AS Watson's CEO Dr Malina Ngai: automation is transforming productivity and workplace inclusion
Dr Malina Ngai, Group CEO at AS Watson Group, recently visited one of the retailer's automated warehouses in China and tried out the technology herself. Her key takeaway: tech is not just about boosting productivity; it can also create a more inclusive workplace, in this particular case, powering an increase in female workers.
In a LinkedIn post, Ngai said: "Behind every great O+O retail experience is a powerful supply chain. During my visit to one of our most advanced and automated warehouses in China, I tried part of the process myself. It’s the best way to appreciate the precision, speed and system intelligence behind every order."
She added: "Automation has transformed the way we operate, less heavy lifting, smarter workflows, and higher efficiency and accuracy. One result I’m especially proud of: our female workforce ratio in the warehouse has increased to 60%."
"Technology is not just about productivity. It’s about creating a better, more inclusive workplace while strengthening our ability to serve 3,000+ stores and millions of customers seamlessly across online and offline. This is how we power O+O (online and offline) retail."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Supply chain automation will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
