Digital Transformation Trends and Opportunities in ASEAN: Insights from Kyndryl’s Andrew Lim
Kuala Lumpur, November 15, 2023 - In an era where digital technologies are evolving at a breakneck pace, companies are grappling with how to adapt to these changes effectively. Andrew Lim, ASEAN Managing Director for Kyndryl, a leading IT infrastructure services provider, shared his insights on the digital trends shaping the region with People Matters.
The Evolution of Digitalisation
Lim reflected on the rapid digital transformation spurred by the global health crisis, noting a shift from initial digitalisation efforts in 2020 to cloud adoption in 2021, and the significant rise of generative AI in the following years. This evolution has prompted government investments and initiatives from tech giants to expand the tech talent pool, alongside continuous discussions within HR departments on how to keep up with technological disruptions.
Current Trends in Digital Optimisation
According to Lim, businesses are now in a phase of reviewing and optimizing their digital assets:
Cyber Resilience: With cyber threats on the rise, companies are focusing on strengthening their cybersecurity measures, especially after incidents like the CrowdStrike outage.
Cloud Technology: There's a notable shift towards cloud-based solutions, with providers like ServiceNow and SAP experiencing growth as companies seek more efficient cloud usage.
AI and Data Utilization: The surge in data generation and AI's growing importance are driving companies to better manage their data for AI applications. Lim mentioned Kyndryl's recent collaboration with iHub Solutions in Singapore to enhance customer experiences through AI.
Opportunities in ASEAN
Lim sees significant growth opportunities for Kyndryl in ASEAN, highlighting Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia for their national AI strategies and innovation in IT services. He noted the Philippines as another market beginning to accelerate in this space.
"The question is whether we can scale fast enough in some of these markets," Lim stated, pointing out the renewed interest in IT infrastructure investments post-COVID, which is opening new avenues for service providers.
Preparing for AI
Lim emphasized the necessity of a robust digital foundation before implementing AI at scale. "You can't put the cart (AI and insights from AI) before the horse (digital foundation + strategy)," he explained. Kyndryl has been proactive in training its employees on AI technologies, ensuring they understand not just how to use AI, but also the responsibilities that come with it.
"Education is key. Knowing when you're doing the wrong thing with technology like AI can prevent potential breaches," Lim added, underlining the importance of a tech-savvy workforce aware of the implications of their tech usage.
Kyndryl, which was spun off from IBM three years ago, has aggressively pursued certifications with major cloud service providers like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, reflecting its strategic partnerships and commitment to staying at the forefront of technology.
"Our people have a real passion to learn new technology," Lim concluded, praising the enthusiasm of Kyndryl's teams for mastering and implementing cutting-edge solutions.
This ongoing digital transformation presents both challenges and opportunities, and as Lim suggests, the key to success lies in strategic planning, continuous learning, and robust digital infrastructure.