The 131st China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, is currently being held online due to COVID-19 prevention and control measures. As a result, many Guangzhou companies have accelerated their digital transformation to participate in the country's biggest trade fair.

As of 11:00 a.m. on April 15, the official website of the Canton Fair had 5.72 million visitors and 14.13 million visits, of which 11.37 million were overseas visits, accounting for more than 80 percent of the total. There have also been more than 200,000 overseas purchases from 225 countries and regions that have registered to participate in the fair.

Last year, nearly 70 percent of China's exhibition organizers integrated online and offline hosting of exhibitions, while over 50 percent began their digital transformation, according to the 2022 Digital Research Report of China's Convention and Exhibition Organizers.

"Online exhibitions are a trend of the future. Compared with offline exhibitions, the personnel and participation costs are low. Through digital technology, products can be better displayed," said a manager at Guangzhou Light Holdings Limited.

At this Canton Fair, Guangzhou Light Holdings Limited has adjusted the structure of its exhibits according to the number of clicks its products have received through online browsing and consultations with buyers at the previous online Canton Fair, showcasing products that have received more attention and attracting customers through livestreams promoting their products.

The digital transformation of the Canton Fair requires strong technical support. As the technical supporter of the Canton Fair, Tencent Cloud has reconstructed the technical base of the fair's online platform based on its technical expertise in cloud computing, big data, AI, and other fields, as well as its accumulated experience and advantages in the digital exhibition industry. It has provided a more stable and reliable user experience, with more flexible function configurations. 

A livestream is held during the online Canton Fair. [Photo/news.dayoo.com]