IT PROCUREMENT
56 application , such as digital payments or food and parcel delivery .
One example is Singapore ’ s Grab . Originally purely a ride-hailing firm , the company continues introducing new services . Aside from its primary ride-hailing business , Grab has expanded into digital payments as well as food and parcel delivery , to name just a few of the services on offer . Set up as a regional spin on Uber ’ s business model in 2012 , in 2018 Grab ’ s success allowed it to buy out it ’ s inspiration ’ s business in the region .
An equally important success story for the region is Grab ’ s Indonesian rival , Gojek . According to the ride-hailing firm , since its launch in 2015 its app has been downloaded by over 155 million users in the region . It has expanded its remit into digital payments and the provision of many other amenities , partnering with over 2 million drivers and 500,000 merchants in the region . Previously , we spoke to George Do , Gojek ’ s Chief Information Security Officer , who emphasised that the company ’ s role in the region ’ s digital wave attracted him to the job . “ I would describe the role as driving the mission
THE SEA REGION
The SEA region is home to eight unicorns ( technology startups valued at over $ 1bn )
• Five in Indonesia
• Two in Singapore
• One in the Philippines
of the company to help improve millions of lives by reducing its daily frictions ,” he said . “ This opportunity to make a positive social impact was such an important factor for me to make the decision to join Gojek .” Gojek and others like it derive great value by virtue of being born digitally in an emerging region - meaning they are not weighed down with infrastructure past its sell-by date . “ Gojek made it into the ground floor of the digital transformation ,” says Do . “ Where we ’ re at today is where a lot of companies around the world are trying to get to ,” he said . “ Executing a security strategy for such a cutting edge platform is a very exciting endeavour .”
The region is also at the forefront of digital payment adoption , with the
SEPTEMBER 2020