Empower builders with the new AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region.
3 mins read

Empower builders with the new AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region.

Skyline header image

Builders are the heart of AWS. As CTO of Amazon, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is meeting with developers from around the world to better understand the unique challenges they face when building on AWS.

Most recently, I traveled to Southeast Asia to immerse myself in the region’s emerging contractor culture. One of the countries I visited was Malaysia, the location latest AWS Regionour 34th in the world, and home to a rapidly evolving technology sector where entrepreneurs, business owners and a vibrant community of builders prove that solving difficult human problems can be a profitable business model.

Technology forever

Disaster relief is one of the most important areas where technology can have a profound impact on saving lives. During natural disasters or man-made crises, every second counts, and deploying the right tools and systems can have a significant impact on outcomes. In these scenarios, computer vision, machine learning and cloud technologies, combined with drones, environmental sensors and other hardware advances, have real potential to streamline disaster response, improve communication and coordination, and provide real-time data and insights that can guide rescue efforts and Aid distribution.

During this trip I met with Aerodynea Malaysia-based drone and drone data company that started with aerial mapping data and imagery. When the region was hit by devastating floods in 2014, the company saw an opportunity to use its drone technology for search and rescue purposes. They used their drones to map water flows and collect data that helped create evacuation routes and map rescue routes. This pivot demonstrated how the company’s innovative technology can have enormous positive impact in times of crisis.

Werner Vogels at Aerodyne

Using this experience, Aerodyne has continued to find new applications for its drone data platform to drive sustainable growth. Today the company focuses on solving complex industrial challenges. By running its DRONOS software platform on AWS, Aerodyne can automatically analyze petabytes of aerial data using machine learning to provide critical insights. In agriculture, this means quickly identifying problems like plant diseases or lack of irrigation so farmers can respond quickly – and increase yields by up to 67%. For telecommunications companies, Aerodyne uses drones to safely inspect and map cell towers, accelerating 5G deployment by over 90% while reducing operational costs.

What started with using drones for mapping has evolved into using drones to solve challenges around food security, disaster relief, connectivity and energy security. It’s a good example of how a company with a noble purpose can grow sustainably while still finding new ways to make a positive impact.

A melting pot for innovation

I have seen this pattern repeated across Southeast Asia, where the focus is not always on becoming the next unicorn, but on solving the problems that directly affect people in their communities. I’ve seen companies democratize financial services, increase access to credit for underserved communities, and focus relentlessly on providing educational resources for students of all ages.

Even after numerous visits to this part of the world, I continue to be inspired by the region’s rapidly evolving technology industry and dynamic pursuit of positive impact. To all contractors across Malaysia and beyond, your efforts to explore new opportunities and solve pressing problems are truly inspiring. I can’t wait to come back to witness and celebrate your continued progress.

Now start building!