All articles by Web Asia
Web Asia
Telco revolution
Telecoms companies are coming under pressure to cut costs and become more customer-centric. But what are the advantages they stand to gain through adopting a natively digital approach, and what are the financial implications of their digital transformation? Ian West, partner and head of technology, media and telecommunications at KPMG UK, and Laura Morroll, director of technology consultancy BearingPoint, tell Abi Millar what the future holds for telcos.
Collaboration against climate change
November’s United Nations climate conference in Glasgow was arguably the most important ever. Known as COP26, it brought together hundreds of countries and promised to dramatically ramp up our collective battle to save the planet. But where does business fit into the equation? Lizzie Waymouth talks to Claire Lund, GSK’s sustainability boss, to discuss the role of business leaders in the current stage of the climate crisis, how liaising closely with counterparts in government is crucial to success – and how sustainability efforts could change both business and society.
Digital therapy
Digitisation has long been a buzzword in the world of business and finance. It’s easy to get swept away by it, or even complacent about it. But the CFO of the future would be remiss to simply use it – without understanding what impact it can have on their business. Andrew Tunnicliffe speaks with Novo Nordisk’s executive vice-president and CFO, Karsten Munk Knudsen, about harnessing technology to the betterment of patients.
Zoomed out
As pandemic restrictions lift, many companies are left pondering the future of remote work, from how it shapes employees to how it impacts a company’s bottom line. But with the right attitude – and the right training – many of the world’s largest multinationals are showing just how profitable embracing WFH can be. Briana Pagano speaks with IT leadership expert Surinder Kahai to understand some of the most costly challenges for virtual teams – and how to combat them.
A taste of the future
No company has had an easy 18 months – least of all Danone. Between boardroom putsches and sluggish profits, the French food and drink giant has had an even rockier pandemic than some of its rivals. But with a new financial captain at the helm, could the company yet tack its way back to safer waters? With the climate crisis worsening by the day, moreover, can it find a way of balancing its finances with its deep green credentials? Andrea Valentino chats to Juergen Esser, Danone’s incoming CFO, about how he’s fighting to make Danone a sustainability champion, how new technology can help hasten decision making – and how the successful multinational of tomorrow will lean into its environmental commitments more than ever.
A new age for cybersecurity
The EU’s new Cybersecurity Act, originally adopted in April 2019 and effective from June 2021, establishes a cybersecurity certification framework for products and services that promises to fundamentally reform how the issue is tackled across the bloc. Martin Morris talks to Juhan Lepassaar, executive director at the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), about how the new regime will operate for companies, and whether heightened cooperation between business and government is expected in the longer term.
Rising in the east
Despite the pandemic, foreign direct investment (FDI) is enjoying a boom east of Suez. In China, it increased by 6% last year, to $149bn. Hong Kong and India have seen similar rises – even as much of the developed world has struggled. So, what does this gap mean for the global economy? And do the events of the past year represent a more fundamental shift in where foreign investment ends up? Isabel Ellis catches up with Mike Pfister at the OECD to understand the current state of FDI, why developing Asian economies are proving such popular spots for growth, and what that means for global business at large.
The changing face of treasury
Covid-19 has renewed focus on the role of treasury within organisations. The pandemic, combined with the potential unleashed by automation and digitisation, has made treasurers indispensable to companies wanting to future-proof their bottom lines. Lynette Eyb asks Caroline Stockmann, deputy chair of the European Association of Corporate Treasurers, and CEO of the UK-based Association of Corporate Treasurers, about the role of treasury in the post-Covid world.
Out of this world order-to-cash automation
Fintechs come and fintechs go, but some stand the test of time and eventually take their place among the world’s leading technology companies. HighRadius, with its focus on automating the order-to-cash process, is on that trajectory. The company’s vice-president of customer success, Natalie Fedie, explains how it stands out from the crowd.
A question of purpose
How finance can frame and drive an organisation’s principles and practices