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HKPC develops service robots to address manpower shortage
The medical service robots have provided service at Haven of Hope Hospital and Kowloon Hospital
Medial service robots reduce direct contact between people and solve the challenges of manpower shortage due to staff infection
The Hong Kong Productivity Council used advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to develop intelligent service robots that fit into different scenarios. Necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, they were aimed to not only reduce direct contact between people but also solve the challenges of manpower shortage due to staff infection.
Customer service robots
The customer service robots share employees’ duties as receptionists and patrollers. It helps answer customers’ questions, broadcast public announcements and crowd control messages, making it become a new generation of “safety ambassadors”. This robot can naturally chat with guests in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, and has an object recognition function based on AI-trained models to avoid obstacles at work.
Frontline medical service robots
In view of the manpower shortage in Hong Kong’s healthcare system, HKPC has developed a frontline medical service robot to help frontline medical staff reduce their workload and avoid direct contact between visitors, patients and medical staff. On top of its basic customer serviceability, this robot can also assist in directing and guiding visitors to the destination of various hospital facilities, checking the temperature of visitors and whether visitors are wearing masks, and broadcasting relevant warnings. This robot has natural language processing and obstacle avoidance functions. These medical service robots have provided service at Haven of Hope Hospital and Kowloon Hospital. HKPC is exploring cooperation opportunities with the Hospital Authority on the application of this frontline medical service robot.
Document delivery robots
The document delivery robot assists employees in passing documents or materials to colleagues, thus reducing direct contact between employees. The robot can move freely around the office with simultaneous localisation and mapping navigation. Employees can assign tasks to the robot through a mobile App conveniently and put the documents into the electronic locker to prevent them from being lost or exposed in transit. This robot is currently operating at HKPC Building.
Disinfection robots
The disinfection robot uses its existing robotics platform and cooperated with other professional disinfection robot companies, providing users with an automated all-round disinfection solution to help improve the enterprise’s work efficiency, save manpower, as well as disinfect different premises.
Over half of Hong Kong SMEs expects to overcome 5th COVID-19 wave
Despite the fifth COVID-19 surge in Hong Kong, 55% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong are confident that they will survive the worsening health crisis, according to a poll conducted by CPA Australia, a global professional accounting body.
CPA Australia’s 13th Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey also found that 57% of SMEs project that their revenue will stay normal or increase in the next three months.
On the negative effects of the fifth wave, 35% of SME owners said business operations will most likely be hit by the pandemic, followed by 26% of respondents who said cash flow will be bruised during the surge.
Also, survey results showed that 42% of respondents said relaxed social distancing measures will positively affect their business in the next three months, whilst 18% of respondents said employment support schemes will have a positive impact on their business. This was followed by 12% of respondents who believed consumption vouchers will have the most positive effect on their operations.
It can be recalled that in March 2022, the Hong Kong government declared it will relax most of social distancing measures from 21 April in three phases as long as the pandemic situation shows no signs of rebound and the number of COVID-19 infections continues to decline.
Janssen Chan, the chairperson of CPA Australia’s SME Committee in Greater China, said Hong Kong businesses are already resilient and adaptable amidst the impact of the fifth wave because of online and digital payments options.
“The pandemic is a major catalyst for transforming business models and consumer spending patterns. In Hong Kong, more consumers are purchasing online and using digital payments,” he said in a statement.
“With social distancing restrictions set to relax from mid-April and the roll-out of stimulus measures such as the e-consumption vouchers, small businesses should continue innovating, digitalising and updating their business plans to ensure they are best placed to rebound in the second half of 2022,” added Chan.
Nearly 300 Hong Kong-based accounting and finance professionals working for SMEs were respondents in the survey, which was conducted from November to December 2021.
General Mills China bags Retail award at the China International Business Awards
Häagen-Dazs and Musée du Louvre’s partnership combines gustatory delight with fine art.
General Mills Holding Inc., a global leader in the manufacturing and marketing of branded consumer food, was recognised at the China International Business Awards 2021 in the Retail category. This is thanks to the successful launch of its mooncake ice cream project in partnership with the world-famous art museum, Musée du Louvre.
The awards body acknowledged the company’s effort for its high-end cooperation
with the art industry, for creating a brand new “net celebrity” taste to fit the traditional festival atmosphere and cater to consumers’ tastes; and for its multi-channel integrated marketing and PR strategy.
Through the partnership, the company’s premium ice cream, Häagen-Dazs, was branded taking inspiration from the classic collections of Musée du Louvre in terms of both taste and packaging design.
Being the first ice cream brand to partner with Musée du Louvre, Häagen-Dazs is not just a brand that makes the most extraordinary ice cream the world has ever tasted but is a cultural icon that shoulders more responsibilities for promoting crosscultural exchanges. That’s the very reason why the company chose to launch at the residence of the Consul General of France.
“Häagen-Dazs mooncakes have been deeply rooted in the hearts of local consumers, but we have not stopped our pace, every year we make something extraordinary in our brand theme and innovations,” said James Chiu, Vice President and Managing Director of General Mills China.
For Chinese people, the Mid-Autumn
festival is the time to express miss and care to their families. The fine art packaging of Häagen-Dazs mooncake ice cream gets just in time for the celebration of the traditional Chinese festival. The innovative collaboration between the two esteemed figures endows more artistic value to moon cake, the traditional Chinese food.
The premium ice cream collection has fully upgraded seven series of products that were inspired by the “glass palace” at the entrance of the Louvre. It aims to address the highend luxury gift needs of different groups of consumers during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
“Häagen-Dazs has made great innovations in taste, rolled out a variety of innovative mooncakes that cater to the tastes of Chinese consumers and fit the traditional festival atmosphere,” James noted.
The new packaging of the mooncake ice cream was inspired by eternal masterpiece sculptures including Dianna, Athena, Cupid, Venus, and Nike, as well as the famed Mona Lisa painting of Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Each box matches the symbolism of the aforementioned art pieces and is labelled in accordance with their representation. The package also included a moon-shaped night lamp, plus a miniature glass palace of the Louvre, and beautiful paper coupons designed like tickets to the museum.
As a pioneer brand embracing “New Retail”, Häagen-Dazs actively adapts to new audiences and digital channels in developing creative products to inspire consumers’ lifestyles. Its unique marketing and PR strategy not only let the company benefit from the significance of the festivities, but it paved the way to bridge an exchange of culture through tradition, culture, and art by providing a unique artistic experience.
“We would like to take this opportunity to invite Mr. Benoît Guidée, Consul General of the Republic of France in Shanghai, Mr. James Robert Heller, Consul General of the United States in Shanghai, and leaders of Shanghai People Foreign Friendly Association to join us, experiencing this China-meets-France cultural charm, and together endorse the sweet celebration with an iconic product series that represents a cultural fusion,” said James.
With over 20 years of market dominance in their respective field, the company follows through with its mission and determination to move with consumer-centred strategies that constantly respond to market changes and demand.
CONTACT
General Mills China
Address: 12F, Gubei International Fortune Center, No.1438 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai Contact Number: +86-021-22237777 Website: www.generalmills.cn
