KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia advances towards becoming a leading regional hub for artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and digital innovation, multinational information technology consulting and outsourcing company Cognizant is committed to playing a pivotal role in this transformation.
Cognizant vice-president, Asean and Greater China Thomas Mathew said the company’s growth strategy in Malaysia is strategically aligned with the country’s key national initiatives, including the 12th Malaysia Plan, MyDIGITAL Blueprint, and the National AI Roadmap (2021–2025).
“Our approach centres on three core priorities: developing AI talent through scalable upskilling and reskilling programmes, embedding responsible AI practices guided by ethical frameworks aligned with the National AI Organisation’s directives and fostering ecosystem co-creation by enabling collaboration among industry stakeholders.
“Through these focused efforts, Cognizant not only supports Malaysia’s national ambitions but actively drives their realisation, turning strategic plans into tangible industry progress,“ he told SunBiz.
He said Cognizant’s approach to collaboration in Malaysia is built around ‘AI for Impact’, our flagship ecosystem programme that brings together corporates, academia, government and startups to build inclusive, human-centric AI capability.
“We partner with organisations like Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) to expand AI literacy, with our associates volunteering as mentors in GenAI training, innovation sprints and hackathons.
“Throughout the year, we host micro-hackathons addressing local challenges in finance, healthcare, sustainability and public-sector modernisation, enabling Malaysian innovators to collaborate with Cognizant teams.
“Our goal is to foster a co-creator ecosystem that drives AI innovation and builds a sustainable digital future,“ Mathew said.
When asked how Cognizant’s Malaysia hub contributes to the green and sustainability agenda, Mathew said Cognizant applies its global sustainability framework to all Malaysian operations.
“We are progressing towards 100% renewable electricity by 2026, 50% emissions reduction by 2030, and 90% by 2040, alongside a commitment to zero e-waste to landfill by 2030.
“In Malaysia, these targets guide every aspect of our expansion from energy-efficient building design and renewable sourcing to responsible asset management and supplier engagement. Our operational growth is tightly aligned with climate goals, ensuring digital progress does not come at the expense of environmental responsibility,“ he said.
Beyond internal goals, Mathew said, Cognizant leverage its digital and AI capabilities to help clients advance their ESG agendas.
For instance, Cognizant worked with a leading Malaysian energy company to build a digital carbon footprint baseline, identify emission-reduction opportunities and implement a sustainable IT framework.
Mathew said this dual focus on operational excellence and client enablement ensures Cognizant’s expansion in Malaysia supports both environmental, social and governance outcomes and national economic priorities.
Elaborating on how Cognizant uses its capabilities to help Malaysian firms, especially those in retail, e-commerce and financial services, accelerate their digital transformation and compete regionally, Mathew said the company helps Malaysian enterprises evolve from digital adoption to full AI-enabled transformation.
“Our approach integrates cloud, automation, and data analytics to improve operational resilience and regional competitiveness, particularly across financial services, retail, and e-commerce.
“In retail and e-commerce, we modernise omnichannel platforms, enable real-time personalisation, and strengthen trust through secure, compliant payment and fraud-prevention systems. In financial services, we align modernisation with Bank Negara Malaysia’s technology and risk management requirements, ensuring both innovation and regulatory confidence.
“Our Asean Insight report, entitled Growth Has a New Co-Pilot: AI in the CFO’s Seat, highlights how AI empowers finance leaders to move beyond cost control to predictive decision-making. We bring these insights to life in Malaysia by embedding AI in finance, operations, and customer experience to deliver up to 40% productivity improvement and 30% cost reduction,“ Mathew said.
By leveraging Cognizant’s Malaysia delivery hub, Malaysian firms gain both cutting-edge innovation and localised execution excellence, he added.
