Special interview
Written by: Kwong Yueting
2020-11-02 07:00
Last update date: 2020-11-02 07:00
The new crown pneumonia epidemic has shaped the "new normal" lifestyle and accelerated the pace of corporate digital transformation. However, for many small and medium-sized enterprises, it is expensive to digitize their business, and it is naturally more difficult to turn against the market.
In view of this, the start-up Atalon Ventures has developed the "iSaleConnect Business System", using cloud computing technology, combined with the operating system and online store platform, to help merchants from all walks of life develop customer sources, improve operation and management efficiency.
Zhao Lang, one of the founders of Atalon Ventures, was in his early thirties. Before starting his business, he was in charge of Hong Kong Real Estate Investment in Lyon. His father was Zhao Guoxiong, the executive director of Cheung Kong Property (1113), known as the "God of the House".
Zhao Lang accepted an exclusive interview with "Hong Kong 01", telling the origin of the denunciation of more than 20 million research and development business systems, and also revealed that the system has received more than 100 orders during the test period, and expects to have 2,500 customers within half a year.
Zhao Lang revealed that the most important systems are accessible (easy to access), affordable (easy to afford) and easy to use (easy to use).
(Photo by Huang Baoying)
Many entrepreneurial stories originate from the entrepreneur's own experience.
Zhao Lang owns several bars and restaurants. Last year, there was a wave of anti-regulation movement in Hong Kong. Because his bars and restaurants are located in demonstration areas, the roads are closed from time to time, making it impossible for customers to visit.
Therefore, he conceived to launch a consumer storage value system: If a customer deposits 10,000 yuan in cash in his account, he will receive 12,000 yuan in consumption, and the customer can even spend in other branches of the company.
However, when he asked for a quote from the developer, he discovered that the cost was high.
"He wants to charge me 1.3 million yuan. I know that everyone in my own company knows how to write, so I let my mind go and ask my team to write a system within 9 months to help SMEs become intelligent. Management﹚ requires ordinary people to know how to use it!" Zhao Lang said.
After abandoning a job and starting a business for two years, I feel the son of Lou Shen Zhao Lang: guests appreciate the achievement and earn hundreds of millions
Zhao Lang pointed out that the first stage of the company will target the catering industry and small retailers.
, (Photo by Yu Junliang)
Spend more than 20 million yuan on research and development, first targeting restaurants and small retailers
In the end, his team took nearly a year to develop the "iSaleConnect Business System", which has more comprehensive functions than originally thought. The system integrates the store's sales records, procurement process, inventory management, personnel management, and membership systems. On the same platform, the entire system research and development costs exceeded 20 million yuan.
Zhao Lang believes that the biggest selling point of the system is to use big data to analyze customers' shopping methods and habits. Stores can then give appropriate e-coupons according to customers' preferences.
In addition to helping the restaurant attract more repeat customers, it also saves the printing fee of coupons and the cost of manual processing; on the other side, customers will not lose coupons.
"Many stores will be limited to certain types of discounts, which may not be useful to customers. For example, hot pot restaurants offer sour plum soup discounts. If a customer doesn’t drink sour plum soup, it’s a discount, which will stimulate sales. And business practices should be changeable."
In the first phase, the company will target the catering industry and small retailers. In order to reduce the hardware costs of SMEs, the system is applicable to cash registers, mobile phones and tablets with 4G Internet access. Store employees can use the mobile app version "iSaleConnect Camp "Business System" is installed on your mobile phone.
At the same time, the system can provide customers with real-time data analysis, and store owners can immediately grasp the operating status of the store, "It's like how many businesses have been made in the morning market, the situation of turning tables, employee clocking in and attendance records, etc."
All data of the system is stored in the cloud, and has a report function, so that the store can know the real-time operating status of the store.
(Photo by Huang Baoying)
Hope to attract 2500 customers in half a year
However, it is the cold winter of the catering and retail industries, how to attract customers to buy is a big problem.
On the contrary, Zhao Lang believes that the catering and retail industries will only think about digital transformation under the adverse market conditions, but the solutions on the market may make them unaffordable, while the company has a lower threshold for SMEs to integrate online and offline applications. Marketing strategy, and use technology to improve operational efficiency and save costs.
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When asked when the system is expected to break even, Zhao Lang said that the system is currently in the testing phase and is scheduled to be officially launched early next year. It will be charged in a monthly fee mode, and customers need to pay 500 yuan a month.
He also revealed that the company has received more than 100 orders during the testing period, and expects that the system will have 2,500 customers within half a year. "We are not in the old economy. Maybe my father and grandfather are in the age of a product. When you leave Lebanon, you have to calculate how much you sell to break even, but we are doing innovation and technology because we want to make products and improve user experience. The value of a company does not lie in your bottom line (profit) and PE (price-earnings ratio). ) How many are there and how popular are the products."
Atalon Ventures has recently received a stake in the venture capital fund Huike Technology Venture Capital and the Innovation and Technology Venture Capital Fund (ITVF) of the Innovation and Technology Agency, and completed the first round of financing in the third quarter with a valuation of 300 million yuan.
Zhao Lang said that the Hong Kong market is small and competition is fierce. If the product responds well in Hong Kong, it will be easier to succeed in different markets. Therefore, Hong Kong will be used as a pilot first, and then it will enter the Asia-Pacific market.
"The company will continue to add more new features in response to market changes and customer needs, and there will be a major update every six months."
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