“Don’t be scared of technology. Be scared of being left behind.”
Those words carry weight when they come from Rafiq Hakim, a man who spent more than 40 years in the timber trade, starting from a small sawmill in Sabah.
A Business at a Crossroads
TimberPro Industries began like many Malaysian SMEs — hardworking, traditional, and built on sweat and trust. For decades, the company supplied sawn timber to markets across Asia and Europe. Orders were steady, and the business ticked along the same way it always had.
But then came the storms: the global financial crisis, falling timber demand, and later, the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“We realised, if we only rely on traditional orders from overseas buyers, we’re very exposed. It was either change, or risk fading into history.”
The First Digital Steps
For a business built on logs and sawdust, “going digital” sounded like a foreign language. But Rafiq decided to start small.
The first move? Digitising payroll.
“No fancy IoT, no big ERP. Just payroll. But when staff saw their pay slips were accurate, faster, no more manual errors. That small step gave us courage for bigger steps.”
From there, TimberPro added:
- A cloud-based ERP system for inventory and finance
- A supplier portal so partners could track orders and payments
- A digital HR app to simplify leave and claims
- An online catalogue with 3D models for architects abroad
- Even an AR tool so contractors could “place” TimberPro doors and windows into their designs before buying
Little by little, a traditional sawmill was reshaping itself into a digital-first timber solutions provider.
Courage to Challenge Old Beliefs
Not everyone supported the changes.
“My sales team told me, ‘Who want to buy timber doors online? This is not Shopee product lah!’”
But he pushed through the skepticism. Within six months, TimberPro secured its first online export deal.
“Sometimes, you must tahan the laughter. If it works, it opens new doors.”
The Nights of Doubt
Transformation, however, wasn’t smooth.
One night, their new inventory system glitched. Orders clashed. Numbers didn’t tally. Customers were angry. Staff pointed fingers.
Rafiq sat in his office, exhausted.
“I thought, why so stubborn? We were okay before. Why complicate things?”
It was in those dark moments that resilience mattered most.
“I reminded myself… This journey is not just for me. It’s for my children, my staff, their families. That gave me strength to continue.”
Leading with Empathy
For Rafiq, the toughest part wasn’t technology. It was people.
Many senior staff had been with him for 20 or 30 years. Suddenly, they were told to abandon stock cards and use computers.
“Some told me, ‘Boss, I cannot. I’m not IT person.’ I couldn’t just scold them. These people built the company with me. So we paired younger staff with older staff. Slowly, they adapted.”
Rafiq also led by example. He joined training sessions, struggling with the same screens as his team.
“Boss also blur, same like us! That humility helped. They saw learning new things is okay.”
Technology with Heart
Digitalisation wasn’t just about efficiency. It was about creating value for everyone.
- Customers got AR tools to visualise products in real projects.
- Suppliers enjoyed faster payments and better planning.
- Employees had easier HR processes and less paperwork stress.
“If you only use technology for profit, it won’t last. You must also use it to make life better for your people.”
Lessons for Other SMEs
Rafiq’s journey holds lessons for every SME owner:
- Start small, but start. Even payroll can be the first step.
- Put people first, tech second. No system works without buy-in.
- Expect failures. Treat them as research, not mistakes.
- Use what’s available. SME Corp, MDEC, MATRADE — the support is there if you’re willing to apply.
Most importantly: “Digital transformation is not about machines. It’s about people.”
Looking Ahead
TimberPro’s journey is far from over. Rafiq dreams of offering modular timber homes that can be customised online and shipped abroad. He’s also exploring smart agriculture for his oil palm plantation in Ranau, using drones and IoT for precision farming.
“Whether timber or agriculture, digital is not an option. It’s the foundation.”
A Hero in the Making
Rafiq doesn’t see himself as a hero. But for every SME owner who feels overwhelmed by digitalisation, his story is proof that transformation is possible — even for a traditional sawmill in Sabah.
His words close the loop:
“If a sawmill in Sabah can do it, anyone can. Don’t wait until crisis force you to change. Start now, little by little.”
Do you know someone like Rafiq?
We are looking for SME Digitization Heroes who:
- Transformed their traditional business through digital tools
- Created innovative solutions, even with limited resources
- Inspired others in their community to embrace change
These SME Digitization Heroes aren’t just about their digital success. They’re about vision, resilience, and the courage to break free from old ways and embrace new possibilities. They’re also focused on creating the life they really want—one that fits their passions, dreams, and values.
Know someone inspiring? Nominate them here! We’re looking for passionate SME owners to feature in our SME Digitization Heroes.
The SME Digitization Heroes series features real experiences of entrepreneurs and SMEs. In some cases, names and identifying details have been changed protect privacy. Any resemblance to actual persons or companies is purely coincidental.
