Tradelink 2018 Annual Report

Management Discussion and Analysis (Continued) 管理層討論及分析 （續） Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited Annual Report 2018 16 Business Review (Continued) E-Commerce Business Review (Continued) As for Commercial Services business, its outlook in 2019 is more optimistic given the solid sales pipeline we have on hand for our matured products, in particular WMS. With our flexible and versatile design philosophy, our WMS can be used as building blocks in developing solutions for diverse applications from managing warehouse for supporting Business-to-Business/Business-to-Consumer operations, various degree of warehouse automation and equipment handling tools to inventory control and physical assets management. In addition, we also have in-progress projects from 2018, for which development and implementation will continue in 2019. One of them is the mega automated warehousing project. Also apart from new customer cases which we are working on, we are glad to receive new orders from existing customers for extending scope of solutions deployed, replicating similar solutions for their overseas operations and/or new solutions. Deployment of WMS for customers is often the starting point as once WMS, which serves as the control centre of operations along the entire supply chain, is deployed, customers often will have demand for other applications for managing associated operations. Regarding the impact of the continuing trade conflict between China and the US on Commercial Services business, we have yet to notice any sign of slowing down of our business at least so far in early 2019. An unfavourable operating environment would negatively impact the business of supply chain customers, however, they would still want to look for ways and means to enhance their business operation, reduce costs and/or open other markets including investing in solutions which we could offer to them. To keep up with the technological trend, we will continue our research and development work, in particular in relation to applying Artificial Intelligence and IoT on our solutions to enhance their functions and features to meet changing market/customer demand. To do that, apart from using our own resources, we will also try to seek relevant IT support funding from the Government. One such project for which Government funding is being sought involves research and development of a solution that can give flexibility to warehouse operators in implementing automated warehouse solutions for addressing warehouse labour issues including labour shortage and cost. The deliverable of this R&D project is expected to help promote the adoption of warehouse automation and potentially present more business opportunities for us. All factors considered, unless the global economy clashes and the GETS market is catastrophically hit, we are cautiously optimistic about our combined E-Commerce business in 2019, given the strong business momentum Commercial Services has gathered. Last but not least, we have decided to rename Commercial Services business as Supply Chain Solutions business starting in 2019. The new name reflects more clearly that the supply chain community is the target market of the business. 業務回顧（續） 電子商貿業務回顧（續） 另一方面，由於我們已趨成熟的產品（特別是倉 庫管理系統）的銷售渠道穩健，故此我們對商業 服務業務前景感到較為樂觀。倉庫管理系統的設 計理念富彈性及靈活易變，因此可作為模組，以 發展多元化的解決方案，由支援企業對企業╱企 業對消費者營運的倉庫管理，各程度的倉庫自動 化系統及處理設備的工具，到存貨監控及實體資 產管理不等。於二零一九年，我們需要繼續完成 去年仍在進行的項目，繼續其開發及落實工作。 其中一項是我們龐大的自動化倉庫項目。此外， 除我們正合作的新客戶外，我們亦樂見現有客戶 向我們下新訂單，當中包括擴展現運用的解決方 案範疇、為彼等海外業務複製類似的解決方案及 ╱或應用新解決方案。採用倉庫管理系統通常是 向客戶提供服務的起點，當採用我們的倉庫管理 系統作為整個供應鏈運作的控制中心後，客戶通 常會向我們提出其他管理相關運作的應用程序的 需求。中美貿易糾紛持續，其對我們的商業服務 業務的影響仍有待觀察，至少於二零一九年初我 們仍未察覺有任何跡象導致該業務出現放緩。儘 管不利的營運環境會對我們的供應鏈客戶業務造 成負面影響，但該等客戶仍希望想方設法，透過 投資於我們可提供的解決方案，提升其業務營 運、降低成本及╱或開拓其他市場。 為跟上科技趨勢，我們會繼續進行研究及開發工 作，特別是於我們的解決方案中應用人工智能及 物聯網，從而提升有關解決方案的功能及特色， 以應對瞬息萬變的市場╱客戶需求。就此，除運 用我們本身的資源外，我們亦嘗試向政府尋求相 關資訊科技支援資助。其中一項正尋求政府資助 的項目為研究及開發一項解決方案，為倉庫營運 商於實踐自動化倉庫解決方案上提供彈性，以應 對勞工短缺及勞工成本問題。此項研發項目應交 付的產品，預期可作推廣採用倉庫自動化之用， 可望為我們創造更多商機。 經考慮所有因素，除非 GETS 市場因環球經濟大幅 下滑而遭受災難性打擊，在商業服務業務勢頭持 續強勁的情況下，我們對二零一九年綜合電子商 貿業務保持審慎樂觀態度。 最後，我們已決定自二零一九年起，將商業服務 重新命名為供應鏈應用方案。重新命名更清晰反 映我們的目標市場是為供應鏈群體提供解決方 案。