By Wang Hongjie

Property management is at the forefront in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic in many communities and the property management industry faces many challenges because of this epidemic. First, as a human resource intensive industry, the epidemic coincided with the Chinese Spring Festival, resulting in staff allocation issues. Secondly, the development of the epidemic is testing the ability of property management companies to respond to major public health events. Finally, the lack of protection and disinfection materials is creating resource management challenges for firms in our sector.

However, the epidemic will provide the opportunity to reshape China’s property management industry, which is expected to see increased capacity.

First, it will strengthen the management and anti-risk capabilities of property management firms. It can be predicted that the epidemic will further improve and harmonize best practices in the industry.

Second, property management firms’ responses to public health and other major events will improve. The epidemic has sounded a wake-up call for property managers and we must further establish and strengthen plans and drills for public emergencies in order to enhance our response capabilities.

Third, it will prompt property management companies to attach greater importance to digital transformation. The use of artificial intelligence, cloud platforms and other technologies could not only help front-line employees reduce the pressures of management and service provision, but also make data traceable and analysable, so that enterprises can more calmly respond to public emergencies.

By Wang Hongjie (Hospitality EMBA2018), Chairman of H&C Property Management Group.