CEO-Insights, Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy，Executive Study Group, 研究報告- 亞太策略研究所，調研數碼中心，高級行政人員學習小組

Hongkong Post Invites APIFS to Speak at e-Commerce & Logistics Synergy Forum 2026

Hong Kong, 21 August 2026 — Dr. Mark Lee, Research Director of APIFS, delivered a keynote presentation at the Hongkong Post e-Commerce & Logistics Synergy Forum 2026, sharing APIFS research and strategic perspectives on how businesses can navigate intensifying competition and changing growth dynamics across Asia-Pacific.

His keynote, "The APAC Economic Blueprint 2027–28: Navigating Involution Trends in e-Commerce," examined one of the emerging challenges facing companies today: as markets become more crowded and competitors adopt increasingly similar strategies, businesses can find themselves investing more resources simply to defend existing positions rather than creating meaningful new growth.

Dr. Lee described this phenomenon through the lens of "involution"—a competitive environment in which companies work harder, spend more and move faster, yet struggle to generate proportionate improvements in productivity, profitability or customer value.

From Market Expansion to Quality of Growth

The presentation challenged the conventional assumption that continued expansion in e-commerce automatically translates into attractive business growth.

As digital channels mature, customer acquisition becomes more expensive, price transparency increases and service expectations continue to rise. The strategic question for management is therefore shifting from "How fast can we grow?" to "What kind of growth should we pursue?"

Drawing on APIFS research into economic and business trends across Asia-Pacific, Dr. Lee highlighted the importance of moving beyond volume-driven competition toward strategies built around differentiation, productivity, customer value and sustainable economics.

Rather than competing only through lower prices, faster promotion cycles or greater marketing expenditure, companies need to reconsider where genuine competitive advantage can still be created across the e-commerce value chain.

Rethinking the Relationship Between e-Commerce and Logistics

A central theme of the forum was the increasing interdependence between digital commerce and logistics.

As customer expectations evolve, logistics is no longer simply a back-end fulfillment function. Delivery speed, reliability, cross-border capability, returns management and customer experience are becoming increasingly important components of the overall value proposition.

For businesses seeking growth in the next phase of Asia-Pacific e-commerce, this creates an important strategic opportunity:

Logistics capabilities can become part of differentiation rather than merely a cost to be managed.

Dr. Lee encouraged business leaders to examine their strategies across three dimensions: where sustainable demand is emerging, where competitive intensity is destroying economic value, and where companies can redesign their business models to create differentiated customer value.

Strong Engagement from Business Participants

According to Hongkong Post, the keynote generated strong engagement among participants, particularly around the discussion of market saturation and practical strategies for sustainable growth.

Hongkong Post subsequently expressed its appreciation to Dr. Lee for his contribution to the forum, noting the positive response from attendees and the practical relevance of the insights presented.

The exchange reflects APIFS's broader research mission:

To translate emerging economic, technological and competitive trends into actionable management insights for business leaders.

As companies prepare for 2027 and beyond, APIFS believes the next phase of competitive advantage will increasingly depend not simply on adopting more technology or pursuing more growth, but on making better strategic choices about where to compete, how to differentiate and how to convert growth into sustainable enterprise value.

About Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy

The Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy (APIFS) is a regional academic and research organisation dedicated to advancing strategic management, leadership development, and organisational innovation. Through research initiatives, public lectures, executive forums, advisory projects, and corporate learning programmes, APIFS contributes thought leadership to the business and academic communities across Asia.

APIFS also operates the Executive Study Group, its industry-facing think tank and executive collaboration platform, which focuses on translating academic insights into practical strategies for senior leaders, multinational corporations, listed enterprises, family businesses, and high-growth companies.

Media Contact:

Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy

Email: cs@apifs.net

Tel: (852) 3970 1828

Website: www.apifs.org

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