As Head of Digital Strategy and Innovation, Joanne Mo helps Swire Coca-Cola stay on top of its game by streamlining work processes and identifying smarter ways to approach its business development strategy. Purchasing a Coke might seem simple enough. But behind every sale, there’s a world of sophisticated technology at work. From smart coolers to strategic deliveries, Swire Coca-Cola embraces digitalisation at every opportunity.
What's an example of a successful solution that your team have implemented?
We wanted to help retailers drive foot traffic to their stores, so we made purchasing a Coke more fun. On the Chinese Mainland, our coolers are connected via IoT (Internet of Things) with Bluetooth capabilities – enabling us to invite consumers to play a mini-game on their phone and then redeem their prize at a nearby vending machine, creating opportunities for repeated business and loyalty.
What else can these coolers do?
Essentially, we installed IoT devices into one million coolers, enabling us to collect data on temperature, lighting, and number of door openings. The "nextgen" version captures images too and feeds the data back to us real-time. My team looks at the data. If the door of a cooler hasn't been opened for two weeks, we'll notify the sales team and they'll investigate. It could be that the cooler is hidden in a hard-to-access corner, and just optimising its location may be hugely beneficial: we have seen door openings jump from five to 50 per week which helps drive sales.My motto is: Fail fast and keep moving forward. Because the faster you fail, the faster you succeed.
Tell us about an interesting internal project?
There are lots! A recent one is our new delivery management system. To make the process more efficient, we installed sensors in our distribution centres, so the restocking team knows when to start preparing for a truck's arrival. Once the truck pulls in, it's like a Formula One car going into a pitstop – they're in and out in no time. The route management module also helps the drivers identify the best routes to take based on road conditions, and we automated all the paperwork.
How would you describe your professional mindset?
My motto is: Fail fast and keep moving forward. Because the faster you fail, the faster you succeed. After all, when you understand the many ways something doesn't work, you will eventually discover how it does work.
Does innovation trickle into your personal life?
Yes, definitely. I always make decisions based on data and look for easier ways to do things. I'm curious about "nextgen" tech – that includes Web 3.0 and all it encompasses. Everyone may own a crypto wallet in the next five to ten years and have a version of themselves in the metaverse.
I also co-founded the annual Coca-Cola Innov8 Hackfest in Shanghai, which invites startups to pitch disruptive ideas that boost our competitive advantage. It's inspiring to collaborate with like-minded, talented people. Our last face-to-face Hackfest included 149 startups spanning across 26 countries.
Any advice for your colleagues at Swire?
When you have an "a-ha" moment, embrace it! Never be afraid to try new technology because there are only two outcomes: either it doesn't fit and you move on, or you discover a way to do things better.
Be the change, don't wait for it!
