KPMG conference focuses on helping businesses in disruptive times
KPMG held its 2017 ASPAC Partners’ Conference in Bangkok this week, attended by over 300 ASPAC partners from 12 countries.
The gathering reflects the importance of the Asia-Pacific market and specifically Asean for KPMG. The conference focused on strategies to help steer businesses in Asia Pacific through digital disruption and transformation, the company said.
The pace and degree of disruption on businesses are greater than ever. According to KPMG’s 2017 Global CEO Outlook survey, 83 per cent of CEOs in Asean say their business is aiming to be the disruptor in their sector while 92 per cent believe disruption can have a positive effect on their business.
In addition, 88 per cent say their businesses are investing in cybersecurity and 94 per cent see this investment as an opportunity, rather than an overhead cost.
“As technology is penetrating every aspect of business, KPMG is working with clients in ASPAC and around the world on digital transformation so that they can be at the forefront of their industries in disruptive times,” said Bill Thomas, global chairman of KPMG International.
In the ASPAC region, KPMG firms are helping clients transform digitally. Winid Silamongkol, chief executive officer, KPMG in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos said: “To help lead digital transformation in the region, KPMG has launched a number of innovation initiatives in Asean.”
Winid cited the KPMG Digital Village in Singapore, designed to help corporates, start-ups, investors, and government bodies drive the adoption and integration of innovative solutions, such as fintech technologies, in a collaborative ecosystem; the Cyber and Digital Hub in Malaysia, where KPMG uses cybersecurity to identify, protect, manage, improve and increase trust, opportunities, market standing and stakeholder value for clients; and ‘Japanese-Thai Corridor’ project in Thailand offering comprehensive consultation to help companies with digital transformation, especially in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, data and analytics, and robotic process automation.
Thomas said Asia Pacific was driving the majority of growth of the global economy and is a major strategic focus for KPMG. “Our ambition is to help businesses seize the opportunities offered by the region. In addition to its robust economy, markets in Asia will continue to gain prominence as investment destinations and be leaders of innovation.”
Thomas said KPMG partners attending the conference were embracing the disruptive forces and innovation trends in the marketplace.