Google Smarter Digital City 3.0 - How Google sees HK's Future

This year's Google Smarter Digital City report, when compared to last year's, yielded some positive results for Hong Kong mixed with a sprinkling of disappointing ones, too. We'll start by getting the negative stuff out of the way first. Many Hong Kongers still see their city as one that is lagging behind other Asian monoliths like Singapore and Tokyo. Indeed, it appears that [1] "less than one-third of residents see Hong Kong as a Smart City - a percentage that has not improved since last year." This indicates that Hong Kong is still playing catch-up despite its enormous potential to be a driving force in digital adoption and innovation. So far, of all the countries and cities Hong Kong locals were asked to identify as smart cities, more people this year felt that Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Taipei were smart cities as compared to last year. The percentage who felt Hong Kong was a smart city remained the same. 

In a more positive light, corporate entities have started to view Hong Kong in a much more favorable way as far as digital adoption is concerned. Hong Kong, since last year, has shown the most growth in the percentage of corporates who view it as a digital smart city. Trends reveal that Hong Kong was ranked 6th last year when compared to other Asian locations like Singapore, Tokyo, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei. Now, it has shifted up to take third position, which is certainly a great improvement. If we take a look at another important distinction Google's report makes, we can discern that [2] "corporates have always been leaders in pushing digital boundaries" which is why they would be more likely to see the immediate changes in Hong Kong's pursuit of a digital future before regular citizens would. 

Given that corporates are continuing to push a digital future for Hong Kong, what are some of the most important future technologies they believe will pave the way to make Hong Kong a digital city? The Google report has identified 5 major areas in which corporates see the future of tech heading in: 

1. Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

2. Cloud Computing

3. Big Data / Data Analytics

4. Digital Content Creation

5. Cashless payments

With these great new technologies already starting to make an impact on various industries in Hong Kong, Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs) are joining large corporations and seeking digital growth. [3] "Eighty-two percent of Hong Kong SMBs now see digital transformation as critical to business success and 70 percent consider digital to be a fundamental part of their business - both of these figures have jumped 20 percent year on year." SMBs are more keen to develop customer relationship management (CRM) tools, apps and websites. These show that SBMs are [4] "not only looking to catch up, but anticipating next steps that will meet customer needs and expectations."

By pursuing these various technologies aggressively, it is certain that Hong Kong's corporates and SMBs will close the gap between other cities and truly elevate Hong Kong toward the goal of becoming Asia's finest digital city. 

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[1]Collaborating for a Smarter Hong Kong Today - Smarter Digital City 3.0 pg.23

[2]Collaborating for a Smarter Hong Kong Today - Smarter Digital City 3.0 pg.11

[3]Collaborating for a Smarter Hong Kong Today - Smarter Digital City 3.0 pg.31

[4]Collaborating for a Smarter Hong Kong Today - Smarter Digital City 3.0 pg.33