31 Mar 2016

On March 17, 2016, Asian Tigers Hong Kong hosted 39 freshmen from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business for a very enlightening visit to their warehouse. This was quite an educationally different experience from the norms of a classroom setting, as students were given a hands-on view into the moving and relocation business. This visit was done to further help these business enthusiasts gain a bigger grasp of logistics and operation management in a practical setup, thereby enriching their theoretical knowledge.

They were warmly received on their arrival by Asian Tigers staff, who emphasized the purpose of their visit as a link that relates theoretical knowledge to practical application. The warehouse was buzzing away, and this very active setting was great for students to follow how relocations were conducted. In place of the books and classroom talks, students are given the privilege to experience sightseeing of the operational procedures and challenges that professionals in this industry meet daily, and all this on-site.

The warehouse operations tour started off as a presentation where students were introduced to how the loading/unloading items are being carried out. They can safely pack, label, store items for transit in a proper manner. The students were clear about seeing the different materials and packing methods to prevent damage to their belongings. The Asian Tigers staff performed every task appropriately while taking care of the client’s belongings with so much precision that they showed quality in their job performance.

Some of the key highlights of the visit included a demonstration of the inventory management system. The students witnessed this great interplay of technology and logistics as it is merged to track all items as they move from the warehouse to their eventual destination in real time. The real-time tracking system provides both transparency and accountability to the customers, giving them the assurance that their goods are handled professionally during moves. Students were impressed by the smooth interplay of technology and manual processes as they understand how both play significant roles in successful relocations.

The discussion did not end there, as the Asian Tigers team presented their views on issues surrounding international relocation. These discussion topics ranged from customs regulations and documentation requirements to the outreach activities of an inter-country relocation process. That way, participants obtained a general view of the international nature of the relocation business, cultural sensitivity, and the communication level required to handle customers from multifarious cultural backgrounds. They underscored the importance of global business acumen in today’s business environment.

The visit was full of interactive sessions in which students got to ask questions and air their views. The Asian Tigers team challenged these bright young minds to think deep about the challenges in logistics and how they would resolve them. This enabled a much more detailed understanding of the industry and the possibility for the students to seek possible careers in the field of logistics and supply chain management.

It wasn’t all work and no play. His workers ensured that students from the Asian Tigers enjoyed themselves by packing some fun into the day. The warehouse tour was filled with light moments where students had taken in packing demos without a hitch while having hooked up with some team-building exercises. These did not only make the visit enjoyable but further reinforced the core value of teamwork working together in the pursuit of operational excellence.

At the end of the tour, all freshmen students from the USC Marshall School of Business came out with a high regard for the moving and relocation industry. The students certainly gained insight very applicable to various system operational challenges and solutions applied, customer service, and technological importance in today’s logistics. Practical experience added a valuable dimension to academic studies, as it used to bridge the gap between the studies of different subjects in a classroom and their application in the real world.

The meeting of these students hosted by the Asian Tigers Hong Kong initiative demonstrates their attitude toward education and industry awareness. Opening their doors to the future business leaders contributed toward the professional blossoming of the students, as well as toward inspiring a career viewed from the perspective of logistics and relocation options in the field of business study. This visit was a memorable and impactful learning experience which further reiterated the importance of ‘on-field’ exposure in business studies.