At the sidelines of the recently held 2024 VST ECS CXO Tech Summit in Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines, I had the opportunity to speak with Dennis Sze, Head of Sales (Asia South) for Yugabyte. He shared insights into how Yugabyte is emerging as a key player in Southeast Asia’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, particularly in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and FinTech sectors. Sze highlighted the company’s efforts to adapt its database solutions to meet the growing demands of the AI industry while simultaneously strengthening its foothold in the fintech space.
As businesses increasingly integrate AI, the demand for scalable, elastic, and resilient database systems has grown. Sze explains that Yugabyte, leveraging its PostgreSQL compatibility, is working with AI service providers to offer robust metadata and vector data management. “AI engines rely heavily on databases,” he notes, emphasizing the importance of ensuring uptime and scalability for seamless operation. Yugabyte simplifies this by eliminating the complexities of infrastructure management, enabling AI providers to focus on innovation.
Dominating Fintech & Startups
Yugabyte has seen significant traction across Southeast Asia, becoming a go-to database solution for FinTech firms and startups. The company collaborates with leading payment providers in the Philippines and India, including partnerships with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Sze highlights a remarkable growth rate of 2x to 3x annually in Asia, driven by the adoption of cloud-native technologies.
“Cloud-native databases are addressing long-standing issues like horizontal scaling and downtime,” Sze explained, adding that local fintech companies exemplify how leveraging cloud technologies can differentiate services and redefine market standards.
Building Cloud-Native Talent & Partnerships through Open Source
The Yugabyte executive also stressed the importance of nurturing talent and fostering educational collaborations. Although delayed by the pandemic, Yugabyte plans to integrate cloud-native database training into academic curriculums, drawing from its experience with the National University of Singapore (NUS). By equipping the next generation with cutting-edge skills, Yugabyte aims to fuel the region’s tech ecosystem.
One of Yugabyte’s competitive edges is its commitment to open-source development. Unlike competitors transitioning to closed-source models, Yugabyte provides flexibility and freedom, making it a preferred choice among developers. Its PostgreSQL compatibility also ensures minimal migration challenges, further enhancing its appeal.
With plans to deepen collaborations with independent software vendors (ISVs) and expand its presence in the AI and fintech sectors, Yugabyte is poised for sustained growth. “Our goal is to build proven strategies that benefit both customers and ISVs,” Sze adds.
Yugabyte has established a strong partnership with VST ECS in the Philippines, a collaboration aimed at driving the adoption of cloud-native databases across the country. This partnership is built on a shared commitment to delivering innovative and resilient database solutions that cater to the unique needs of local businesses, particularly in fintech and enterprise sectors. According to Sze, VST ECS has been instrumental in promoting Yugabyte’s solutions, ensuring they are not just introduced as products but fully adopted and supported. With VST ECS’s extensive distribution network and expertise in the Philippine market, the collaboration empowers organizations to leverage advanced database technologies to enhance scalability, reliability, and innovation in their operations.