Written by Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau
Early Happy Chinese New Year everyone! I wish you all a prosperous and healthy Year of the Ox.
As we march into the new year, we expect this will be a game-changing year and we are especially upbeat about what lays ahead of us, as it marks a significant milestone for Microsoft Hong Kong – our 30th anniversary. As we look back at our accomplishments and impact in Hong Kong over the years, we marvel at the evolution of technology – from Windows to Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Microsoft Teams, Power Apps and many more. New technologies have propelled every person and organization to move forward, doing things that we never thought possible 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
While 2020 has accelerated the adoption of technology, it has also moved deeper into the core of every organization and our lives to enable secured and seamless ways of modern work, learning and play. As our CEO Satya Nadella said, “Two years of digital transformation in two months.”
This year, cybersecurity, data and AI will be the cornerstone of an organization’s success. Digital skill is key to accelerate digital transformation for every organization.
Strengthening cybersecurity is essential for business survival
With work from home being the new normal in the past year, cyberattack has increased by seven times globally. Much of the on-premise IT infrastructure that companies had in place before COVID was not designed for remote working. According to a Microsoft article, 73 percent of CISOs indicating that their organization encountered leaks of sensitive data and data spillage in the last 12 months.
Companies need to update their cybersecurity approach – such as Zero Trust mindset, strong authentication process such as password-less, multi factor authentication (MFA) – to stay a step ahead of the evolving threats.
Couple weeks ago, Satya shared an important milestone for our security business: US$10 billion in revenue in the past 12 months representing more than 40 percent year-over-year growth. We are honored to be trusted by more than 400,000 customers across 120 countries. Ranging from small businesses to large enterprises, with 90 of the Fortune 100 using four or more of our security, compliance, identity, and management solutions. A testament to our commitment to cybersecurity and the trust our customers have placed in us.
Democratize data and AI to enable smart city
With Covid vaccine rollout being on top of every government and citizens’ mind, data and AI play a key role to ensure secure, safe and equitable distribution of vaccines. The Microsoft Vaccination Management platform is designed to enable and extend an organization’s vaccination management capabilities and create end-to-end experiences for citizens, healthcare providers and various stakeholders. The platform can enable registration, manage appointments and resources, distribute and administer vaccines, adverse event tracking, demand forecasting, order and inventory management among various capabilities.
Most recently, the U.K. built the National Covid Vaccination Registration Platform for its 45 million eligible citizens on Azure. It also integrated with Primary Care and National Health Systems (NHS) nationally, using Power BI for reporting.
However, as public health and healthcare organizations plan ahead, educate, inform, and encourage vaccinations for the broader population is a crucial first step. The active involvement of respected healthcare providers and community leaders will be central to the success of this effort. Technology can amplify these messages and also help deliver individualized recommendations through AI-based chatbot technology and public-facing dashboards.
Technology upskilling accelerates digital transformation
With the rise of new technologies, we must look inward to ensure each of us step up to meet these new challenges with a new set of skills. According to our recent Culture of Innovation study, a growing number of businesses are intent on upskilling, with 31 percent of businesses in Hong Kong plan to invest in tech skills to create tech-savvy employees at all levels.
Felix Lee (middle), Head of Corporate Supplies and Administration of Towngas is pleased to witness his staff members’ success in utilizing Microsoft Power Apps to develop an app that enhances operational efficiency.
And Towngas is a great example. The utility provider emphasizes the importance of a nurturing environment which supports innovation and the use of new technology, including digital skills. Through using Microsoft Power Apps, a low-code development platform, a team under the Supplies and Administration Department with limited coding experience developed an app that allows different business units to file, approve, edit and search all return materials records, which is mobile friendly enabling staff members to access and work almost any where any time. Over 250 users across eight departments are now using the app.
The Towngas case has proven that Citizen Developer-driven ideas can deliver true enterprise-class value and benefits to operations. And this is the start of another major trend that will revolutionize the technology industry.
I’m bullish about this year as we all came out strong from last year. May we continue to cultivate the endless possibilities that technology can bring to every person, business and community. Onwards and upwards.
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