Digital Transformation: A New Era for ASEAN Organizations
Alayaran.com, Kuala Lumpur - In an era where digital technology evolves at breakneck speed, organizations across ASEAN are navigating through significant shifts. Andrew Lim, ASEAN Managing Director of Kyndryl, shared insights with People Matters on the evolving digital landscape and its implications.
The last five years have witnessed monumental changes in digital technology, from the urgent digitalization of 2020, through the cloud adoption surge of 2021, to the widespread adoption of generative AI in 2022 and 2023. Lim notes that this rapid evolution has prompted government investments and initiatives by tech giants to expand the region's tech talent pool, alongside discussions on workforce adaptation to these technological advancements.
From Digitalization to Optimization
Lim highlights that the initial rush to digitalize during the global health crisis has now entered an optimization phase. Companies are now assessing how to best leverage their digital investments:
Cyber Resilience: With cyber threats on the rise, organizations are fortifying their defenses following incidents like the CrowdStrike outage.
Cloud Technologies: There's a noticeable shift towards more efficient use of cloud services, with companies like ServiceNow and SAP leading the charge.
AI and Data Utilization: The influx of data from digital processes is being harnessed to enhance AI capabilities, with some sectors like financial services setting up dedicated AI departments.
Opportunities in ASEAN
For Kyndryl, ASEAN presents a fertile ground for growth. Lim points out that nations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are at the forefront with their national AI strategies, creating clusters of innovation. The Philippines, too, is catching up, especially with Kyndryl's recent leadership appointments.
"The question now is scalability in these rapidly evolving markets," Lim stated, noting a renewed interest from large corporations in IT infrastructure after a period of restraint during the economic turbulence of the past years.
Preparing for AI Integration
Lim emphasized the necessity of a robust digital foundation before implementing AI. "You need to have your data strategy, quality, governance, and updated applications in place to effectively use AI," he explained. Education about AI's potential and risks is also crucial, with Kyndryl actively training its staff and observing similar efforts among its clients.
Kyndryl's commitment to technological advancement is evident in its acquisition of over 350 Azure certifications, 100 AWS certifications, and 100 Google Cloud certifications since its separation from IBM. This initiative reflects the company's strategic partnership with major cloud providers and its focus on continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies.
As ASEAN continues to embrace digital transformation, the insights from industry leaders like Andrew Lim provide a roadmap for organizations aiming to thrive in this new digital era. The journey from digitalization to optimization and AI integration underscores the need for strategic foresight, robust infrastructure, and an educated workforce ready to handle the responsibilities that come with powerful technology.