SAMSUNG PRESENTS
GALAXY Z FOLD2 5G

Having overcome three waves of COVID-19, the past year has proven to be one of the most challenging for Hong Kong in recent times. No business has been immune to the effects of the pandemic, but some have fared better than others. We met with three business leaders - Brandon Chau, Founder of Noblesse Lifestyle Group, Alan Lo, Co-founder of the Duddell’s and Evan Chow, Managing Partner of MCL Financial Group and Art Collector - to see how technology has helped their businesses thrive and grow during these unprecedented times.

On Smartphones Reigning Supreme

Brandon

Conference calls have not decreased even at the height of the pandemic. Brandon uses Zoom and other social media platforms to conduct virtual conferences and has gradually adapted to the new norm. “Business trips are no longer a must. I can rely on Zoom for all my conferences,” he admits. He does not reserve his phone for virtual conferences but also uses it to order take-out on a regular basis.

Alan Lo, Co-founder of the Duddell’s

Alan

As a restauranteur in Hong Kong, Alan has been ordering delivery more as he spends his days at home. His restaurant group also adapted by offering delivery services. “The pandemic has resulted in a new definition of normal. While we certainly appreciated being able to spend more time at home with our families, we still missed the experience of dining out in the city, and so these initiatives enabled our customers to order take-away meals or even engage a Chef at home service with just a few clicks on their smartphones.” On the other hand, Alan speaks about juggling his role as a dad at home. He mentions that “the implementation of home schooling provided me with a new challenge as I had to be ready to provide “on-site” IT support for my three sons’ zoom classes throughout the day. Thankfully, I was able to multitask using my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G smartphone to reply messages, check emails and review presentations.” The phone’s functions provided a laptop-like experience, making it an essential for Alan during the pandemic.

Evan

Evan, an art collector who scours the globe for his favourite artworks, has been bound by social distancing restrictions during the pandemic. Although he can’t physically attend art exhibition and auctions, most galleries are able to facilitate digital exhibitions. Through technology, Alan “realised that we could cut down on so many unnecessary social events, as a result of the ongoing travel restrictions. I am able to handle a lot of tasks by just using my smartphone, which has allowed me to free up more time to indulge in projects that I’m passionate in.”

On businesses adapting to the new normal

Brandon Chau, Founder of Noblesse Lifestyle Group

Brandon

Brandon was initially worried about the significant drop in foot traffic in store affecting his sales. However, the pandemic unexpectedly boosted his online sales. Brandon reveals that, “we have seen a lot more enquiries to our Savoir Beds and mattress on Instagram. Instead of having face to face meetings, we encouraged our staff to use video conferencing technology or videos captured on their mobile phones to introduce the merchandise to our customers. Through the use of mobile technology, they’ve transformed themselves into professional Instagrammers (joking) to help showcase our products and have successfully closed many deals with our customers.”

Alan

Businesses are forced to transform and pivot to work in tandem with the ever-evolving climate. “The pandemic has resulted in a new definition of normal. Shutting down our restaurants for nine months simply wasn’t sustainable, and so as a restaurant owner, I had to transform our business to make it more agile. Hence, by leveraging mobile technology and social media, we were able to launch a cloud-based kitchen, as well as an online and offline delivery platform,” asserts Alan.

Evan Chow, Managing Partner of MCL Financial Group and Art Collector

Evan

Many may agree to the work-at-home arrangment, but as a financier himself Evan questions its effectiveness across all industries. “The volatility of the global market coupled with the pandemic caught all of us off guard. Investors are relying on technology more than ever to stay close to market fluctuations,” says Evan. The financial market, foreign exchange market, indexes and certain stock markets are shifting drastically. Providing timely solutions and facilitating new ways of negotiating with investors were the biggest challenges at the beginning of the outbreak. The increasing demand for technology-based communications and the importance of 5G connections have become indispensable. “With a simple phone call, you can communicate with colleagues and guests succinctly, which is more direct and convenient than ever,” reinforces Evan.