Enterprise Explores

Today’s supply chains face constant disruption and rising customer demands. How can businesses not just survive, but thrive? Agentic AI is gaining significant traction in supply chain management, as its capability to make autonomous decisions offers a crucial competitive edge and foresight amidst ongoing global volatility. The big question is: Is it the silver bullet we’ve been looking for?On Enterprise Explores, we’re joined by Dickson Woo, Country General Manager and Technology Leader at IBM Malaysia, to unpack how this autonomous AI goes beyond mere optimisation to reinvent workflows, prevent disruptions, and build unprecedented resilience into the supply chain.Co-Produced by: Wei San LeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How long does it take for Malaysian businesses to pay their bills and what does that say about our economy?In this episode of Enterprise Explores, Dawn Lai, CEO of Experian Information Services Malaysia unpacks the findings from Experian’s 2025 State of Credit Report. The report introduces the Industry Debts Turned Cash (IDTC) metric to assess real-world payment behavior across seven core sectors, including construction, manufacturing, retail, and transport.While average payment delays have slightly improved overall, from 64 to 61 days, the SME segment still lags behind large corporates, reflecting deeper structural issues like cash flow constraints, limited credit access, and digital adoption gaps.We dive into sector-specific insights (why construction improved, but logistics worsened), the role of e-invoicing in promoting transparency, and the rise of tools like invoice factoring. Dawn also shares how businesses can strengthen internal controls and manage working capital in uncertain times.Whether you're running an SME or managing corporate credit, this episode offers critical insights into Malaysia’s business health, measured not by sales, but by cash flow timing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banks are more than just vaults for savings or gateways to loans, they’re the lifeblood of a modern economy. But how do we measure their efficiency? What role do monetary policies play in shaping performance? And how should Malaysia’s banks evolve to stay competitive, especially with the rise of digital banks and fintech?In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we speak with Dr. Chan Sok Gee, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, to unpack the economics of banking and what it means for Malaysia’s financial future. We explore:The true economic functions of banks beyond deposits and loansHow OPR changes influence bank profitability and lendingWhy banking efficiency matters and how it’s measuredMalaysia’s post-Asian Financial Crisis reforms and strengthsThe risks of rising NPLs and poor internal governanceHow digital banks could improve financial inclusion and SME accessThe disruptive potential of AI, blockchain, and behavioral dataWhether you’re in finance, tech, or business leadership, this episode will help you better understand the shifts reshaping our banking landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Malaysia’s e-invoicing mandate rolls out in phases, many SMEs find themselves confused, concerned, and caught between compliance and opportunity. But e-invoicing isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes, it’s about streamlining operations, enabling faster payments, and unlocking real-time data for smarter decisions.In this episode, Koren Wines, Managing Director of Xero Asia, explains how businesses can shift from fear to action, why outsourcing to advisors matters, and what support systems are still missing. Drawing on global experience, she shares how e-invoicing can empower SMEs to cut admin costs, improve cash flow, and grow with confidence in an increasingly digital world.We also discuss:What e-invoicing actually means (beyond PDFs)Common misconceptions and mental hurdles slowing adoptionHow data security fears can be addressed with cloud solutionsWhat smaller vs larger SMEs need to scale digital adoptionThe long-term upside: faster payments, better insights, less stressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fintech is booming in Malaysia — so why launch a Hub now? In this episode, we speak with Farhan Ahmad, Group Chief Executive Officer at PayNet to unpack the thinking behind Malaysia’s new Fintech Innovation Hub, built on two key pillars: Community and Catalyst. Why these? Why now? And more importantly — will it work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is racing ahead, but many financial services firms are struggling to keep up, while facing concerns around data breaches, legal issues, and trust concerns.. Deloitte’s AI at a Crossroads report found that 57% of firms reported a rise in AI-related incidents in just the past year, yet only 13% are considered truly “ready” for trustworthy AI governance.So how do we build confidence in AI without slowing down? In this conversation, we speak with Dr Justin Ong, Financial Services Industry Leader at Deloitte Malaysia, about what good governance looks like, why trust matters more than ever, and how to prepare before things go wrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do job seekers in Malaysia really want in 2025? It turns out, it’s not just about salary anymore. While pay still matters, many are prioritising things like growth, flexibility, and a workplace that actually respects their time. And what they won’t put up with? Vague job roles, slow hiring, and toxic cultures.In this conversation, Derek Toh, Founder and CEO of Hiredly Group, discusses the hard truths behind what’s driving people to accept (or reject) job offers today. He shares fresh insights from Hiredly’s latest Work Culture Report, what younger generations expect from employers, and why old-school hiring habits could be holding businesses back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As global trade becomes more fragmented, the Global South is stepping into a more prominent role. But with rising geopolitical tensions, how can Southeast Asian nations chart their own course, without falling into the crossfire between the US and China?Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader of BCG’s Global Advantage Practice, joins us to unpack the growing influence of the Global South, ASEAN’s unique position, and what business leaders need to do to navigate the new trade order.We discuss:ASEAN’s balancing act between China and the USThe end of WTO-led globalisation, and what replaces itHow to build “geopolitical muscle” for resilience and agilityHow to tap into South-South trade as it outpaces global tradeThe evolving strengths of the Global South: capital, culture & innovationWhat policymakers can do to make growth more inclusive and sustainableWhether you’re an investor, policymaker, or business leader, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for operating, and thriving, in an increasingly multipolar world.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when small businesses get the right digital skills at the right time? For over 11,000 MSMEs in Malaysia, the answer is clear with nearly 80% saying their income has gone up after joining the Go Digital ASEAN programme.Backed by Google.org and implemented by The Asia Foundation, Go Digital ASEAN helps micro and small businesses across the region pick up practical digital skills, from using social media and e-commerce to setting up online payments and staying safe online. In this episode, we discuss what’s really helping these businesses grow, and why digital adoption isn’t just about tools but about access, mindset, and ongoing support.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scammers are getting smarter, and they are now pretending to be trusted employers or job platforms like Jobstreet. With convincing messages, fake job offers, and even forged identities, these impersonation scams are putting jobseekers at serious risk while also damaging the credibility of real employers.In this episode, we speak with Nicholas Lam, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia, to understand how these scams are happening, why they are becoming more common, and what steps both jobseekers and companies can take to avoid getting caught up in them.This conversation also draws from Jobstreet’s latest report, Top Job Scams to Watch for in 2025, which highlights growing threats like crypto task fraud, money mule schemes, and fake listings used for identity theft. It’s a timely and eye-opening conversation about trust, responsibility, and how to protect yourself, whether you’re looking for your next job or trying to fill one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.