Sunway Group moves to IBM Cloud in 5yr IT modernisation plan

• Hitachi Sunway to implement first IBM Connections Cloud site in SEA
• Intent is to transform Sunway into a ‘social-savvy digital enterprise’

ONE of Malaysia’s largest conglomerates, Sunway Group, said it is working with IBM to deploy the IBM Connections Cloud to transform its IT and business infrastructure in a five-year IT modernisation initiative.
 
IBM Connections Cloud provides an intuitive set of cloud-delivered online technologies for businesses that combine social networking and online collaboration, messaging, and web conference tools.
 
It would be used to support Sunway Group’s 12 business divisions across 50 locations worldwide, the company – listed as Sunway Bhd on Bursa Malaysia – said in a statement.
 
Sunway Group president Chew Chee Kin said that the key driver for the group’s “multimillion-ringgit” investment decision is to support its 13,000 employees via an ICT business transformation endeavour.
 
“We made a deliberate decision to invest in cloud-based solutions to immediately facilitate greater work efficiencies and collaborations across our businesses in property, construction, hospitality, retail, leisure, commercial, trading and manufacturing, building materials, quarrying, healthcare, education and real estate investment trust (REIT),” he said.
 
“As our employees and customers become more mobile- and social-driven, this major ICT upgrade will ensure that Sunway is on par with technology advancements for rapid business growth support, and to transform Sunway to be a social-savvy digital enterprise,” he added.
 
Sunway’s deployment of IBM Connections Cloud will be implemented by Hitachi Sunway Information Systems Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company of Japan’s Hitachi Systems Ltd and Sunway subsidiary Sunway Technology Sdn Bhd.
 
“Hitachi Sunway looks forward to playing a key role to help Sunway achieve its IT business transformation, which among others, includes turning it into a truly ‘social enterprise’,” said Hitachi Sunway group chief executive officer and director Cheah Kok Hoong.
 
“The IBM Connections Cloud facilitates the conglomerate with an extensive productivity platform to be more ‘in-tune’ with business dynamism, as well as social requirements in the daily interactions with customers, partners and colleagues,” he said.
 
“In short, this cloud investment by Sunway will enable it to more seamlessly integrate ICT to effectively support and expedite big data interactions with its thousands of connections within its large business ecosystem,” he added.
 
“Enterprises see the value of cloud but face a unique set of challenges around reliability, standards, security, and control in truly extending the use of cloud beyond IT,” said IBM Malaysia managing director Paul Moung.
 
“IBM Connections Cloud, with its enterprise grade security and control, deepens customer relationships, increases effectiveness, and optimise workforces,” he claimed.
 
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