BIG Caring Group, Malaysia’s largest retail pharmacy chain, has selected RISE with SAP on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to modernise and unify its operations across more than 500 outlets nationwide. The move marks a significant step in the company’s digital transformation strategy as it seeks to create a scalable cloud-based data platform that improves operational efficiency and enhances customer experiences.
Accelerating transformation after merger
The company was formed in 2023 following the merger of BIG Pharmacy Healthcare and Caring Pharmacy Group. However, its digital transformation journey began in 2019, when Caring Pharmacy’s on-premise enterprise resource planning (ERP) system began to face limitations. As the store network expanded, the legacy software struggled with data complexity and bottlenecks, slowing internal collaboration and decision-making.
To address these challenges, Caring Pharmacy adopted SAP S/4HANA Retail in 2021 to streamline its supply chain, inventory, and customer relationship management functions. Following the merger, the newly formed BIG Caring Group saw an opportunity to further accelerate its digitalisation efforts by unifying operations and data under a secure and flexible cloud infrastructure.
“Integrating our diverse retail operations onto a unified cloud platform is a crucial milestone for us,” said Ooh Chin Boon, Chief Information Officer at BIG Caring Group. “We have selected RISE with SAP on AWS to help us access more accurate and comprehensive data across the entire group, so that we can respond with more agility to customer demands and supply chain volatility. This strengthens our capacity to deliver enhanced customer experiences and future proof our business.”
A strategic move to cloud innovation
The deployment of RISE with SAP on AWS will enable BIG Caring Group to bring together operational data from hundreds of stores and business units onto a single cloud platform. This integration will help streamline core functions such as procurement, inventory control, financial reporting, and customer engagement.
The company expects this cloud-first approach to reduce manual work, improve cost efficiency, and accelerate decision-making. With AWS’s established infrastructure in the region, BIG Caring Group will also be better equipped to adapt quickly to changing market demands and scale its operations as needed.
Vipin Chandran, Managing Director of SAP Malaysia, said, “SAP Business AI is a huge enabler of automation and innovation for our customers, and being in the cloud is the first step to unlocking its full potential. I’m excited that BIG Caring Group has selected RISE with SAP on AWS to drive their transformation goals. With the group’s massive scale of operations in the country, there is so much opportunity that we can uncover together and reimagine retail experiences in Malaysia.”
Laying the groundwork for future innovation
Beyond operational improvements, the cloud-based foundation will also support BIG Caring Group’s access to emerging technologies such as generative AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics. These tools are expected to power three key areas: optimised inventory management, enhanced customer engagement, and improved supply chain operations.
With real-time analytics and AI-driven insights, the group aims to better forecast demand, personalise customer interactions, and reduce downtime through automation and IoT integration. These efforts are expected to help BIG Caring Group set new benchmarks in pharmacy retail across Malaysia.
By adopting RISE with SAP on AWS, the company is not only addressing current operational needs but also building a technology-led platform for sustainable growth and continued innovation in the retail pharmacy sector.
