In addition to being a fantastic destination for international firms looking to outsource their work, Malaysia is home to several tech behemoths that have trained the local digital community to execute necessary changes in project management and business culture, as well as to create a highly competent workforce for the IT sector.
Because of this, Malaysian businesses are increasingly well-known and regarded as regional leaders in the IT sector, providing Indonesia and the Philippines with strong rivalry.
AppAsia Berhad
One of the top producers of digital platforms in the nation, AppAsia Berhad is a publicly traded business on Bursa Malaysia’s high-growth ACE market. It specialises in big data, artificial intelligence, e-marketplaces, digital contents, and sophisticated mobile apps. AppAsia is a well-known supplier of cloud computing and IT security solutions, operating under the “Extol” brand. Under the direction of Calvert Wong, AppAsia has branched out into a number of digital markets in the past years. Its expertise now encompasses digital advertising on all media platforms, the creation, upkeep, and management of multiple e-commerce websites, as well as the creation of an e-marketplace platform. In June 2020, AppAsia and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants jointly introduced the much awaited first and only industry-wide electronic confirmation platform in Malaysia. The goal of this digital platform is to be utilised by all Malaysian banks and auditors to process bank confirmations for 1.3 million firms. In July 2020, the share price of AppAsia hit a record high.
Visit: https://www.appasia.com/
ARB Berhad
Dato Sri Liew Kok Leong in charge ARB, formerly known as Aturmaju Resources Berhad, was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in 2004 after being founded in Malaysia in 1997 under the Companies Act of 1965. Its primary business shifted from timber to providing IT services and solutions. Following the diversification of its operations, ARB has seen rapid expansion, closing large contracts and building a solid network of domestic and international partners and clients. It offers Internet of Things (IoT) services such enterprise resource planning solutions, smart buildings, smart homes, and smart water supplies. Due to a spike in revenue, ARB’s net profit for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by 54.4% to RM19.74 million from RM12.79 million in the same period last year.
Visit: https://www.arbberhad.com/
Censof Holdings Berhad
Founded in 2008, Censof Holdings Berhad is headed by Ameer bin Shaik Mydin. With an expanding clientele from both the public and private sectors, the business has emerged as one of the top Bumiputera enterprises in the accounting and technology sectors. Accounting software, eCommerce solutions, payroll and inventory management for small and medium-sized businesses, financial management solutions, payment aggregation systems, wealth management solutions, and training solutions are just a few of the services it offers. Censof employs 320 people in more than five countries and boasts over 400,000 happy customers. In the third quarter of its fiscal year, which concluded in March 2021, the firm generated a profit with a net profit of RM2 million.
Visit: https://censof.com/
Excel Force MSC Berhad
One of the first businesses to develop a web-based system enabling end investors to trade shares directly into stockbroking companies’ systems was Excel Force MSC Berhad. The organisation closely collaborates with brokers to systematise their back office functions. These comprise a core system for brokers’ back office activities, such as margin financing, collateral management, transaction and settlement processing, and so forth, as well as a system to monitor and handle operational and business risks. With risk management positioned in the centre, this completes its system solutions, which span front-end trading through back-end processing.
Visit: https://www.excelforce.com.my/
Hong Seng Consolidated Berhad
In addition to its current business of search and advertising, Hong Seng Consolidated Berhad, formerly known as MSCM Holdings Berhad, aims to expand into various new business pillars such as glove manufacturing, medical and healthcare-related supply chain management, and financial services provider of moneylending facilities and hire purchase services. This will help the Group become a formidable listed company. Additionally, Hong Seng was able to acquire an RM34.25 million contract with the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) to offer Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits.
Visit: https://www.hongseng.com.my/
IFCA MSC Berhad
IFCA MSC Berhad, which Ken Yong founded in 1987, was a pioneer in the creation of business systems for the real estate, engineering, construction, hospitality, and human resources sectors. By utilising state-of-the-art technology, it digitalizes methods of working and facilitates digital communication in order to increase output and maximise corporate performance. It is present in China, Indonesia, and Singapore. IFCA reported net profits of RM3.67 million for the second quarter that concluded in June 2020, mostly as a result of China’s economy recovering quickly and lower operational expenses overall in spite of decreased sales.
Visit: https://ifca.asia/
IRIS Corporation Berhad
IRIS Corporation Berhad, under the direction of Shaiful Zahrin Bin Subhan, is a technology integrator and inventor that offers creative, pertinent, perceptive, and safe solutions for reliable identification. IRIS has created multi-application eID cards and ePassports for more than 25 years. Producing smart cards, identification documents, and the equipment needed for their authentication, the business also produced the first ePassport and multi-application national eID card in history. Its clientele is expanding, spanning 34 nations worldwide. Iris has won the National Integrated Immigration System (NIIS) project from the government, which is valued at about RM1.6 billion, through its fully-owned subsidiary Iris Information Technology Systems Sdn Bhd (IITS).
Visit: https://www.iris.com.my/
OpenSys (M) Berhad
OpenSys (M) Berhad is a larger company that offers superior assistance to the utilities, financial services, and telecommunications industries. The business offers services in the following areas: system integration, software engineering, project management, and training. In the third quarter that concluded in September 2020, OpenSys’s net profit climbed by 41.2% to RM3.07 million from RM2.17 million during the same period the previous year.
Visit: https://www.myopensys.com/
Systech Bhd
Under the direction of Raymond Tan Hock Ann, Systech Bhd is a technology-related investment holding company that has been listed since 2011 on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad’s ACE Market. The three main business segments that the Systech Group primarily operates in are e-business solutions, cyber security, and e-logistics. 2020 saw the greatest level of trading for Systech Bhd’s shares in almost five months, thanks to a technical buy from PublicInvest Research.
Visit: https://www.systech.asia/
N2N Connect Berhad
N2N Connect Berhad, under the direction of Andrew Tiang, offers capital market participants an enterprise-wide integrated trading and settlement solution. With 228 workers, the business offers services including news, information, and market data in addition to managed server, network, and security services and server colocation. The business has served 700 brokers with its services. More than 90% of N2N’s revenue is generated on a regular basis, and the company’s current operations remain unaffected by COVID-19.
Visit: https://n2nconnect.com/
Things to look out for when collaborating with IT firms in Malaysia
Due to the expectation that by 2025, Malaysia would have reached a 21% digitalization level, local IT firms are finding it difficult to make the investments necessary to train and educate the next generation of developers and designers that might potentially boost the Malaysian IT industry. On the other hand, Malaysian IT firms stand a good possibility of expanding and offering better digital services if they continue along the present trends.
Moreover, the IT industry’s layoffs. According to Markus Monnikendam of Lizard Global, recent layoffs at IT companies demonstrate that even the largest companies may make mistakes when trying to combine staffing needs and revenue.
How trustworthy are IT firms in Malaysia?
Based in a location that is well-known as an outsourcing destination for global IT firms, Malaysian web and software organizations are becoming more and more reliable. Malaysian IT firms have enough opportunity to showcase their capabilities and win over more clients’ trust, thanks to both local and worldwide possibilities and needs for digital goods.
