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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Empowering Smart Enterprises: HashMicro's Role in Singapore's Digital Future
SINGAPORE, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore's digital economy is on track to contribute over 17% to GDP by 2025, with estimates placing its value at more than $30 billion, according to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). Supported by initiatives like Smart Nation, Digital Enterprise Blueprint, and CTO-as-a-Service, the country's digital push is accelerating across industries, driven by infrastructure readiness, policy clarity, and the business community's appetite for smarter, more connected systems. HashMicro real-time dashboard for increased company performance Yet even in one of the world's most digitally advanced nations, transformation isn't always straightforward. Many established companies, especially larger enterprises with legacy systems, grapple with change management, integration complexity, and operational continuity. As Singapore transitions toward a future led by intelligent, data-driven enterprises, success hinges on more than adopting new technology; it requires a well-rounded ecosystem where access, talent, regulation, and trust work in sync. This is the role HashMicro plays. As a homegrown enterprise software provider with strong roots in Southeast Asia, HashMicro is not only delivering powerful ERP solutions, but it's also helping shape the digital foundation on which smart enterprises can scale, adapt, and lead. The company's growth in Singapore and beyond is grounded in its commitment to building this ecosystem regionally. HashMicro's approach begins with access, ensuring technology is not just available, but usable and effective. Many large companies today still operate in silos, with separate systems for procurement, inventory, HR, and finance. HashMicro's ERP suite integrates these into one centralized platform, offering real-time visibility, custom automation, and modular flexibility. "We're not here to rip and replace," explains Lusiana Lu, Chief of Business Development at HashMicro. "We enhance existing processes, modernize workflows, and make it intuitive for teams to adapt." Beyond access, talent enablement is key. HashMicro believes that software doesn't drive transformation; people do. That's why the company invests heavily in internal training, client onboarding, and user education. Its consultants are trained to align technology with business outcomes, ensuring every deployment delivers practical impact. "Our goal isn't just to implement systems, it's to build digital confidence within organizations," Lusiana shares. The third piece is regulatory readiness. With Singapore's well-defined but evolving compliance landscape, enterprises need systems that are both agile and localized. From IRAS GST reporting to MOM payroll standards, HashMicro ensures that its platforms are always up to date with regulatory requirements. This level of localization not only reduces risk but also gives companies the clarity to expand confidently across borders. But above all, what sets HashMicro apart is its ability to build trust. In an era of tech fatigue and overpromised innovation, trust becomes the true catalyst for change. For HashMicro, that trust is built through reliability, partnership, and long-term commitment. "We've worked with enterprises across logistics, retail, construction, and manufacturing, many of them with complex setups and high compliance needs," Lusiana explains. "They don't just need software, they need a partner who understands their business inside out." HashMicro's success in Singapore is part of a broader mission to support smart enterprises across Asia. As it deepens its presence in markets like Indonesia, the Philippines, and beyond, its model remains consistent: build systems that make sense, invest in people, stay aligned with local needs, and deliver results clients can trust. By empowering businesses with seamless technology, guided onboarding, and localized intelligence, HashMicro is enabling enterprises not just to adopt digital tools but to thrive as leaders in the digital economy. In doing so, it's helping define what a smart enterprise truly looks like: agile, integrated, and future-ready.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NetGain Systems Launches Astra AI, the World's First Large Language Model Purpose-Built for IT Asset Observability and Management
Astra evolves how enterprises anticipate and resolve IT issues before they disrupt businesses and their complex digital infrastructures. Key Highlights NetGain Systems has launched Astra AI, the first Large Language Model (LLM) purpose-built for IT observability, delivering automation, anomaly detection, and predictive insights across complex digital infrastructure. Astra AI is starting with 500TB of domain-specific data from more than 20 years of enterprise IT environments New LLM addresses a fast-growing USD $4.1B observability market by helping enterprises detect and resolve infrastructure issues proactively Astra AI supports CIOs with intelligent, real-time insights while aligning with Singapore's Smart Nation and AI goals launched in November 2024. Inspired by the Southeast Asia-focused LLM initiative, NetGain shares its vision and is actively looking to contribute to advancing sovereign AI through enterprise-grade innovation. SINGAPORE, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NetGain Systems, a leading Singapore-based innovator in IT observability, has announced the release of Astra AI, the first-ever Large Language Model (LLM) specifically trained to enhance IT asset visibility and proactive infrastructure management. Built on more than 20 years of operational expertise, Astra AI delivers a new level of automation, context awareness, and performance insight for enterprise IT teams. Unlike general-purpose LLMs, Astra AI is engineered specifically for IT environments. It applies deep contextual learning to help operations teams detect anomalies, trace dependencies, and optimise system performance. Based on the LLama 4 architecture and fine-tuned in-house by NetGain Systems, Astra AI supports predictive analytics, real-time issue triage, and intelligent forecasting. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global observability tools market is expected to grow from USD $2.4 billion in 2023 to USD $4.1 billion by 2028, reflecting the increasing importance of intelligent monitoring. In Southeast Asia, digital transformation is accelerating. Business outages in the region cost an average of USD $2.5 million per hour – well above the global norm – highlighting the urgent need for proactive, AI-enabled observability tools. "Astra AI goes beyond conventional AI tools. It is a purpose-built system engineered to understand IT infrastructure with the depth and precision of a seasoned systems architect," said Toh Soon Seah, CTO and Founder of NetGain Systems. "It can trace dependencies, recognise system behaviours, anticipate failures, and provide actionable recommendations while ensuring that all client data remains private and secure." Astra AI processes structured and unstructured data including logs, metrics, configurations, and traces. It generates natural language responses tailored to enterprise-scale queries. Rather than relying on fixed alert thresholds, Astra AI continuously analyses environmental context to detect early signs of infrastructure stress or failure. Organisations can deploy Astra AI on premise for high-security requirements or in the cloud for scalability. The system is designed for speed and efficiency, delivering most analytical responses within 1–3 seconds. Even complex summaries across large datasets complete within minutes, maintaining usability across a wide range of enterprise applications. "Astra AI has significantly enhanced our operational capabilities," said Leo Tan, CTO of Trident Digital Tech Holdings. "This is what domain-specialised AI looks like in practice. It understands IT telemetry and infrastructure with the depth and intuition of a seasoned engineer. Astra AI's real-time analytics and insights enable more effective monitoring and management of our digital services." Astra AI is launched at a time when enterprises face the challenge of managing distributed, hybrid, and fragmented IT systems. This fragmentation complicates visibility, introduces new vulnerabilities, and makes root cause analysis increasingly difficult. As IT ecosystems continue to scale across on-premise, private cloud, and multi-cloud environments, IT operations teams are often overwhelmed by siloed alerts, inconsistent data formats, and a growing skills gap. They are in a reactive position that limits their ability to drive their businesses forward. Astra AI's deep contextual understanding helps bridge these silos by providing unified intelligence that correlates signals across the full IT stack. It empowers teams to move beyond reactive monitoring, shifting toward proactive management and continuous optimisation. By embedding this intelligence into everyday IT operations, Astra AI prevents downtime while strengthening overall system resilience and agility. Traditional monitoring tools lack the flexibility and intelligence to adapt to these dynamic environments. Astra AI's contextual learning engine fills this gap by delivering operational clarity and proactive risk mitigation, preventing disruption to businesses. NetGain Systems's product and technology development strategy aligns with Singapore's Smart Nation and AI goals. Astra AI was inspired by the government's Southeast Asia-focused LLM initiative and shares its vision to build sovereign, locally relevant AI that advances enterprise resilience. "This launch reinforces Singapore's potential to lead in applied AI for enterprise infrastructure," said Toh. "We built Astra AI to be the foundation for the next generation of AI-driven operations. It was designed here, for this region and globally, to meet the performance, security, and compliance needs of enterprises." NetGain Systems is actively engaging CIOs, technology executives, and managed service providers to participate in early-access pilots of Astra AI. Demonstrations will be tailored to each organisation's infrastructure and strategic goals. Please visit for more information. For interview and demo requests, please contact us. About NetGain SystemsFounded in 2002 and headquartered in Singapore, NetGain Systems is an innovative leader in AI Ops for IT, specializing in monitoring, observability, and infrastructure management. It fills a market need that has existed for years. It is the first company in the world to develop a LLM specifically designed for unified IT observability and security across entire enterprise infrastructures. The company's AIOps platform automates threat detection, predicts system failures via machine learning, and prevents downtime across hybrid cloud, IoT, and legacy IT environments. NetGain Systems' solutions comply with regional standards, including IMDA cybersecurity requirements, and are customised for diverse markets in Asia and globally. For more information, visit Trident Digital Tech Holdings Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization and Web 3.0 activation. Its flagship product, Tridentity, is a blockchain-based identity platform that is designed to deliver secure single-sign-on authentication across diverse industries. Trident's mission is to become a global leader in Web 3.0 enablement, connecting organizations to reliable and secure digital infrastructure with optimized user experiences, with a strong focus on Southern Africa and other high-growth more information, visit Media ContactKim SanPR ConsultantAxiom Forge PRPhone: +65 8266 7086Email: kimsan@ Isabelle PanMarketing ManagerNetGain SystemsEmail: isabelle@ Contact: 6815 8288 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NetGain Systems Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
S'pore shows what's possible when digital innovation is matched with purpose: Britain's Lammy
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Singapore has proven over generations that it is not size that determines success but strategic clarity, and this is true too of technology, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on July 12. 'Singapore has shown what's possible when digital innovation is matched with long-term thinking and national purpose,' said Mr Lammy, speaking at the Fullerton Hotel on 'Diplomacy in the Digital Age'. Mr Lammy, who was on a one-day official visit to the Republic, highlighted how Singapore set up a National Computerisation Committee as early as 1981. He also cited the launch of the whole-of-government Smart Nation initiativ e in 2014, followed by the launch of a National AI Strateg y in 2019. 'Each time, your leaders were ahead of the game. Each time there was a broader lesson,' said Mr Lammy, noting that Singapore did not get ahead by just throwing money at the private sector and hoping for the best. Instead, serious public capabilities were built through deep technical expertise within the government and investment in areas like compute and data infrastructure, such as Singpass, he added. 'Starting in this job, I said that Britain needed to do more listening and less lecturing. A huge part of my trip this week has been to listen and, I hope, learn lessons on how we can pursue a similarly long-term strategy embracing technology,' said Mr Lammy. The British Foreign Secretary said any vision for the world of tomorrow must include a specific focus on the intersection of AI and diplomacy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US slaps 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico; EU warns of countermeasures Singapore Casual racism should be tackled by getting more people to understand it is not acceptable: David Neo Singapore Pulling back the curtain: A backstage look at the 2025 NDP show segment Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore Body of 62-year-old man recovered from waters off East Coast Park Asia Aerobridge hits Qantas plane at Sydney Airport, damaging engine, delaying flight He acknowledged this was not yet a staple of foreign ministry and foreign ministers' discussions in his experience. 'But I believe that unless we lift our heads above the rat-race of crises and summits and examine the longer term trends reshaping our world, we will be boiled like the proverbial frog,' he asserted. Mr Lammy posited that AI was not just the next rung in the technological ladder, but would deliver a paradigm shift in the distribution and exercise of power. 'It will redefine how nations project influence, how threats emerge and how we defend ourselves. It will, therefore, transform how diplomacy is conducted,' he said in his speech. He underlined that AI would not solve all foreign policy issues, as it could not eliminate risk, nor remove the need for human judgment and the ability of people to build relationships based on trust. Nevertheless, he argued that diplomacy in 2025 needs machine speed and a human touch, which would help leaders make better decisions amid rising uncertainty. 'These capabilities are not science fiction. They are already being employed,' pointed out Mr Lammy, highlighting the DARPA and KAIROS projects in the United States that simulate complex political developments and anticipate conflict escalation, as well as the use of predictive analytics by Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry to flag risks to critical supply chains. 'The question before us is not whether AI will shape foreign policy. It is who will shape it, and how,' he said. Given that outside of the US and China, no country had the scale to deliver all the capabilities that decision-makers worldwide need independently, Mr Lammy said the need of the hour was more collaboration and more AI diplomacy within a perimeter of values. 'I want partners such as Britain and Singapore to align standards, share tools and develop models that reflect our shared principles,' he said, while also drawing attention to Britain's other partnerships with the US, the European Union and India. Mr Lammy concluded his speech by reiterating that Singapore had shown the world the power of long-term thinking and the importance of a vision, and expressed hope that the same approach could be used to break down the silos between foreign policy and technology. 'We live in a volatile world. Technology is reshaping our societies, making power more diffuse,' said Mr Lammy. 'Nations like Britain and Singapore need to equip ourselves with the tools to navigate these shifts and that means fusing AI and diplomacy, focusing on a long view of change and doubling down on our shared interests.' Mr Lammy's first visit to Singapore as foreign secretary 'reaffirms the substantive and longstanding relationship' between the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a press statement. During the course of the day, Mr Lammy paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, who affirmed the strong and multifaceted relationship between Singapore and Britain. This includes cooperation in areas like trade and investment, defence and security, and science and technology, MFA said. They also discussed developments in the UK, and exchanged views on geopolitical issues, including trade and the situation in the Middle East. Mr Lammy was hosted to lunch by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, during which the two leaders reaffirmed the close and longstanding ties shared by Singapore and the UK, which celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. The duo discussed ways to strengthen UK-Singapore bilateral cooperation in areas like trade and investment, AI and innovation. Dr Balakrishnan welcomed Mr Lammy's stated intent for Britain to step up its engagement with Asean, and the ministers also exchanged views on international and regional developments. They also reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to uphold and strengthen international law and the multilateral trading system. Mr Lammy also met Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is Minister for Trade and Industry and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. DPM Gan welcomed the UK's investment of £70 million (S$ 121 million) in Singapore's Financing Asia's Transition Partnership (FAST-P) initiative earlier this year, which is aimed at supporting green and transition financing in the region.
Malaysian Reserve
10-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
BDx Data Centers Launches Southeast Asia's First Hybrid Quantum AI Testbed in Singapore
BDx signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Anyon Technologies to deploy Southeast Asia's first hybrid quantum computer at its flagship SIN1 data center in Paya Lebar, Singapore. Regional 'AI Testbed' aims to support government agencies, enterprises, and start-ups in advancing AI-quantum innovation Initiative aligns with Singapore's Green 2030 and Smart Nation strategies by integrating next-gen computing with sustainable infrastructure. SINGAPORE, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BDx Data Centers ('BDx'), a leading carrier-neutral data center platform in Asia, has launched Southeast Asia's first hybrid quantum AI testbed in collaboration with Anyon Technologies, a global leader in large-scale quantum computing systems. The MoU signing today formalized the collaboration, paving the way for the deployment of the region's first hybrid quantum computer at BDx's flagship SIN1 facility in Paya Lebar, Singapore. This groundbreaking initiative will enable startups, enterprises, and government agencies to explore quantum-enhanced AI applications. Designed to support Singapore's Green 2030 and Smart Nation objectives, the testbed integrates Anyon's quantum computing system with SIN1's cutting-edge infrastructure. 'Staying ahead of the curve has always been part of our DNA at BDx,' said Mayank Srivastava, CEO of BDx. 'Our journey, from deploying the most advanced NVIDIA GPUs across the region to now integrating quantum computing into our data center, reflects our commitment to not just keeping pace with innovation but shaping its future. Together, we are building an open platform that creates new opportunities to unlock the transformative potential of quantum computing.' 'A modern computer today is essentially a whole data center. Deploying a state-of-the-art hybrid quantum computing system at BDx's SIN1 facility marks a transformative step in modern computing infrastructure,' said Dr Jie (Roger) Luo, President and CEO of Anyon Technologies. 'By integrating QPUs (Quantum Processing Units) with CPUs (Central Processing Units) and GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), we're enabling breakthroughs in quantum algorithms and applications. This lowers adoption barriers for enterprise customers, like financial institutions in Singapore, to onboard talent and create real, differentiating business value.' Accelerating AI and Quantum Innovation in Singapore and Beyond BDx's SIN1 facility will serve as a cross-regional AI Hub and Innovation Center, dedicated to supporting high-growth AI startups and government-led innovation initiatives. To accelerate AI adoption across Southeast Asia, BDx is providing dedicated access to its AI-ready infrastructure, enabling companies and startups to experiment with transformative technologies. By building an open and scalable platform, BDx aims to drive real-world impact across AI, research, and enterprise applications. 'Operators in Asia have a critical role in building the ecosystem needed to accelerate AI adoption within the region. Singapore is a global innovation hub and an ideal environment for our AI testbed – we're providing developers with the tools to experiment, prototype, and scale their ideas efficiently,' added Srivastava. SIN1 also sets a sustainability benchmark, with a 20% boost in energy efficiency, achieved through advanced cooling and smart automation. It features Singapore's first AI-powered digital twin, optimizing energy and performance in real time, and is compliant with Singapore's Green Data Center Standards. Looking forward, BDx and Anyon plan to expand this hybrid quantum model across key markets in Asia, including Indonesia, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan region, creating a region-wide network of quantum-enabled data centers.
Independent Singapore
09-07-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Cash still holds a place in Singapore amid cashless shift
SINGAPORE: Sections of Singapore society are still holding on to cash amid a broad shift towards a cashless society as part of the Smart Nation vision. This is changing how transactions happen. Mobile apps like DBS PayLah!, GrabPay, and NETS, plus contactless cards and PayNow, have made digital payments easy. And alternatives like XAPO which allow users to directly pay from Bitcoin. Research firm Research and Markets predicts that Singapore's prepaid card and digital wallet market was worth S$12.37 billion (US$9.66 billion) in 2024. This is set to reach S$19.86 billion (US$15.51 billion) by 2029. However, despite Singapore's growth in digital payments, a week-long cash-only experiment by CNA in June 2025 shows the strong presence of cashless systems while also highlighting the ongoing need for cash. And it also raises questions about the costs and benefits of the digital shift. The advantages of going cashless are clear. Transactions are fast, saving Singaporeans the trouble of carrying cash or counting change in a busy city. Digital payments permit accurate financial tracking, with tools like DBS NAV Planner providing insights into spending habits. Government support via the Smart Nation scheme and widespread tools like PayNow amplify the benefits of going cashless. Singapore's efficient infrastructure and tech-savvy population make convenience, cost savings, and efficiency particularly impactful. Businesses and the government also save a lot of money. In 2016, KPMG estimated that cash and cheque handling cost Singapore S$2 billion each year. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) reports e-payments doubled from S$627 billion in 2018 to S$1.25 trillion in 2023, showing efficiency gains. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this. Businesses like Decathlon (cashless since June 2020, offering 15 payment options) and 39 Starbucks outlets are going entirely cashless to reduce contact and simplify operations. Environmentally? Fewer banknotes decrease the ecological cost of printing and disposing of currency. However, the cash-only experiment revealed some challenges. Higher bus fares (S$1.90 compared to S$1.19 for cards) and MRT's card-only payment systems exposed the inefficiencies of cash. Long lines at cash counters at Don Don Donki contrasted with quick digital self-checkouts. Singapore's small businesses must also deal with payment processor fees that cut into profits. Meanwhile, cross-border digital transactions can result in delays and higher costs. Accessibility is another major issue—elderly citizens, low-income groups, and tourists often depend on cash. A survey by CNA at 50 shops at Parkway Parade and 42 hawker stalls found most still accept cash. Other small businesses remain cash-only because the owners are not familiar with technology. Security and privacy risks are also signs of concern. While Singapore's digital infrastructure is strong, the rise of online scams reveals vulnerabilities. Digital payments can reduce anonymity, unlike cash. Another challenge is technological dependence and financial inclusion of at-risk groups. A system outage like what DBS payment channels went through in 2023 can disrupt transactions. This is despite MAS requiring banks to ensure systems recover within four hours. A balanced approach is required that leverages Singapore's strengths while tackling weaknesses to maximise the benefits. This ensures an inclusive cashless future. The most practical way forward? Maintaining support for both cash and digital payments in daily life.
