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Cisco scored a total of five awards in this year's competition. And while they're all in the networking category, Cisco's philosophy of acquisition has diversified the US-based tech firm into other practices. "The image of Cisco is slowly shifting," said Eddie Lau, systems engineer manager, Cisco Hong Kong. "People used to be surprised when they found out we offer security services. We're perceived as the leading networking company, but that perception is changing-not only because of our product set, but because of our technical vision that 'the network is the platform'."
Lau said that his firm is moving above the network layer, into connectivity to the edge. "It's pervasive computing," he said, "we're moving into wireless, security, different components within the datacenter-right to the applications layer. With video joining voice, data and mobility, it's now a 'quad-play' rather than a 'triple-play', and we are in every one of those market sectors."
"Cisco's outstanding results in these prestigious Awards testify to our leadership in networking technologies," said Charleston Sin, general manager, Hong Kong and Macau, Cisco. "In addition to the convergence of data, voice, video and mobile communications systems, Cisco's 'Human Network' vision is evidenced by the trends in Internet development such as Web 2.0 and collaboration of individual users." |
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Construction biz
Lau said his firm is actively targeting the construction business, under a scheme called CCRE (see sidebar: "From the ground up"). "Imagine the savings-not only costs but construction waste-if all tech-utilities ran on a single cable," he said. "We view IP as the 'fourth utility' along with electricity, water and gas."
Lau added that customers were receptive to the idea, and Cisco is working with property developers in greater China. "The 'intelligent building' is only a concept," he said. "An intelligent complex compounds the effect. Look at the big developments going up in Macau right now--if we can get the technology in from the outset, it will reduce material use and construction waste. There's a social responsibility aspect here and clients are receptive to the idea."
Press the accelerator
Lau feels that much of his firm's strength is in optimization of current technologies or 'content acceleration'. "If I sent a file to Shenzhen or Guangzhou, because I'm with a bank with a back-office located there, I would want to send scanned paper documents in a compressed format to accelerate the process. Our Unified Communication scheme is advanced technology, and video can help 'jam the pipe', so service providers are starting to adopt acceleration techniques."
"TelePresence [Cisco's high-end video-conferencing] changes the way people do business," said Lau. "Hong Kong is still the center for many multinational companies heading towards China, but many IT development centers are located in the Pearl River Delta area. With TelePresence, employees in both locales can interface, saving travel time and costs."
"Of course you must add security into this equation," cautioned Lau. "But content acceleration and TelePresence help firms realize their China vision."
Night school
Lau said that Hong Kong faces a severe shortage of IT skills which is expected to worsen in coming years. "An IDC report said that by 2009, Hong Kong alone will face a shortage of 2,800 tech workers," he said. "A headhunter recently told us they were out of resumes-they'd exhausted their supply of candidates."
Cisco's response was twofold. Firstly, they Launched "Night School" last November. Described as Hong Kong's first free evening program taught by employees, over 100 IT professionals and students from Hong Kong's IT educational institutions attended the launch-all the seminars were taught by Cisco senior engineers and front-line staff who volunteered their time to participate in the program.
Secondly, Lau described a "mentorship" program that extends to universities and even high schools. "Cisco engineers volunteer to speak at local high schools," he said, "and frankly, I'm proud of our employees for doing so. They help serve as role-models for Hong Kong youth-sometimes the students come up to them afterwards and say 'How can I become [like] you?'. We try to do our part in terms of social responsibility in building the collective skills-inventory in Hong Kong."
Lau added that universities are receptive to mentorship. "Our team has passion for their jobs, and they communicate that to the students. I think Cisco's doing the right thing-we as an enterprise in Hong Kong are doing our part."
From the ground up
Last November, Cisco teamed with Shui On Land on a strategic relationship to extend technology applications in quality property projects in China. The firms signed an MOU which sets forth a comprehensive set of desired collaborative goals, starting with the Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) project, one of Shui On's developments in Shanghai.
Cisco Connected Real Estate (CCRE) is a framework designed to create value and opportunity for building developers, owners and occupiers within the construction, real estate and property services sector. An 'intelligent' connected building uses an integral network to reduce capital and operating expenditures for key stakeholders over the building's lifecycle and creates more productive and flexible workplaces through scalable collaboration, mobility and remote connectivity tools.
The KIC
This project dovetails with the Shanghai municipal government's mission to rejuvenate the Yangpu district, where KIC is located. The collaboration will be extended to Shui On Land's other property projects in China, subject to the results of individual feasibility studies.
"This strategic cooperation is another important step toward building a digital community at KIC," said Vincent Lo, chairman and CEO of Shui On Land. "Shui On Land seeks to work jointly with the best international partners, like Cisco, to strengthen its technological edge in enhancing communities in the PRC."
Shui On Land and Cisco plan to work together to establish a Digital Experience Show Suite at the KIC site to showcase CCRE features, including video telephony, wireless LAN, IP telephone, and IP surveillance products. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to forge a strategic relationship with Shui On Land for the development of KIC in Shanghai," said Owen Chan, president, Cisco Asia Pacific. "We are confident that our state-of-the-art CCRE solutions will help Shui On Land make the vision of digital communities in China a reality."
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