Global technology and business services council launched with OM Malaysia as founding member

• Providing critical support & “essential services” to various sectors including govts
• OM Malaysia as founding member testament to nation’s rising influence in GBS sector

In an industry first, an alliance of twelve major independent regional organisations representing the technology and business services sector across the world, launched the Global Technology and Business Services Council (GT&BSC) yesterday.

GT&BSC is currently represented across Bulgaria, the Balkans, Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States and Ukraine, where they collectively represent the interests of over 10,000 organisations, including multi-nationals, indigenous tech companies, SMEs, and startups involved in global business services (GBS) and outsourcing organisations.

The technology and business services sector played an integral in supporting businesses across the world as they addressed the challenges caused by Covid-19. They demonstrated remarkable agility, commitment and resilience in responding to the crisis; ensuring business continuity for global clients and prioritizing safety of all employees the past few months. The sector was central to the rapid deployment of work from home models and digital transformations, providing critical support and “essential services” to various sectors including governments through highly skilled professionals around the world.

Infact, in a response document produced by the GT&BSC, it was found that in Malaysia, over 70% of the sector’s employers are of the opinion that employees are more efficient and productive while working from home rather than in the office.

The global technology and business services industry delivers strategic value through a global ecosystem comprised of over 10 million highly skilled and talented workers, operating flexibly, transparently and collaboratively, utilising best practices to deliver thought leadership, technology-led transformation and continuous business improvements. It is recognised as a significant positive contributor to the global economy, and will be a major contributor to re-energising many economies worldwide.

Council members have expressed pride and happiness in how well the industry responded to the challenges presented by Covid-19, working tirelessly to ensure key services were delivered in adverse conditions, remodelling and reinventing business processes literally overnight.

The Council firmly believes that technology, collaboration and access to a global talent pool will be key to driving business and Governments out of the downturn and is delighted over this first ever global collaboration. It believes this will provide significant value to governments, industry members, customers and their employees around the world.

Cheah Kok Hoong (pic), chairman of OM, Malaysia said, “We are happy to be the founding members in the formation of GT&BSC. The coming together of the twelve various economies is timely especially during this time of the global pandemic. This collaboration will strengthen our efforts as a global response team to address the talent gaps of the sector while developing policies and best practices for the respective Governments.  This will definitely be of great value to the GBS sector at large.”

Hew Wee Choong, vice president of Investment Development, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) congratulated OM on the achievement. “The establishment of GT&BSC with OM Malaysia as one of the founding members is a testament to Malaysia’s rising influence in the global digital technology and business services space. As MDEC accelerates the development of the nation’s digital economy, we are excited to continue collaborating with OM to further grow and digitalise the GBS sector in Malaysia, creating more exciting job opportunities that will benefit both Malaysian and global talent in today’s digital world.”

The role and objectives of the Council include:

• Promote the industry globally, capturing and sharing the value it adds and the innovations it drives
• Advance industry growth
• Provide a global network to develop and share best practices
• Professionalise the industry, globally, and attract the best talent to work in it including cross border movement of highly skilled workforce
• Work collaboratively on global research programmes and thought leadership
• Represent the interests of the sector to stakeholders including Governments, the media and analysts
• Create a united global forum to develop and share new operating models and frameworks
• Promote the importance of impact sourcing and drive fairness throughout the global industry

Commencing immediately, the GT&BSC will launch a program of work, with steps including:

1. To conduct a global body of research to better understand the industry’s global state and prepare a report showing directions of further development.
2. To initiate discussions with all potential stakeholders including buyers, providers, governments and analysts to create a voice and point of view that drives change in an era of digital disruption and how we could work together in partnership to create a win-win scenario.
3. To continuously publish examples of technological acceleration enabling even stronger resilience to crisis situations and economic recovery.
4. To strongly promote the sector, its role in the global economy and the future opportunities it represents.

Founding members of GT&BSC (in alphabetical order)

ABSL, covering Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, The Balkans, The Baltics

AIBEST, Bulgaria

ASTRA, covering Russia and Belarus

BPESA, South Africa

GSA, United Kingdom

IAOP, United States

ITIDA, Egypt

ITUKRAINE, Ukraine

NASSCOM, India

OM MALAYSIA, Malaysia

SLASSCOM, Sri Lanka