Kelvin believes AI offers businesses the superpower to do more with less.
Axrail harnesses AI to solve data challenges and boost productivity for the better
WHEN ChatGPT launched in late 2022, it captivated the world with its ability to generate detailed, human-like responses at lightning speed. But as quickly as the excitement spread, so did the concerns.
The emergence of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools that could produce images, voices and even videos sparked doomsday predictions that machines would eventually render many humans jobless.
For Kelvin Kok, however, this fear was misplaced. Having worked in Singapore’s highly competitive tech sector for more than 15 years, he was well-aware of how the industry was fast shaping the world’s dynamics.
Forging a path
“Everyone knows about ChatGPT, but nobody thinks about how you can use artificial intelligence (AI) for business,” says Kelvin, the founder and chief executive officer of Axrail, an AI technologies and digital platform start-up and an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Tier Services Partner in Malaysia.
Just before starting Axrail, he worked as a solutions architect at AWS, where he recognised the AI’s transformative potential in empowering businesses.
"It became evident that there was a tremendous opportunity from a cloud perspective," he shares. Kelvin highlights how, in the past, the competition was often won by those with the resources to buy bigger servers.
“But with cloud computing in the picture, the playing field completely changed. For the first time, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – particularly small players, could compete on equal footing with larger companies using the same technologies.”
The gaps he noticed in cloud adoption among small businesses, due to lack of technology and skillset, led him to start Axrail in 2019.
Solutions of the future
Since founding Axrail, Kelvin has assembled a team of innovators, including data engineers and developers, to create robust business solutions.
A key issue they address is data silos, where critical business data is housed in different standalone and often incompatible systems – a huge obstacle for modern-day businesses that need data-driven insights.
Post-pandemic, says Kelvin, a lot of business owners across various industries started bringing in e-commerce revenue streams while simultaneously running their old systems.
“If you can bring all this data into a single location where you can analyse the relationships between them, it becomes much easier to identify areas for improvement.
“But right now, the data is scattered everywhere. What can you do with that? It might just be sitting in an Excel file on someone’s laptop – valuable information that could easily go unnoticed,” he explains.
Axrail’s Data Lake consolidates data from various systems into a single, tailored platform, streamlining integration to meet business goals. Image: Axrail
To counter this, Axrail constructed the Axrail Data Lake accelerator – a platform with tools to help businesses gather, clean up and organise all their data in one place using advanced cloud technology.
“By consolidating your data into one platform, you can identify inefficiencies, remove redundancies and enhance efficiency, leading to better productivity and, ultimately, a stronger bottom line,” he adds.
The team has also developed Axrail Commerce – an e-commerce platform that streamlines various aspects of business, covering everything from store interfaces to payment processing and security solutions.
The platform also features Customer365 – a customer data dashboard with an integrated CRM, which improves customer retention and supports dynamic, multilingual customer interactions, including tasks like loyalty programme management via WhatsApp.
At its core, however, Axrail’s team are cloud wizards. The team uses the latest cloud technology to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently, saving business time and money.
Doing things differently
When Axrail launched, it had the expertise and innovative ideas, but convincing businesses was a challenge.
"In the early days, we often went the extra mile to prove our solutions before clients would even consider paying us. This commitment became our brand promise," says Kelvin.
Axrail, he explains, is built on three core promises. First, a risk-free trial for new clients, akin to a test drive.
Second, a focus on tangible value. "If we are unable to boost your productivity by at least 50%, we won't take on the project," Kelvin emphasises.
Axrail works backwards, determining return of investment (ROI) before moving forward – a necessity given many customers' past disappointments with providers who are more interested in selling hardware or software than delivering results.
At Axrail’s Centre for Excellence in KL, Kelvin offers a detailed demonstration of generative AI technology and its capabilities.
Finally, customer obsession. "Even if you work with us just once, we're here to support you with any tech questions later on," Kelvin says.
These strategies have paid off, attracting major clients like FamilyMart, Genting Plantations, Pelangi Publishing, Sepang International Circuit, SingHealth, TGV Cinemas, and Wilmar International to smaller brands such as Bake with Yen and Salad Atelier.
Within just a year, Axrail snagged the prestigious SME100 Award, the gold standard for fast-growing SMEs in the region. On top of that, it recently clinched the Golden Bull Award 2024 for emerging businesses.
Seeing is believing
In June this year, Axrail achieved a major milestone by launching the first Generative AI Lab in Malaysia and South-East Asia.
Housed in Axrail’s Centre of Excellence, the lab offers clients a hands-on preview of how AI can transform their businesses, from e-invoicing and data lakes to e-commerce and the Customer365 platforms.
“What is really important to highlight is our ability to enable machines to see, listen and understand,” says Kelvin, adding the lab is a crucial aspect of brainstorming new ideas with their clients.
Within just two hours, Axrail has helped clients develop tangible business use cases, as this practical, hands-on approach allows clients to explore AI’s potential benefits. “The lab opens minds to new possibilities,” Kelvin adds.
But the lab is just the starting point – Axrail emphasises a ‘start small, scale up’ strategy, with initial projects lasting six to 12 weeks, enabling clients to experience the impact of AI before committing to larger initiatives.
“The idea is to 'fail fast, fail safe,' which is crucial for SMEs and larger enterprises venturing into AI,” Kelvin explains.
AI for the better
Despite its many benefits, AI adoption in Malaysia remains low, Kelvin observes. This is something he attributes to misconceptions that AI is too costly or that companies aren't ready to implement it.
However, he insists that adopting AI is no longer optional – it is a necessity. "Businesses that don't embrace AI risk falling behind," he warns.
“People ask me everyday if AI will replace humans. From my perspective, AI is just a tool. It won't replace humans, but those who use AI will likely outpace those who don’t.” he notes.
Kelvin believes harnessing AI is not about letting go of people, but doing more with less. Repetitive, routine tasks, he explains, can be automated, leaving room for the workforce to concentrate on higher-value work that requires complex, human cognitive skills.
Kelvin's insights align with the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs 2023 report, which highlights analytical and creative thinking as the most essential skills for the modern workforce.
“Just think – if you could double your revenue without increasing headcount, you'd see a fantastic impact on the bottom line. Plus, that could mean bigger bonuses and better pay for your team.”
To explore how AI can propel your business forward, visit Axrail’s Centre for Excellence. Click here to find out more.
