E-Signatures: Every Second Counts

n response to the pandemic, Speedy Group further accelerated its digital transformation, particularly in recruitment. As Kelvin Woo, Speedy Group’s Director, explains, recruiting IT talent today is a race against time. “If we stick to the traditional months-long hiring process, candidates may already have multiple job offers. Time is money—we need to move fast and accurately.” Speedy Group has fully digitalized its recruitment workflow. Today, over 90% of HR documents are signed electronically, and all stages—from interviews to signing contracts—are conducted online. According to Kelvin, the recruitment process that once took one to three months can now be completed in as little as one day. “We’ve had new hires join us from overseas and their first time physically stepping into the office was on their first day of work.”

Leveraging Technology to Boost Efficiency

It’s not just the recruitment process that has become more efficient—everyday administrative tasks such as expense claims and payroll have also become faster and more streamlined. Johnny Luk, Director of Speedy Group, emphasized the company’s focus on efficiency and its ongoing efforts to simplify internal processes. By adopting fintech solutions, the company has significantly reduced administrative costs while boosting operational efficiency.

For example, employees now handle routine matters—like claiming staff benefits or applying for leave—entirely through an online platform. Approval processes are faster, with department heads able to review details instantly, and employees can clearly track the approval status. Payroll and reimbursements are even processed via Faster Payment System (FPS), further enhancing speed and convenience.

While using FPS might sound simple on the surface, integrating HR modules, accounting systems, and bank interfaces at the enterprise level is a complex undertaking. Behind the scenes, Speedy Group has invested heavily in financial technology. Johnny explained that the company believes IT systems can reduce both costs and time across various operations, ultimately benefiting employees. Since its founding, Speedy Group has consistently invested in robust IT infrastructure, enabling smooth system integrations and even pioneering new developments within the industry. “We’ve aligned all our systems well ahead of time and are often leading our peers in innovation. At the end of the day, it’s our employees who reap the benefits.”
The company is also preparing to integrate with the eMPF Platform, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority’s upcoming digital system. This will allow employees to manage and access their MPF accounts more easily and conveniently.

Talent, Cloud & AI, Together

Since its inception, Speedy Group has embraced digital tools like the Staff Portal, a self-service system for employees. Kelvin noted the system’s maturity: “Many functions like attendance, leave applications, and staff benefit claims have been in place for over a decade, saving countless emails and WhatsApp messages.” In the past, employee inquiries were typically handled via phone or email. Today, they’re centrally managed through a cloud-based platform, significantly improving response times—from days to just hours or even minutes.

This unified platform boosts productivity by reducing time spent managing inquiries. Johnny added that Speedy Group, being Hong Kong’s largest domain registrar, leverages its customer service experience to enhance internal employee services: “We take what we’ve learned from serving clients and apply it internally—it’s proven very effective.” The company is also exploring the use of AI technologies to classify and process documents faster, aiming to streamline and automate management systems.

Keeping Pace With the Times: Attracting New Talent

Kelvin emphasized that digitalization is the foundation of sustainable business development: “Don’t be shortsighted and focus only on this year’s expenses. Think long-term—will your company survive in the future?” He believes the company’s digital transformation initiatives not only enhance operational efficiency but also help attract younger talent: “If joining your company feels like walking into a museum, young people probably won’t choose to work there.”

Johnny added that successful digital transformation requires modern and user-friendly systems that help new employees onboard quickly: “It should feel like home—easy and intuitive from day one.” One of Speedy Group’s goals is to automate repetitive tasks using AI and digital tools, allowing employees to focus on more impactful, creative work: “Let the machines handle the routine stuff. Our people should be doing what robots can’t—making decisions and building new projects.”