Choose Your Right Emerging Market Smart Technology Provider



Name the best-selling products during the Covid-19 crisis. Easy. Sanitizer, face mask, gloves, body temperature scanner, face recognition device with masked face detection, and IR thermal scanner…… 

The business environment is getting tougher. Some industries have been hit hard, and some even ran out of businesses. In order to survive as a businessman, the solution can be rather straightforward - that is to say, stop promoting non-transactional promotional messaging and start promoting your best-selling products, at least for now, temporarily. 

And, we saw too many newcomers flock to trade products they aren't familiar with. How about the result? Good. One thing to be sure of, their intention is clear - As long that they can get a good price from the suppliers and able to respond quickly to the market demand (especially consumable merchandise like sanitizer, face mask, and gloves); As long as the products are genuine enough to satisfy consumers' concerns with minimum risk and doubt.

However,  have you ever thought through enough when it comes to purchasing a face recognition device with IR thermal scanner? First and foremost, “How reliable it is to buy a product from a 'stranger'?”   

The answer will always come negative in the first place: Yes, you shouldn’t. That is because you will not be able to guarantee the course of action of this decision. Unless you plan to thrash it when the crisis is over OR keep it in your storeroom awaits for the next pandemic attack, only if you are lucky to have a functional device by then.

Despite how inexpensive the product is, there is always a price tag you would have to look at. Without careful consideration, it might even cost you a fortune. Under some circumstances, you might need more than just one unit. That is when you will realize how important it is to seek a credible and sustainable product because the brand answers your concerns. Questions like, How well can temporary newcomers handle the warranty period? How about technical services and support? How long does it take to set up and conduct installation? Is training essential? Does it support software integration?

Perhaps, all you need at the moment is just to automate the body temperature reading to meet the required regulations during this crisis? If the crisis prolongs or that it is over, it is certain that you will still wish to want this expensive device to do something useful other than just measuring body temperature, wouldn't you?  

What are those advantages activities the device could contribute to benefit your business? It goes back to the software. Be it Windows-based, web-based, or cloud-based. The biggest beneficiary will ly in these three areas: 1. Time and attendance, 2. Access control (if the device supports access control) and 3. Visitor management.  All these areas involve year-long professionality. If the existing system in your organization is efficient, how does this device of yours hook up to your existing system? If your organization hasn't installed with one, does the device come with good software that can smoothen your business operation in the long run? These questions become critical in this tough time that we are enduring, you were to have spent every penny wisely. 

Opt for a device that not only helps you to combat coronavirus, it also does the job to digitalize your daily operation, keeping you up-to-date with the latest smart technologies. 
Kill two birds with one stone and we called it a wise man's choice.

Word of advice: Check details of the background of the short-term newcomers or opportunists who you have come across selling face recognition with masked face detection and IR thermal scanner. Avoid irresponsible sellers and place the right order with the right brand. 



Teh Hon Seng, Group CEO of TimeTec Group of Companies. Prior to forming TimeTec, Teh led PUC Founder (MSC) Bhd to be listed on MESDAQ (ACE) market of Bursa Malaysia in 2002. Teh initiated the R&D in fingerprint technology in 2000, which later developed into a renowned global brand for commercial fingerprint product known as FingerTec. In 2008, he foresaw the trend of cloud computing and mobile technology, and over the years, he had strategically diversified and transformed its biometric-focused products into a suite of cloud solutions that aimed at workforce management and security industries including smart communities that centered around the cloud ecosystem. Teh has more than 10 patents to his name, and he is also a columnist in a local newspaper and a writer of several books.
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5 Tips to Revive A Business After A Pandemic Scare


So now that the world has gotten used to the fact that Covid-19 will be very much involved in our lives until some scientists ferret out and attest to the universal vaccine that can wipe off this invisible culprit from this universe. Nonetheless, the aftermath of the attack is severe for businesses. The shutdown of more than 3 months for the majority of companies has taken a detrimental toll on their business's well-being, especially the small-medium enterprises. Many are forced to trim down operations to manage the tight cash flow, and at the same time we have to figure out how to conduct business with the new norm being introduced. 

 Entrepreneurs are a different breed of people altogether. No matter how bad is the fall, they will find their way back into the scene in no time at all. And for companies that are resuming operations, we return to the new norms that include social distancing, contactless transactions, and extra efforts on personal hygiene. 

 LET'S FIND OUT THE TIPS TO REVIVE YOUR BUSINESS AMID THE SCARE

Caring Employer Goes A Long Way
Be a responsible company, a responsible employer and provide for your employees the necessary protection against the threat of Coronavirus infection. Stock up on masks and sanitisers. Distribute the face masks to each employee weekly and place the sanitisers strategically for them to use regularly. Don't resort to cheap or homemade sanitiser that is not effective just to save some money or provide one mask a week and be okay with that. 

 Invest in A Good System
When times are hard, people are pulling the purse string even tighter. However, having less money to spend doesn't mean that we need to take an expensive risk instead. Investing in a high-quality fever scanning system could save your company a lot of trouble now and in the future. (Please note that 33°C or 32.8°C are not human body temperatures because some body temperature sensors failed to give correct reading at all times) The practice is not going to dissipate post-Covid because the world has learned its lesson. Therefore, having a system that can scan body temperature, scan whether the user has a mask on or not, scan for attendance and door access is something your organisation should consider when resuming your business for the benefit of the majority. 

  

Not only that we need to care about our employees, for those who have restaurants, retail stores and offices that accept visitors, but you also we need to consider a system that can protect premises from any symptoms of Covid-19. Furthermore, some governments like the Malaysian government requires the businesses that open during this pandemic to have records of their customers plus the temperature data to be available to the government any positive Covid-19 patient found, for contact traceability purposes. Even though there are free government initiatives offered to the public, but as a business, we always need to have control over the system as well. Solutions like TimeTec VMS are suitable as it provides us with the health data that the government requires, and the data is also beneficial for our business. Go to TimeTec VMS to find out more.

The New Norm at Work 
When the governments around the world impose a lockdown on their citizens, businesses switch to Work From Home mode. Now that many are returning to work, it would be a better and safer choice to embrace WFH in the operation. To have a full workforce capacity at a confined space is definitely NOT a wise decision. Rather, those who can WFH should be advised to continue to lessen the possibility of infection.  The best way to go forward is for companies to refine the WFH policy to manage those who practise it effectively. 
People photo created by ArthurHidden - www.freepik.com
Reduce Travel, Reduce Contact
As much as possible, reduce contact, which translates to lessening the face-to-face meetings and visits. Unless it's something that can't be discussed over Google Meet or Skype or Zoom, don't go gallivanting around town for a chance in meeting people to talk about menial matters. However, if your staff have to go, make sure they have a good tool to record their whereabouts and the people they meet on record for contact tracing. TimeTec TA is a perfect tool for that purpose.




Establish New Channels to Receive Payment 
Recover that few months lost income with new sales and better collections. Erase the anticipated excuses from your customers such as cannot travel to your place to make payment, by providing more channels to receive payments. Apart from internet banking transfer, provide other alternatives like online payment via credit cards, e-wallet and etc. Get that cash flow healthy again to revive your business the soonest possible. 
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The Chain Breakers: TimeTec TA and TimeTec VMS



Yes, we all have to get back to work once the Covid-19 threat has diminished. To revive the economy. So that we won’t starve to death. To prevent the next wave of infection, or to say, minimize the risk is of utmost importance. If there is any detected case, the chain breaker is the answer to it. You trace the contacts, cut the chain, end the spread. Period.

Even work from home is becoming a new normal, but frankly, most workers with the work nature that just simply can’t work from home. They need to work alongside the co-workers, meet customers and people in the work loops. In short, insiders and outsiders.  

Attendance with Health Screening Feature at


It surprises me that we already have the two perfect solutions to cover the insiders and outsiders to curb the infectious coronaviruses. Or so-called the Chain Breakers. TimeTec TA and TimeTec VMS. The former for staff, the latter for visitors, insiders, and outsiders. These cloud solutions are not meant to curb the disease, but rather, they are for time and attendance for staff and management for visitors. They are the accidental hero because of their strong contact traceability and contactless operation. TimeTec TA App covers all the three different working environments, on-premise, on the go and at home; while TimeTec VMS handles visitors for all industries, caters to all types of office towers, government offices, schools, hospitals, MNCs, SMEs, retail shops and restaurants. The health screening module is the enhancement we did to the system for better monitoring to ensure everybody can be back to work safely and confidently. 

I explain the chain breaker effect of our solutions in a straightforward illustration, Appendix A. And it is not limited to only the working environment. The chain can easily trace beyond, to your family members. Hence, the whole nation.   

We have this proposal attached here for any governments or local governments around the world to consider. Write to us at info@timeteccloud.com. Of course, business owners can jump straight to adopt our solutions. It’s simple. Guides available. 

And remember, combat Covid-19 is our side benefit. You don’t discard the systems after the Covid-19 threat. You use them in your daily operation. TimeTec TA and TimeTec VMS, they can become the essential modules for the digital transformation of your organization. 


Appendix A



View Back to Work Safely Solutions PPT at




Teh Hon Seng, Group CEO of TimeTec Group of Companies. Prior to forming TimeTec, Teh led PUC Founder (MSC) Bhd to be listed on MESDAQ (ACE) market of Bursa Malaysia in 2002. Teh initiated the R&D in fingerprint technology in 2000, which later developed into a renowned global brand for commercial fingerprint product known as FingerTec. In 2008, he foresaw the trend of cloud computing and mobile technology, and over the years, he had strategically diversified and transformed its biometric-focused products into a suite of cloud solutions that aimed at workforce management and security industries including smart communities that centered around the cloud ecosystem. Teh has more than 10 patents to his name, and he is also a columnist in a local newspaper and a writer of several books.
Product - TimeTec

Technologies to Consider Post-Covid



We are experiencing the unprecedented. The Covid pandemic has literally brought the world to its knees. Businesses come to a halt abruptly causing a lot of damage and shut down the world over coronavirus. But in true human form, we have always found our ways to thrive and survive no matter what challenges are placed in front of us. The survival instinct, fortunately, is what we are made of. Going forward hopefully, let's plan for the changes companies should observe post-Covid, and how all of us should proceed with confidence in the next few years.

Contactless is the Safest

Fear of cross-contamination is not going to dissipate once the world lifts its lockdown. We have to endure it for at least a year or more. Hence, prevention is the way to go. The fear of Covid has put a stop to the use of fingerprint machines in many premises. The concern is real, and the only way to manage it is to go contactless. Face recognition machine is the best option because it still promises the authenticity of biometrics, and it does not promote cross-contamination through a device. In moving ahead post-Covid, companies might want to consider switching to face recognition biometrics products for your company's time attendance and door access control. And if you need something more advanced with temperature reading and face with mask reading, enquire within. An investment in the right system will help your operation continues with a peace of mind.


 Work from Home is the new Norm

The world has been introduced to Work from Home, famously acronym as WFH, rather forcibly. Some welcome it with open arms, some cringe to the fact that they have to do work inside the house with the family members present. Nonetheless,  almost 1 million WFH hashtags flooded Instagram over the past month, indicating how WFH has become a new normal.  It works for some industries where the deliverables are not tangible. And, as we are approaching the final stretch (oh how we hope..) of this pandemic, many businesses will continue to embrace Work from Home, to reduce the risk of Covid infection in the workplace. In view of that, companies need to invest in tools to manage employees who are Working from Home. TimeTec TA and TimeTec Leave are great tools to use to monitor and manage employees who WFH. They are App-based attendance and leave system that captures clocking data along with GPS data and in real-time (and with a photo if required so), as well as leave application and approvals via a smartphone.


The Wise in Health Screening 

Never have we thought that our food delivery package would have a kitchen crew and delivery person's temperatures on it. But we did receive that information from McDonald's and many other deliveries for the past few weeks. It is a safety assurance, a message to say we are free from Covid so you can eat your food without worry. As we move along, a temperature reading is going to be crucial in many places soon. Many premises will make the feature necessary to reduce the risk of getting infected with contagious diseases from employees and visitors alike.  Therefore, solutions for the public must have a temperature reading data field for record purposes as a precaution. For example, TimeTec VMS, the full-cloud visitor management system by TimeTec is updated with the temperature data field so premises/buildings can start taking the temperature of its visitors for record purposes and precautionary measures. It is unwise to take a relaxed attitude towards this because one person with the disease can transmit to at least 37 other individuals, who could infect other people exponentially. 


Team Collaboration

No man is an island. Either you are working in the office or from home or a mixture of both, team collaboration is key to get things done more effectively. Companies can't stick to the old ways of managing employees in this day and age. Explore team collaboration tools available such as MS Team, Zoom, Skype etc. to get the team together to discuss and finalize on tasks at hand. For the non-tech-savvy boomers, no matter how terrified you are with the latest techs, you need to work on the fear and dive in.      

Reaching Out to Potentials

Gone were the days where businesses encourage physical meetings at the office or outside unless they are essential. Hence, companies need to figure out how to be creative, reach potential clients and engage them in various ways. This is the time where you can see companies attempt on FB live, Tik Tok, IG live and many more. Doing presentations using technologies or implementing solutions remotely using the latest available technologies. Basically, companies have to pivot to stay relevant. 


Plan ahead on the changes your company need. Contact us at info@timeteccloud.com for consultation or further information.



Hope to see everybody on the other. Adios.
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Work from Home: An Option or The Only Option?



As at today 18th March 2020, the world is finding its ways to fight the spread of COVID-19. Italy led the way by imposing a lockdown on its country to contain this minuscule enemy from spreading and killing many more citizens. Spain followed straight after and the latest in Europe is France. President Emmanuel Macron imposes a 15-day lockdown on 16 of March 2020 preventing its citizens to walk out of the house. In Asia, similar decisions are made by several countries including Malaysia. And this decision has made Work from Home accelerates from a concept that the business community dilly-dally on to something inevitable going forward.

The concept of Work from Home (WFH) or formerly known as Work at Home (WAH) was explored more or less 10 years ago by many international companies like Amazon and Dell. Communication advancement helps the acceleration of Work from Home adoption in companies as people can get tasks done efficiently even though they are not in the same premise with each other. Work from Home is where employees can carry out their job at home with flexible working hours to bring work-life balance, and in the end, will improve health, reduce stress and save money for the employees involved. In return, employer benefits by having employees who have greater loyalty to and better engagement with the company.

The idea of Work from Home has been better received in more advanced countries and in selected industries. However, for developing countries, companies are still reluctant to put this into action. Many have applied caution and the progress of its deployment has remained stagnant due to the need for the management to control and monitor its labour force. Out of sight could lead to low motivation and discipline, hence, less contribution and depleting productivity.

All that changes when the world is hit by the unsuspected Covid-19. Today, as I’m writing this piece, I’m sitting on my sofa in my cosy living room with my Mac on my lap and tired fingers for having to type non-stop since this early morning addressing various departments on how to Work from Home. On the 17th of March, the Malaysian government issued a Restricted Movement Order that requires all private companies to shut operations from today until 31st March 2020, leaving us no choice but to Work from Home on a big scale. In one day, we have to allow our company from only selected RnD staff to WFH to a 100% staff permit to Work from Home.

How do you monitor the progress of the employees? How do we assign tasks, check on deliverables, communicate with the team, coordinate with other teams and maintain operations from afar? Thanks to technologies like Skype, WhatsApp, Google Drive, communication poses no challenge whatsoever. We are communicating with each other like a champ, and Google Drive is a great collaboration tool for Work from Home, hands down.

Another matter is, how do we know the whereabouts of the staff at all times? Fortunately for us, TimeTec TA saves the day. Through smartphones, the staff can clock their attendance data using the GPS feature that records their exact location, and managers can view their times through the Audit List feature in the web version of the software. Impose multiple clocking times, and we got that covered. How about leave management? TimeTec Leave App, the perfect leave application is available on every employee’s smartphone to make leave application and approval fast and efficient. Accruals and leave balance are automated and taken care of by the system.

Group meetings are carried out successfully through Skype. Perhaps they have not dressed appropriately for a meeting but they bring seriousness and professionalism along, that will do it.

Despite technology can resolve a lot of challenges by employing Work from Home, it cannot quite resolve family matters. One of the staff members is going crazy because the children keep fighting in the house. Another finds it hard to manage food preparation for the family within an hour of time during lunch after meeting with the team. Children and spouses have been screaming for attention, not realizing that work is still required to be carried out during the usual working hours even with this Work from Home concept.

Approximately two more weeks for us to brace this Restricted Movement Order, and I’m sure that we will get out of this intact. Thankfully our company is actually semi-prepared for this. Our employees  understand the ecosystem of cloud solutions, and their advantages. Thus, when events like this occur, we remain calm because we know what to do.

For the rest of the world, Work from Home is no longer an option that you can ignore. As we move forward, Work from Home perhaps is the only option for us. Who knows.
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