Innovation and Experimentation
Innovation and Experimentation
A creative mindset of innovation and experimentation is crucial to the successful execution of our SD 2030 Strategy.
Innovation Accelerator
Swire Properties’ Innovation Accelerator (“IA”) programme was established in 2020 to promote a culture of innovation and create a positive, collaborative community of Change Agents within the organisation. 60 Change Agents in Hong Kong and 72 Change Agents in the Chinese Mainland were recruited in the second cohort. The programme encourages participating employees to engage in extensive training, tailor-made workshops and networking events with strategic leaders, giving them the chance to incubate ideas in their own departments. In 2024, IA’s second cohort Change Agents took on several innovative projects.
New IA Recognition Programme Launched for Second Cohort in Hong Kong
New IA Recognition Programme Launched for Second Cohort in Hong Kong
This recognition programme allowed Change Agents to showcase their outstanding initiatives, as individuals or in groups, through a competition. Participants were judged based on the impact of their initiatives and their ability to push boundaries in the course of their daily work.
Applicants submitted proposals for their initiatives. The top three winners received a grand prize of a tour to Shanghai to meet Change Agents in the Chinese Mainland and exchange ideas.
IA Offsite Visits
IA Offsite Visits
In Hong Kong, second-year Change Agents attended a “Test Your Idea” training session to learn about tools that can help them implement their initiatives. They also continued to expand their horizons with a visit to the HAECO aircraft engineering facility, learning and being inspired by pioneering and actionable ideas that have effectively driven complex projects forward.
In July, Swire Properties (China), INDIGO and Taikoo Li Sanlitun organised IA offsite visits in Beijing. The participants were given a guided tour of technological innovation at the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone Exhibition Centre. The tour showcased the rapid development of Zhongguancun, known as “China’s Silicon Valley”, over the past decade, particularly in terms of digital technology, business aerospace, medical technology and advanced materials.
The 34 Change Agents then visited a Beijing-based start-up, delving into the world of digitalisation. A representative illustrated an artificial intelligence (“AI”) “unicorn” company’s achievements and highlighted their products, breakthroughs in AI applications and contributions to the growth of various businesses.
New Ventures
New Ventures
Swire Properties’ New Ventures (“NV”) department specialises in identifying emerging trends in real estate technology and accelerating the adoption of creative solutions. The department adds strategic value by accelerating best-in-class technologies across the Company, advising on strategies that respond to innovations and trends in technology, investing in emerging and promising global technology-enabled companies, and developing new technology-enabled businesses for Swire Properties. In addition to managing a USD50 million corporate venture capital fund established in June 2020, the department works closely with technology start-ups, investors, accelerators and industry partners to stay at the forefront of real estate technology development.
In 2024, the department supported several new tech trials, including an AI-assisted design optimisation and construction sequence simulation; 3D architectural modelling software with AI visualisation and position and gesture tracking; and a 360-degree camera with visual positioning and navigation and a 3D reconstruction AI platform for construction site scanning.
The NV Speaker Series continued, with presentations on several topics including experiential innovations in commercial spaces, which examined how to design distinctive and innovative spaces that resonate with consumers and drive value for property owners; a look at Embodied Intelligence, which explored how generative AI empowers robots and discussed how “human-machine integration is just around the corner”; and a session on “How Can Virtual Reality Technology Co-exist with Business” looking at the global advancements in immersive experiences and potential business applications that integrate virtual and physical experiences.
We also organised six external expert sharing sessions in the Chinese Mainland in 2024. The objective was to ensure that our colleagues gained inspiration and insights into how emerging digital technologies are changing the way we work and perform deep dives into innovative trends relevant to the commercial and retail real estate business. Each of the six sessions had an online and offline audience of more than 200, with offline sharing across Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
We also held a portfolio showcase called “Fuelling the Next Big Disruptions” at the end of July in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. This virtual and real-world showcase highlighted the disruptive technologies and innovative companies NV has been tracking, helping people understand more about the NV fund’s journey and its future potential.
SwireX
SwireX
SwireX, the Swire Group’s first emerging technology competition, concluded in May 2024, attracting 200 entries from Swire operating companies and the Swire head office. The competition provided a unique opportunity for colleagues to connect across the Group by embracing our passion for innovation and having our people across all functions, levels and teams explore how technology can improve our business. Launched in 2023, the competition was open to employees across all Group companies.
SwireX covered three key categories – the metaverse, generative AI and other emerging technologies. Participants were encouraged to submit an idea and describe how it impacts the Group’s businesses, creates future opportunities and solves current pain points.
The competition received more than 200 ideas and attracted almost 1,000 people across the Group to sign up to masterclasses. The top 38 teams received one-on-one mentorships and pitched their ideas to top management. On the final day of SwireX, the top four teams competed for the top prizes, with first prize going to Project WISE for “Unlocking sales opportunities with AI generated insights”. Swire Properties’ “Sales Pulse” and Taikoo Li Xi’an’s “Time Machine Project” were both in the top 10, while Swire Properties Xi’an team won the Most Innovative Department award.
Award-winning Innovative App Transforms Portfolio Management
Award-winning Innovative App Transforms Portfolio Management
Swire Properties’ portfolio management teams have been using two standalone platforms: a property lease system and a property management system. In 2024, we merged these into a single innovative portfolio management system combining both functions. Our efforts won three awards at the Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2024 and gained us recognition for being a “tech disruptor”.
The new Portfolio Management Platform (“PMP”) is a comprehensive property leasing and management solution that enhances internal efficiency and customer satisfaction. It also employs an agile methodology for continuous improvement, has enhanced cybersecurity and compliance, and facilitates seamless integration with third-party products, services and new technologies.
The PMP’s numerous features include the “Vacancy Skyline View” which contains a leasing metric module that streamlines monthly leasing activity report preparation by automating data collection. There is also a floor plan module that provides an immersive view of retail shopping mall layouts – and more features will be rolled out in the next three years.
The PMP mobile app supports team operations by enabling “anytime, anywhere” access to essential information, streamlining workflows and improving overall property management performance. The PMP and another innovative solution, the Frontline Workplace Mobile app, which centralises and simplifies the daily routines of frontline workers into one app, earned Swire Properties wins in three award categories:
- Digital – Real Estate
- PropTech – Real Estate
- Mobile App – Real Estate
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