Funding will support enterprises looking at remote working to continue their business and services during the epidemic.
The Technology and Innovation committee of Hong Kong the Government, under the Anti-epidemic Fund has allocated an additional provision of $1 billion to the Distance Business Programme, to help support enterprises adopt IT solutions to keep them working during the epidemic.
According to the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the Government recognises the importance of “remote working or service” during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Under the Anti-Epidemic Fund, the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) has launched the Distance Business (D-Biz) Programme to support enterprises to continue their business and services during the epidemic.
The Programme provides funding support through fast-track processing for enterprises to adopt IT solutions for developing distance business –the HKPC is responsible for allocating the funds.
In a statement the HKPC said, for each IT solution and the relevant training expenses for the employees, the funding ceiling is HK$100,000 (with funding for the relevant training expenses capped at 10 per cent of the IT solution cost).
Each enterprise may receive total funding of up to HK$300,000 to undertake a project to be completed within six months.
“An enterprise will be disbursed a payment of 30 per cent of the funding amount after the application has been approved. Upon completion of the project and after the supporting documents are accepted, the remaining funding amount will be disbursed to the enterprise,” states HKPC. “IT solution/s must only be implemented after approval is granted.”
The Programme covers 12 categories of IT solutions for distance business, with a view to supporting enterprises to continue business and services during the epidemic.
The list of distance business IT solutions cover:
- Online business
For the company to establish a web portal, mobile app or other online channels, with aims to promote its goods and services, by using either subscription-based or custom-built e-commerce platform, including development and management
Enable consumers to place orders over the Internet
promote such online portal through search engine promotion, digital advertisement such as social media promotion, e-coupon, loyalty programme, etc.
Excluding production of promotion materials, contents or assets (e.g. image, text and video etc. as part of the marketing and promotion materials). - Online order taking and delivery, and smart self-service systems
For the company to establish a web portal, mobile app or other online channels, for consumers to place orders of goods or services, by using either subscription-based or custom-built e-commerce platform, including development and management
Such adoption of technologies should enable the company to perform end-to-end order placement and delivery to designated locations, by using e.g. smart self-servicing system, smart kiosk, smart vending machine, smart lockers, or with integration to e-logistics provider platform
Suitable but not limited to industries that are acquiring or promoting self-services, such as takeaway services in Food & Beverages industries
Promote such online portal through search engine promotion, digital advertisement such as social media promotion, e-coupon, loyalty programme, etc.
Excluding production of promotion materials, contents or assets (e.g. image, text and video etc. as part of the marketing and promotion materials). - Online customer services and engagement
For the company to enable order placements of services to take place over the Internet, such as reservations, appointment bookings, including development and management
Such adoption of technologies can also include distance learning facilities
Promote such online portal through search engine promotion, digital advertisement such as social media promotion, e-coupon, loyalty programme, etc.
Excluding production of promotion materials, contents or assets (e.g. image, text and video etc. as part of the marketing and promotion materials). - Digital customer experience enhancement
For the company to improve customer service experience and engagement with use of various technologies, including but not limited to the following:
Round-the-clock customer service support via Chatbot
Uplift product or service experience with use of Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) or Mixed Reality (MR) technologies or Digital Twin technology
Apply analytics to improve customer experience such as purchasing data - Digital payment / mobile point of sale
Enable online / physical stores with multiple digital payment channels, e.g. payment gateway or mobile Point-of-Sales (POS)
Including one-time setup and associated hardware / equipmentExcluding the handling fee or equivalent of each payment transaction. - Online / cloud-based financial management systems
Adopt computerised system to manage the financial related processes of the company, including but not limited to:
Invoicing and bill collection, accounting and budget planning, asset and liabilities management, regulatory compliance, reporting
System could be cloud-based or accessible remotely by staff with appropriate cybersecurity protections. - Online / cloud-based human resources management systems
Adopt computerised system to manage the human resources related processes of the company, including but not limited to:
Payroll and expense reimbursement, attendance and leave records, training, reporting
System could be cloud-based or accessible remotely by staff with appropriate cybersecurity protections. - Remote document management, cloud storage and remote access services
Digitise hard copy document into electronic format and store on cloud storage
Enable staff to access the company information, data and system remotely with solutions such as remote desktop control, Virtual Private Network (VPN), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). - Virtual meeting and conference tools
Adopt tools to allow groups of people to collaborate or meet virtually through the Internet with the following functions but not limited to:
Support both audio and video communication, content sharing, manage appointments and registrations, meeting recordings, online polling and Q&A. - Virtual team management and communications
Adopt tools to allow groups of people to collaborate or communicate virtually through the Internet with the following functions but not limited to: Instant messaging, video and voice calls, document sharing and co-authoring / concurrent editing, task assignment, progress monitoring and collaborative product development. - Cybersecurity solutions
Improve the cybersecurity of the companies by implementing software, hardware or services to defend against cyber attacks
Solution examples include but not limited to data encryption, firewall, anti-virus / malware solutions - Other online / custom-built / cloud-based business support systems
Other solutions, either off-the-shelf or custom-built, that support the programme objectives of enabling enterprises to conduct and continue business remotely but do not fit into the above categories
Solution examples include but not limited to: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP); e-application form and approval workflow; Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
