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PayNet Works on Bridging the Digital Divide in Malaysia’s Financial Sector with Program Akar

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The digital landscape is rapidly evolving, and the demand for skilled professionals to navigate it is higher than ever. Recognizing this critical need, Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has launched a groundbreaking initiative called Program Akar. This program aims to bridge the digital skills gap in Malaysia’s financial services sector by equipping the next generation with essential cloud computing knowledge.

The impetus for Program Akar is clear. Research indicates that a staggering 78% of Malaysian employers anticipate needing digitally skilled workers within the next five years. However, access to affordable training remains a hurdle, despite a high level of interest among Malaysians. This gap between desire and opportunity is precisely what Program Akar seeks to address.

Program Akar offers an inclusive and accessible pathway for Malaysians to acquire in-demand cloud skills. It removes the financial barrier to entry by providing the program entirely free of charge. Prior technical experience is not required, making it an attractive option for individuals from diverse backgrounds.

PayNet x AWS reStart Program Akar

The program leverages the expertise of industry leaders. Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start, a global training initiative focused on cloud skills development, provides participants with essential resources and technical know-how. PayNet, as the program’s sponsor, champions the integration of industry-specific skills, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the financial services workforce. World Education Placement Services Sdn Bhd. (WEPS) serves as the program delivery partner, guaranteeing a curriculum that is current, industry-focused, and effectively delivered.

Program Akar equips participants with a solid foundation in cloud computing and digital payments, preparing them for future career opportunities. Through a rigorous 47-day training course, participants delve into core areas like programming, networking, security, and databases, all from an AWS cloud-centric perspective.

This foundational training is complemented by the industry-recognized AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Exam, validating participants’ newly acquired skills and demonstrating their commitment to cloud computing.

Program Akar extends beyond skills development by actively supporting graduates in securing employment within the Malaysian financial services sector. PayNet and WEPS connect program graduates with potential employers, facilitating placements in roles like cloud operations, site reliability, infrastructure support, and technical business support functions.

Program Akar exemplifies the power of collaboration. PayNet’s vision and financial backing are critical elements, as are the expertise of AWS re/Start and the program delivery proficiency of WEPS. This collaborative approach ensures participants receive high-quality training and industry-relevant skills, ultimately boosting their employability.

The program’s initial cohort of 50 participants will begin their journey in July 2024, commencing their training at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU). Leading financial institutions such as Bank Negara, Maybank, Public Bank, Hong Leong Bank, and Bank Islam have already expressed interest in providing internship opportunities for graduates, further solidifying the program’s link to the industry it aims to serve.

With the proven success of AWS re/Start programs worldwide, connecting over 98% of graduates with job interview opportunities, Program Akar holds significant promise for Malaysia’s digital future. It fosters a diverse pool of cloud-skilled talent, empowering individuals while enabling the financial services sector to embrace new technologies and enhance its competitiveness. Program Akar is not just a skills development initiative; it’s a bridge towards a thriving digital economy fueled by a skilled and motivated workforce.

Business

Axrail Collaborates with AWS & Phison in Launching Southeast Asia’s First Gen AI Lab

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Axrail, a leading Malaysian IT solutions provider, has taken a groundbreaking step towards accelerating AI adoption in the region. The company, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Phison, has launched the first-of-its-kind Generative AI (Gen AI) Lab in Southeast Asia.

Axrail Gen AI Lab Pic 2

This state-of-the-art facility signifies a major leap forward for Malaysian businesses looking to leverage the power of AI. Here’s how the Gen AI Lab empowers innovation and shapes the future of tech skills in Malaysia:

A Hub for Cutting-Edge Solutions

The Gen AI Lab brings together the expertise of three industry heavyweights. Axrail’s proven track record in AI implementation combines with AWS’s industry-leading cloud solutions, including Amazon Bedrock – a service offering access to high-performing AI models. Phison’s innovative aiDAPTIV+ technology adds an on-premise dimension to the mix. This collaborative environment fosters the development of comprehensive, end-to-end generative AI solutions, catering to both cloud and on-premise needs.

Fast-Tracking AI Adoption for Businesses

The Gen AI Lab isn’t just about showcasing cutting-edge technology; it’s designed to be a practical resource for businesses. The “sandbox” environment allows companies to experiment with AI applications and explore their potential to transform business operations. This hands-on approach helps companies to build the capabilities needed to extract value from data and increase efficiency across various functions.

Empowering Malaysian Businesses, Big and Small

Axrail is particularly focused on accelerating AI adoption among Malaysian SMEs. The upcoming AWS Region in Malaysia will provide crucial benefits like data residency, low latency, and robust cloud services, making AI solutions even more accessible. With the Gen AI Lab serving as a launchpad, Malaysian businesses of all sizes will have the opportunity to reimagine their operations using AI and achieve future-proof growth.

Axrail Gen AI Lab Pic 1

Boosting Malaysia’s Tech Skills Landscape

The Gen AI Lab isn’t just about technology; it’s about people. By fostering a collaborative environment for AI development and experimentation, Axrail is contributing to the growth of a skilled AI workforce in Malaysia. This aligns perfectly with the country’s Digital Economy Blueprint, which prioritizes digital transformation and establishing Malaysia as a regional leader in the digital arena. The complimentary half-day sharing session planned for July 18th is a testament to Axrail’s commitment to knowledge sharing and empowering Malaysians to navigate the exciting world of AI.

The Gen AI Lab: A Springboard for the Future

Axrail’s Gen AI Lab marks a significant milestone for Malaysia’s tech landscape. This collaborative effort positions the nation at the forefront of AI innovation, empowering businesses to thrive and nurturing a future generation of tech talent. Malaysia’s focus on building a digital economy that is not only focused on the needs of an increasingly digital market but also on the skillsets needed to adopt and adapt to a rapidly evolving market aligns with the efforts that we see from the country’s digital pioneers like Axrail. The Gen AI Lab aligns with the recent rhetoric and push by the government to adopt and upskill to make the country a competitive lifeline for the Southeast Asian Region’s digital development.

Business, News

AWS Announces New Thailand Region

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently announced a significant investment in Thailand’s digital future. The company plans to launch a new AWS Asia Pacific (Bangkok) Region by early 2025, accompanied by a US$5 billion investment in the country by 2037. This move signifies a major commitment to supporting Thailand’s “Ignite Thailand” ambition and its cloud-first approach to economic growth.

Expanding Infrastructure and Empowering Innovation

The new AWS Region will join existing infrastructure like CloudFront edge locations, Outposts, and Local Zones. This expanded presence offers several benefits. Customers with data residency preferences can store their data securely within Thailand’s borders. The new Region also promises reduced latency, improving application performance and user experience for cloud-based services across the country. Furthermore, it enhances the overall availability of cloud services, catering to the growing demand for these technologies across Southeast Asia.

Thailand AWS Region
Image Generated with Microsoft Co-pilot

This infrastructure boost aligns perfectly with Thailand’s “Ignite Thailand” plan, which aims to establish the nation as a regional leader in digital innovation. The new Region will empower startups, businesses, and government organizations to leverage cutting-edge technologies like generative AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Positive Impact on Businesses and the Economy

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin welcomed the investment, highlighting its role in propelling Thailand’s digital transformation journey. He emphasized how this move strengthens national infrastructure, fosters business growth, and aligns with the Cloud First initiative. The AWS Region is expected to create economic opportunities by fostering innovation and attracting investments, generating new business opportunities across various sectors. Additionally, training programs offered by AWS will equip Thailand’s workforce with the necessary digital skills to thrive in the digital age. This increased accessibility of cloud technologies is expected to stimulate innovation across various industries.

Several prominent Thai organizations have already embraced AWS cloud services to drive their digital transformation journeys. Financial institutions like the Bank of Ayudhya leverage AWS for data analytics and AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. Energy companies like PTG Energy utilize AWS for their core applications, with plans to migrate their point-of-sale system for improved performance. Manufacturing giants like PTT Global Chemical leverage AWS to develop a data platform and implement ML operations, enhancing production efficiency. Media organizations like Bangkok Biz News utilize AWS to personalize content and drive media team efficiency. Startups like Botnoi Voice leverage AWS for its text-to-speech AI bot, creating high-quality Thai language voice synthesis.

Despite the growing adoption of AI, Thailand faces a looming skills gap. AWS is committed to bridging this gap through several initiatives. Since 2017, AWS has trained over 50,000 individuals in cloud skills, with a target of reaching 100,000 by 2026. Educational partnerships with Thai universities like Chulalongkorn University equip students with industry-recognized cloud certifications, preparing them for the digital workforce. Additionally, the “AI Ready” initiative offers free training courses on AI and generative AI for individuals with varying technical backgrounds.

Looking Forward: A Brighter Digital Future

The launch of the AWS Thailand Region, coupled with AWS’s commitment to skills development, marks a significant step forward for Thailand’s digital transformation journey. Businesses and organizations across industries will benefit from enhanced cloud infrastructure and access to advanced technologies. By fostering a skilled workforce, Thailand is well-positioned to solidify its place as a leader in Southeast Asia’s digital future.

Business, Contributed

Embracing the Golden Digital Era: Elevating Malaysia’s Potential with Cloud Adoption & Skilling

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This article is contributed by Azhar Abdullah, Head of Enterprise at Amazon Web Services (AWS)

As Malaysia pushes towards becoming a regional leader in the digital economy under the Malaysia Madani vision of achieving a highly-skilled, prosperous, and sustainable economy, organizations must now take steps to adopt a digital-first mindset to innovate and transform their businesses.

The digital economy is one of the key economic pillars contributing to 23.2%[1] of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP), which is set to increase to 25.5% by 2025. However, 77%[2] of small and medium enterprises, which contribute almost 40%[3] of Malaysia’s GDP, are still early in their digitalization journey. This represents a huge opportunity for Malaysian businesses to accelerate the pace of digital adoption for tech transformations across the board.

white switch hub turned on
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

As new technologies emerge, businesses need to invest in both solutions and training to enhance efficiency and productivity in day-to-day work and position themselves for growth. Digital upskilling is a key component of Malaysia’s digital transformation, which includes ensuring employees are equipped with capabilities to deploy cloud-enabled solutions, individuals are empowered for future digital careers, and the digital inclusion of citizens is advanced.

Keeping Pace in an Evolving Landscape

To keep pace with industry disruptions and evolving customer needs, it is essential for business leaders to embrace cloud technology as a strategic priority. Doing so will allow them to benefit from the cost-efficiency, reliability, flexibility, scalability, and security of the cloud.

One such example is the well-loved homegrown curry powder and spice brand, Baba’s Products[4], which adopted AWS cloud to efficiently scale, optimize costs, and implement disaster recovery strategies. With AWS, Baba’s Products has achieved faster time-to-value, reducing the order-to-cash cycle by 40%, and supporting its expanding regional presence with products sold across nearly all retail grocery stores in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

close up photo of person typing on laptop
Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

Malaysian businesses should move forward on their digitization efforts, to reduce the risk of falling behind as the country moves towards achieving its digital economy goals. Without integrating digital tools and strategies into operations, businesses may face several challenges such as inefficiencies in their productivity levels, resulting in slower delivery of customer products or services. Additionally, with data playing a critical role in decision-making, they might miss out on valuable insights, hindering their ability to make informed choices and strategic decisions.

As part of its strategy, Maxis, Malaysia’s leading converged solutions company and AWS Advanced Tier Partner, taps into resources from the global community AWS Partner Network[5] to drive innovation, modernization, and deliver enhanced personalized experiences for its end customers. Maxis leverages more than 400 AWS-accredited employees to date that provide solutions to local businesses to accelerate cloud adoption.

Building Malaysia’s digital workforce with the right talent

As technology continues to shape the world, education, skilling, and talent play a pivotal role in driving innovation, economic growth, as well as societal progress. In June 2023, Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar highlighted that based on 2020 World Economic Forum predictions, 4.5 million Malaysians are likely to lose their jobs by 2030 if they do not improve their skills with the emergence of AI[6]. 

AWS has committed to training 29 million[7] people globally in cloud computing through free training programs by 2025 and has helped 13 million globally access cloud skills training to date. Since 2017, AWS has trained more than 1 million individuals across ASEAN and more than 50,000 individuals in Malaysia.

hands holding a smartphone with data on screen
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Training programs like AWS re/Start prepare the workforce for a digital economy, as well as transforming lives in Malaysia. One example is Malaysia’s own re/Start alumni, Ganesan Mahesan, who was faced with the challenge of finding a professional job when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “During the pandemic, I struggled to find employment in my field. I came across the AWS re/Start program, and it was an excellent introduction to core cloud concepts. I was excited to learn new skills.” Through the program, Ganesan secured a job with the chemical company Evonik as an IT Support Engineer.

Investment in skilling is equally beneficial to both individuals in the workforce and employers. According to a Gallup study,[8] organizations that employ digitally advanced workers, digital technology, and cloud technology reap higher business growth and innovation. In a similar vein, Malaysian workers with advanced digital skills can earn salaries 106% higher, and 74% of respondents express higher job satisfaction.

photo of triangle shape digital wallpaper
Photo by Adrien Olichon on Pexels.com

To stay ahead of the evolving job landscape and skills demands, Bank Islam, Malaysia’s first listed Islamic financial services institution, launched a broad staff upskilling program to give more than 4,000 Bank Islam employees access to foundational cloud skills. This was achieved through a combination of on-demand digital training, live instructor-led training, and group interaction sessions, as part of a skills roadmap to establish the Bank Islam Digital Academy, a permanent learning centre that will drive and grow digital skills across the organization.

Long-term commitment to enable Malaysia’s Digital Era

It is inspiring to see the potential of how cloud technology can enable SMEs, enterprises, government agencies, and citizens. In the public sector, government agencies can tap into the Cloud Framework Agreement with the Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), which grants Malaysia’s government agencies and departments access to power IT modernizations and improve citizen services.

Earlier in March, AWS announced its plans to launch an AWS infrastructure Region in Malaysia, which will give government, developers, businesses of all sizes, and non-profit organizations across the country the access to greater choices – from compute and storage, to artificial intelligence and machine learning, and more, to foster innovation and growth. As part of its commitment to the region, AWS is planning to invest $6 billion (approx. MYR 25.5 billion) in Malaysia by 2037. We look forward to seeing how this investment will spur job creation, cultivate skills training, and provide growth opportunities to the communities surrounding our data centres, helping Malaysia reach its potential as a digital leader in the region.

[1]Department of Statistics Malaysia Official Portal, Ministry of Economy
[2] SME Corp, Post-pandemic growth: Address barriers to business digital transformation
[3] Contribution of SMEs in Malaysia and China, Department of Statistics Malaysia, Newsroom
[4] AWS, Baba’s Keeps Its Spices Fresh with Real-Time Data from SAP on AWS
[5] AWS, Join the AWS Partner Network
[6] HR minister: Malaysia needs to retrain 50% of workforce amid AI rise
[7] Amazon, Our Upskilling Commitments
[8] AWS, Study by Gallup and AWS shows digital skills drive economic growth across APAC

Business, News

AWS Malaysia Region to Go Live in 2024

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) is preparing to go live with its Malaysia AWS Region. The eagerly awaited AWS Region in Malaysia is now confirmed to go live in 2024. This is part of AWS’s RM25.5 billion (USD$5.39 billion) investment pledge, which aimed to construct a brand-new AWS Region in Malaysia by 2037. This monumental step will provide a slew of benefits for developers, startups, enterprises, educational institutions, and various organizations.

petronas tower kuala lumpur malaysia
Photo by Zukiman Mohamad on Pexels.com

The forthcoming AWS Region is set to play a crucial role in driving Malaysia’s digitization efforts and meeting the surging demand for cloud services. It will also be a hub for innovation in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. An array of cutting-edge technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things will be at the fingertips of startups, small to mid-sized businesses, enterprises, and public sector organizations. The announcement also aligns with the Malaysian government’s recent strategic Madani Economy Framework, which strives to enhance the well-being of all Malaysians by 2030.

The new AWS Region also brings a significant advantage for customers with data residency preferences, enabling secure data storage within Malaysia, faster response times, and catering to the escalating demand for cloud services in the region.

In-Person Support for Local Visionaries & AWS Partners

To further support Malaysia’s digital transformation, AWS opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur on June 1, 2023. This state-of-the-art facility spans over 32,000 square feet, designed to encourage agile work, lifelong learning, and collaboration. It is primed to serve as an innovation hub, deepening relationships with customers and partners.

The Malaysian team is diverse and features experts from different fields who are able to support the company’s Malaysian clientele remotely and in person. Their focus is on empowering customers and AWS Partners of all sizes. Some prominent names include Al Rajhi Bank, Bank Islam, Cancer Research Malaysia, the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE), the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Maxis, and PETRONAS.

Having a diverse team, AWS has been able to help its clientele and partners drive innovation and transformation in their respective fields. For instance, Pos Malaysia Berhad (Pos Malaysia), the nation’s postal and courier service provider, has embraced AWS as part of its ambitious transformation plan. This includes migrating its IT infrastructure to AWS, which has streamlined operations, reduced IT costs by 50%, and introduced new, customer-centric solutions.

The partnership between PETRONAS, Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), Amazon, and AWS is set to accelerate sustainability and decarbonization efforts. Their plan includes the construction of a state-of-the-art facility incorporating advanced technology, robotics, and automation, similar to what’s used in Amazon’s facilities. PETRONAS will continue leveraging AWS technologies to improve and expand existing solutions like SETEL and STEAR.

Generative AI, with its ability to create new content and ideas, is making significant inroads in Malaysia. One of AWS’s partners, 123RF, a major digital image stock agency, has introduced an AI image generation service in collaboration with AWS. This service allows users to create custom images from text prompts and has led to a 20% increase in licensing rates for AI-generated content.

Creating a More Diversely Accessible Launchpad for Malaysia’s Digital Ambitions

The launch of the AWS Malaysia Region in 2024 is set to become a catalyst in Malaysia’s journey toward becoming a regional leader in digital technology. AWS’s commitment, stretching back to 2016, underscores its dedication to supporting Malaysia’s digital transformation, fostering innovation, and building a brighter future for Malaysians.

The company has also been instrumental in the upskilling of Malaysians. They have trained over 50,000 individuals in cloud skills since 2017. Through initiatives like the AWS re/Start program and AWS Academy, they offer free cloud computing skills development and job training. This equips learners for essential roles in the cloud computing industry, connecting them with employment opportunities.

Business, News

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Brings Generative AI Innovations to their Service Stack

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It seems like Generative AI isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is bringing a whole suite of Generative AI innovations to its services stack. These innovations are set to empower organizations of all sizes, enabling them to develop cutting-edge generative AI applications, enhance employee productivity, and transform their businesses.

Amazon Bedrock Lays the Foundations for Wider Generative AI Applications & Adoption

Leading the charge is Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that simplifies the development of generative AI applications. This service offers a variety of foundation models (FMs) from top AI companies, such as AI21 Labs, Anthropic, Cohere, Meta, Stability AI, and Amazon. These FMs are versatile and can be applied to a wide range of use cases, from content creation to drug discovery.

One key challenge for businesses interested in adopting generative AI has been finding the right FM for their specific needs. Amazon Bedrock solves this problem by providing access to a diverse selection of FMs via a single application programming interface (API). It also removes the need for specialised hardware deployments. This streamlines the process and eliminates the complexity of managing multiple models and infrastructures.

Unlocking the Power of Generative AI Through Amazon Titan Embeddings

One of the highlights is the general availability of Amazon Titan Embeddings. This family of models, created and pre-trained by AWS, includes a large language model (LLM) known as Amazon Titan Embeddings. This LLM converts text into numerical representations called embeddings, which are crucial for tasks like search, personalization, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).

AWS Article Carsome Stock Photos 002

What sets Amazon Titan Embeddings apart is its ability to support more than 25 languages and handle context lengths of up to 8,192 tokens. This makes it highly versatile and suitable for various applications, from processing single words to entire documents. Its output vectors, boasting 1,536 dimensions, ensure both accuracy and low-latency performance.

Integration with Meta’s Llama 2

In the coming weeks, Amazon Bedrock will also offer Llama 2, Meta’s latest large language model. Llama 2 models come with significant enhancements, having been trained on 40% more data and featuring a longer context length of 4,000 tokens. These improvements make Llama 2 ideal for dialogue-based applications, providing fast responses on AWS infrastructure without the need for complex setup and management.

Securely Customise Amazon CodeWhisperer Suggestions with Your Own Codebase

For developers, Amazon CodeWhisperer has been a game-changer. This AI-powered coding companion is trained on billions of lines of Amazon and publicly available code, making it a valuable tool for improving developer productivity. Now, developers can securely customize CodeWhisperer’s code suggestions using their private codebase, addressing the challenges of working with internal, proprietary code.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

This customization capability streamlines the process of finding and incorporating internal code into applications. Developers save time, as they no longer need to manually search through extensive internal code repositories. Additionally, administrators can centrally manage customizations, ensuring adherence to quality and security standards.

Generative Business Intelligence with Amazon QuickSight

Amazon QuickSight, a unified business intelligence (BI) service, is introducing Generative BI authoring capabilities. These capabilities go beyond answering structured queries and allow business analysts to easily create and customize visuals using natural-language commands. Analysts can describe their desired outcome, and QuickSight generates compelling visuals, reducing the time spent on manual tasks like data source identification and visualization creation.

Availability

Amazon Bedrock is now generally available, offering businesses the opportunity to leverage the power of generative AI. Amazon Titan Embeddings is also available, while Llama 2 is set to launch in the next few weeks. Customizations for Amazon CodeWhisperer are coming soon while Generative BI authoring capabilities in Amazon QuickSight are already available on AWS.

Business, News

Pos Malaysia Digitization Efforts Enhances Parcel Delivery Offering with Amazon Web Services

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Malaysia’s national postal and courier service is going full monty with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to achieve its digitization goals. The drive for digitization and agility comes as a multi-year plan that was initiated back in 2019. Plans were put into high gear with the sudden onset of the pandemic later that year. However, the pandemic also saw an increase in parcel deliveries driven by increased transaction volumes on e-commerce platforms.

Pos Malaysia
Source: Pos Malaysia

With that in mind, Pos Malaysia has already rolled out a number of customer-facing and internal digital initiatives to provide better service for their customers. Having already experienced the effects of an estimated 24% growth in the e-commerce sector during the COVID lockdown, the company is looking to further improve their service further. To date, the company has already migrated 60 critical applications which include parcel tracking, point-of-sale retail, SAP, supply chain, mail tracking, and human resources to the cloud with Amazon Web Services. They are now in the process of migrating the remaining workloads and applications to AWS by 2023.

Pos Malaysia’s digitization efforts will utilise Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (ECC) which provides secure, resizable compute capacity. Most importantly, it will allow Pos Malaysia to dynamically scale to meet customer needs during periods of increased demand. It will also allow them to more efficiently manage resources for day-to-day operations. The scalability will be a cornerstone of Pos Malaysia’s ability to provide frictionless deliveries during peak periods.

Eric Conrad Regional Managing Director Worldwide Public Sector ASEAN AWS profile
Source: AWS

“Pos Malaysia’s digital transformation with AWS is a great example of how a traditional last-mile
logistics business can simplify, modernize, innovate, and scale. Using AWS, Pos Malaysia can capture
growth opportunities in e-commerce as demand for online shopping accelerated across Southeast
Asia during the pandemic. Pos Malaysia is delivering goods into the hands of customers in a cost-
effective, efficient, and agile manner, especially during peak periods with high parcel volumes.”

Eric Conrad, Regional Managing Director of
Worldwide Public Sector, ASEAN at AWS

AWS is will become the home of Pos Malaysia’s central data repository for an integrated data platform. This data will be able to provide insights which will enable them to better understand customer demands, find delivery efficiencies and improve operations across the country. They will be able to do this using AWS services like SageMaker which will allow the company to build, train and deploy machine learning models for virtually any use case. This will allow Pos Malaysia to build data-driven models that will be able to predict peak periods. This will allow the company to proactively deploy more staff and vehicles to ensure smooth delivery.

Business, News

Razer Banks on Better, More Traceable Sustainability with Restorify

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Sustainability is all the rage in the tech industry, with more companies committing to long-term sustainability plans. Razer is no different when it comes to that with lofty goals to become a nett zero carbon company by 2030. However, in working towards that, the company has also realised that it is currently difficult for businesses to be sustainable and transparent. This is further complicated by a system which values and measures carbon offsets and credits by the metric ton.

Restorify 2

With that realisation, Razer Fintech is working with partners such as GoNetZero, ESGpedia and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring Restorify. Restorify is Razer’s answer to creating a more sustainable e-commerce platform which is also transparent. Restorify also removes the barrier of needing to purchase metric tonnes of carbon credit with a more fractionalised approach, allowing every purchase to have a quantified carbon offset. This approach allows customers and e-commerce partners to be part of the equation contrasting vastly with the current state of relying solely on companies.

Restorify is looking to foster a more proactive mindset in consumers when it comes to purchasing. With the smaller denominations of carbon offset, it allows users and consumers to make carbon offsets a part of their daily lives. In an age where e-commerce has become the go-to platform for shopping, it makes sense as one of the main touchpoints to drive greener habits.

That said, carbon credits and offsets haven’t had the best reputation with Greenwashing and companies artificially inflating their carbon offsets. To combat this, Razer Fintech is partnering with agencies like GoNetZero and ESGPedia to ensure the quality and traceability of the carbon offsets offered on Restorify. It is hoped that the traceable carbon neutral shopping carts will help users and consumers be more aware of their carbon footprint as we shop.

Restorify 1

They will receive a certificate detailing the total amount of carbon emissions that have been offset by their purchase, the kinds of projects the credits have suppported as well as the certification standard. These individualised fractionalized transactions are digitally recorded into ESGpedia’s registry where you’ll be able to check your own individualised carbon offset.

Encouraging Businesses to Adopt More Accountable Sustainability

It’s not all about sharing the responsibility with consumers with Razer’s Restorify. It also aims to empower businesses with a more tangible pathway to evaluate and put into action plans in their commitment to become more sustainable. Restorify itself will provide businesses a pathway to evaluate the environmental impact of their products and business. They will be able to leverage ECOLOGO Certification, Environmental Product Declaration Certification, or Product Carbon Footprint Verification using UL Solutions.

Restorify 2

Razer is also working to bring Restorify and its features will be made available for businesses to integrate into existing platforms. In addition, Razer will be working with its supply chain partners and more than 50,000 merchants in Razer Fintech’s network to support their transition to nett zero carbon emissions at no additional cost. Restorify will also be available in over 150 countries through AWS.

Business, Contributed, Editorial

Continuing the Pace of Government Innovation in a Post-Pandemic World

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The unprecedented disruption the world faced during the past two years forced governments to rewrite the rulebook on how they serve their citizens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public sector organizations across Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) had to act quickly to find digital solutions to everyday challenges to keep citizens safe and productive. Enabled by cloud technology, digitized government agencies became better equipped to offer citizen, educational, and healthcare services, which helped improve and even save lives. 

As we emerge from the crisis, the experience, momentum, and lessons learned have heightened potential for leaders to drive digitization as a priority to deliver their national agendas. Public sector organizations across APJ are pivoting from the pandemic and looking ahead to how digital transformation enabled by cloud can help to seize opportunities to deliver faster, more innovative, and modernized citizen services.

Scaling Digitization for Public Sector Organizations

According to a Gartner survey in 2021, digitally advanced government organizations realize more benefits of modernization, including higher efficiency, cost reductions, greater workforce productivity, compliance, and transparency. Research by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Economics shows that AWS customers in ASEAN – across commercial and public sectors – who migrated to AWS are seeing an acceleration in innovation, with an approximate 29% reduction in time-to-market for new features and applications, about 41% increase in employee efficiency, and an improvement of about 37% in operational resiliency through less downtime of services.

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In the last year, AWS has signed six government cloud services agreements across APJ to boost digitization, supporting these governments with our network of local partners as they move their customers and themselves to the cloud, including Malaysia, and Thailand in ASEAN. These initiatives help governments save lives, provide critical citizen services, and support learner outcomes – ultimately changing the way society engages, educates, and does business for good. They also enable opportunities for local businesses on the AWS Partner Network to work closely with public sector customers to solve some of the biggest community challenges.

Enabling Security, Resilience, and Continuity through the Cloud

Aside from accelerating the speed and scale of digitization, leveraging the cloud also ensures security, resilience, and continuity. This creates a safe and reliable environment for students to learn, employees to work remotely, and citizens to access government services and healthcare.

In Indonesia, when the Bali Provincial Government launched its Smart Island initiative to transform the Indonesian island into a digital province, the Communication, Information, and Statistics Agency of Bali (Diskominfos) migrated its data to AWS cloud from an on-premises infrastructure. Launching an attendance system using machine learning technology, it enabled 19,820 public service employees to sign in to the office virtually, saving almost 69% in monthly costs for its attendance system. Many of Bali’s other critical applications are also built using AWS solutions, including a traditional village census system, a health facility oxygen monitoring system, and an asset management system.

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By digitally transforming on the cloud, the public sector can rapidly scale services to meet spikes in demand, wind-down operations to reduce costs, and innovate widely using the latest cloud technology.

More Digital Skills Needed to Support Digitization

As the digitization momentum accelerates, governments across APJ will also need to prioritize digital skills training for their workforce in order to unlock the cloud’s full potential. The recent “Building Skills for the Changing Workforce” report produced by AWS and AlphaBeta shows that Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea will need to train an estimated 86 million more workers in digital skills collectively over the next year to keep pace with technological advancements – equivalent to 14% of their current total workforce. The report also noted that three of the five most demanded digital skills by 2025 will be cloud-related.

In Thailand, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is collaborating with AWS to train more than 1,200 public sector employees with cloud skills, so they can implement cloud technologies at scale, make better data-driven business decisions, and innovate new services to drive improved outcomes for citizens. In Indonesia, its Information and Communication Technology Training and Development Center (BPPTIK Kominfo) worked with AWS to get its employees up to speed on cloud knowledge, in support of Indonesia’s goal of creating a pool of about 9 million digital professionals by 2030 as part of its national digital information agenda. And in Malaysia, AWS has worked to provide cloud training for the Malaysian Administration Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) to help accelerate their cloud use and fulfil mission-critical needs.  This is in addition to the training of over 3.5 million users across Asia Pacific since 2018.

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Looking ahead, we will need to move beyond business as usual to close the skills gap and create conditions for successful digitization. Governments, educators, and industries across APJ will need to collaborate more closely than ever to give all individuals the opportunity to build and deepen their digital skills that will support digitization momentum now and in the future.

Closer Collaboration Needed to Unlock the Potential of APJ

As societies and communities across APJ continue to evolve, organizations of all kinds – from governments to industries to non-profits – will need to come together to solve some of the biggest issues we are facing, from helping marginalized communities to addressing climate change.

This is why AWS launched Cloud Innovation Centers (CIC), to serve as a platform for public and private sector organizations to collaborate, solve challenges, and test new ideas with AWS’s technology expertise. In Singapore, AWS is partnering with East Coast Town Council and Accenture on a six-month pilot to deploy cloud-powered sustainability solutions in municipal estate management, to support Singapore’s move towards its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2040.

We encourage collaborations between governments, industry, and cloud services providers to enable long-term scaling of digital programs. The momentum has been established, so let’s continue to ride the wave and work together to keep digitization at the forefront of the region’s push for progress as we pivot from pandemic to prosperity.

Business, Contributed

The Cloud and the Opportunity Ahead

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A lot of what we do now is underpinned by the cloud, and “cloud” has increasingly become a tech buzzword. There are many reasons there is buzz around the cloud, and I will expand on some of them here.

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Cloud democratises access to the kind of computing power that was previously only accessible to large corporations with deep pockets. What used to require a $100 million investment can now be achieved on the cloud for as little as $26 a year. And, by not spending time and resources on traditional IT infrastructure, companies using the cloud can build faster, better, and cheaper – in more sustainable ways. Cloud is flexible, agile, scalable, and has the potential to impact all industries in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago across healthcare, finance, agriculture, education, and sustainability, to name a few. And as the demand for cloud computing grows, so does the demand for cloud-skilled workers. It has been predicted that there will be a significant skills gap by 2025 unless more is done to train, retrain, and upskill the region’s workforce.

Driving digital transformation and harnessing data

In today’s digital economy, it’s hard to find an industry that doesn’t use cloud applications. From accelerating medical research, improving crop yields in developing economies, and driving sustainability, to tracking bush fires, the cloud is changing the way we live, work, and play. Digital transformation is both an agent of change and a facilitator of it, and some of the biggest disruptions have been in the banking sector as we change the way we bank. There are more than 50 digital banks across Asia, with more on the way, helping drive financial inclusion in developing countries using the cloud. Today’s digital bank customers have high expectations for convenience, enhanced user experience, and personalisation, and access to the cloud has enabled these banks to innovate to meet these demands quickly and at low cost.

The pandemic has accelerated disruption and cloud adoption, and the volume of data produced as industries move to the cloud is growing rapidly. This data holds the potential for insights that can inform business strategies and is a resource that can’t be ignored. While some businesses are already leveraging data to drive decisions, gain competitive advantage, and fuel the next generation of innovation and success, more will do so in the coming year as business leaders start to understand the potential that cloud computing presents.

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Data and analytics will become this decade’s priorities, and we must be ready with the necessary tools, skills, and expertise to tap into this resource to deliver efficiency and unlock experimentation. For many organisations, data is their most valuable asset, and we are helping them move data to the cloud, modernise applications, build next-generation secure data platforms, and build data lakes to collect real-time data. And, using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, these organisations can gain real-time actionable insights, results, and predictions to improve decision making.

The digital skills gap

The rapid evolution of cloud technology and widespread adoption of cloud computing will require a workforce that has the right data and cloud skills, and across Asia, the supply of digitally skilled workers is nowhere near the demand. COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of cloud tech which meant the skills gap widened as the global talent landscape transformed. Digital workers in Asia today know they will need advanced digital skills – almost half believe cloud computing skills will be required in their jobs within just four years.

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Broadening the skills base of workers globally is vital for economic growth, resiliency, and prosperity, and the social implications of failing to act include rising income disparity and more unemployment. Since COVID-19, there has been mass labour market displacement with job losses predicted to far exceed the Global Financial Crisis, and unemployment is forecasted to be at its highest since the Great Depression. With this in mind, governments around the world are implementing national policies on skilling and laying the building blocks for reforms, but more needs to be done by the private sector. Employers need to help current workers upskill, educational institutes need to adopt curricula that provide relevant skills, and workers across all fields need to seize the opportunity to learn new digital skills.

AWS is invested in the future

AWS is committed to a dynamic and entrepreneurial IT sector and supporting economic growth globally, and we hope to build resilience into the digital-skilled workforce and help bridge the skills gap. Globally, we are committed to helping 29 million people grow their technical skills with free cloud computing training by 2025. We have made over 500 free, on-demand, courses available online, with many courses available in local languages such as Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, as well as interactive labs and virtual day-long training sessions through AWS Training and Certification. We are also working with educational institutes around the region to develop programmes that provide students with relevant in-demand cloud tech skills.

The world’s workforce needs a sustainable future, and Amazon is committed to helping provide this by making more than 91 renewable energy investments around the world and committing to Amazon’s Climate Pledge to be a net-zero carbon business by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement, and to be on 100% renewable energy by 2025.

The cloud has the power to do a lot of good, but we must be prepared to harness that power with a skilled workforce that can meet the challenge to innovate at exponential speed. As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic with new ways of operating, working, and living being adopted, cloud will remain at the forefront of our digital lives.