CDC Highlights Responsible AI in Public Procurement at APPeN 2026

15 October 2026 – Commerce Dot Com Sdn Bhd (CDC) shared Malaysia’s experience in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) for public procurement at the 11th Asia Pacific Public Electronic Procurement Network (APPeN) Conference, held in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 5 and 6 October 2026.

Organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Royal Government of Bhutan, the conference brought together more than 70 participants from 28 countries to exchange insights on digital procurement transformation and emerging technologies.

Exploring Practical AI Applications in Public Procurement

Invited as an industry speaker and panellist, CDC highlighted how AI can improve procurement efficiency, simplify access to information and support more informed decision-making within government procurement systems.

CDC Executive Director Putri Nurul Ida Yahya emphasised the importance of adopting practical AI solutions that deliver measurable results. She cited a three-month conversational AI pilot within Malaysia’s government procurement system that successfully reduced call centre workload by 15 to 18 per cent.

The pilot demonstrated how targeted AI applications can help address operational challenges and improve service efficiency.

Strengthening Responsible AI Adoption

Beyond operational improvements, CDC emphasised that responsible AI adoption must remain a priority, particularly in public procurement, where data security, transparency and accountability are essential.

This includes safeguarding sensitive government data, maintaining transparent processes and ensuring continuous human oversight as AI technologies are introduced into procurement operations.

Sharing Malaysia’s Digital Procurement Experience

As the developer and operator of ePerolehan, Malaysia’s national electronic government procurement platform, CDC brings experience in supporting the country's digital procurement ecosystem.

The APPeN Conference also provided an opportunity for CDC to exchange knowledge with regional counterparts on technology implementation, change management and sustainable user adoption.

Through these discussions, CDC reinforced Malaysia’s contribution to regional knowledge-sharing efforts and the advancement of responsible, technology-driven public procurement.