Despite going through the toughest period in its history, Huawei recorded a strong business growth in 2018, ending the year with 19.5% increase in sales revenue rounding of to a phenomenal CNY721.2 billion or approximately RM440 billion. Its net profit also increased to 25.1% year on year resulting in the company pocketing RM35 billion.
At the release of its annual report, Guo Ping, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, said, “Through heavy, consistent investment in 5G innovation, alongside large-scale commercial deployment, Huawei is committed to building the world’s best network connections”. Now 5G has been the thorny issue in its progress and the impact of sanctions by the US could see the Chinese tech giant facing even more challenges this year, when many telecommunication company look to invest in their next generation infrastructure. Guo Ping acknowledged these hurdles and set the tone of compliance during his report “Huawei will continue to strictly comply with all relevant standards to build secure, trustworthy, and high-quality products”. With user privacy protection being the biggest contention being bandied around by regulators, Huawei stresses that the fear created by US and Donald Trump is just a bogeyman tactic to prevent its 5G technology from benefiting countries.
Guo emphasised:
“The easiest way to bring down a fortress is to attack it from within. And the easiest way to reinforce it is from outside”.
The company is ready to take on any attacks and will do everything it can to shake off outside distraction. So what can the new Chairman do? Huawei is a well oiled machine, top management can come and go but does little to impact the overall flow of the organisation. But with the current predicament, the company needs a suave, smooth talking negotiator, not business minded but more of a politician. With the backing of the Chinese government and trade talks around the corner, Guo Ping can pledge his case, assure US on the alleged claims, invite the President for a company visit and bring the top American media along. (PR101) Be transparent Huawei!
How Apple is a national pride to the US, so is Huawei to the 1.2 billion in China, growing from a simple telecommunication network provider into the worlds largest equipment manufacturer for the industry. After entering the smartphone business, within a decade the company has risen to a formidable number 2 position in terms volume over taking Apple. The company has shown resilience during this dark times and will need to act differently moving forward, like Huawei most Chinese companies seem to focus on only one thing, profits and sales and most often at whatever costs. This has lead to some quarters labeling them as aggressive, emotioneless and devious. Maybe the whole episode could be a wake up call, Guo Ping has the option to set a example to the rest of his Chinese comrades and people of China, and make the new Huawei 2.0 a caring, humanised, less profit centered and more transparent organisation. As we should know any book in Public Relations will tell you, its all about perception.
