Schneider Electric: Optimising Business Opportunities from its Regional HQ in Singapore

In November 2019, Tommy Leong, Zone President, East Asia & Japan (EAJ), of Schneider Electric, a French multinational corporation (MNC), hosted regional clients in the Singapore HQ building. He highlighted how the company would capitalise on digital transformation to help create a futuristic city.

Despite the high operating costs, Singapore was an ideal location for a regional HQ because of its first-rate infrastructure, strategic location and business-friendly corporate ecosystem. Through the Economic Development Board, the government actively pitched to MNCs and provided concierge services when possible.

Schneider Electric was the global leader in energy management and industrial automation with strong growth prospects due to increasing urbanisation and digitisation trends. Leong had identified ASEAN as the growth region for the company. How could he create customised solutions for the business requirements of clients?

The case can be used in courses related to International Management to teach undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education students. After studying the case, they should be able to identify the key features to consider when setting up a regional HQ and selecting a location and understand the factors in building a business ecosystem to provide complex solutions to clients.

Inspection copies and teaching notes are available for university faculty. To receive an inspection copy and teaching note, please email cmpshop [at] smu.edu.sg with your registered faculty email ID and a link to your contact information on the faculty directory at your university as verification. An inspection copy and teaching note will then be sent to your faculty email account.

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· Teaching Note (SMU-20-0001TN)

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· The Case (SMU-20-0001)

· Teaching Note (SMU-20-0001)

For purchase of the case and supplementary materials via Harvard Business Publishing, please access the following links:

· The Case (SMU-20-0001)

· Teaching Note (SMU-20-0001)