Digital transformation is changing the game for human resources leaders and executive search professionals by transforming the way organizations recruit, manage and develop their people, driving engagement, innovation and productivity to new peaks.

What impact will the digitalization have on HR? The insights delivered by smart analytics are no longer available just to IT and financial gurus but to a range of people throughout organizations – including HR employees, executives and managers – who are already using it to fundamentally change the way they work.

The field of Human Resources in China is perpetually expanding in scope and complexity. Technological change has left no aspect of HR untouched – every area has been affected, from talent acquisition and retention to human capital management. 

This year’s AmCham China Human Resources Conference was dedicated to promoting HR Innovation in a world of digital transformation. Each year, the AmCham China HR Forum invites corporate Human Resources leaders, executive search and leadership development professionals, technology and service solution providers, and other senior executives to come together and define the best practices in the human resources world.

On April 25 the 14th Beijing Motor Show opened its doors to the public. The event is held every two years on an annually alternating basis with the Shanghai Motor Show and is one of the largest international automotive shows in the world. 

This year's Beijing Motor Show put a spotlight on sports utility vehicles (SUVs). There is an increase in demand for large cars in China with automakers now talking about increasing space and the number of people that can fit into an SUV. 

The European Chamber held the annual Human Capital Conference in Beijing discussing the critical role that Human Resources Management plays in running a successful business in China.

AUSTRIA CONNECT Greater China is the most important event of the Austrian business community in China.

This year it was held from 19 to 21 November in Chengdu under the motto “Going West and Beyond”. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan and one of China’s most rapidly growing provinces. The region has recently experienced a rapid increase in foreign investment. Sichuan’s success demonstrates how important it is to pay attention to the potential of markets outside China’s well developed coastal regions.

Which technologies are affecting future mobility? Will new vehicle concepts stand up to traditional cars? How are automotive value chains shifting?

These three questions are affecting not only the automotive industry but also the new players changing the automotive world. The key to new and successful products on the market is the cooperation between large and medium-sized companies as well as scientific institutions. Hence innovative companies are looking for creative routes to new solutions more and more. 

During the Automotive Interiors Expo in Stuttgart this June the winners of the Automotive Interiors Expo Awards were announced.

Robin Page, Volvo’s vice president of interior design, received the honor of Interior Designer of the Year. Page’s work, which includes a high-tech touchscreen control console, was recognized as helping to build the company’s luxury credentials. Page said “I am humbled by this award. The interior design of the XC90 reflects a paradigm shift for Volvo Cars. At Volvo Cars we focus on creating an overall luxurious living experience. This means using natural materials such as wood, leather, and crystal in a way that delivers calmness and serenity to the driving experience”.

GIFA is the most important trade fair for foundry technology in the world. After five days Messe Düsseldorf delivered a very positive summary of “The Bright World of Metals” which took place in June 2015.

Localization policies in China recently came into the spotlight of foreign media due to a recent article published by the Wall Street Journal called Twice As Many Expats Leaving China Than Arriving.

“The trucks of the future will be connected and will become even more efficient than today’s models. Our commercial vehicle industry is working intensively on connected and automated driving. This way we can make marked improvements in fuel efficiency, road safety and also profitability, particularly in road freight traffic,” said Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), at the association’s Commercial Vehicle Symposium 2015 in Berlin.

By 2010 China’s manufacturing scale overtook the U.S. to become the world’s largest market. In terms of industrial competitiveness China ranks No. 7 out of 136 countries and is the world's largest net manufacturing exporter. 

On the other hand the Chinese manufacturing industry features high resource consumption, poor independent innovation, and high external dependence on core components. In recent years the “low-cost advantage” on which the manufacturing industry relies to survive has gradually been fading away. 

In a demanding and fast changing environment as is the Chinese market, Human Resources have become a strategic imperative for German companies.

A notoriously competitive talent market, rapid salary increases, and high employee turnover are among the top business challenges. Companies that have recognized this fact and consider having a strong engagement from their top management can gain a long-term competitive advantage. 

Human resources related topics such as increasing labor costs or finding and retaining qualified staff are among the top business challenges for German companies in China.

The HR Forum which took place in Beijing provided a platform for 30 participants to take a look at HR issues from different angles, including the perspective of the parent company in the home country. Mr. Kai Mütze, Managing Director, IAC Unternehmensberatung GmbH addressed the question of how to better manage international assignments, allowing a smooth transition and rewarding development for employees sent abroad as well as their parent companies.

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, in partnership with AmCham, the Japanese Chamber and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) China Task Force, organized an exclusive seminar with Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Beijing. 

In December the German Machinery and Plant Manufacturers' Association (VDMA) hosted a seminar on the topic “HR in China – a war over talents, successful recruitment, and good HR management” in Beijing.

Especially small and medium-sized companies often struggle with the right setup of a professional HR management system. The event covered a broad range of topics including executive search, talent pooling, legal HR implications and employer branding.