The global outbreak of the coronavirus has severely impacted the retail industry, and retailers permanently shut down their stores. As predicted by UBS, roughly 75,000 stores in US will be forced to close by 2026. Businesses need to “Go Digital” to navigate the crisis, and adoption of O2O strategies is the key to success.  

The HKSAR Government has also offered various funding schemes to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) solve cash flow problems and embrace digital transformation, for example, the Anti-epidemic Fund and Distance Business Programme that offers a total funding of up to HK$300,000. In addition, The Government has also enhanced the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) under The 2020-21 Budget with funding ceiling increased from HK$400,000 to HK$600,000, for companies to use technological services and solutions to improve productivity or upgrade their businesses.

In order to help our members to learn about the latest trends in digital transformation and utilize opportunities from O2O retail, GS1 HK will organise a series of "Go Digital" and "Go Smart" webinars, one of which is co-organised with Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, introducing about smart retail technologies and solutions, as well as information about funding schemes like TVP and Distance Business Programme.