友邦行動日誌:打造零售產業的全新樣貌 × 凌網科技|影響力先行者計畫

影響力先行者計畫(Impact Frontier Lab, IF Lab)為 Impact Hub Taipei 協助財團法人國際合作發展基金會擴大臺灣政府開發援助(Official Development Assistance, ODA)能量的跨域組織加速器,以協助友邦達到 2030 年永續發展目標(Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs)。計畫邀請臺灣企業共同發揮創意,結合創新科技與服務,直接參與臺灣援外工作,發掘海外永續商機!

經過 2021年一系列的加速培力課程及 2022 年初的激烈決審評比,最終選出四組先鋒團隊!各團隊於今年上半年的歲月裡,馬不停蹄的為援外落地行動做足了準備,近日也已陸陸續續前往友邦國家實踐計畫,「凌網科技股份有限公司」作爲影響力先行者第一個前往友邦的先鋒團隊,讓我們一起看看這篇日誌紀錄了哪些他們的援外行動吧!

出訪友邦迎面而來的文化、思考模式與習慣差異,突破原本計畫的地域限制,帶給凌網團隊不一樣的考驗與收穫!

在臺灣,凡事講求效率與整合,尤其在公司營運管理面向上,總是不斷追求流程優化與系統串連介接,我們已經習慣仰賴科技、數位、機器來達到商業利潤極大化的成果,但並非所有國家的社會文化,都有著同樣的習慣與思考模式。在習慣與思考模式的差異之下,看見兩國背後文化的不同,貝里斯消費者習慣以自身的需求作為優先考量,當凌網團隊面臨到這樣的情況時,才發現原本預想在營運管理系統設置的商品販賣單位,並不適用於貝里斯消費著的購買習慣及消費文化。

貝里斯消費者的購買習慣與我們大不相同!好比一包起司片有 10 片,臺灣人已經習慣了以幾包作為購買數量的單位,而在貝里斯因為人民經濟條件及消費者的需求,超市會以滿足消費者需求為最優先宗旨,因此一包起司片也可以拆成單片分售。臺灣超市為追求利潤極大化,而將商品組成一個套組販賣,也形塑了臺灣消費者的購買習慣;但貝里斯超市則追求全力滿足消費者需求,因此商品拆開販賣對他們來說早已司空見慣!

凌網科技導入超市營運管理系統至貝里斯,以建構庫存管理機制、高效結帳系統及降低現金搶劫風險,來提升當地超市的商業永續性!然而當夥伴實際抵達當地試營運系統時,即遇見上述文化習慣所衍伸出的消費流程差異,因此團隊於執行層面也保有彈性與包容,且尊重貝里斯當地的文化及消費習慣,並針對系統的設計進行調整與優化,以符合當地超市的使用需求!

社會數位轉型必經的過程是「調適」,唯有時間的淬鍊及重複的操作練習,才能消彌在地人對新事物的不安感,並促成更便捷的零售產業!

對於凌網科技的夥伴來說,友邦文化及消費習慣的差異是需要被重視的,但該如何尊重當地超市的經營方式,並同時優化管理系統以提升營業額呢?甚至增加消費者的品牌黏著度,亦是團隊這次行動的一大挑戰!隨著產業的成長與未來發展,當地經營者也逐漸意識到系統導入的必要性,但往往因為缺乏技術與設備的支持而停滯不前!

因此當臺灣的創新團隊提出適切的解決方案時,彷彿為當地的經營者打開一扇窗,然而當「數位化」的思維初次衝擊當地的產業與經營者時,需要「數位調適」的軟性過程,才能讓數位化的影響力順利落地發酵!回顧臺灣過去零售產業數位化的發展階段,當沒有 POS 系統機器導入與協助,店員又是如何協助消費者結帳的呢?臺灣也是從傳統的計價標籤、人工結帳及手寫庫存管理等模式,逐漸轉變為現今的線上化管理系統,甚至發展出機器結帳櫃檯。

因此當我們嘗試於友邦國家導入創新的營運模式時,需要的是「時間淬鍊」與「重複操作」,並根據友邦的習慣與文化作為必要的調整!「數位化」並非硬生生的將科技技術直接導入應用,更應該思考的是如何讓創新科技與地方文化融合,並從當地產業發展的基礎之上,再優化衍生出最佳的創新行動方案!

Agriculture and Rural Development

  1. Honduras: There is a huge gap between urban and rural areas in Honduras. Importing agricultural machinery to enhance agro-business efficiency and developing agro-products (such as avocado derivatives) and their markets are necessary for Honduras. In addition, Taiwanese enterprises and organizations have the potential to assist the rural economy by promoting the traditional and unique culture of Honduras, due to its indigenous culture, textiles, and pottery, which are attractive to international tourists.

  2. Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis: The tourism industry is a keystone of the national development vision of St. Christopher and Nevis. However, tourism to the country is still underdeveloped. Taiwan has had a successful experience applying the cultural and creative industries to tourism over many years. Taiwanese enterprises are able to apply Taiwanese models to improve the processing techniques for agro-products and create brands with local features. In addition, they could also assist SMEs with the provision of loans or technologies.

Climate Change and Sustainable Environment

  1. Haiti: Charcoal is Haiti’s primary fuel, but the process of charcoal production continues to damage the forests. Even while the country’s forest coverage rate has fallen to 5%, Haitian’s still choose charcoal, causing significantly greater environmental damage, rather than using the higher-priced gas fuel. Rice is the main food crop in Haiti, and converting rice straw into biofuel is practical and has long been studied in Taiwan. It would be a remarkable and breakthrough if the techniques of converting rice straw into biomass fuels could be applied in Haiti.

  2. Belize: Since many rural villages in Belize are far away from the main water pipelines, local water corporations are unable to extend their services to those places. However, according to the Belize National Weather Service, rainfall from June to November in Belize is enough to cover local use if a rainwater storage system is constructed in rural villages. The TaiwanICDF hopes Taiwanese enterprises and organizations can combine local infrastructure and water purification systems to improve the accessibility of clean water resources in Belize.

Technologies in Education

  1. Saint Lucia: The TaiwanICDF is cooperating with the government of Saint Lucia on the Project for ICT in Education. However, the local primary and secondary schools as well as public libraries lack digital libraries and managerial systems, slowing the development of digital education and e-learning. Moreover, students’ written and artistic works are not effectively preserved or shared, an obstacle to the effective accumulation of experience and learning. There is a need for businesses and CSOs to find innovative solutions to these weaknesses.

  2. Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis: The Saint Kitts and Nevis government is putting more emphasis on educational technology resources for local elementary and middle schools and is focusing especially on mathematics and applied science. By promoting informatization and digitalization, and equipping them with educational technologies and resources, the TaiwanICDF expects to help more students align with global trends and widen their horizons.

Sustainable Economic Development

  1. Guatemala: Guatemala is known for its coffee, which is one of the major sources of the country’s economic development. As such, it is important to develop new approaches to post-harvest treatment and processing and to invest in the development of new coffee bean-related products to reduce waste from the production process. Sugarcane and maize are also important crops for Guatemala’s economy. Therefore, besides improving agricultural production and processing capabilities, strengthening the green economy and improved waste management are also necessary. Herein lies an opportunity for Taiwanese enterprises and organizations to invest in innovative technologies and practices that turn coffee grounds, bagasse, and corn grounds into gold.
  2. Guatemala: In Guatemala, indigenous women suffer from gender and racial inequality in work opportunities and wages. The Taiwanese enterprises and organizations could develop assistance in integrating community resources and lowering the barriers for women entrepreneurs with the provision of various gender-friendly business opportunities.

  3. Paraguay: In response to COVID-19, Paraguay is improving digitalization among its industries. The TaiwanICDF has launched the Project to Strengthen Capacity to Support Development of MSMEs in Paraguay, in order to expand and accelerate the growth of the fashion industry and its development. The TaiwanICDF encourages Taiwanese enterprises and organizations to bring over more digital resources and virtual tools, such as virtual fitting rooms and other marketing tools for a better online consumer experience.

鄉村與農業發展永續

  1. 宏都拉斯(Honduras):宏都拉斯的城鄉差距大,有導入小型農機增加農業經營效率、開發農產加工品(酪梨)及其市場的需求;另外當地原住民文化、織布、陶器更是觀光賣點,如何結合傳統特色發展鄉村產業,均可作為我國企業投入契機。
  2. 聖克里斯多福及尼維斯(Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis):觀光產業是聖克里斯多福及尼維斯的國家發展願景,但當地觀光特色開發不足,臺灣觀光文創產業經營多年,企業除可運用臺灣經驗,協助強化當地農產加工技術及推動品牌特色外,亦可提供微中小企業貸款,或運用數位科技強化產業體質。

氣候變遷與環境永續

  1. 海地(Haiti):海地當地天然資源以木炭為主要燃料,但木炭產製過程不斷造成森林消失,而在海地的森林覆蓋率僅剩5%時,當地又因瓦斯燃料進口費用高,致使一般民眾無法負擔,持續造成當地環境破壞。而稻米是海地主要糧食作物,稻稈變燃料在台灣早已不是新聞,如何導入生質燃料的綠金新商機對海地將是一大福音與突破。
  2. 貝里斯(Belize):許多貝里斯偏遠鄉村因遠離主要自來水管線,且當地自來水公司無法延伸服務範圍至偏遠地區。根據貝里斯國家氣象局的平均降雨量數據顯示6-11月有充足的降雨,應可發展雨水儲集系統解決部分供水需求,期待國內企業結合基礎設備建置,引進有效淨水過濾設備,協助改善當地水資源現況。

科技教育永續

  1. 聖露西亞(Saint Lucia):國合會與聖露西亞共同執行「資訊科技融入教學發展計畫」,但當地中小學及公共圖書館仍缺乏數位圖書館和歸檔的電子化系統,導致在數位科技教育領域的步調緩慢,同時學生過往的書面與藝術作品缺乏有效保存與分享方式,經驗不易累積與學習,需要企業與公民團體投入創新解決方案。
  2. 聖克里斯多福及尼維斯(Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis):聖克里斯多福及尼維斯當地中小學科技資源逐漸受到重視,特別在數學及科學領域的科技運用,希望透過資訊化及數位化,引進科技教學設備與資源,並協助更多學員接軌國際,打開更多科技教育的視野。

經濟發展永續

  1. 瓜地馬拉(Guatemala):的咖啡世界聞名,也是瓜國重要經濟來源,因此亟需導入採收後處理及加工處理新做法,以及投入帶豆仁咖啡豆新產品開發,以減少製程中廢棄物的產生;但不僅是咖啡,甘蔗及玉米也是當地重要經濟作物,因此除需加強農業生產與加工能力外,綠色經濟及廢棄物處理更是創新需求所在,如何將咖啡渣、蔗渣、玉米渣變黃金,都有賴臺灣企業夥伴投入創新技術與做法。
  2. 瓜地馬拉(Guatemala):受到種族與性別限制,瓜地馬拉原住民婦女無法於經濟活動中得到公平的機會與待遇,因此我國團隊可協助整合社區資源,降低婦女創業家進駐成為育成廠商之障礙,提供婦女創業家多元且友善之創業機會。
  3. 巴拉圭(Paraguay):因應新冠疫情,巴拉圭正全面提升產業數位化,國合會在當地推動微中小企業輔導體系能力建構計畫,協助時尚產業發展,為擴大與加速產業成長,建議我國企業夥伴可研擬導入數位試衣與其他可增加線上銷售體驗之工具,也期待未來有更多數位資源導入。