Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Authored By: Paul Flannery VP of International Channel Sales at ERP Provider – Epicor

As Malaysia gradually transitions into the endemic phase, Malaysia’s economy continues to build on the momentum of economic recovery, delivering even faster growth of 14.2% in the third quarter of 2022 (Q3 2022) compared to 8.9% in the second quarter and 5% in the first quarter. These figures are contributed by robust domestic and external demand as well as an improved labour market. This is also driven by encouraging performance in all economic sectors primarily the services and manufacturing sectors. In addition, this growth is supported by the implementation of Budget 2022 measures as well as the spillover effect from the transition to the endemic phase, which resulted in more vigorous economic and social activities.

The Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased 12.5 % in July 2022 as compared to the same month of the previous year. On a year-on-year basis, the manufacturing sector output increased by 14.9% in July 2022 after recording a growth of 14.4% in June 2022. The Malaysian government is committed to reinforcing the country’s economy by supporting business in growth and in achieving sustainability.

As the channel looks ahead to 2023, here are the three areas resellers, VARs, integrators, MSPs and consultants should focus on to continue to grow:

Channel Experts’ Value Lies in De-Risking Technology Purchases

The current economic climate means that the appetite for risk is extremely low. Despite this, businesses know they need to continue to innovate and digitise if they are to survive, and this involves staying at the forefront of technology. In fact, 95% of businesses we spoke to told us that right-fit technology will accelerate growth for their business. According to the OECD, research has indicated that 70% of SMEs have intensified their use of digital technologies due to COVID-19.

The role of channel businesses is to position themselves as consultants, as buyers look for experts to provide validation and confirmation, which de-risks their technology purchases.

For business technology purchases that will become the core of a business such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and equivalent software services, buyers want to speak to an expert to understand what digital transformation actually looks like in their industry, including best practice, process, and what success looks like.

Buyers are also likely to want strong project management alongside implementation support to ensure they are not left with an expensive piece of complex technology that they must figure out for themselves.

While the rise of self-service options such as e-procurement means some customers are bypassing the channel and even vendor salespeople when making technology purchases, this is not a trend we expect to significantly impact the channel’s opportunity for growth, particularly in more complex sectors, such as aerospace, automotive and manufacturing.

Predictable Business Planning Tools with Interoperability

Business planning technology solutions have never been more vital. Channel partners that can offer solutions that include forward planning, financial planning and simulations that give buyers the data to make the right decisions in a volatile environment should be well placed in the next 12 months.

“The current economic climate means that the appetite for risk is extremely low. Despite this, businesses know they need to continue to innovate and digitise if they are to survive, and this involves staying at the forefront of technology.”

Customers need one source of truth for all their data points, with a digital core that runs through their businesses. Other apps that monitor disparate parts of the businesses should be able to integrate with this digital core, so interoperability of all software solutions will be a key selling point. For example, if unpredictable energy prices, stock costings or the wage bill data is in silos, any financial and business planning tools will be of limited use this winter.

Although there is a lot of hype about the potential of predictive analytics, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), these solutions can’t offer full value to customers if that one source of truth isn’t already in place.

Getting Green Positioning Right

In our hyperconnected business environment, many people realise that the only way whole industries are going to significantly reduce emissions is by managing the sustainability of their connected supply and value chains. Otherwise, it is too easy to claim one company is ‘green’ without acknowledging that the companies it buys from are not.

This is particularly true in the energy-intensive sectors we serve, such as automotive, construction, distribution and manufacturing.

Channel partners and vendors need to strike the right balance in their own marketing and sales pitches to technology buyers; first and foremost, the technology solutions they are recommending will help customers improve their businesses resilience and increase profit margins and, therefore, justify the investment when spend is under increasing scrutiny.

“Buyers are also likely to want strong project management alongside implementation support to ensure they are not left with an expensive piece of complex technology that they must figure out for themselves.”

However, new technology must help buyers achieve their business goals without rolling back any progress that’s already been made on decarbonisation or emissions reduction, as the C-Suite needs to report to stakeholders (including investors, media and end consumers) that their operations and the vendors they work with are taking steps to become greener.

Today, pleading ignorance down your supply chain is not good enough. This positioning challenge is where channel partners can provide trusted guidance on the right technology buying decisions, which will give the C-suite the confidence it needs to proceed.

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