With the rapid globalization trend of trade development, more and more big companies are taking advantage of this opportunity to establish their overseas offices in major cities. By setting up their overseas offices, they can tap the resources of the overseas markets and improve their competitiveness as well as increasing their international market share.

These big (or multinational) companies realize that with the continuous advancement in technology, they can now use ℮-Offices to replace their conventional branch offices. And in doing so, they achieve noticeable improvement in their profit margin. (A prime example includes replacing bank branches with ATMs. Another example is HSBC (in Guangzhou ) using their ℮-Offices in Hong Kong to serve its Hong Kong customers. Others companies include IBM, Hewlett Packard also use ℮-Offices to better serve their customers.)

How does establishing an overseas office or ℮-Offices benefit your international trade?

I ) Your presence draws the attention of your potential customers. Your e-Office will bring them to your doorstep.

And it is a clear message to your customers that you are indeed an international trading company. According to your survey, given everything the same, having an e-Office in your customers country would definitely give you the advantage over your other competitors; that your customers would definitely contact you but not necessarily the others. Your presence with an e-Office cannot be ignored! It could either be a friend or a competitor!

The survey concludes that no serious buyers can ignore you once you are qualified to be their potential suppliers.

II ) While email is recognized as an important tool in international business; however, the e-Office's overseas telephone communication system, being both efficient & economical can further enhance your business. For those customers who believe in “Time is money” and who require an immediate response, the phone at your office is a prompt and direct means of communication, as the customers know you speak the same language and they will also believe that you understand and are familiar with their market requirements. A phone call also enables you to clarify things easier and quicker, especially in the initial contact process. It can also expedite the ongoing process and will likely provide the opportunity for both parties to explore other new business co-operations.

•  Greatly increases your company's productivity. Imagine your existing business hours is 9am – 5pm (HK time). If your ℮-Offices is located at a different time zone (e.g. UK or US), your business hours are automatically extended to cover their time zones as well. You could end up with 24 hours business hours a day. Naturally, you could substantially increase your productivity. In the event that your existing team finds it too stressful to cope with these long business hours, our back up voice mail services* enable you to choose your business hours on a day to day basis, depending on your day's workload. **

•  *You can use your e-Offices in Hong Kong as this allows you to enjoy the efficient and economical telecommunication system in Hong Kong and you could enjoy Hong Kong very favourable tax system as well.

•  In the long run, having an overseas e-Office will strengthen your relationship with your overseas customers, they feel they are working in the same time zone as you are, and the time and geographic barriers have been removed.