Tam Jai cooks up a recipe for success with HSBC

Background and scope

Tam Jai International Co. Limited (Tam Jai) is one of Hong Kong SAR’s leading restaurant groups. They operate some of the territory’s most recognisable restaurant chains, including TamJai SamGor Mixian and TamJai Yunnan Mixian, which have grown to enjoy a combined presence of over 200 outlets globally as of 2023.

Challenges

To continue meeting growing customer demand in their markets of operation, Tam Jai wanted to become a more efficient business. To do this, they looked to achieve a higher degree of automation on the following processes:

1. Payroll payments - which had increased following their global expansion. These were being created, reviewed and authorised by approved staff, and reconciled manually.

2. Funding – Tam Jai also wanted to make sure that subsidiaries’ accounts could be funded in a timelier fashion to fulfill critical business payments. Previously, money was transferred manually between accounts, which was highly time-consuming.

3. Launch of loyalty programme app – Tam Jai was also rolling out a mobile application to improve customer engagement by allowing them to make reservations, order takeaway and more. As part of this, Tam Jai wanted to provide customers with the ability to pay for in-app services using popular digital payment methods to improve the overall experience.

The transformation

With these goals in mind, Tam Jai worked with us on a comprehensive cash management solution that achieved a greater degree of automation on these processes.

1. Streamlined payroll payments with HSBCnet

   Tam Jai now executes payroll payments in bulk by uploading payment files to HSBCnet. Individual payment instructions no longer need to be created and reviewed by staff, who can now authorise payments by file. Approved payments are then straight-through-processed, with reports provided to automate payment reconciliation.

2. Efficient fund transfers with cash sweeping solution

   A two-way cash sweeping solution covering eight entities in total was also created to help Tam Jai fund accounts more efficiently. Funds are now transferred between accounts automatically according to instructions that Tam Jai sets and amends as needed on HSBCnet’s Liquidity Management Portal, allowing them to ensure that critical payments can be made on time. Additional time has also been saved by reducing the amount of time previously spent on approving account transfers.

   As the cash sweeping solution required Tam Jai and their subsidiaries to open a new set of accounts with HSBC, the onboarding team worked closely with them on replicating their existing account structure in its entirety. Through close collaboration on documentation, all necessary accounts were opened in a timely manner, preventing disruptions to day-to-day operations.

3. Enhanced customer payment options

   Tam Jai’s customers were enabled to pay for services on their mobile application via PayMe, one of Hong Kong’s most popular peer-to-peer payment applications, either through directly transferring money from their PayMe wallets, or by scanning PayMe QR codes.

Benefits

• Higher automation on payroll and account funding delivered major time savings

• Strong foundation for global growth through replicable solutions that drive greater efficiency through automation

• Support for popular digital payment methods gives Tam Jai’s customers a more convenient experience on their app

• Reduced risk on payments through timely, automated funding

• Smooth transition and close servicing to help Tam Jai use new solutions confidently

SVF Licence Number: SVFB002