T-ROBOT HELPS SMES TO SURVIVE DURING PANDEMIC AND POST-PANDEMIC

By Sharifah Hunaini Syed Ismail

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- Techcapital Resources (T-Robot), which started as a local automation and robotics development company, has played a significant role helping local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to survive the pandemic and post-Covid-19.

Executive director Hafiz Hashim said the company, which supplies industrial robotic automation using simple mechanisms with low outlay, has made a significant impact on SMEs.

“Based on market research, we found that SMEs really need basic and simple solutions to help in the manufacturing process and to resolve their labour shortage issues during the pandemic due to movement restrictions and after many foreign workers returned to their home countries. Therefore, T-Robot started to create these automation products using simple mechanisms,” he told Bernama.

According to Hafiz, the automation systems created by the T-Robot can, to a certain degree, solve SMEs’ dependence on labour, and at the same time, raise the sector’s productivity level.

SMEs can remain competitive in the international supply chain, having continued operating throughout the pandemic which started in early 2020, as well as help boost the country's growth when the economy reopened,” he said.

In addition to providing robotics and automation solution services, T-Robot also collaborated with several other agencies to provide technical training in the Internet of Things (IoTs) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to revolutionise the SME sector nationwide.

"We provide virtual and physical technical training, with physical training at the Centre of 9 Pillars Technopreneur Training Academy. So far, more than 800 participants have attended the training, giving us the opportunity to produce new talent in the field of IoTs and 4IR," he said, adding that the company was set up in 2015.

A year later in 2016, T-Robot also received an injection of funds from the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), Hafiz said, adding that MTDC also played an intermediary role connecting the company to SMEs that needed their services.

"MTDC connected us with SMEs that need our services, helping us to access the market, including companies from abroad.

"With MTDC’s cooperation, we have successfully exported products to the Middle East and African countries who use T-Robot products in the fields of education and manufacturing," he said, adding that the company improved their products using local talents.

Over the long term, Hafiz said T-Robot aims to produce more local talents skilled in the field of 4IR who are able to compete at the international level, thereby realising the company’s aspiration to move on from a country that uses technology to being among leaders in the international robotics and automotive front.

“When the country's landscape changes from a technology user to being a technology producer, we will then be able to increase job opportunities," he said.

T-Robot is part of the Centre of 9 Pillars (Co9P) community introduced by MTDC in 2018 which is involved in 4IR to enhance SMEs’ technological growth.

The nine pillars of 4IR within the Co9P context comprises autonomous robots, simulation, system integration, IoTs, cyber security, cloud computing, additive manufacturing, big data and augmented reality.

-- BERNAMA