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Digital Transformation in the Palm Oil Plantation Industry

The palm oil plantation industry is vital to the Malaysian and Indonesian economies. Being one of the largest contributors to Malaysia’s GDP, palm oil plantations are putting in tremendous efforts toward digital transformation to optimize their plantation management and increase their oil yield per hectare. However, as the network coverage is not 100% extensive in Malaysia, many big palm oil plantation players face challenges due to unstable internet connectivity in areas with limited network coverage.

LNS’s 4G LTE bonding solution has been instrumental in enabling palm oil plantations to achieve high internet stability, improve their overall performance and run their business cost-effectively. With LNS’s unique internet bonding technology that combines multiple 4G LTE ISPs from different providers, plantations now enjoys dramatically increased internet speed regardless of remote locations.

The implementation of LNS Next Gen LTE device, equipped with advanced AI technology, has revolutionized the connectivity at plantation sites by enhancing signal reception and boosting the bandwidth. This has eliminated the dependency on VSAT, which was plagued by high latency issues. The partnership between LNS and palm oil plantations has allowed all plantation sites to enjoy high-speed internet and improve operational efficiency.

LNS Next Gen LTE Device
LNS Intelligent LTE Device installed at palm oil plantations

With full internet connectivity, palm oil industry players have optimized their plantation management and overcome the challenges of limited internet connectivity in rural areas. Their digital transformation efforts include precision agriculture technology such as GPS mapping, satellite imagery, and drones to gather data on crop conditions, soil health, and weather patterns. IoT devices generate insights that optimize planting, rainwater collection, irrigation, soil pH and NPK (Sodium, Phosphate & Potassium) values, fertilization schedules, and harvest cycles. Automatic chemical dosing with pneumatic injection is also essential in diluting fertilizers or acid-alkaline to ensure soil health at its optimum.

As the 5G network continues to roll out, the palm oil plantation industry is exploring the potential of using 5G-enabled drones for precision agriculture. These drones can aid in mapping and surveying fields and collecting and transmitting large amounts of data and imagery to the cloud. By doing so, farmers can stay up-to-date on the health and conditions of their crops. Many prestigious palm oil players have also adopted business management software, including ERP systems and SAP to manage resources and labor, track crop growth and health, and optimize their logistics supply chain.

Business management software such as ERP in palm oil plantation help boosts efficiency and profitability.

These technological advancements are essential to increase the economy among Malaysians. Advancing technologies are helping agriculture save costs, monitor hectares of palm oil in real-time, and increase their oil yield per hectare, ultimately increasing their profitability. The palm oil development indirectly provide thousands, if not millions, of job opportunities for Malaysians in the global economy. Reliable and fast internet connection has played a fundamental role in enabling these advancements.

In conclusion, digital transformation is crucial in the palm oil plantation industry. With the right tools, including reliable internet connectivity and specialized software solutions, companies can optimize their plantation management and succeed tremendously in this highly competitive industry. The partnership between LNS and many palm oil plantations showcases the power of collaboration and innovation in driving success in the digital age. You can click HERE to contact LNS to see how we can help your business stay more connected than ever.

Published by  LightsUp Network Solution Sdn BhdLightsUp Network Solution Sdn Bhd
#Digital transformation is necessary in every industry, and plan oil plantations are optimizing their plantation management and increasing profitability through LNS services. This is the best testament to how to have strong internet even in the most remote locations. Read our latest blog to learn more about the power of technology in driving success. #digitaltransformation #technology #LNS
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How these M’sian companies are realistically providing menstrual benefits to employees

Ever since the Spanish cabinet approved a bill last year which grants menstrual leaves for women, debates have been triggered around typically neglected issues. They include menstrual health and what it means to be a woman in the workforce.

Should the fairer sex suffer in silence with these health-related conditions, or should companies be more accommodating to their needs and provide menstrual benefits?

Dictionary time: Menstrual benefits can refer to a number of company policies that allow menstruating employees to take better care of their health. These benefits can include paid menstrual leaves, the option for flexible working, free menstrual-related products, and short breaks during work hours.

Through a survey, we asked Malaysian employees and employers for their thoughts on the matter. Being a still-taboo subject, we were surprised to find that 88.9% of total respondents actually agreed that companies in Malaysia should provide menstrual benefits.

Diving deeper, we also found the potential pros and cons to such an arrangement:

ProsCons
Company’s turnover rates could be loweredThere is the possibility of the benefits being misused/abused
Employees have better work performance and less careless mistakesCompanies might be hesitant to hire women
Company becomes more appealing to job seekersIt could breed resentment between colleagues within the workplace

To better understand how the pros and cons actually materialise in real life, we decided to reach out to several companies in Malaysia that have implemented menstrual benefits. 

Admittedly, it was difficult getting responses as this practice is either not yet widespread, or companies declined to respond to us. In the end, we managed to get answers from three companies, ours included.

LightsUp Network Solution

Founded in 2005, LightsUp Network Solution (LNS) is an IT services and consulting firm based in Bangsar South (AKA Kerinchi). Its core business is in SD-WAN Technology and Internet Managed Services. 

The brand also has branches in East Malaysia, specifically Kuching, Sarawak to widen its market reach. 

As befitting of an IT firm, LNS has adapted and shifted its mindset along with the times. Its most recent effort is introducing menstrual benefits in its offices from September 2022. 

Speaking to Vulcan Post, Dang Chin Loong, the brand’s founder and CEO, explained that the decision was made after an increased awareness of the challenges faced by some of his menstruating colleagues.

Image Credit: LightsUp Network Solution

“Out of empathy and concern for our female employees, who make up over 65% of our organisation, we decided to provide menstrual benefits.”

The benefits in question include the option to work from home one day a month to ensure employees can work comfortably while dealing with menstrual pain. 

Although, this was a huge concern in the beginning because the founder was worried of the uneven bias and how it would affect company morale.

So, similar to Bieu, LNS promotes gender equality by providing male employees with another incentive—the ability to clock out earlier on the first and third Fridays of the month. This allows them to avoid peak traffic hours at its HQ in Bangsar.

Image Credit: Canva

In the seven months since the benefits were introduced, Dang shared, “So far everyone is happy and the policy is going really well.” 

“We understand that many companies may not provide such benefits due to concerns about lost working hours. But we believe that this small fraction of time is a worthwhile investment in our employees’ well-being and happiness.”

By doing so, menstruation also becomes less of a taboo in and out of the workplace. “Companies can play a role in educating everyone about menstrual health and gynaecological disease. [And] at the same time reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation.”

Read the full article click here:
https://vulcanpost.com/823721/companies-malaysia-provide-menstrual-leaves-benefits/

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Revolutionizing the Poultry Industry: Case Study of Leong Hup International Berhad.

Digital transformation has become essential to modern-day agriculture, especially in producing poultry, eggs, and livestock feed. Leong Hup International Berhad, a leading producer in Southeast Asia, is a prime example of how digital transformation can revolutionize the poultry industry. With multiple locations and an extensive supply chain, Leong Hup requires reliable and high-speed internet connectivity to effectively manage its production and business operations.

One of the poultry industry’s most significant challenges is controlling production costs. As chicken is a staple food in Southeast Asian cuisine, it is crucial to keep costs low so everyone can afford this protein-rich meat. However, outside factors such as geopolitical issues and rising feed prices can make cost control challenging. To address this, Leong Hup has implemented innovative technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and farm management solutions.

Critical business management software such as ERP, SAP, Internet of Things (IoT) and automations are here to boost productivity in poultry industry

One of the poultry industry’s most significant challenges is controlling production costs. As chicken is a staple food in Southeast Asian cuisine, it is crucial to keep costs low so everyone can afford this protein-rich meat. However, outside factors such as geopolitical issues and rising feed prices can make cost control challenging. To address this, Leong Hup has implemented innovative technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and farm management solutions.

By using digital software, automation, Internet of Things (IoT), and sensors, farmers can now manage their farms in previously impossible ways. For example, Leong Hup has adopted various digital solutions to optimize production, minimize wastage, and improve livestock quality.

  • Automated feeding systems with sensors can optimize feed consumption and reduce costs in the feedstock.
  • IoT sensors can monitor the temperature, humidity, and air quality inside the chicken house, improving living conditions for the chickens and tracking their fertility cycles.
  • With an automation system, supervisors can monitor weather patterns, detect potential health hazards among the birds, and optimize feed and water consumption in real-time.

In addition to production, farmers can now rely on centralized databases such as ERP software to connect all company departments, including finance, supply chain, inventory management, and warehousing. This digital software enables administrators to make informed decisions about their business operations, leading to better cost control. Ultimately, leveraging innovative technology can help the poultry industry achieve better cost control, maintain production quality, and ensure affordable consumer prices.

As most domestic chicken farms are at rural sites, these areas depend solely on satellite VSAT. VSAT is costly and experiences high latency, resulting in poor and unreliable internet connectivity. Consequently, real-time updating of production data is not performed, and instantaneous data sharing across sites is delayed. Communication between HQ and all production relies solely on a high-cost dedicated leased line solution.

VSAT satellite internet usually comes in high latency

To address this challenge, Leong Hup turned to LNS Internet Managed Services. This solution bonds multiple internet lines from different ISPs into a single pipeline.

LNS outdoor router installation at the office near poultry farms.

The presence of multiple ISP lines running in one tunnel increases the total bandwidth, provide redundancy, cost saving and avoid switching of IP address whenever there is an internet interruption. The solution can be easily scaled up or down to meet the company’s changing needs and can be customized to fit its specific requirements.

The results of implementing LNS Internet Managed Services were immediate and impressive. Leong Hup has been adopting LNS services for over 15 years since 2007. The internet bonding solution has eliminated high-cost, unstable, and congested internet issues. Farmers must leverage digital technology to remain competitive and efficient with the increasing demand for high-quality poultry products. Leong Hup International Berhad’s testimonial of LNS Internet Managed Services is a testament to the power of innovative technology in addressing business challenges. Contact US HERE to understand how we can bring stronger internet connectivity to your business, even at remote locations.

Published by  LightsUp Network Solution Sdn BhdLightsUp Network Solution Sdn Bhd

At LightsUp Network Solution Sdn Bhd, we’re proud to be a part of the mission to revolutionize the #poultry industry in Southeast Asia. With LNS Internet Managed Services, we’ve successfully helped Leong hup International, one of the largest fully integrated producers of poultry, eggs, and livestock feed in Southeast Asia, to overcome the challenge of poor #internet connectivity at their rural chicken farms and streamlined #communication between HQ and all production sites. It has been an incredible journey, and we’re proud to share our success story with you! 

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The Benefits of Bonded Internet: Ensuring Uninterrupted Access to Critical Business Applications

In today’s digital age, businesses rely heavily on technology to operate efficiently. With critical applications such as SCADA, SAP, ERP, CRM, and HRM, it’s essential to ensure uninterrupted access to these applications, even during internet downtime. A stable and reliable IP address is one of the most critical aspects of any network infrastructure.

Traditionally, dedicated leased lines have been the go-to option for businesses that require a stable and reliable IP address infrastructure. However, the emergence of bonded internet is becoming more popular due to its reliability, redundancy, and flexibility.

Bonded internet is a system where there are 2-3 multiple connections from different ISPs bonded under an assigned static IP address. This system helps ensure minimal disruption to your business processes, as bonded internet typically allows for faster transfers, and internet redundancy, and improves overall internet security.
Helping domestic chicken farms getting strong internet

Let’s take the example of a domestic chicken farm HQ, which has two dedicated leased lines. One leased line (line A) is attached to 5 (five) essential applications, such as: HRM, ERP, SMS gateway, CRM, and SAP. Another leased line (line B) is connected to 3 (three) applications: SCADA, production, and IoT automation.

When line A is down, the 5 critical applications are not functional immediately. The IT manager will need to switch their application IP address to line B (100.1.0.193) for internet access. This switching process is tedious and time-consuming and can cause significant disruptions to business operations.

When line A (82.129.80.111) is down, IT manager will need to switch the application IP address to line B (100.1.0.193) to ensure continuity in operation.

With the implementation of the LNS bonded internet solution, if ISP A experiences an interruption, LNS Next Gen bonded internet will instantly provide backup from both ISP B and ISP C. This will allow all critical applications to continue functioning seamlessly with the same static IP address, without requiring any IP address switching. As a result, the risk of critical application interruption will be significantly reduced, and there will be minimal disruption to your business processes. Additionally, Line A and B can be bonded together with Line C acting as a redundancy using the LNS solution.

With LNS Next-Gen bonded internet, Line A + B + C are bonded together as redundancy.

Moreover, bonded internet can bond with microwaves and 4G LTE, which serve as excellent alternative internet redundancies. After switching to bonded internet, the domestic chicken farm experienced no downtime, and their operations continued without disruptions. They could even add new applications to the network without worrying about network interruptions or disturbances.

  • Another advantage of bonded internet is that it allows for faster data transfer. This is exceedingly beneficial for businesses that rely on applications such as SCADA or IoT automation that require real-time data transfers.
  • On the other hand, bonded internet also provides improved overall internet security. Each connection comes from a different ISP, making it difficult for any potential hackers to penetrate the network.

If you want to learn more about LNS Next Gen bonded internet, contact us today. As an APNIC holder, we can assign you a static IP address for all bonded internet issues, ensuring overall internet security and a stable internet connection. It’s important to note that APNIC license agreements place restrictions on bonded connections. However, at LNS, we are delighted to help you navigate these licensing requirements and provide a reliable bonded internet solution for your business. Contact US NOW to find out how we can help your business operate smoothly and efficiently.

Published by  LightsUp Network Solution Sdn BhdLightsUp Network Solution Sdn Bhd
Businesses today rely heavily on technology to operate efficiently, especially when it comes to critical applications like #SCADA, #SAP, #erpsoftware , #crmsoftware, and #HRM. A stable and reliable IP address infrastructure is essential to ensure uninterrupted access to these applications, even during internet downtime. In our latest blog, we discuss the benefits of #bondedinternet and how it can improve internet #redundancy, data transfer speed, and overall internet #security for businesses.