Interview – Daniel Lui – Pacific Healthcare Group

Daniel Lui is an IT executive with 30 years’ experience in delivering business transformation programs, leading technology & operations services; He has worked on various assignments in Asia Pacific and Europe. Industries experience in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, supply chain and manufacturing services.

In 2018, Daniel Lui joined Pacific Healthcare Group in Bangkok, as the CIO and VP Operations, with overall responsibilities of IT and Logistics across operating countries, driving the strategy, operations and innovation.

Q: What do you find most challenging in your role as an IT Professional and how do you overcome this?

A: I believe that there are different challenges in various stage of one’s IT career. At the very early stage of my career, able to learn and apply new technology fast, and share with my peers was a challenge. As I move to management and then leadership roles, define the vision & strategy that align with business, and able to clear articulate and inspire others was a challenge. To achieve this, it is important to communicate the WHY, and let the team has a free hand to work on the HOW. Always celebrate success and improvements.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have received within your job and what advice would you give someone starting off in the industry?

A: I am lucky enough to work with a few caring mentors who shaped my career. The most valuable advice is on the Value of continuous improvement. If one stands still when everyone is moving forward, then one is effectively behind everyone. With the rapid advancing in technology, an IT leader will need to continuously adding values to business, than just maintaining the status of quo.

Q: What are the key challenges at your AI project?

A: I found that the key challenges are about Data, Data, Data… In a company, the most important is people. In Business, the most important is DATA (in my project, the consumer data). Before starting an AI project, it is important to understand the Data Literacy level of the company, and identifying the data owners. Also remember that process generates data, and the accuracy of data relies on the right process!

Q: What is one key takeaway you hope our CIO audience leaves with after hearing your presentation on site?

A: One key takeaway that I like to provide to the audience is that AI technology is now available for commercial use. It is not difficult to run an AI project, but strong sponsorship from the top is essential. You have to be very clear what you want to achieve. During this journey, learn, improve and have fun!

ABOUT PACIFIC HEALTHCARE GROUP 

Pacific Healthcare Group (PHC) was founded in Thailand in 1961 and aspire to be the most recognized sales & marketing organization in Thailand and South East Asia with a focus on healthcare, pharmaceutical products, nutritional products, medical devices and consumables. As a privately held company, we are looking to provide tailor made solutions for our principals and customers in a transparent and sustainable manner.

PHC has and is constantly growing to help more people over the Southeast Asia region. Connecting with more than 600 million consumers, we are expanding further to the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar as well as Cambodia.

Interview – Preecha Kamnoetsing – TROY Siam Co., Ltd.

Troy Corporation develops and manufactures performance materials for industry. These materials are used and available in over 100 countries to produce high performing, cost-effective, and sustainable products.

Troy produces over 400 preservatives, performance additives, and metal carboxylates at modern manufacturing facilities on 3 continents.

Troy’s special areas of expertise include:

  • Prevention of microbial degradation in products and processes
  • Specialty materials to improve performance of customer products and manufacturing
  • Performance additives to enhance surface integrity and appearance
  • Worldwide technical services including the TMMA microbial management program, field testing, microbiology, and analytical laboratories

 Q: As an IT professional, what keeps you excited and driven in your role?

A: As an IT Professional, I am always excited to see how new technologies changed or evolved from time to time and interested in how to make use of this new technologies to help company improve its operation.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face as an IT professional?

A: Agility is the biggest challenge we have been facing as an IT professional. As technology changes rapidly, how IT organisation adopts and makes use of this technology quickly and more efficiently is still difficult to cope with.

Q: Since being in the industry what notable changes have you encountered (positive or negative)?

A: There have been many positive notable changes in the past 5 years or so e.g. Cloud Computing and Software Defined technologies, IoT, more powerful hardware, AI, AR, Blockchain, Crypto Currency, Automation, etc. IT or organisations have gradually been forced to some extent to accommodate the change depending on their agility.

Q: What methods do you use to maintain success in your role and face the industry challenges?

A: One of the methods is to keep up with new technological trends and see opportunities to apply or adopt that into our organisation environment when applicable and appropriate.

Q: What are your key methods for creating success in your role as an IT professional?

A: The key methods are given as follows:

  • Creating IT strategies that reflect and support company’s visions and missions
  • Creating IT projects that can contribute values to achieve company organisational goals or objectives
  • Introducing new technologies that work well to organisation
  • Improving and maintaining IT infrastructure and Services
  • Developing and maintaining good relationship with users in all levels

Q: What are some of the trends and behaviours you predict will be surfacing in the IT industry in the coming 12 months? (or are currently surfacing)

A: Some of the trends that will be surfacing in the IT industry in the coming 12 months are 5G Networks which will boost Internet speed on the smartphone at 10 Gigabyte per second and many more technologies can make use of this 5G to develop advanced application and devices.

Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Autonomous Devices, Augmented Analysis, Voice Search, Smarter Chat, etc. are the trends that have currently been surfacing in the IT industry which will in turn influence our way of life.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have received within your career over the years?

A: Both Push & Pull Strategies should be exercised by IT Organisation.

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