In a recent address at the ASEAN SME Economic Conference, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz urged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation, quantum computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Generative AI, and digital twins — to elevate productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness in global supply chains. 

These technologies offer SMEs the chance to plug into global networks, reduce waste, standardize quality, and better respond to disruptions. The move signals new opportunities — not only for businesses but also for talent, skills development, and how recruitment agencies operate.

In this post, we’ll explore how SMEs’ technology adoption trends affect hiring, and how Eternity Recruitment can leverage this to be a leader in technical placement and hire job services.

The Technology Imperative for SMEs

Tengku Zafrul noted that AI can help SMEs maintain consistent product quality and reduce waste — two factors that major global buyers examine very closely.  Robotics and automation help enhance speed, accuracy, and ultimately customer experience, especially for clients with rigorous global standards. 

While quantum computing is still emerging, he observed that existing platforms already support smart scheduling, resource optimization, and simulation of production scenarios — tools SMEs can use to adapt to supply chain shocks or demand fluctuations. Even biotech or design SMEs are using Generative AI to create mockups, run performance simulations, and generate marketing collateral — shortening time to market. 

For SMEs seeking to integrate with global buyers or multinationals, these technologies are not optional — they are becoming prerequisites. To adopt them successfully, SMEs need not just capital, but the right talent: engineers, data scientists, control systems specialists, automation technicians, AI and ML programmers, IoT specialists, and more.

Implications for Hiring & Skills Demand

As SMEs lean into advanced technologies, the demand shifts from traditional roles (administrative, general operations) toward highly technical roles. Some of the key roles that are likely to rise:

• AI / ML engineers or data scientists

• Automation / robotics engineers

• IoT system integrators

• Control systems engineers

• Digital twin / simulation specialists

• Process optimization analysts

• Quality control and predictive maintenance experts

• Cybersecurity specialists (esp. for connected systems)

This shift means companies will increasingly hire job candidates with specialized training, certifications, or hands‑on project experience in emerging tech. The competition for such talent will intensify, especially in markets like Malaysia where the technology adoption curve is accelerating.

For businesses that are not deeply technical themselves, collaborating with a recruitment agency that understands these domains can make the difference between finding the right candidate and wasting resources on misfits.

How a Recruitment Agency Can Add Value in This Transition

To stay relevant as the hiring landscape evolves, a recruitment agency must evolve too. Here’s how an agency (especially Eternity Recruitment) can seize this moment:

1. Domain Expertise & Branding

Develop internal knowledge around AI, robotics, IoT, control systems, and related fields. Show clients and candidates that your agency doesn’t just place people — you understand the work, the challenges, and the technical language.

2. Specialist Talent Pools

Build pipelines of candidates with relevant exposure: graduates or professionals who have worked on smart manufacturing, predictive analytics, automation, or data analytics. Maintain a curated talent pool for emerging tech roles.

3. Content & Thought Leadership

Create content targeting both employers and candidates:

• “Top skills SMEs need for AI adoption”

• “How robotics can transform SME operations”

• “Guide to hire job candidates for automation roles”

These content pieces help your site rank for recruitment agency, hire job, and Eternity Recruitment, while also attracting niche traffic.

4. Consultative Service

Many SMEs lack internally the know‑how to define job scopes for advanced tech roles. You can offer advisory services: help with role definitions, competency mapping, screening tests, or even tech assessments.

5. Upskilling & Partnerships

Form partnerships with training providers or universities offering AI, robotics, IoT, digital twin, or data science curricula. Coordinate bridging programs or internships to feed your talent pipeline.

6. Cross‑Industry Bridging

Because skills like data analysis, automation, and IoT are transferable, you can source candidates from adjacent industries (manufacturing, electronics, process, logistics) and reposition them into tech‑oriented SMEs.

How Eternity Recruitment Should Position Itself

For Eternity Recruitment, this is a strategic opportunity to move beyond general recruitment and position as a specialist technical recruitment agency. As SMEs adopt emerging technologies, your firm can be known as the go‑to for technical hiring, especially for hire job mandates in smart manufacturing, automation, AI, and supply chain tech.

Here are some moves:

• Create a dedicated emerging tech recruitment vertical (or practice area)

• Brand this vertical on your website, with landing pages for “AI engineers,” “robotics specialists,” “IoT integration experts,” etc.

• Use content marketing (as suggested above) to drive SEO ranking for recruitment agency, hire job, Eternity Recruitment, plus domain long‑tail keywords (e.g. “robotics hiring Malaysia,” “AI recruitment for SMEs”)

• Showcase case studies of placements in technology, digital, or automation roles

• Run webinars or workshops for SMEs to explain how to hire in emerging tech, showcasing your capability

• Engage with local tech associations, accelerators or innovation hubs to build networks and sourcing channels

By doing so, when SMEs decide to hire job candidates for tech transformation, they will naturally come to Eternity Recruitment.

Challenges & Best Practices

While the opportunity is real, there are challenges:

• Talent scarcity: The best candidates are few; competition is high.

• Expectation alignment: SMEs may have ambitious expectations but limited budgets or unclear job scopes.

• Training needs: Some roles will require upskilling or on‑the‑job training.

• Cultural adaptation: SMEs may not have mature HR or technical cultures to absorb advanced hires.

To manage these:

• Pre‑qualify candidates rigorously and set clear expectations

• Offer blended hiring models (contract + transition)

• Propose “trial periods” or project‑based entry to reduce risk

• Encourage SMEs to support continuous learning for hires

• Maintain open communication between employer, candidate, and your agency to resolve misalignment quickly

The Big Picture: SMEs, Technology & Talent

The call from Tengku Zafrul is clear: to remain relevant in global markets, SMEs must integrate with supply chains through advanced tech. But technology alone isn’t enough — the people who can deploy, maintain, and evolve these systems are equally vital.

For companies seeking talent, and for candidates seeking meaningful, future‑oriented roles, this moment is pivotal. And for a recruitment firm that can straddle both worlds — technical domain and hiring expertise — the window is now.

By positioning itself at this intersection, Eternity Recruitment can become a trusted partner in enabling SME transformation and enabling hire job success in Malaysia’s evolving economy.

source and more info at: https://asean.bernama.com/news.php?id=2476718

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Eternity Recruitment
Email: info@eternity‑recruitment.com
Phone Number: 03‑30057814 / 016‑4151648
Address: Unit 3A‑01 Level 3A, Wisma N2N, Tower 2, Avenue 3, No 8 Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, 59200 Kuala Lumpur