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coupled with the contribution we are making
to the broader community.
What do you think is the current hot
technology talking point?
Hyper-automation is a topic that is raised
with many of our customers right now.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine
Learning (ML) are now being used to simplify
operations (not just tasks) in ways that
are far more impactful than conventional
automation capabilities. These new
technologies ultimately make processes
and operations run on their own. Hyperautomation
involves a combination of tools
to help simulate aspects of where the person
is engaged in a job.
It takes work management to another
stage, as hyper-automation understands
the range of tasks that can be automated,
what’s required to put this into action
and how individual elements of the
activity should work together to achieve
the desired outcome. Whether it’s by
managing contracts or fixing IT failings,
hyper-automation frees up valuable time
for people across the organisation, enabling
them to focus on other business-critical tasks.
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside the office?
To unwind, I like to be in the great outdoors
as much as I can, preferably on the beach
and even in winter. When I spend time in
nature, it naturally calms me and gives me a
feeling of inner peace.
It’s always a bonus if the sun is shining for a
dose of vitamin D as well because I find that
sunshine is an excellent mood booster for
me. Having a round of golf used to always
de-stress me as well, however my game is
deteriorating at a rapid rate and no doubt
helping contribute to the grey hair starting
to creep in.
What do you currently identify
as the major areas of investment
in your industry?
To start with, I am a big advocate that
today, all companies are tech companies;
and all CEOs are tech CEOs. The technology
path you choose now will determine your
company’s financial success. Every business,
in every industry, is increasingly turning to
technology-based innovation to disrupt the
competitive status quo.
New technologies, including AI and cloud,
will open up almost limitless possibilities
for transforming business processes by
lowering prediction and computation
costs. Lifting and shifting applications
to the cloud is the major area of current
investment in our industry.
Migrating to the cloud reduces data storage
and computation costs and it is also
critical to decouple data from old legacy
infrastructure. The strongest leaders in our
industry see the cloud not simply as a data
centre, but as a catalyst for innovation across
silos and businesses.
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in the APAC region?
Organisations throughout Asia Pacific
are steadily moving business-critical data
and workloads to cloud ERP systems, such
as SYSPRO. As evidenced by the current
COVID-19 crisis, real-time reporting
about supply, demand and
operations is absolutely critical
for manufacturers.
Given that ERP systems
are the ‘backbone’ for
manufacturers, based on the
size and complexity of their
global supply chains, these
businesses need to ensure that
the ERP system implemented
has the capability to give senior
management the correct (realtime)
data and information to
“
TO UNWIND, I
LIKE TO BE IN THE
GREAT OUTDOORS
AS MUCH AS I
CAN, PREFERABLY
ON THE BEACH
AND EVEN IN
WINTER.
assist them to anticipate other challenges
they may face, to avoid costly delays or
disruptions to their operations.
One of the biggest challenges of doing
business in APAC is the diversity and
complexity of all of the countries in the
region. Given the diversity of data protection
and privacy laws in the Asia-Pacific region
and the consequences from violating such
laws, companies must always consider
developing a strategy to manage data risks.
What changes to your job role have
you seen in the last year and how do
you see these developing in the next
12 months?
My role was originally to head up the
Australasian region for SYSPRO as the CEO.
Within nine months of commencing, my role
was expanded to head up the entire APAC
region as CEO. This involved the realignment
of the business to ensure that it was on track
with global priorities and goals.
Over the next 12 months, I will look at
how the businesses can continue to create
operational efficiencies and thereby
establish new structures for growth across
the APAC region.
APAC is a dynamic market to operate
in as it has some of the most advanced
manufacturing systems in the world.
Ultimately our customers and partners
are central to the success of our business
and they will remain key to my operational
realignment priorities and therefore
SYSPRO’s ongoing success. •
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