HeiTechPaduBerhad: The Stalwarts Of Digital Transformation

Abdul Halim MdLassim, Executive Vice President (EVP)

As an ace in the global IT systems and technology services market, HeiTechPaduBerhad (HeiTech) has specialized in developing innovative and integrated information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure solutions based on reliable, secure, cost-effective and customer-driven technology. With an impressive track record of fulfilling high volume and mission-critical projects for governments as well as commercial industries over the last two decades, the company has carved out a niche in mainframe-based skillset. Talking about mainframes, how can one forget about the IBM zEnterprise mainframe—one of the most powerful mainframes with high-performance microprocessors. Being an IBM premium partner for system Z, HeiTech offers services for application development and system integration with end-to-end support for the mainframe system.

“We have observed that the most common challenge that customers face is the selection of the right technology to suit their environment,” says Abdul Halim MdLassim, EVP of HeiTech. The technology selection has to be right so that the organization can fully harness its potential and financial investment to address its business and operational issues. At the same time, it is essential to maintain the system by a good mix of internal and external support, while empowering the internal resources in a way that they are capable of managing the system without depending on external parties. For mission-critical systems, this is quite a balancing act which has been perfected by HeiTech through its years of experience with IBM. “IBM empowers its partners to effectively manage the engagement from the initial point until project completion with its comprehensive programs based on its solutions, which ensure the highest level of reliability and availability for the customers’ business operation.” Together with IBM, HeiTech has created a synergy to ensure that customers enjoy the best that both companies can offer.

Implementing ICT Infrastructure Made Easy

As a customer-centric organization, it is of paramount importance for HeiTech’s engagement team to understand the customer, its business, its culture, its pains, its desires. “From here, we chart not only the technological journey but also the operational one to derive the maximum benefits from the implemented systems,” says MdLassim. Together with IBM and the customer, HeiTech plans, analyzes, designs, implements necessary actions and programs to ensure the successful implementation of the system. All of these efforts are guided by world-class standards and HeiTech experts trained in Project Management (PMBok), Application Development (Unified Process Framework), Test Management (TMMI), who craft the necessary solution to the problem.

HeiTech’s core capabilities, ICT infrastructure solutions comprise managed services for data centers, cloud computing, security, and networks. The company’s rich experience in operating Tier-IV ready data center helps in offering stellar services to develop, build, and manage data center facilities. The managed data center services are further branched into infra-development management services (IDMS), data center management services (DCMS), and business recovery management services (BRMS). The IDMS encompasses designing, building, operating, and maintaining the data center facilities while offering DC migration and relocation services as well as providing DC space rental and alternate sites for production DC.

To stay ahead of the curve, we have invested in various hardware and software such as ibm mainframe, enterprise storage, network equipment, enterprise servers, backup, and virtualization software

With DCMS, HeiTech focuses on providing operational and technical consultancy, thus enabling clients to utilize their time and resources for other crucial business purposes. The company offers facility management services to manage various data center operations such as console and change management. Through its technical consultancy services, HeiTech handles numerous solutions across an array of operating systems, database storage, system automation, and online teleprocessing. In case of downtime or data loss, HeiTech’s BRMS implements business continuity plan (BCP), disaster recovery plan (DRP), or any other necessary recovery solution to minimize revenue impacts or losses. With BRMS’ fully integrated and customized backup solution, clients can ensure business continuity with logical and physical security.

HeiTech’s cloud computing services include infrastructure, disaster recovery, back-up, platform, software, and security operations center offered “as a service” to its clients. The company provides flexible cloud computing services tailored to a client’s business requirement from building a private cloud, hosting cloud infrastructure to managing shared cloud services. “Our cloud computing services streamline clients’ budgets, saving on capital expenditure, hardware-software operations, and maintenance expenses,” explains MdLassim.

The company also takes care of the network through its managed network services that support multi-protocol applications. Since the company’s network infrastructure consists of multiple telecommunication carriers, HeiTech can offer exceptional operational and network connectivity to clients.

HeiTech has significantly created greater efficiency in its network facilities by the consolidation of their network nodes nationwide to reduce the cost of operations while servicing customers. All customers’ circuits involved in node optimization activities are relocated/upgraded to Core Nodes on Metro E connectivity from leased lines. “With this initiative, we have managed to reduce operational cost by 10 percent on an annual basis, eliminate inefficient node investment, and most importantly save energy.”

"Our solutions are driven by customer focus to improve customer experience (cx) leveraging digitalization and digitization (dx) based technologies"

From a security standpoint, the company offers managed security services including vulnerability, intelligent threat as well as compliance management and consultancy. “We provide nationwide support for security services like anti-virus deployment and maintenance support,” says MdLassim.

Upgrading these solutions and services with the latest technological developments, HeiTech is considering to implement IBM Cloud Private (ICP) for cloud-based solutions and IBM QRadar for the security information and event management (SIEM) solution. “IBM’s latest zEnterprise mainframe server is a fitting platform for social, mobile, analytics, and cloud (SMAC) solutions, running on Linux as well as a traditional z/OS,” elaborates MdLassim. Also, HeiTech is now exploring ways to run its cloud services on a z/Linux platform and come up with cost-effective solutions that ensure reliability, accessibility, and security of clients. “To stay ahead of the curve, we have invested in various hardware and software such as IBM mainframe, enterprise storage, network equipment, enterprise servers, backup, and virtualization software.”

Interestingly, the company has also established its own Center of Excellence (CoE) for a data center that specializes in technology evaluation on the smart data center, hyper-converged infrastructure, database platform, information management, and protection. Similarly, the CoE also focuses on cloud computing, security and network services.

The Winning Combination for Digital Transformation

Exemplifying the efficacy of HeiTech’s offerings is the Linux One solution that was used to replace the UNIX server for a client’s core banking platform. As a result, the total cost of ownership (TCO) reduced and the performance improved by up to five times. Similarly, the company has also worked with the Malaysian Road Transport Department (RTD) that manages more than 28 million vehicles and 14 million licensed drivers. The combined synergies of HeiTech and IBM implemented a system to meet the RTD’s business needs and operational requirements. The system enabled the RTD to cope with the projected annual increase of more than 1 million cars and 500,000 drivers. “We have improved customer touch point for them with the faster turnaround time for their business transactions that can be done through omnichannel means such as mobile apps and portals and kiosks.”

From revamping the way a government serves its people in modifying the approach of organizations in fulfilling their customers’ needs, HeiTech has played an instrumental role in transforming industries nationally as well as globally. “Our solutions are driven by customer focus to improve customer experience (CX) leveraging digitization based technologies,” says MdLassim. Needless to say, such achievements have powered the company’s journey to become a global leader in the ICT world. The awards it has won including IBM Transformation Award for the enterprise cloud platform, Frost and Sullivan 2018 Malaysia IT Infrastructure Services Competitive Strategy, Innovation and Leadership Award, Top Silver Partner and Commercial Partner of the Year, can further highlight the HeiTech’s success. HeiTech has also been featured in this same magazine for 25 Most Promising Disaster Recovery Service Providers in 2016.

The innovative suite of solutions and services has earned HeiTech a number of ISO and other certifications. However, the key differentiating factor for the company is its infrastructure comprising data center and disaster recovery facilities, cloud hosting services, network nodes, call centers, and regional support centers. “We focus on three key factors for our business—technology, people, and process,” remarks MdLassim. The company is always on a lookout for latest cutting-edge technology to bring value to customers and invest in staff competency development through certified training. “We are always looking forward to maximizing the value of human capital to align with the company objectives, values, strategies and the needs of all stakeholders.”

By leveraging its top-notch and up-to-date infrastructure based services, HeiTech aspires to become the frontrunner in the digital transformation (DX) space. “We have set up a specialized unit looking into DX-related solutions, whereby we are doing R&D for few use cases with regards to DX solutions,” comments MdLassim on the company’s future plans. Marching further toward the goal of leading the DX market, the company has started undertaking projects ranging from mobile app development and internet of things (IoT) to the blockchain, analytics, and business intelligence. HeiTech has developed a big data and analytics platform named OrchestraX, which can be further developed for BI, IoT and Blockchain solutions. Along with its strategic partners, the company is well poised to expand geographically.