he founder of Aerodyne Group shares how he got into the business and how drone technology can aid society
Hailing from Kelantan, Kamarul Muhamed grew up surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit. His mother ran an F&B setup, while his father managed a fishing business. “I was immersed in the realities of managing and growing enterprises from a young age. This [fuelled] my interest in venturing into impactful business solutions,” he shares.
His career kicked off with a decade-long stint in the UK, which comprised working as an auditor and embarking on his first entrepreneurial pursuit. “Being an auditor for four years sharpened my analytical skills and provided a broad view of business operations. That marked my entry into entrepreneurship, as I founded Digital Kinetics UK, providing innovative business solutions,” says Kamarul, before his return to Malaysia, where he joined an American software firm and got promoted to country manager for Malaysia and Brunei at the age of 29.
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Kamarul’s experiences and upbringing laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey, culminating in the establishment of Aerodyne Group—a leading enterprise solutions provider driving impactful change. “Having travelled worldwide, I witnessed a spectrum of inequality and hardships. These experiences reinforced my belief in technology’s potential to improve lives and deepened my commitment to empower individuals and expand their freedom,” he says.
Aerodyne leverages drone data and AI-powered analytics to resolve complex challenges, enabling organisations to scale, transform, operate optimally, and increase productivity. Among its key offerings are agricultural intelligence, allowing farmers to increase yield and optimise costs; security and surveillance, to simplify monitoring vast areas; asset management, to ensure maintenance of infrastructure; and logistical innovation, such as deliveries in hard-to-reach areas.
There are challenges to overcome too. “It’s challenging and competitive to find the right talent in this part of the world, but it’s integral as we aim to ensure our standards. Since 2017, Aerodyne has completed 21 mergers and acquisitions globally, through which we have gained top industry talent. We also focus on capability building and have structured programmes to train our AeroRangers in leadership and technical capabilities,” he explains how they uncovered good talent.
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As a result, Aerodyne and Kamarul have received several accolades, most recently being ranked first as Global Drone Service Provider by Drone Industry Insights, Germany, and named TIE-KPMG SEA High Impact Entrepreneur of the Year.
Kamarul insists that “The true value of drones lies in it being integral components of IoT—in the data and insights they gather. And, maximising the potential of drone technology requires expertise in data analysis, sensor technology, and industry-specific knowledge.” He also envisions that Aerodyne will propel a future where innovation intersects with sustainability for societal well-being and economic prosperity, through initiatives promoting food security, education, and logistics accessibility.