Panel discussion (from left): Karamjit Singh, Founder, Digital News Asia; Alex Liew, Chairman, PIKOM – The National Tech Association of Malaysia; Eric Foo, Deputy CEO, Exabytes Group; and Abel Saw, CEO, Stradaverse Sdn Bhd.
Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd has partnered with Stradaverse Sdn Bhd to launch a RM10 million Investment Credit aimed at accelerating digital adoption among Malaysian SMEs. Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding at Menara Chin Hin this December, the initiative targets the manufacturing and retail sectors to address cost barriers that often slow large-scale digital transformation.
The collaboration supports the onboarding of up to 100 mid-to-large SMEs by subsidizing the upfront costs of cloud-based enterprise systems. Stradaverse, the IT subsidiary of Chin Hin Group, and Exabytes, a leading cloud solutions provider, aim to move SMEs beyond basic tools toward integrated, AI-enabled platforms.
From left: Khairul Mizan bin Shagul Hamid, Director of Industry Facilitation, Industry Ecosystem Division, MDEC (Witness 1); Eric Foo, Deputy CEO, Exabytes Group (MoU Signee); Abel Saw, CEO, Stradaverse Sdn Bhd (MoU Signee); and Aaron Feng Liang, Country Manager, Kingdee Malaysia (Witness 2).
The signing was witnessed by key industry leaders from MDEC, PIKOM, the SME Association of Malaysia, and the ESG Association of Malaysia. With SMEs contributing nearly 40% of Malaysia’s GDP in 2024, the partnership seeks to close the “digital depth gap” by providing a structured pathway to adopt cloud-native ERP and AI systems. Early deployments have already shown significant impact, with businesses recording a 40% improvement in inventory accuracy and up to a 30% revenue uplift without increasing headcount.
Commenting on the broader implications, Adjunct Professor Alex Liew said, “Malaysia’s digital competitiveness will depend on how quickly our SMEs deepen their capabilities beyond basic tools and into integrated, intelligent systems. PIKOM’s latest outlook shows that while digital adoption rates are rising, the ‘digital depth gap’ among SMEs remains one of the biggest barriers to productivity and export growth and this investment directly tackles that gap. When SMEs gain operational intelligence, Malaysia’s entire digital economy becomes stronger, more competitive and better aligned with the demands of the global supply chain.”
Event VIPs (from left): Khairul Mizan bin Shagul Hamid, Director of Industry Facilitation, Industry Ecosystem Division, MDEC; Dr. Chin Chee Seong, National President, SME Association of Malaysia; Abel Saw, CEO, Stradaverse Sdn Bhd; Eric Foo, Deputy CEO, Exabytes Group; Aaron Feng Liang, Country Manager, Kingdee Malaysia; Alex Liew, Chairman, PIKOM – The National Tech Association of Malaysia; and Cheah Kok Hoong, President, ESG Association Malaysia (ESGAM).
A panel discussion held after the MoU signing further explored Malaysia’s growing digital depth gap, highlighting the urgency for SMEs, particularly in manufacturing and retail, to transition toward cloud-native, AI-enabled operations to remain regionally competitive.
Exabytes Group Deputy CEO Eric Foo emphasized the shifting role of enterprise systems, saying, “In today’s landscape, ERP is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’. It is the operating backbone of every competitive organisation. SMEs that still rely on manual processes face rising risks and shrinking margins. Through this partnership, we are removing one of the biggest barriers, cost, and giving Malaysian SMEs a launchpad to transform into intelligent, data-driven businesses capable of scaling with confidence.”
Stradaverse CEO Abel Saw highlighted the impact of AI-driven ERP platforms, noting, “AI-driven ERP like Kingdee give businesses a level of operational intelligence they’ve never had before, from AI agents that reduce operational surprises to intelligent controls that have cut unauthorised transactions by up to 90%. Our goal is to ensure SMEs gain access to the same class of technologies powering global industrial leaders. When we uplift the digital backbone of SMEs, we uplift entire value chains.”
Looking forward, both companies are exploring expanded offerings, including a Unified Intelligence Stack that positions Kingdee ERP as an “Intelligent Data Core” enhanced by an adaptive AI layer for predictive automation. This industry-led initiative serves as a catalyst for SMEs to transition into modern, integrated operations, ensuring they remain competitive in the global market.
For more details, visit www.exabytes.my.
