offer, particularly within financial services.

The face of the Internet of Things in healthcare

As the development of Internet of Things (IoT) continues to mature, we see these new technological advances are shaping the healthcare industry. In March, Apple launched different health-focused apps, including CareKit which is an open-source framework for making health apps.

An invisible innovation is a successful innovation

Innovations should be seamlessly invisible. Not invisible as in it can’t be seen with the naked eye, but invisible so that it’s not noticed if people don’t look for it purposefully. This is especially crucial for Hong Kong’s slow innovation-adopting businesses.

A smart Hong Kong needs to invest in smart skill development

In 2013, the UBM’s Future Cities report ranked Hong Kong the smartest city in Asia Pacific. In the past three years other regional centres ranging from Singapore with its Smart Nation vision to Dubai with the Smart Dubai initiative have attracted the interest and investment of the global community.

OTT, taking plays out of TV/Broadcasters playbook

With Over-the-Top Internet-based programming having changed and adapted to TV viewing behaviour, quality-of-service is becoming the online TV industry's biggest challenge.