Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and Kintone Southeast Asia Sdn Bhd (Kintone) have teamed up to boost digital adoption among Malaysia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The duo said in a statement on Tuesday that they have previously exchanged a memoranda of understanding (MoU) to advance Sarawak’s digital economy, by leveraging cutting-edge technologies.

It aligned with Sarawak’s vision for a sustainable, circular economy, focused on technological innovation and responsible growth.

With a goal of helping Sarawak’s SMEs navigate digital transformation, SDEC and Kintone successfully co-hosted the inaugural SME Digital Transformation Seminar, held in Kuching, Sarawak on 18 February.

The seminar has marked a significant step toward advancing Sarawak’s digital transformation, intending to equip Sarawak’s SMEs with the tools, resources, and expert support necessary to grow their businesses.

It represents a critical step in helping these enterprises remain competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.

Sarawak, in particular, has garnered increasing attention for its digitalisation efforts, with the state government’s active efforts in building its digital infrastructure.

The collaboration between SDEC and Kintone aligns with the growing demand for accessible, adaptable solutions for local businesses and supports the vision outlined in the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.

It is noted that SMEs represent approximately 97 percent of all businesses in Malaysia, making them the backbone of the nation’s domestic economy.

“Kintone’s no-code platform is designed to simplify complicated workflow processes, allowing small and mid-sized level businesses of various industries including traditional sectors such as tourism, construction and retail, to build user-friendly custom applications that meet their business needs at a fraction of the cost,

“This removes the burden of expensive IT expenditures that most businesses struggle to keep up with,” said Tsubasa Nakazawa, Managing Director of Kintone Southeast Asia.

According to him, the firm’s ultimate goal is to help businesses of all sizes integrate this solution, ultimately transforming their operations and supporting scalable growth.

“Kintone currently serves over 37,000 customers globally, empowering businesses, government agencies, and communities to enhance productivity, collaboration, and efficiency,

“This initiative reflects our broader commitment to empowering SMEs across Sarawak, Borneo, and Malaysia as a whole,” he added.

According to the statement, the SDEC x Kintone seminar brought together high-level government officials, industry leaders, and business owners, to provide enterprises of all sizes with an opportunity to learn how digital tools can streamline operations and drive cost-efficient improvements, with no information technology (IT) qualifications required.

Attendees were presented with hands-on insights into how Kintone’s intuitive platform enables organizations to manage workflow and enhance collaboration at a manageable pace.

The event also provided ample networking opportunities for participants to connect and exchange insights.

With digital transformation playing an essential role in Sarawak’s evolving economy, this seminar has underlined a shared belief that technology should be an enabler.

Through practical demonstrations and expert-led discussions, participants witnessed firsthand how Kintone’s flexible platform can streamline workflows, reduce operational bottlenecks, and empower businesses to adapt to a rapidly digitizing world.

Kintone, established in March 2022, serves as Cybozu’s regional hub, promoting the Kintone platform across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

It is a customizable no-code workplace platform that centralizes data, tasks, and communication.

With over 1,000,000 custom applications deployed globally, it supports various functions, from customer relationship management (CRM) and project management to human resource (HR) and operations.

SDEC is a company wholly owned by the Government of Sarawak.

Under the Ministry of Finance and New Economy purview, SDEC is mandated to spearhead Sarawak’s digital economy initiatives and transform Sarawak into a Digital Economy Powerhouse.

Incorporated in January 2018 and operationalized in July 2020, its main objectives are to revolutionize Sarawak’s economy and industries as well as to spur socio-economic growth and advancement.

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