Transforming ASEAN's Industrial Sector through Data and Continuous Innovation

Manufacturing plays a crucial role in Southeast Asia, accounting for over 20% of the region's total GDP. As a rapidly growing trade and innovation hub, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is positioned to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030. With its high-growth markets and the fastest-growing internet market globally, the region assumes a significant role in the global pursuit of sustainable development.

ASEAN remains highly appealing to multinationals as an alternative or supplementary manufacturing base, enabling them to rebalance supply chains, mitigate geopolitical risks, and capitalise on cost-effective labor. This attractiveness is underscored by China's relatively higher salary levels compared to most ASEAN countries and trade disruptions between the US and China. Additionally, ASEAN supply chains are continually integrating as member nations engage in increased intra-regional trade.

According to results from the 2022/23 AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Survey, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are technologies that are gaining in prominence amongst ASEAN Manufacturers:?

Throughout the month of May, we were privileged to engage with and gain insights from the exceptional finalists of the 2023 AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards. This year marks the seventh edition of the awards, which have become a benchmark of excellence in recognising and celebrating innovation within ASEAN.?

The finalists of the 2023 AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards showcased enterprises including PT Akebono Brake Astra Indonesia , PTT GC Global Chemical Public Company Limited, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad, Top Glove , IOI Corporation Berhad , Petroliam Nasional Berhad ( PETRONAS ), PTT Oil and Retail, Thai Union Group PCL. , AXONS (CPF IT Center). Together, these exceptional finalists represent a diverse group of?who are driving innovation and shaping the future of the manufacturing and supply chains in ASEAN.

Here is a summary of their?key innovations:

• Streamlining Operations and Enhancing Efficiency:?Enterprises are leveraging integrated platforms to streamline business operations and establish future-forward digital supply chain ecosystems. These platforms facilitate the standardisation of business processes, centralisation of data, and overall improvement in efficiency.
• Empowering Data-driven Innovation:?Enterprises recognise the crucial role of data-driven approaches in fostering innovation and gaining a competitive edge. By harnessing data as a strategic asset, enterprises can make well-informed decisions, optimise operational efficiency, and cultivate agility and adaptability. This empowers them to uncover valuable insights, identify trends, and drive innovation across their operations.

“Before you even start collecting any customer data, you should define your goals and the questions that you want answered. You know, this will actually help you to focus on the data that is most relevant to your business objectives. Collect only the data that is relevant to your goals, you know too much data can be extremely overwhelming and may be counterintuitive… And most importantly, this one, we can't forget, respect your customer's privacy, by obtaining their consent before collecting that data and ensuring that their personal information is kept secure.” - Donna Wong , Director, Asia, Talend

• Adoption of cutting-edge technologies to drive continuous Innovation:?Enterprises are also embracing advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and data analytics. By integrating these advanced technologies into their existing processes, organisations are able to navigate the dynamic landscape, capitalise on emerging opportunities, and thrive in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0. Cultivating a culture of continuous innovation becomes paramount as it empowers organisations to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape and maintain a competitive edge.

“At Dell Technologies, we believe that every organisation will become a digital organisation fuelled by data, and then it's going to be run on the multi-cloud world. So with this vision, we have been working closely [with organisations] from the beginning on how to identify the business use case, the manufacturing use case, that can be prioritised in order to get the return on investment.” - Wittaya Warunchaichana , Director, Dell Technologies

The industrial sector in ASEAN is undergoing a transformative journey driven by the collective commitment of enterprises to invest in data-driven innovations to drive continuous innovation. By embracing digital transformation and leveraging integrated platforms, organisations are not only streamlining operations and driving efficiency but also setting new benchmarks for innovation within the sector. These advancements not only safeguard their operations for the future but also position them as leaders in the rapidly evolving industrial landscape. The ability to adapt to this changing environment will be crucial for success in the years to come, and the ASEAN industrial sector is well-positioned to thrive by harnessing the power of technology, data, and innovation.

Join us in our upcoming in-person Conferences & Exhibitions (C&E), where esteemed manufacturing leaders will take centre stage:

• Abdul Aziz bin Othman, Senior Vice President, Gas & Power, PETRONAS; Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, PETRONAS Gas Bhd
• Datin Ts. Habsah Nordin (CDMP, CSFC) , Chief Data Officer, PETRONAS
• Yusri Mohamed , Chief Digital Officer, Johor Corporation (JCorp)
• -Saiful -. , Chief Engineer I, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad
• Erik Looi , Chief Information Officer, Alliance Contract Manufacturing
• Rey Doria , Vice President / Managing Director, Dole Sunshine Company
• Sherwin Nones , Head Of Strategy and Corporate ESG, Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI)
• Nguyen Duc Long , Chief Information Officer, Mavin Group
• Tuan Anh PHAM , Group CIO, Becamex IDC Corporation
• Vo Duy Thanh , Head of IT, Bitexco
• Rahul Shinde , Vice-President & CIO, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam
• Dr Jessica Tang , Deputy General Manager, HR, Top Glove

Key dates to take note of for our 2023 AIBP Conference and Exhibition:

• 40th Edition, AIBP C&E Malaysia, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, 4 - 5 July 2023
• 41st Edition, AIBP C&E Philippines, Marriott Manila, 11 - 12 July 2023
• 42nd Edition, AIBP C&E Vietnam, The Reverie Saigon, 1 - 2 August 2023

Alternatively, do feel free to reach out to us via DM or at [email protected] if you wish to join us, or if there are topics in digitalisation you would like to hear more of!