HKTDC’s digital sourcing platform is back for autumn, but as a bigger and better version of its summer edition with new features, refreshed design, and added technological advancements.
With more and more companies taking advantage of global business opportunities, HKTDC deputy executive director, Benjamin Chau, says the new sourcing platform will help small to medium sized businesses adapt to digital sourcing models in the post-pandemic new normal.
“The pandemic has changed the sourcing pattern of many companies and accelerated the transformation of the global supply chain,” he explains.
“The latest HKTDC survey shows that Hong Kong companies are adjusting their business strategies to cope with the new normal. Companies are increasingly ‘going digital’ to expand their online distribution channels (69 per cent), conducting online marketing (56 per cent) to develop new business markets (57 per cent) and accelerating the application of technology in their business (47 per cent).”
Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO) runs from 16 to 27 November following the completion of a significant upgrade to its hktdc.com Sourcing platform.
“Users will notice a refreshed design as well as new features that deliver a better, more personalised smart-sourcing experience anytime and anywhere. We have also employed new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to increase the efficiency through which we connect buyers with suppliers and improve the overall user experience.”
Under the theme ‘A New Connected World Beyond the New Normal’, ASWO features 2,600 exhibitors from 33 countries including 37 group pavilions. The virtual trade fair features the latest products from 11 industries including electronics, houseware, lighting, outdoor lighting, eco tech, gifts and premiums, toys, baby products, stationery, optical as well as watches and clocks.
ASWO will again feature the AI driven Click2Match business-matching platform. This platform supports meeting scheduling, video meetings, live-chat sessions, contact exchange and other functions to provide a richer online sourcing and networking experience for buyers and exhibitors.
“We will mobilise our global office network to actively invite quality buyers to participate in AWSO. Virtual business-matching meetings are being arranged based on buyers’ sourcing needs, promoting business opportunities between buyers and exhibitors.”
Chau says the HKTDC will continue to enhance its online services and he believes physical and online exhibitions should integrate and complement each other.
“Even when physical exhibitions resume, the HKTDC will continue to organise regular thematic online sourcing events to cater to the different sourcing cycles of various sectors, providing exhibitors with additional opportunities to connect with global buyers.
“Fully utilising the advantages of online-to-offline promotion, we will carry out digital promotions and business-matching activities before and after the trade fairs, allowing exhibitors to reach out to overseas buyers who are not able to come to Hong Kong and helping to create an extended exhibition experience.
“This is a one-stop sourcing platform where suppliers can generate new business while buyers can restock for the year ahead,” Chau adds.
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