Embracing the digital landscape

Embracing the digital landscape

Recently, I noticed Hong Kong’s iconic double-decker tram travelling down the road on Hong Kong Island with an advertisement promoting cartoon like hamsters called Lulu in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFT). It was a colourful tram; but I didn’t understand the sales pitch. It matched the monster sized ads I saw on the side of two buildings in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’s shopping district featuring the same animated hamster.?Not to long ago, I read about collaborating in a virtual office space using a 3D avatar whilst attending a virtual meeting and was fascinated by how it worked. Just last month, we announced HSBC will buy a plot of virtual land at The Sandbox metaverse to engage with sports, e-sports and gaming fans.

Non-fungible tokens or NFTs, web3, and metaverse are new words to me. I need to better understand these buzzwords and become digitally fluent. If we add artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain technology, cloud computing, machine learning, and virtual reality, then you realise how much we need to accelerate our learning and understanding. There is much to learn. We need to better understand how technology is changing how we work, how this new virtual landscape operates, and the opportunities they will bring. It is a big shift in our mindsets.

The world is changing around us faster than ever. We need to keep pace. Our lives are being transformed by digital technologies and even digital spaces where we can sell virtual assets like real estate and art, attend virtual concerts and meetings, or even interact with virtual avatars.

Each of us need to stay up on top of the trends and advances of technologies and how they will change how we work, innovate, and support our employees and customers. We need to evolve and prepare for new immersive experiences.?

Last year, at HSBC, we launched a Future Skills programme to help create opportunities for everyone to learn, connect, grow, and develop skills. For example, on HSBC University, we cover everything from technical skills like digital and big data, to professional and personal skills, and those that support sustainability and financial capability. Similar to last year, to support ongoing development, we are dedicating a day in mid-April for development. Our colleagues in Asia-Pacific can choose from many different options including taking a Future Skills course on our Degreed learning platform, take a training course on HSBC University, have a career discussion with their manager, or attend one of the special webinars with external experts on topics like digital, sustainability, inclusion, and resilience.

We need to keep moving forward.?Each of us need to take ownership of our own professional development and gain skills and experiences to help transform, grow, and create opportunities together. Our future is sustained by continuous growth through learning new skills and being curious about the world around us. We have yet to understand what the future of work in the metaverse will look like. Until we do, we need to continue to learn, experience, and explore. I hope you become digitally fluent too.