One card to do it all

Shanghai Pudong Software Park is taking measures to offer clients services in smart ways.

A standardized program for developing "smart" high-tech parks nationally was released at the beginning of 2014.

The SPSP was selected by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to be one of the pilots for a "smart park".

"The development of smart cities and smart parks are complementary. The smart parks will provide better solutions for constructing smart cities," said Shao Zhiqing, deputy director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information.

The SPSP drew up development plans for an overall upgrade of the park in 2013 so as to provide resident companies with better services.

The plan includes adopting "smart" technologies, such as the Internet-of-Things and cloud computing, as well as big data analysis.

According to the SPSP's plan, people in the park will be able to use one card to do everything from shopping to commuting.

People outside the park are able to access business related information, promote products and services and settle accounts online.

The smart system will also monitor the eco-environment to make the park more environmentally friendly.

"The adoption of smart technologies will improve the park's overall environment, enhance resource use efficiency, improve service quality and support the development of the SPSP," said a manager from SPSP. "It will also boost the development of Shanghai's software development sector."

Establishing a smart park will also enhance the SPSP's industrial cluster effect so it attracts more leading companies and talent.

Having realized that an advanced data analysis cloud platform would be necessary to build a "smart park, the SPSP has developed Wiz Cloud.

The platform will enhance information management ability of SPSP so as to improve its service quality, risk management ability, investment management ability and operational efficiency.

But as an increasing number of software parks are engaging in upgrading to become smart parks, experts caution that such decisions need to be considered carefully.

"Decision-makers should use mature technologies based on existing infrastructures. Simply chasing high investment is not recommended," said an SPSP manager. "Parks also need to guide user at first, so they adapt to the new facilities."

tangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/10/2014 page27)