Tuned in to Asia's best expansion platform (hktdc.com)


	RadioScape CEO John Hall says Hong Kong’s talent pool and business-oriented environment have underpinned the firm’s rapid expansion

When the world's leader in software defined digital radio solutions began a multi-million dollar expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong was a stand-out choice as its platform.

"China is the centre of digital radio manufacturing for the world," said John Hall, CEO of London-based RadioScape. "Having a dedicated team in Hong Kong enables us to provide the best possible levels of customer assistance and support for this rapidly growing market."

RadioScape, whose innovative products will bring quality digital radio reception to countries across the Asia-Pacific, opened its Hong Kong operations centre in 2004. Rapid expansion followed, and in less than a year, the company had outgrown its initial premises. RadioScape now employs 25 people here (up from the original six) and has all of its core functions represented in Hong Kong.

Attributes hard to match

"The company was able to grow this office rapidly because there is a ready pool of skilled engineers available and a business-oriented environment that minimises red tape," Mr Hall said. It would have been very hard to match this anywhere else in the world, he added. "The Hong Kong engineers have a tremendous work ethic. They are committed, enthusiastic and energetic and work tremendously well together as a team to deliver against commitments."
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The operations centre provides local sales and engineering support for radio manufacturers who are primarily based in southern China, particularly around Shenzhen, Mr Hall explained. It is also the hub of RadioScape's module manufacturing and logistics team, with a dedicated Customisation Group offering engineering facilities for custom software and hardware development.

"The office in Hong Kong enables us to be close to our customer base which is predominately in China. As a result, we can be very responsive to their requests and requirements both in the language of the customers and in their time frame," Mr Hall said. "The two centre operation of Hong Kong and London provides us with the ability to deploy the time difference to our advantage. London can take over projects whilst Hong Kong sleeps so that there is an answer ready for when Hong Kong wakes up.

"The Hong Kong office is also vital in that it enables us to manage the entire supply chain which is locally based. Sourcing of components, PCBs, manufacturing, customising and delivery are all under our control to ensure that we can give our customers the best possible service."

Close to its customers

Mr Hall said RadioScape has established a closeness with its customer base that would be impossible to achieve if it did not have a presence in Hong Kong. "We can talk to them in their mother tongue and translate their requests into product deliverables that precisely meet their requirements."

He added that "an amazing metric for the success of the Hong Kong operation is that we have had zero staff turnover since we opened the office, and this is a tremendous testament to the team spirit and success of the operation".

RadioScape is planning another major expansion phase shortly with the recruitment of over 10 people to staff a new development office in the Hong Kong Science Park. This will be in addition to the existing facility and will focus on new technologies such as mobile TV solutions, where RadioScape is already a major supplier of broadcast equipment to the Chinese market with over nine installations in major Chinese conurbations.