Business

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) is a leading provider of marine transport systems, headquartered in Japan. The organisation recognised that it needed to strengthen its governance structure for managing its information and communications technology (ICT) across its group of companies to achieve its ambition of becoming a global social infrastructure provider by 2035. MOL selected Deloitte SEA to help it find a solution.

Our engagement team devised a multi-phase project plan to enhance MOL’s ICT governance and help the organisation achieve better alignment between its IT functions and the wider business.

Since the project’s inception in August 2022, Deloitte and MOL have completed three project phases and achieved numerous milestones. These include designing a group-wide ICT governance structure, defining roles and responsibilities, creating a standard operating model, developing an ICT talent management scheme with KPIs and specifying functionalities for each ICT governance area.

Deloitte and MOL are now embarking on a fourth project phase that builds on previous milestones. This will focus on preparing and testing MOL’s new ICT policies and systems with its major companies in Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania. Our engagement team is setting up an ICT governance office to oversee areas including ICT strategy and budget, as well as manage data, applications, infrastructure and cybersecurity risks.

‘A robust ICT governance approach must align IT and business priorities. Leveraging our track record and expertise, we support clients in designing every step of such an approach, from governance design to digital solution implementation. That way, organisations can ensure IT evolves with business needs and delivers sustained value,’ said Takeshi Kimoto, Technology & Transformation Partner, Deloitte SEA.

When leading Thailand-based telecommunications provider Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS) decided to modernise its enterprise resource planning (ERP) application system, it turned to Deloitte SEA for support.

AIS wanted to implement the cutting-edge SAP S/4HANA ERP application suite to replace its legacy systems while also moving to cloud technology for greater efficiency. It wanted our help to ensure that the move would be seamless and disruption-free.

Our engagement with AIS began in November 2023. When completed, the SAP S/4HANA implementation will combine the ERP systems of AIS group and its subsidiaries CS LOXINFO Public Company Limited (CSL) and Teleinfo Media Public Company Limited (TMC) into one integrated platform.

Our team is supporting AIS in integrating core financial accounting and controlling modules into the new platform, along with merchandising and retail modules. We have adopted a ‘fit-to-standard’ planning approach to create an optimal solution for AIS and SAP’s Clean Core concept to future-proof the implementation. At the same time, we are introducing business improvements across the AIS group to enhance its business agility and efficiency.

Looking ahead, we will introduce a franchising model so AIS can centralise its master data management and merchandising systems. In addition, the project aims to reduce operational costs by increasing inventory visibility and transparency across AIS’ distribution centres, web stores and physical stores.

Deloitte SEA’s strong relationship with AIS and the SAP team competency were significant factors in this award. It underscores Deloitte’s position as a leading SAP implementer across Southeast Asia, including the telecommunications sector.

At Deloitte SEA, we work closely with our clients to solve their multifaceted challenges. As part of this approach, we provided Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) with detailed recommendations for optimising and futureproofing its organisational design.

PHE is an upstream subholding entity of Pertamina, Indonesia’s national oil and natural gas company. Our engagement – built on Deloitte’s longstanding relationship with both Pertamina and PHE – was completed in March 2024.

Our engagement team’s goal was to help PHE better align the organisational structures and value drivers of its regional subsidiaries. With each subsidiary, we focused on both core and non-core business functions, covering exploration, development, commercial and business development. Key recommendations included strengthening regional organisational structures to further enhance intra- and cross-regional collaboration and unleash synergies in data analysis and operational activities.

We also conducted a productivity analysis for PHE to determine its future workforce requirements. This gave us a framework to assess the impact that various scenarios and variables could have on future revenue and operational asset ratios.

In addition, we conducted a mapping exercise to define accountabilities and identify decision-making overlaps. This helped PHE clarify roles and responsibilities for corporate functions such as HR, IT, Finance and Audit between its headquarters and its regional subsidiaries.

‘Drawing on functional insights, industry expertise and best-in-class organisation design principles, we help our clients attain new strategic alignment. Our solutions also build in agility, so clients can continue delivering impact and value in the future – even in an ever-changing environment,’ said Hesty Setianingrum, Technology & Transformation Partner, Deloitte SEA.

Deloitte SEA is assisting a leading automotive manufacturer in the Philippines to adopt a more human-centric learning and development approach. By realigning the automaker’s talent development curriculum with the learning behaviours of modern employees, we are helping to create new role-based learning workflows that are more effective and relevant.

Our engagement began by defining employee personas and developing tailored learning pathways across the entire employee life cycle, from onboarding to performance development. Each learning journey integrates self-assessments, virtual and face-to-face instructor-led training sessions and computer-based modules.

We also crafted a learning evaluation framework to measure the success of our updated talent development programme. User feedback has been positive, with most rating the new tools as engaging, interactive, and conducive to retaining information.

Currently, we are collaborating with the client’s HR team on the next phase of implementation. This will see us launch additional e-learning modules and migrate training materials to a unified learning management system which will serve as the central repository for all learning content.

Deloitte secured this project thanks to our proven track record in human capital projects across Southeast Asia. We also bring a recognised human-centric approach to talent engagement and deep industry knowledge, which ensures we can apply any client’s learning strategy to sector-specific opportunities and challenges.

September 2023 saw Deloitte appointed by a leading Indonesian telecommunications provider to embed ‘privacy by design’ principles across its organisation. That way, the organisation could ensure compliance with Indonesia’s new personal data protection law, which came into force in October 2024.

A privacy-by-design approach ensures compliance with regulations from the outset, reducing legal risks and enhancing customer trust. It integrates privacy into key systems and processes, improving data security and operational efficiency, and ultimately fostering a competitive advantage through responsible data management and protection.

Drawing on this approach, Deloitte's interdisciplinary team developed a multifaceted data privacy strategy for the organisation. The process started by assessing current practices and identifying gaps.

Our team then went on to craft policies for data protection, cross-border data transfers, third-party risk management and breach management, while designing a data protection officer role and conducting employee training.

Additionally, we integrated data security considerations and recommended technology enhancements to strengthen both data privacy and security within the organisation’s business operations.

In another significant win, Deloitte was appointed by a leading Indonesian bank to implement a unified Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution. With organisations facing increased cybersecurity threats due to the proliferation of user identities and access points, the bank sought Deloitte’s help to strengthen its cybersecurity approach.

In response, our engagement team has built a scalable platform that will streamline IAM operations, improve efficiency, and enhance security through advanced authentication and scalable integration.

Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), a non-profit organisation established by Toyota Motor Corporation, wanted to develop a sustainable way to address mobility issues in the town of Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, using data-driven, electrified transport solutions.

TMF worked with the Deloitte Future of Mobility Solution Centre to develop two solutions and trial them in Ubud with the support of the Provincial Government of Bali’s Transport Department, in a project called the ‘Sustainable Mobility Advancing Real Transformation (SMART) @Ubud Program.’

Our first solution involved deploying five battery electric vehicles and five hybrid electric vehicles to run a connected, on-demand shuttle service in central Ubud. The service's stops were within a 10-minute walk of key tourist destinations and popular sites.

Our second solution involved installing nine digital display monitors at high-traffic bus stops on Ubud’s Trans Metro Dewata route to provide real-time bus schedules. The aim here was to enhance commuter convenience and connectivity, particularly when used in conjunction with the on-demand shuttle service.

The SMART@Ubud Program trial ran from September 2023 to May 2024. It served 20,000 customers with high satisfaction rates (4.8/5.0) for the on-demand shuttle service. Our real-time schedule displays also improved journey planning and connectivity, with positive feedback suggesting increased usage of both transport options.

TMF and Deloitte have subsequently refined both models based on community feedback.

‘This programme is a truly collaborative effort to address mobility needs in the community, bringing in sustainable innovations to make an impact that matters. As a committed partner of TMF, we look forward to taking the learnings gathered from this programme to help us address mobility issues in other locations,’ said Yasuyuki Murakami, Partner with the Deloitte Future of Mobility Solution Centre in SEA.

Deloitte supported the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) in developing an online sustainability playbook to guide hotels as they embark on the industry’s sustainability roadmap.

Co-created by SHA and the Singapore Tourism Board, the roadmap suggests ways the hotel industry can improve its sustainability performance in core areas such as water conservation, energy conservation, waste management, recycling, and the circular economy, as well as sustainable sourcing and procurement. It also encourages hotels to work towards the industry’s dual targets of achieving internationally recognised certification and tracking emissions.

Deloitte's Sustainability & Climate team worked with SHA to develop the playbook as an innovative interactive microsite to enhance ease of navigation and allow for seamless updating. We focused on providing a set of concrete steps, as well as local and global best practices, which hotel players in Singapore could consider adopting to enhance their performance in each of the roadmap’s core areas.

Our team’s activities included research, user flow documentation and prototype development, culminating in a collaborative deployment with developers and a successful playbook launch in October 2023.

‘Key success factors in this engagement included Deloitte's multidisciplinary sustainability and climate expertise, proven track record in the hospitality sector and access to global best practices,’ said Josette Soh, Sustainability & Climate Assurance Partner at Deloitte Singapore.

Deloitte’s Center for the Edge Southeast Asia is a trusted advisor to business leaders. It focuses on the region’s disruptive ‘edges’, including radical technologies, promising start-ups and innovative business models poised to reshape industries.

In FY24, the Center demonstrated its expertise in finance, HR transformation and digital technology together with Oracle, a Deloitte alliance partner for more than 25 years. The Center presented a framework on the value of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) at Oracle Executive Connect events in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Our presentation covered key areas such as talent acquisition, technical infrastructure, risk management and governance. Attendees were offered a clear roadmap to integrate Gen AI into their operations.

Duleesha Kulasooriya, Managing Director, Deloitte Center for the Edge Southeast Asia, also participated in a panel discussion with experts from Oracle and the National University of Singapore on strategies to future-proof digital transformation. Chief information officers from leading organisations in Singapore attended this session.

Additionally, the Center’s thought leadership was featured at the Oracle CloudWorld Tour Singapore 2024. Here, Michelle Khoo, Director, Deloitte Center for the Edge Southeast Asia, spoke about how businesses can innovate with Gen AI to stay ahead of technological disruption.

Duleesha also took part in Oracle’s joint analyst and media briefing, discussing AI’s transformative potential along with key trends and challenges.

‘Together with like-minded organisations like Oracle, we bring to the fore conversations on emerging technologies such as Gen AI. Through an exchange of multidisciplinary perspectives, we explore new possibilities for businesses to navigate the complexities of digital transformation with confidence,’ said Duleesha.

Deloitte SEA’s SheXO Program supports the personal and professional development of established, emerging or aspiring women leaders. By championing diversity and inclusion, we seek to create a supportive environment for women leaders to be inspired, grow, connect and drive meaningful change in their communities.

In July 2023, the Deloitte Singapore chapter of the programme launched its Women in STEM Network, a community dedicated to empowering and championing gender diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board, shared her personal journey in a keynote speech at the launch, emphasising the importance of inclusivity in male-dominated STEM fields.

Other highlights included a panel discussion on ‘Advancing Gender Diversity in STEM’, where a range of expert panellists shared their experiences and highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive environment for all.

Deloitte Singapore hosted the second edition of its Board Symposium on 31 October 2023. Part of Deloitte’s Global Boardroom Program, the symposium aims to bring together industry and corporate governance leaders to promote discussion around critical issues in boardrooms and beyond.

Our 2023 event featured a series of panel discussions and presentations, headlined by a distinguished line-up of speakers and experts from the deep tech, sustainability and energy sectors in Singapore. Over 50 chairpersons, board directors, senior executives and Deloitte leaders gathered to hear the presentations and discuss critical issues such as the transition to net zero and the ‘green skills’ required for organisations to transition towards a more sustainable world.

Participants also explored the implications of AI for the future of business. They shared insights on how organisations can draw on AI tools to develop resilience and stay ahead of the curve in today’s unpredictable operating environment.

The Board-Ready Women (BRW) Program is an invitation-only initiative for women in senior leadership roles. It seeks to prepare senior women leaders for board service and addresses board readiness topics and current issues on board agendas. Participants also benefit from contact with experienced board members who share their personal board journeys. Cohort sizes are kept small to facilitate networking and learning in a safe and intimate space.

From September to November 2023, Deloitte Malaysia held the inaugural run of its Board-Ready Women Program, built in partnership with Boardroom Malaysia, the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) and the 30% Club Malaysia.

The initiative welcomed its first cohort of 26 aspiring female board members from public and private organisations in various industries. Over two months, four interactive modules covered key areas of governance, personal attributes, live boardroom simulation, and leadership qualities.

From February to May 2024, Deloitte Singapore held the sixth run of its BRW Program. Thirty-one senior women executives from different sectors and companies participated this year, marking the largest cohort since the program’s inception in 2016.

During the graduation ceremony, program alumni and partners were invited to celebrate the cohort’s graduation and reconnect with peers and friends.

In her opening address, Seah Gek Choo, Deloitte Southeast Asia and Singapore Boardroom Program Leader, emphasised the importance of board diversity and Deloitte’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in boardrooms.

Deloitte SEA had the privilege of curating the agenda for the 2024 DA Finance Forum, hosted by Darussalam Assets (DA), the company overseeing Brunei’s government-linked enterprises.

The forum brought executives from DA together with CEOs and CFOs from its portfolio companies to discuss how transformation, technology and talent can propel Brunei’s business ecosystem into a thriving future.

The day opened with a welcome address by Hajah Rahayu Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Razak, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at DA. This was followed by a presentation on Deloitte’s SEA CFO Agenda: Decoding the CFO’s Trilemma report by Ho Kok Yong, CFO Program Leader at Deloitte SEA. He outlined the challenges SEA CFOs face today – from navigating volatility to fostering long-term value creation and enhancing transformative capabilities.

Timothy Ho, Finance Transformation Leader at Deloitte SEA, then discussed the synergy between financial transformation and the future of work. He emphasised the pivotal role of CFOs in the era of digital finance and AI.

Another highlight was the panel discussion entitled Charting the CXO Path in the Digital Finance Era. This featured Shahrildin Jaya, CEO and Cornelius Yee, CFO, at Takaful Brunei, Desmond Lim, CEO at Armada Properties and Josette Soh, Sustainability & Climate Assurance Partner at Deloitte Singapore. The panellists explored the role of leadership in driving transformation.

The forum concluded with a Q&A session and closing remarks from Joyce Chua, Senior Finance and Accounting Manager at DA.

January 2024 saw Deloitte Malaysia proudly add its name to a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on Kuala Lumpur’s MRT Kajang line, which serves more than 220,000 riders daily.

The TTDI Deloitte MRT station is a vital nexus on the Kajang line, which connects people and businesses across Greater Kuala Lumpur’s Klang Valley to the Taman Tan Dr Ismail (TTDI) township. The station also serves many Deloitte employees who commute to work via the MRT.

The MRT station’s official name-unveiling event featured prominent attendees, including Transport Minister YB Tuan Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim, CEO of MRT Corp and Mohd Shahreza Maswan, Director of Land Management & Activation, MRT Corp. Also in attendance were Yee Wing Peng, Country Managing Partner of Deloitte Malaysia, and Philip Yuen, Chair of Deloitte SEA.

The initiative is part of MRT Corp’s Station Naming Rights programme, which offers corporations an opportunity to sponsor MRT stations, supporting public infrastructure maintenance and service delivery.

‘This collaboration with MRT Corp goes deeper than just our name on a station – it’s about building a community in TTDI and contributing to a sustainable and robust public transportation system. Deloitte is very proud to be a part of the TTDI community and we are constantly looking for ways to give back,’ said Yee Wing Peng, Country Managing Partner, Deloitte Malaysia.