As e-commerce matures, many transport-focused logistics companies find freight-management a pain point, given the large number of clients.
Noting this, a Hong Kong technology company ShipAny launched a one-stop intelligent logistics platform which leverages a cloud-based system to automate connections between merchants, e-commerce platforms and logistics service providers.
SMEs, operating as merchants with their own online stores, need to invest in electronic payment and logistics systems, as well as after-sales customer service support. These tasks can be challenging due to their limited resources. Recognising this, ShipAny decided to address these problems.
ShipAny Co-Founder Taurus Cheung who has more than 10 years of experience in enterprise software and cloud solutions is optimistic about development prospects for automated supply chain technology systems.
“I founded a company in 2013 to provide retail merchants with cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, including automated procurement, warehouse inventory management, sales, accounting and logistics, and other one-stop solutions for e-commerce and logistics.
In 2019, the company launched ShipAny, a logistics platform that interconnects multiple e-commerce platforms and logistics service providers with the capability to enhance and streamline logistics operations for e-commerce merchants.
COVID-19 struck shortly after ShipAny was established and the pandemic was a catalyst, accelerating the firm’s expansion by promoting online retail business in Hong Kong and the world.
Seeking to grow in line with this trend, the company set its sights on Taiwan and Thailand. Close to Hong Kong in geography and culture, the Taiwan branch opened in May last year. However, developing a business in Thailand presented language and regulatory challenges.
“I went online and learned that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has 50 offices around the world and also provides the Transformation Sandbox Programme (T-box) to help small and medium-sized enterprises explore overseas markets, so we joined T-box and seek support last year," Mr Cheung said.
As a Hong Kong technology company setting up business and starting operations in Thailand, ShipAny had needed to resolve issues related to licenses before entering the Thai market.
The T-box team and the HKTDC's Bangkok office helped the firm clarify regulations, such as license types, application procedures and accounting and financial documents, giving them the confidence to enter the Thai market. They also learnt from the T-box team that foreign investors can account for no more than 49% of equity, when opening a business in Thailand.
ShipAny had to form a joint venture with a reliable Thai company. The business involves e-commerce, and needed to apply for an e-commerce license and local transport license.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, the company now has subsidiaries in Taiwan and Thailand. Hong Kong's status as an international shipping centre enhances the city's brands when expanding into overseas markets, and they can still flex their muscles when opening businesses overseas.
“Hong Kong has always been our main business market. We have 6,000 customers in Hong Kong and Taiwan. There are about 1,000 customers in Thailand, but business is expanding much faster in Taiwan and Thailand because the local population is larger, and the e-commerce sector is more mature than that in Hong Kong," Mr Cheung said.
Looking ahead, ShipAny hopes to further expand internationally by participating in the HKTDC's overseas activities and exploring the possibility of entering other ASEAN markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and Japan.
