A symposium on intelligent scenario-driven digital transformation was held at Foshan Hi-tech Zone (FHZ) in Foshan City, Guangdong on July 13. 

Over 60 people including officials of the FHZ, representatives from 27 enterprises, industry associations and media outlets attended the symposium.

Kuang Dongming, deputy director of the FHZ's management committee, pointed out during the symposium that the zone has attached great importance to accelerating manufacturing driven by digital technology. It has been striving to promote the application of such frontline technologies as 5G, big data, artificial intelligence, internet of things, and cloud computing in the zone. 

The gigantic need for industry transformation and upgrading posed by enterprises provides broad market potential for the application of new technologies, products and service scenarios, he added. 

The attending enterprise and association representatives shared their experiences and achievements in their own explorations of digital transformation and intelligent scenario creation, providing suggestions on how to promote digital transformation in the zone. As they pointed out, focus needs to be placed on solving the pain points of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the lack of transformation awareness, concerns on high costs, talent shortages and transformation effectiveness.  Work on finance support, service elevation and talent incubation should be strengthened, according to their suggestions.

Pan Dongshen, director of the FHZ's management committee, summarized the session as a feast of entrepreneurs' thoughts. Digital transformation is a key opportunity for the development of the FHZ, and the only way for enterprises to become bigger and stronger. He called for Foshan-based companies to utilize the strong manufacturing base and the market in Foshan, 2.3 trillion yuan ($356 billion) in size, and strive to become bigger and stronger. 

Pan said the zone will focus on four areas to promote the digital transformation of SMEs. It will learn from the development experiences of advanced regions and stimulate the participation of various entities such as new species enterprises, think tanks, associations, investment institutions in the construction of intelligent scenarios. The zone will conduct extensive communications with enterprises in order to provide tailored services to their digital transformation. Meanwhile, the top-level design will be strengthened to formulate high-standard supporting policies for the innovation. He also stressed the services for the enterprises in the zone, adding the zone will provide solution-oriented services to them.