Business Development Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and hands-on Business Development Specialist to support the strategic expansion of our business in Mainland China and South-East Asia, while leading the implementation of Microsoft Business Central and supporting the continuous improvement of business processes across our organization, as well as introducing greater technologies such as AI to grow efficiency and success.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director & General Manager, you will work closely with internal stakeholders and our implementation partner to ensure the successful deployment of Business Central, improve operational efficiency, document key processes, and identify opportunities to leverage technology and AI to support business growth. You will use these systems and technologies to identify new projects, customers, vendors and strategic partners, strengthen market intelligence and support the company’s expansion in Mainland China and South-East Asia.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on a growing company specializing in luxury hospitality OS&E, while contributing directly to its regional market development and expansion.

Key Responsibilities

(1)    Business Development & Market Expansion

• Execute strategic market development initiatives to expand the company’s luxury hospitality OS&E business in Mainland China and South-East Asia and identify new project and business opportunities.

• Conduct market research on target industries in Mainland China and South-East Asia, analyse customer requirements, vendor capabilities and market trends, and use the findings to support the company’s business development strategy.

• Establish and expand customer, vendor and strategic partner networks in Mainland China and South-East Asia and build long-term industry cooperation channels.

• Use Business Central, business intelligence and AI-enabled tools to organise and analyse customer, vendor, project and market information and coordinate internal and external resources in support of new business opportunities.

• Evaluate market expansion outcomes, optimise business development strategies and enhance the company’s market presence in Mainland China and South-East Asia.

(2)    Microsoft Business Central Implementation

• Lead business process reviews and requirements gathering across departments.

• Perform fit-gap analysis and support system configuration and enhancements.

• Act as the primary liaison between internal users and ACW throughout the implementation.

• Coordinate data preparation, migration, validation, testing and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

• Support issue management, training and go-live activities.

• Administer user access rights and support vendor and customer portals.

• Develop user guides, training materials and operating handbooks.

• Utilise Business Central data, reporting and customer and vendor records to support business development, supplier sourcing and market expansion initiatives in Mainland China and South-East Asia.

(3)    Business Central Phase 2 Planning

• Develop a Phase 2 roadmap and enhancement wish list after gaining a thorough understanding of the business.

• Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency improvements and system enhancements.

• Prepare business requirements documentation for future development and ACW quotations.

• Identify opportunities to enhance Business Central so that it can better support customer relationship management, vendor development, project tracking, market intelligence and regional business expansion.

• Conduct market research on target industries in Mainland China and South-East Asia to identify new project opportunities, prospective customers, suitable vendors, strategic partners and relevant market trends.

• Analyse customer requirements, vendor capabilities and market needs to support the development of suitable product, sourcing and service solutions.

(4)    Systems, IT & AI Advisory

• Advise management on systems, technology and AI solutions to improve efficiency and business performance.

• Identify opportunities for:

  • Integrating Microsoft Copilot and AI productivity tools into operations and BC
  • AI-assisted quotation, costing processes, re-order reminders and sales opportunity
  • Business reporting and management dashboards
  • CRM optimization and customer management
  • Project tracking and workflow automation
  • KPI reporting and business intelligence
  • Cybersecurity and IT best practices
  • Leverage Microsoft Business Central, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Copilot and other AI tools to support market research, lead generation, customer engagement, vendor development and strategic decision-making.
  • Develop reporting and management dashboards to monitor project opportunities, prospective customers, vendor networks and business development activities in Mainland China and South-East Asia.
  • Others

(5)    Process Documentation & SOP Development

• Develop and maintain a company Operations Manual.

• Document and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across key business functions, including:

  o     Enquiry Management

  o     Costing & Quotation

  o     Supplier Selection

  o     Purchase Orders

  o     Production Monitoring

  o     Quality Control

  o     Shipping & Logistics

  o     Develop and document business development procedures covering market research, lead and opportunity management, customer follow-up, vendor identification, vendor onboarding and strategic partner engagement.

  o     Establish consistent processes for recording and managing new customers, vendors, projects and business opportunities through Business Central and related systems.