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Over the past decade, e-commerce has become an indispensable part of retail. When physical stores temporarily closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, people shifted to online shopping, resulting in a massive acceleration for the e-commerce market. Malaysia has been no exception to this phenomenon. In fact, the country’s e-commerce industry is one of the largest in Southeast Asia, and it is projected to reach RM78.43 billion by 2027. While this surge of demand from online shoppers signalled the perfect business opportunity for many, quite a few entrepreneurs who jumped into running their e-commerce businesses from home started running into a problem — a distinct lack of space. Getting some shelf control – self-storage versus warehouse For many years, warehousing has been the go-to solution for business inventory, as these large buildings are commonly available for rent and are designed for industrial storage. However, self-storage spaces have since unboxed new business storage options. While warehouses are the primary choice for larger logistic needs, they demand complex management for businesses to operate them efficiently. From labour demands to substantial lease commitments, warehousing can prove to be overwhelming for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups. In contrast, self-storage has become more popular over the years, giving businesses a more flexible and cost-effective solution to their inventory needs. These facilities often offer feasible lease terms ranging from monthly to annual contracts depending on the business’ varying storage needs. Furthermore, self-storage facilities are also equipped with 24/7 security to ensure the safety of stored items without additional labour or security costs. How self-storage can stow away shipping woes and more Managing a growing e-commerce business is full of challenges. However, self-storage facilities like Extra Space Asia can play a vital role in alleviating said challenges and supporting SMEs to navigate the dynamic online retail landscape. Naturally, self-storage facilities provide a practical solution for e-commerce businesses grappling with inventory management. Smaller companies tend to face the dilemma of maintaining sufficient storage space, especially during peak seasons or fluctuations in demand. With self-storage facilities, businesses can select from many storage space sizes that suit their current inventory levels – adapting accordingly without needing extensive and costly commitments. In addition, one of the primary advantages of self-storage is its ability to address the cost-effective inventory needs of e-commerce businesses. This is particularly beneficial for small enterprises with budget constraints as self-storage allows them to pay only for the required space, serving as a more economical alternative to traditional warehousing. For growing businesses, self-storage facilities also allow them to expand their space in tandem with increasing operations. As an online business, traversing the ever-growing digital advancements is imperative. However, digitalising inventory and other operations involves an entire process that may come with additional costs or manpower. In regards to security concerns, it is paramount for e-commerce businesses to protect valuable inventory from unwanted losses. As previously mentioned, self-storage facilities provide robust security measures, including 24/7 surveillance cameras, access controls with unique pin codes, and secure locks. This monitored environment makes business owners confident that their products remain secure, whether for short-term needs or as part of a contingency storage strategy. There is a lot for small businesses and budding entrepreneurs to unpack in navigating the ever-changing e-commerce market. Self-storage facilities like Extra Space Asia have grown to provide practical and secure storage solutions, supporting SMEs in their quests to expand and flourish. Ultimately, it’s clear that self-storage has proven to contribute to the resilience and success of Malaysia’s online retail landscape.

Like it or not, the world is undergoing a massive transformation, which was accelerated when Covid-19 announced its presence. Digital transformation became necessary with lockdowns and working from home, turning this into a newfound reality. Expanding the digital talent pool became necessary to reap the full benefits of the digital economy. The buzzword of the moment then and now was ‘digitalisation’ and everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon and ensure they had a piece of the pie. Then came the realisation that there isn’t enough digital talent in the region. There is an urgent need for a talent development ecosystem to be put in place to address the shortage of digital skills and prepare the next generation of digital talent. This cannot be done in silos. Industry, government and academia must tie up for a holistic, sustainable and inclusive learning ecosystem. I.C. The Future Huawei’s vision is to ‘bring digital to every person, home and organisation for a fully connected, intelligent world.’ Therefore, we continue to push boundaries to ensure digital inclusion and walk the talk by investing in training. Huawei aims to provide students with a platform to compete healthily and exchange ideas, thus enhancing their information, communication and technology (ICT) knowledge and practical skills and increasing their ability to innovate using new technologies and platforms. We have programmes such as our global flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, Seeds for the Future, with 145 local students participating since its inception in 2014, our ICT Academies in 34 public and private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia and our Huawei ICT competitions provide students with the experience of competing on an international stage as well as the opportunity to apply knowledge, think on their feet, apply problem-solving skills and increase their confidence. We believe that training provides the foundation but that applying that knowledge and being provided the opportunity to apply it are equally important. These programmes leverage our decades of ICT experience and expertise to help tackle ICT workforce challenges. We must ensure that digital skills evolve as quickly as industry opportunities. Mismatches and a glut of talent in a particular expertise must also be avoided. That is why the needs of the industry and the cultivation of talent need to be aligned. Hence, programmes such as the Huawei ICT Academy comes into play, which assists in empowering universities to cultivate ICT talent that meets industry requirements through advanced courseware and hands-on training. Digital leadership excellence While cultivating talent is crucial, equally important is the upskilling and cross-skilling of existing talent. Hailing the call from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during his closing address at the Malaysia ICT Summit organised by Huawei in September last year, Huawei Malaysia and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are embarking on a training programme for the C-suites and upper management across the public and private sectors to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest advancements in the ICT arena. Named ‘Digital Leadership Excellence’, the programme aims to empower change from the top down, targeting business leaders, senior managers and future digital leaders as trainees. The initial target number of trainees for the programme, which spans over three years, is 300 with 50 trained this year, followed by 100 the following year and 150 in 2026. The training will also encompass a one-month attachment stint with Huawei, a capstone presentation and a two-week industry visit to China. With sustainability and carbon neutrality an important focus and target for the nation, nurturing, training, upskilling and reskilling green talent should also be of utmost priority. That is why green tech will also be a part of the Digital Leadership Excellence programme syllabus. Huawei Malaysia also works with the Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) to train and develop local talents to support growth in the clean energy industry. These skills are required to build a sustainable and environmentally responsible future. Talents with a combination of these skills can address environmental concerns, decrease our environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious Malaysia. Huawei Malaysia, through the Huawei ASEAN Academy, has also pledged to train 50,000 ICT talents over the course of five years, beginning in 2020, with over 48,000 talents trained thus far. Inclusivity has always been a key factor for us and we also work with the Women Leadership Foundation to train the digital talent pool in the country and to help contribute towards the progress of the development of the women workforce and leadership. Interlinked Digital talents are the key enablers for digital readiness, ergo, the digital transformation of a nation. All these are interlinked. For example, ICT infrastructure is key to attracting as well as retaining digital talents. Without digital talents to develop applications, telecom infrastructure investments will be wasted. That is why the ecosystem is emphasised. The balance between the industry, government and academia are fluid and will continually be subject to change. The question will no longer be about the right talent with the right capabilities, but the right talent with the potential to learn new capabilities, be agile enough to adapt to new changes, be able to grow and be able to adapt to new scenarios continuously. What we need is a holistic digital talent system which not only caters to training, reskilling, cross-skilling and upskilling but also one that takes into account the needs of an ever-evolving industry. This can only be accomplished via a collaboration between industry-Government-academia for professional competence standards for digital talent to be drawn up that guide the development of academic and continuing education courses. Only then can we chart the paths and find the pilots to fly into our digital tomorrow.

In the dynamic landscape of the Malaysian construction industry, where challenges like rising building costs persist, the need for innovation has never been more urgent. A 2022 study by The Redha Property Industry highlighted an annual increase in building costs, emphasising the importance of exploring innovative solutions to accelerate construction time and ensure long-term sustainability. The importance of the construction industry in Malaysia The construction sector has proven durable in Malaysia’s economic landscape and withstood downturns in past years. An overview of this journey was shared in the Economic Outlook 2023 by the Malaysian Ministry of Finance, highlighting the industry’s capacity to overcome obstacles and come out stronger. This industry is a dynamic force that creates jobs and increases productivity. The construction sector showcased growth, boasting a 5.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2023, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). It also recorded a 6.2 per cent growth rate in the preceding quarter. These numbers signify the industry’s role in steering Malaysia’s economic momentum. Challenges faced by Malaysian main contractors Growth comes with challenges, and the construction industry in Malaysia is no exception. We need to understand some of the following challenges and look at how they can be improved through innovative technologies: Fluctuating raw material costs:  The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) highlights the constant flux in raw material costs. These costs, constituting a substantial portion of overall development costs up to 60 per cent of the gross development value (GDV), are a significant determinant of project viability. Land acquisition pressures:  The surge in demand for land, driven by a growing economy, poses a twofold challenge. Main contractors face increased landbank costs, and decisions on land acquisition are often based on future expectations rather than current circumstances. Accelerating construction time through innovation and technology The journey to accelerate construction time emerges as a strategy driven by the need to navigate challenges. This pursuit necessitates a shift towards adopting advanced technologies and streamlined construction practices, all aimed at amplifying productivity, cutting costs, and fortifying the overall development and growth of the industry. In an environment where construction expenses make up a substantial portion of overall development costs, completing projects at a swifter pace protects against potential cost increases during the construction phase. Looking beyond the nuts and bolts of construction, the acceleration of construction time plays a pivotal role in the broader context of efficiency improvement. This translates into a tangible advantage for developers – bringing projects to market faster. In an industry where timing can make or break success, the expeditious completion of projects equates to a competitive edge. Main contractors can capitalise on innovation. This aligns seamlessly with the ever-evolving demands of a dynamic market, where speed is synonymous with success. Despite the countless innovative solutions in the construction industry today, this article will narrow its focus to delve into the specific realm of construction elevators. The self-climbing elevator as a solution The self-climbing elevator emerges as an innovative solution. Construction projects grapple with external elevators, constantly dismantling and reinstalling as the building ascends. This not only leads to delays but disrupts the seamless flow of construction. Enter the self-climbing elevator with a temporary machine room that autonomously ascends within the building’s permanent elevator shaft as construction progresses. The innovation lies in its ability to ‘jump’ upwards, eliminating the need for constant adjustments that have long been a bottleneck in traditional construction practices. A hallmark of the self-climbing elevator is its contribution to accelerating construction timelines. With fewer external lifts required, main contractors can expedite the completion of building facades. Unlike external types, the elevator operates within the building, ensuring the safe transportation of people and materials in all weather conditions. This autonomy allows for scheduled jumps that harmonise with other construction activities, enhancing overall efficiency and expediting the construction schedule. KONE takes pride in presenting its own self-climbing elevator, known as JumpLift. With a focus on speed, smooth operation, safety, and cost-efficiency, the JumpLift stands as a beacon for a new era of construction methodologies. Instead of the standard speed of 0.5m per second, the JumpLift impresses with improved speed, reaching between 3.5m/s and 4m/s. This increased speed accelerates the vertical transportation of personnel and materials within the construction site. It also offers main contractors flexibility as it operates 24 hours a day. Its implementation aligns with local council regulations, effectively mitigating noise pollution during nighttime hours. Approved by local authorities, it is deemed efficient and safe, providing a dual assurance for project developers and stakeholders. KONE’s JumpLift has been used in key projects in Malaysia, such as the iconic Merdeka 118, where its innovative implementation facilitated a quicker handover for the main contractors, enabling them to achieve faster project handovers with efficiency and innovation. For main contractors, the elevator seamlessly complements and sometimes entirely replaces external hoisting systems, expediting the construction process. They will find that it accelerates the construction schedule, translating to faster returns on investment, lower interest payments, and various indirect cost savings. With JumpLift, less time is spent waiting, and workers no longer need to compete for space with building materials, revolutionising on-site logistics and enhancing the overall working environment. Time for a change To revolutionise the Malaysian construction industry, the time is right for main contractors to embrace smarter construction practices, exemplified by innovations like the self-climbing elevator, which leverages advanced technologies to transform traditional construction practices. Accelerating construction time requires swift adoption of advanced methods, efficient regulatory processes, and collaboration within the industry. By embracing innovation and efficiency, we can reshape how we build our homes, infrastructure, and communities. The story of the self-climbing elevator is not just about innovation but a narrative of progress, efficiency, and resilience in the face of industry challenges. As the construction industry in Malaysia evolves, adopting innovative solutions will be a defining factor in shaping a more sustainable future.