25/03/2026

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | MAR 25, 2026

15 Xilnex steps up regional expansion

PETALING JAYA: Xilnex Holdings Sdn Bhd is entering its next phase of regional expansion, targeting 40% revenue growth and a 25% increase in headcount in 2026, while relocating to a larger headquarters in Penang to support rising demand for its retail and food and beverage (F&B) tech nology solutions across Southeast Asia. The Malaysian retail technology company said the expansion reflects strong business momentum as retailers and F&B operators accelerate digital transformation, data analytics adoption, and omnichannel operations. To support this growth, Xilnex is relocating to a larger headquarters in Penang, which will serve as a key regional hub for engineering, Penang, targets 40% revenue growth and 25% rise in headcount o Malaysian retail tech company moving to bigger HQ in

engagement with the hospitality and retail industries by participating in major regional trade events, such as Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) 2026, which will take place in Singapore in April. The event provides an opportunity for Xilnex to showcase its retail management and analytics solutions to F&B operators and to strengthen partnerships with regional retail players. Beyond technology solutions, Xilnex is also investing in building industry capabilities. Beginning May 2026, the company will roll out a series of HRDF-claimable analytics workshops designed to help retailers and F&B operators better interpret operational data and turn insights into business strategies. In addition, Xilnex will introduce AI-focused training programmes for its customers, aimed at helping businesses apply practical AI tools in areas such as sales forecasting, inventory optimisation, and customer engagement. “These programmes are about empowering retailers to become more data-driven,” Ooi said. “Technology adoption is only the first step. Businesses also need the skills

up, AmInvestment said the group is well positioned to tap into this space, leveraging its established vendor network and enterprise customer base to distribute and support these new systems, adding another layer of growth to its core business. AmInvestment said VSTECS is well positioned to help bring humanoid robotics to the local market, following its tie-up with Agibot to distribute solutions in Malaysia. The group’s nationwide reach, backed by more than 4,000 reseller partners, and its established links with enterprise clients give it a clear advantage as the technology begins to find its footing. Beyond simple distribution, VSTECS customer success, and analytics services. “Retail and F&B businesses across Southeast Asia are undergoing a major technology shift. From cloud POS to AI-powered analytics, businesses are looking for smarter ways to manage operations and scale efficiently,” said Xilnex CEO Ooi Boon Sheng. “Our expansion plans reflect our confidence in achieving strong growth in both revenue and talent as demand for retail technology and analytics continues to accelerate in 2026 and beyond,” he said. Xilnex provides cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) and retail management solutions to businesses across Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, helping retailers centralise operations and leverage real-time business data to improve decision-making. To fuel its regional expansion, Xilnex is actively hiring across multiple functions including software engineering, data analytics, sales, project management, customer success, and regional business development. As part of its regional growth strategy, Xilnex is also stepping up its

Ooi (left) with Xilnex Holdings business development director Tan Wei Kit.

price of RM6.40, based on a 16 times price-earnings multiple on its 2027 earnings forecast. It said the core drivers of the business remain intact, led by rising spending on AI infrastructure, an ongoing hardware refresh cycle and quicker cloud adoption in Malaysia. “These trends are expected to underpin a 28% compound annual growth in core earnings between FY24 and FY27, with a stronger mix of enterprise and services helping to lift margins and improve earnings quality over time,“ it said. The research house added that while humanoid robotics is not a key contributor to its forecasts at this stage, it offers additional upside as the broader business continues to strengthen. significantly expanded its regional footprint, with over 300 retail brands in the Philippines alone adopting Xilnex solutions. With continued investments in talent, technology, and regional partnerships, Xilnex expects 2026 to be a pivotal year as it strengthens its position as a regional retail technology provider.

to turn data into actionable decisions that improve profitability and growth.” Since pioneering cloud-based retail management solutions in Malaysia in 2007, Xilnex has supported leading brands including Marrybrown, Empire Sushi, Tealive, F.O.S, Alpro Pharmacy and Eco-Shop. The company has also

Humanoid robotics opens new growth path for VSTECS KUALA LUMPUR: Humanoid robots could soon become a new source of growth for VSTECS Bhd, as the technology moves closer to real-world use, according to AmInvestment Bank Bhd. As adoption picks is seen as capable of driving early adoption via product demonstrations, after-sales support, and on-the ground customer engagement. short dance. These are still largely scripted interactions, but enough to make the robot suitable for exhibitions, product launches, showroom demonstrations and other public-facing settings.

The research house said the group’s experience in scaling new vendor partnerships should also help identify practical use cases over time, putting it ahead of smaller players that focus mainly on retail gadgets. AmInvestment further said early versions of humanoid robots are already showing what they can do, but their real-world usefulness is still taking shape. Based on a recent visit to VSTECS, the research house said the Agibot robot could respond to simple voice commands, hold basic conversations, gesture naturally, and even perform a

However, it noted that the technology is not yet ready for more demanding work. Tasks that require consistent accuracy, independent decision making, and smooth integration into everyday operations remain challenging. For now, humanoids remain more of a showcase tool than a true productivity solution, with broader commercial use likely to take more time. AmInvestment maintained its “Buy” call on VSTECS with a target

The research house said the segment, still in its early stages, is expected to expand into factories, warehouses and service sectors over time, creating fresh demand alongside existing IT products. Citing Goldman Sachs estimates, it noted the humanoid market could reach about US$38 billion (RM149 billion) by 2035, which, while still small compared with today’s smartphone and notebook segments, could lift VSTECS’overall market opportunity by roughly 5%.