A recent news report noted that as part of the China-based third-party mobile and online payment platform’s commitment to supporting digital innovation and talent cultivation in Southeast Asia, the firm launched its Malaysia roadshow for the Enterprise Social Innovation Challenge (ANSIC).
ANSIC is a joint initiative by the world’s largest mobile and online payment and the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS). At the roadshow, the company shared its experience of how technology can be used to solve real-world problems with start-up entrepreneurs in Asia.
At the online payment firm’s parent branch, the ethos is such that every team member is empowered to leverage the power of technology to solve real-world problems.
Thus, the Senior Algorithm Engineer pitched his idea to his superiors and quickly obtained approval to start building a feasible solution from scratch, using the company’s resources. Using AI, machine learning and computer vision, the algorithm engineer and his team worked day and night to develop the technology service.
In August 2017, after eight months of development and testing, the first official version of the platform was launched. The service allows car owners to upload images and videos of their damaged vehicles, and have their claims processed within seconds. Through technology, insurance companies are able to save significant resources by freeing up human claim adjusters to focus on more complicated accidents. Customer satisfaction also significantly improved.
Separately, the VP of Social Innovation of Agensi Inovasi Malaysia, moderated a panel discussion entitled, “Running a Sustainable & Scalable Social Enterprise in Malaysia.” Panellists included the CEO and co-founder of a social supermarket that is dedicated to reducing food waste and the co-founder of a social enterprise providing sustainable catering services to help refugee families in Malaysia.
Discussing the role of technology in addressing social issues, the CEO of the social supermarket commented that food waste is a global issue and that his company works with restaurants and supermarkets to buy food that they can’t sell then distribute the food at a discount to low-income groups, through online and offline channels.
He noted that it makes a big difference when suppliers and consumers can see in real-time how much they have saved by using the app.
The CEO of the social enterprise explained the reasons she started her company noting that the value of the social enterprise is in solving real issues; her company seeks to help refugees in Malaysia have a way to support their families before they are able to return to their home country.
The company’s chefs are all refugees in Malaysia who would otherwise have little chance of getting a job and they are focusing on using technology to bring out the stories of their chefs, making corporate catering more convenient and marketing more effective.
The aforementioned Senior Algorithm Engineer noted that it is extremely exciting to see so many young, energetic and ambitious start-ups in Malaysia today. He added that the online payment firm hopes that by sharing its experiences and working with partners here, it can contribute to supporting local innovation and the growth of more indigenous start-ups that use digital technology to address real-world problems and benefit more people.
The Malaysian roadshow is part of a series of events in Southeast Asia to help raise awareness of the Enterprise Social Innovation Challenge and to inspire new ideas and innovation in the region.
In Malaysia, the online payment firm’s parent company supports its partner Touch n’ Go with technological capabilities and experience in implementing a mobile payment platform to offer innovative payment solutions and other inclusive financial services.
