PLUS Malaysia, the country’s largest expressway service provider, has partnered with Microsoft (Malaysia) to integrate the software giant’s Azure cloud system into its highway toll network.
The partnership would make PLUS the first in Malaysia to leverage future-ready technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics and cloud computing to improve its highway network.
The framework provided by Azure platform paves the way for big data analytics and AI-enhanced operations, contributing to improved congestion prediction, better journey planning and provide safer experiences on PLUS’ highways.
“As our highway networks continue to expand across Malaysia, servicing an ever-growing number of road users, we acknowledge the need to not just digitally transform, but to also embrace a new organisation culture,” said Azman Ismail, managing director of PLUS Malaysia.
“By collaborating with industry leaders like Microsoft, we aim to bring our businesses to the frontier of innovation, locally and regionally, whilst addressing all the challenges brought forth by the 4th Industrial Revolution,” Azman said.
Using the Azure cloud-based platform, PLUS will be able to build and expand on-premise resources to improve internal performance and enhance the customer experience, without having to worry about server capacity.
This also allows PLUS to save costs on building and expanding on-premise infrastructure, creating more room for the company to focus on improving its services instead.
PLUS will also be leveraging Azure Key Vault to safeguard data on the cloud through the use of cryptographic keys. As a result, PLUS will be able to reduce data discrepancy, enhance its operations and electronic toll collection reconciliation and ultimately improve efficiency by 40%, or 600 man-hours, each month.
“With the insight provided by Power BI and the flexibility afforded by Azure, we are able to continuously evolve and adapt to the changes occurring in the landscape within which our business operates, enabling us to remain competitive in this digital age,” said Azman.
