The introduction of the new information communication technology (ICT) has meant that the market has grown increasingly global. Since 1999 MyBiz International has offered small and medium sized industries (SMI) in Malaysia the opportunity to join their virtual business relationship network. The network is especially designed to help SMIs migrate their business online and help them to form a collaborative electronic business community.

The simple philosophy behind MyBiz strategy is that the community is stronger than the individual. SMIs in corporation will be more able to fulfil orders than a business working outside a network. Mr Cheong Yuk Wai, founder and CEO of MyBiz, gives an example: "If a SMI receive an order which it is not able to fulfil it with its own facilities, one way of keeping the order would be to outsource parts of it to additional two or three SMIs".

MyBiz was established because its founder did not believe that Asian businesses were fast enough to discover the possibilities in the Internet. It was the founders hope to involve more Asian with the Internet and in particular to guide local SMEs to capitalise on ICT and how to conduct business online.

In 1996, Mr Cheong started to develop his idea. In December 1998, MyBiz was still in the form of a white paper, it was agreed with Microsoft Malaysia to bring the concept to reality. In March 1999, MyBiz version 1.0 was developed and was showcased in Hong Kong with 50 SMIs. With the aid and assistance from the Malaysian National Information Technology Council's (NITC) Demonstrator Application Grant Scheme (DAGS), MyBiz continued to develop MyBiz and a year later, enabled more than 300 SMEs to conduct their business online.

Beneficiaries

SMIs, typically manufactories in electronics, plastic, furniture, food etc, are the primary beneficiaries of MyBiz system. MyBiz charges an annual fee from SMIs for their services. The fees range from 2,000 RM and upwards depending on how extended services the manufactories requires. Today the system is a fully operational online business community and is currently operating in Malaysia and Singapore with over 400 companies representing 43 industry sectors in total.

Organisation

MyBiz was introduced as an open marked system but since their focus has changed and the main focus is to build a virtual business supply chain. MyBiz believes that good business lies in the relationship between buyer and supplier and has gathered a range of industrial sectors which can supplement each other with banking as the most recent sector. MyBiz goal is to create a network where suppliers corporate and support each other to achieve most of the resources available. This will help the Asian SMIs to form virtual bonds with each other and makes it easier for them to adopt ICT for their businesses. The project not only enables Asian SMIs to conduct their business online but also to adopt ICT to streamline their business processes, lower their operational costs and gain stronger control to compete in a global economy.

Technical Infrastructure

All electronic services is provided from MyBiz server. The SMI must have purchase its own computer and Internet connection. When an SMI join the network MyBiz is responsible for training the staff in how to use the software, participate, respond and be a part of the community. MyBiz constantly work to improve their software, which will be available for the member three to four times a year. The software was first based on Linux but is now based on Microsoft NT.

Lessons Learned

The principal lesson learned by MyBiz is how little awareness among the SMIs there is towards the new business opportunities offered through the Internet. MyBiz believes this is due to the lack of experience among the SMIs in the global economy. "They have yet to feel the pain of loosing business from not being electronically integrated in the global supply chain", says Mr Cheong and adds "no pain, no gain". It is therefore extra important that the training programme is comprehensive and the software has a high usability. He believes that MyBiz' services on various points might be on the forefront of its time.

The large number of SMIs who have joined MyBiz and the vibrancy of trade however indicates that the business network generate good value for its participants. MyBiz have therefore taken a proactive approach to maintain and increase the SMIs participation and to deliver local skill and knowledge. "We must continue to focus on an online community based business model, it must be fluid, and at the same time possess the ability to grow, particularly in the area of technology adoption, knowledge sophistication and wealth", says Cheong.

Sustainability and Replication

MyBiz is expected to break even by this year, which is a bit earlier than expected.
The project has already been adopted in Singapore by MyBiz Singapore. Due to the simple infrastructure it will not be difficult to neither upscale nor replicate MyBiz anywhere else. The simple idea of MyBiz is to create a business supply chain where businesses feed each other for the benefit of the country. This idea can be adopted by anyone though it is crucial to continue to develop suitable software for the programme. MyBiz also examines the business opportunities elsewhere in the region.

Additional Information:
MyBiz International Ltd.
Enterprise 3 (RU1A), Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil
57000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Telephone: +603 8996-0966
Fax: +603 8996-0267