Service industry to make use of internet sector developments

Business leaders and industry insiders said the sixth World Internet Conference will bring about new development opportunities for enterprises and scientific research personnel, as the conference is an ideal platform to showcase China’s latest technologies, such as 5G and artificial intelligence.

Denis Depoux, managing director of global consultancy Roland Berger China said the annual World Internet Conference has established itself as one of the flagship events for global internet technology, attracting both domestic and foreign participants.

“The conference offers not only a window on the singular Chinese internet, home to unique e-commerce, payment, AI and cybersecurity innovations. It is also an opportunity to showcase new technologies such as 5G, virtual reality and AI, and more importantly the product and services applications deriving from those,” said Depoux.

Gradually, the event has evolved from being a simple showcase of advanced technologies to a platform to think and experience practical applications, Depoux added.

Zhu Shiqiang, director of Zhejiang Lab, a research institute established jointly by the Zhejiang provincial government, Zhejiang University and Alibaba Group, said the conference is important, as many world-renowned companies and scientists in the internet sector will participate in it, and some significant achievements will be released.

“Insights into internet development will be shared during the conference, which also builds a platform for communication among industry experts, and each participant will reap the benefits,” Zhu said.

Zhu hoped this conference will bring about more development opportunities for the tech enterprises and scientific research staff.

Established in September 2017, Zhejiang Lab explores the frontiers and key technologies in intelligent perception, intelligent networks, intelligent computing and intelligent systems.

Zhu added they will make full use of the conference to showcase their scientific research skills and achievements, observe and determine future internet development trends as well as introduce outstanding talents.

“The development of the internet in China started relatively late, but it is happening quickly. Today, we are in the first echelon in the world. We are now at the forefront of cloud computing, big data, AI, internet of things and 5G technologies,” said Wu Xinhong, founder and CEO of selfie application maker Meitu Inc.

Wu said the integration of the internet with industry and the real economy will be much closer, because the internet is going to become an infrastructure to empower and serve other industries, and to elevate and even reshape the ecology of industries.

Shang Wenzhu, president of Hangzhou BroadXT Inc said this conference is an ideal window to display China’s latest technologies, while noting China is taking the lead in autonomous driving technology.

The company’s 5G self-driving minibus is set to make its global debut on the first day of the annual event. The vehicle will be used to help ferry participants to the venue during the conference.

“We want to let more people know that self-driving is safe through the display.”

In September, Wuzhen authority and BroadXT inked an agreement to speed up the commercialization of 5G autonomous buses in Wuzhen. With a total investment of 650 million ($92 million), the 110square kilometers of Wuzhen will be covered with intelligent networked transportation systems in the next three years.

For Liang Jianzhang, the co-founder and chairman of online travel agency Ctrip, discussing global internet connections in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province — a classic Chinese tourist spot — is kind of fun.

The sixth World Internet Conference will be held in this ancient and picturesque city, a typical river town south of the Yangtze River. It has been named as one of the Top-10 Charming Chinese Towns. Wuzhen is reputed as “the last riverine town in China” with a historic civilization stretching back 7,000 years while the town itself has a history dating back 1,300 years.

“My expectations for this year’s WIC in Wuzhen will be the service globalization based on technological advancement, as well as global scientific innovative developments,” Liang said.

“China’s internet industry is ever-changing. I’m looking forward to seeing more eye-opening products and concepts at the conference,” he said.

He noted that in past years, the internet has promoted the development of tangible e-commerce, enabling the circulation of goods with no barriers. With the help of the internet, people can now buy whatever they want anytime, anywhere.

“However, the role that the internet is playing in shaping e-commerce of service is equally impressive,” he said.

According to Liang, the development of the internet is improving the service experience.

He pointed to Ctrip as an example of a company which has maintained its advantage in the domestic arena.

Thanks to the internet, the firm has partnered with many international enterprises to establish localized call centers. The compaability ny’s experience in the online travel agency sector was introduced to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and a number of European countries.

“During the upcoming WIC, we are expecting discussions on how tourism services can be landed and circulated more smoothly in the world with the help of the internet. For example, a more comprehensive e-payment system and a more convenient inbound tourism service platform can be built,” Liang said.

A recent research conducted by tourism marketing firm Sojern showed that in 2018, digital advertisement accounted for almost half of all travel advertisement, and the ratio is still rising.

Up to 60 percent of those surveyed said that data gives them a better understanding of how visitors behave on websites and apps; while 59 percent used data to learn how they win or lose customers during the purchase process.

“The development of the internet is completely changing the tourism industry,” the report said.

During the WIC, Liang will also pay attention to the role that major global economies are playing in promoting business development and cultivating scientific innovations, especially in China and the United States.

He noted that China’s current innovation capability is advancing by leaps and bounds. Many indicators show that China’s innovation is very close to, or even stronger than that of the US. In the long run, China will surpass the US in technological competition.

“In this regard, I hope we can have more in-depth communication with guests at the conference.”

Lee Der-Horng, an academician at the Academy of Engineering Singapore, director of the Global Institute of Intelligent Technology and the Institute of Transportation Brain of Pcitech, and vice-president of Pcitech, voiced agreement with that assessment.

“I’m excited to see the world’s leading internet ‘black technology’, together with various intelligent interactive projects in this year’s WIC.”

“As far as I know, Wuzhen is already taking a lead in realizing full coverage of 5G commercial application and has added many intelligent experiences — more than 60 projects, such as long-distance driving unmanned vehicles, millimeter-wave human security detectors, and transparent screens, will be displayed during the conference.”

“This is the future trend. We are able to foresee the future life in Wuzhen in advance,” he said.

“WIC is one of the most influential events in the world information technology industry. Everyone should attend,” said Cisco Global Innovation Officer Guy Diedrich.

China’s internet industry is experiencing earth-shaking developments, and the country’s demographic dividend is one main contributor.

“In the past few years, China’s economy has entered a new stage, and consumer iterations have enabled new industries and services that are lean, high-quality and segmented to gain new opportunities through the internet. More opportunities are yet to come.”