While Southeast Asia promises a plethora of potential for entrepreneurship, it also poses distinct difficulties that might be intimidating for seasoned professionals. Acclime partner and well-known chartered accountant Betty Gervasini (Lim) offers insightful advice on how to overcome these obstacles. Betty's experience gives valuable insights for entrepreneurs aiming to thrive in Southeast Asia, as she has lived and worked in several of the region's countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Southeast Asian entrepreneurs encounter many challenges, such as marketplaces that are competitive, cultural diversity, and complicated regulations. Every nation has a different terrain, necessitating a thorough knowledge of regional traditions and legal systems.

Although Singapore has made a name for itself as a corporate hub thanks to its advantageous location, first-rate infrastructure, and high cost of living, local and foreign competitors are fiercely competitive in Singapore's small domestic market. The labor restrictions and strict laws make it even harder for companies to establish themselves in this city-state. With an emphasis on financial services and technology growth, Singapore continues to be a catalyst for innovation and economic development in the area despite these obstacles. Entrepreneurs can benefit from Singapore's advanced technological projects, such as the "Smart Nation" project, and the city's thriving financial sector.

In Indonesia, the challenges are more structural. Regulatory complexity, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to operate efficiently. However, the country's growing middle class and vibrant digital economy provide numerous opportunities for businesses in e-commerce, fintech, and manufacturing. To navigate these challenges, entrepreneurs must prioritize relationship-building and local partnerships, which can help them understand cultural nuances and mitigate the risks of regulatory non-compliance.

Betty Gervasini's career serves as a blueprint for navigating these challenges successfully. A certified chartered accountant with over two decades of experience, Betty has founded multiple businesses in Southeast Asia and achieved significant recognition for her contributions to the region's corporate landscape.

In 2006, she founded Finex, a professional corporate services company in Vietnam, which was later acquired by Acclime in 2020. Through Finex, Betty helped numerous multinational clients navigate the complex tax and regulatory environments in Vietnam, a country known for its rapid industrial growth but equally challenging bureaucratic hurdles. After the acquisition, she became a partner at Acclime, a leading corporate services provider across Asia.

Betty also founded HR Forte Systems, a cloud-based SaaS platform that offers HR and payroll solutions across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and more. Her expertise in establishing businesses in foreign markets has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition by APAC Business Headlines, a listing in the British Encyclopedia's 5th edition for "Successful People in Malaysia”, featured in Enterprise World magazine as “The Most Iconic Business Leader to Watch in 2024”, a Certified Lead Auditor of ISO27001 and she was awarded the Business Leadership Award by CXO2.0 in Dubai in Dec 2024.

Human resource management, payroll processing, and regulatory compliance are critical challenges for businesses operating in Southeast Asia. HR Forte is a comprehensive HR and payroll solution designed to simplify these complexities, ensuring seamless workforce management while staying compliant with local labor laws.

HR Forte Modules and Functions

1. Core HR & Employee Management

  • Employee Self-Service (ESS) Portal
  • Employee Profile & Document Management
  • Organizational Structure & Reporting Lines

2. Payroll & Compliance

  • Automated Payroll Processing
  • Multi-Country Payroll Support
  • Tax & Statutory Contribution Calculations
  • Payslip & Payroll Report Generation
  • Customizable Payroll Rounding & Decimal Settings

3. Time & Attendance

  • eSmartTime (Time Tracking & GPS Clocking)
  • Shift & Schedule Management
  • Leave & Absence Management

4. Expense & Claims Management

  • eClaims Submission & Approval
  • Policy-Based Expense Reimbursements

5. Digital Signatures & Document Management

  • eSign for Secure Digital Document Signing

6. Compliance & AI Integration

  • AI-Powered Compliance Assistant
  • Regulatory Document Retrieval & Summarization
  • SLA Tracking & Compliance Monitoring

7. Reporting & Data Analytics

  • Customizable Report Module with Pivot Table Functionality
  • Multi-Company & Multi-Country Data Aggregation
  • Workflow & Automation for Data Analysis

8. System & User Management

  • Role-Based Access & Permissions
  • API Integrations (Zoho Billing, RAG System, etc.)
  • Free Trial & User Activation Portal

HR Forte provides a scalable, AI-enhanced platform that empowers businesses to manage their HR functions efficiently while ensuring compliance with local regulations across Southeast Asia.

With over two decades of corporate experience and a proven track record as a renowned entrepreneur in the HR industry, Betty has been instrumental in helping international companies expand into Asia. She advises businesses entering Southeast Asia to seek professional guidance during their first one to two years of operation. Navigating complex legal, tax, and regulatory landscapes requires expertise, and the cost of consulting with professionals is often outweighed by the savings in time, reduced risks, and avoidance of costly compliance mistakes. As she puts it, “The investment you make in expert advice will save you time, headaches, and significant penalties down the road.”