China’s ‘Always-On’ Digital Disruptors
A new breed of Chinese consumer brands has hit the ground running with a digital-first, consumer-centric approach. They hook consumers with always-on digital conversations, camera-ready packaging, and fast-paced product launches. […]
Good News Spurs Revised Asia Forecast
Due to promising forward indicators, IMA Asia now expects a strong recovery in the global economy this year. The combination of good vaccines, strong private sector balance sheets, and strong […]
Leveraging Digital Tools in a China Go-To-Market Strategy
China has proven to be an ideal place to experiment with cutting-edge digital apps. Many Chinese companies are digital-first enterprises that tactically test and tweak digital applications. A China CEO […]
Managing Supply Chains During and After the Pandemic
Covid-19 has put the strength and flexibility of supply chains to the test. Some industries, such as oil and gas, are used to managing volatility. Other industries have experienced disruptions […]
Securing China’s Talent After Covid
Companies in China weathered the pandemic storm better than expected by empowering their local teams. As a result, senior executives at global headquarters increasingly recognise the capabilities of China-based employees […]
Asia’s 2021 Prospects Are Not Quite as Bright as Some Believe
Almost everyone in business is an optimist and in December we tend to look forward to a better year ahead. We also expect 2021 to be a bit better but […]
2021 Strategy Realignment: 10 Questions That Need Answers
Our view is that 2021 will be the bridge year from the 2020 pandemic to the beginning of the next normal in 2022. It will be a year for developing […]
China to Push E-invoicing in 2021
The trend towards e-invoicing is slowly gathering momentum as China’s tax authorities move ahead on their much-anticipated plan to allow digitised invoicing for businesses. Soon, electronic special value-added tax (VAT) […]
Ringfencing China: Can The Digital Cord Be Cut?
China’s unique cybersecurity regulations, its separate digital ecosystem, and its digitally savvy consumers set it apart from the rest of the world. As a consequence, MNCs are looking to ringfence […]
Ringfencing Digital Assets in China
Regulations governing the digital arena are rapidly changing the world over, and nowhere is this truer than in China. This presents a fresh set of challenges for MNCs. Global companies […]
Cybersecurity – Navigating the Perfect Storm
The rapid adoption of eCommerce applications, videoconferencing and remote working coupled with a reconfiguring of supply chains has radically increased by online threats. Cybersecurity has become more important than ever, […]
Covid’s Impact Motivates China’s M&A Buyers and Sellers
MNCs partnering in China took only the briefest pause during the worst of Covid-19 and then bounced back in the second quarter. While organic growth is a top priority for […]
The Future of Hong Kong as a Regional Headquarters
International companies have long regarded Hong Kong highly for its skilled workforce, business-friendly legal system, robust regulatory regime, high corporate governance standards and generally free flow of capital, people and […]
Covid Accelerates China’s Digital B2B Transformation
B2B e-commerce and virtual selling were gaining traction well before the lockdown but the experience during the pandemic has accelerated the trend towards digital sales. At a recent IMA China […]
Business Travel’s Future is Uncertain
The dearth of business travel during 2020 has had an immediate and long-term impact on the travel industry ecosystem, businesses at large, and the entire global economy. An executive at […]
Negotiating India’s Slump
COVID-19 hit India’s economy hard and its GDP will likely shrink by over 5% in this fiscal year. Furthermore, this disruption of economic activity will lower India’s medium-term economic outlook. […]
China’s Recovery: The CFO View
The pandemic in China has given CFOs a wild ride on a ‘V’ shaped recovery rollercoaster. After a steep drop in revenues and expenses in the first quarter, there has […]
Restructuring for Post-Covid-19 Competition
MNCs across Asia are changing many of their management practices as they learn to adapt to the challenges of Covid. The lessons learned are likely to permanently alter the way […]
Bringing Big Data to China’s Big Machines
Not long after news of Covid’s spread in China hit papers around the world, so did photos of a remarkable feat: the building of a 1,000-bed hospital in a mere […]
Shifting from Recovery to Retooling in China
Companies in China are moving to the second phase of the Covid-19 crisis. During the first phase they focused on protecting their employees and their assets. The second recovery phase […]