New World Services subsidiary Urban Group celebrates its 20th Anniversary
& The Official Launch of Sm@rtUrban
Providing intelligent management services for better living environment
Date: 20/12/2001
Urban Group ("Urban"), subsidiary of New World Services Limited ("NWS") today celebrates its 20th Anniversary and the Official Launch of the Sm@rtUrbana Management Model at the Convention Hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai to introduce their outstanding achievements and the unique business model of the company.
Officiating the ceremony include Mr Stewart Leung, Director & Group General Manager of New World Development Limited and Founder of the Urban Group; Dr. Cheng Hon Kwan, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority; Mr Andrew Wong, Mr Michael Fong and Mr Patrick Lam, Executive Directors of New World Services Limited; and Dr Edmond Cheng and Mr P C Lau, Executive Directors of Urban Group.
Sm@rtUrbana is a new management model designed by the Urban Group since 1999. It is an innovative business model combining Urban's concept of People, Process and Technology, enabling the company to deliver the best quality management service to its clients.
Sm@rtUrbana comprises 19 systems grouped under five major divisions: Estate Management, Technical Management, Customer Management, Financial Management and Administrative Management. Each system is specially designed to cater for the practical requirements of its clients and takes care of special area in property management. Sm@rtUrbana provides a new operating environment empowering its staff to work smarter. Supported by a centralized data bank, efficient management systems and Internet-based communication channels, front line managers can easily obtain the resources to address their clients' needs, to implement and track response and to take prompt and effective remedial actions. Thus, this brand new model creates a more comprehensive and efficient one-stop service for its clients.
Mr Stewart Leung, Director and Group General Manager of New World Development Limited spoke of Urban's success, "Urban has over 20 years of proven experiences in property and facility management in Hong Kong. The New World Group established Urban to serve the Hong Kong people by providing excellent management services, thus creating a comfortable living environment and enhancing the value of the buildings."
He said, "The remarkable achievements of Urban relied mostly upon the continuous support of its clients as well as the great efforts of all our staff. As the management has made much endeavours in continually introducing new management concepts and models into our business operations, Urban is able to maintain constant service upgrade over the years. Their professional service quality has already obtained recognition from the Hong Kong SAR Government and the property owners as well."
Mr Leung added, "Nowadays, property developers in Hong Kong have been focusing on intelligent buildings. Moving towards this goal, many of the newly built commercial and residential premises have been equipped with intelligent networking. Over the past two years, NWS has wholeheartedly supported Urban in its corporate re-engineering project and has initiated a series of service enhancement programmes, which led to the improvement of its overall services. Sm@rtUrbana can be applied to modern intelligent properties as well as existing housing estates or buildings. Property management staff can benefit from the advanced features of the systems to help shorten the lead-time for the delivery of service and to enhance the efficiency of daily administration and operations."
During the Ceremony, Dr. Cheng Hon Kwan, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority said, "Property management is an important element of the Hong Kong service industry. Private property management companies have fully utilized the changes in the market, making good use of modern management strategies and systems in property management to fulfil the requirements of the clients. Urban Group is one of the good examples."
He added, "The Hong Kong Housing Authority has commenced cooperations with private property management companies as early as the 1980's. Our cooperation helps enhance the cost efficiency of public housing management and improves the flexibility of manpower allocation."
"Following the launch of the 'Phased Service Transfer Programme' in January 2001, the role of the Hong Kong Housing Authority in public rental housing management has shifted from providing services to supervision. Hence, we will adopt a new management model through re-engineering process to achieve the expected target of cost saving. Moreover, we will constantly review and improve the tendering arrangement and monitoring system, making use of the advantage of the operational model of private organizations and market economy. I very much appreciate the progressive spirit of Urban Group. Through the launch of its Sm@rtUrbana Management Model, I can see the strong determination and endeavours of the Group in promoting intelligent property management service." Said Dr Cheng Hon Kwan.
Urban Group possesses solid foundation and proven experience in providing innovative, professional and best quality management service for its customers and to maintain a leading role in the industry. Urban believes a new management model – Sm@rtUrbana combining People, Process and Technology will enhance its overall management standard, provide intelligent management service, enhance the value of properties and lastly create a better future for the people of Hong Kong.
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