International Business Review talks with the who’s who of Southeast Asia’s digital industry to provide in-depth insights on various matters in our region’s digital sector.
We talked to Catherine Lian, Vice President of IBM ASEAN, formerly Managing Director for IBM Malaysia, about IBM’s contributions to Southeast Asia’s digital sector.
IBM has been active in Southeast Asia for almost a century, and since then, has made significant strides in driving the region’s digital sector. Recently, their focus has been on advancing technology integration, cybersecurity, digital skills, AI, and cloud solutions. In Lian’s words, “Hybrid cloud and AI will continue to be the key foundational pillars of strategies for our customers.”
According to Catherine Lian, IBM has always been consistent in their ultimate goal of providing top-notch technology solutions to help improve businesses. “From the very beginning, our mission was very clear: to ensure that our clients achieve success through the adoption of technology solutioning. The priority that we observe in technology adoption is the urgency across every sector to rapidly escalate their digital transformation. Not only that, but it is also about making sure that productivity and efficiency are achieved and attained through technology solutions,” said Lian.
One instance of this is the launch of watsonx, an AI platform set to boost AI use and scalability in any cloud setting. This platform allows for creating customised AI solutions efficiently and responsibly. The watsonx platform is currently being used by Southeast Asia’s governments and businesses to empower their journey towards AI-driven digital transformation.
To ensure smooth, safe, and sustainable digital transformation, IBM has worked with government and private sectors across ASEAN to equip the region with training, software, and hardware necessary. For example, in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore IBM has invested in cybersecurity resources and training in cybersecurity response techniques.
“In Malaysia, IBM has developed an e-learning hub that aims to train 8,000 highly-skilled digital workforce, making Malaysia a regional hub for digital talent.”
Aligning with IBM’s commitment to sustainable digital transformation is another service that they have recently launched: the IBM Envizi. This platform provides comprehensive data and analytics software to collect, manage, and derive insights from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability data. According to Lian, “It is an ideal AI solution platform that enables data management to be retained and measured for sustainability.”
Another initiative taken by IBM globally and regionally is skill development with the commitment to training 30 million people globally by 2030 through diverse education programmess. For instance, IBM is supporting Indonesia’s digital transformation through the IBM Academy for Hybrid Cloud and AI in Batam.
IBM’s multifaceted role in Southeast Asian digital scene is undeniable. Their focus on advancing technology integration, cybersecurity, digital skills, and cloud solutions to support the region’s digital transformation and economic growth positions them as not only a prominent business but also a positive and lasting impact.
