Ifcon Technology Sdn. Bhd. – the Leading Software Developer Specializing in Blockchain Technology

How it all started

The year 2009 has solidified the turning point of the century in terms of technology, with the advent of smartphones to social networks. And with the promises of exciting technological advances ahead, it is with that vision that a young and progressive entrepreneur hailing from Malaysia, Nik Muhammad Izwan bin Nik Mohd Kamel (Nik Izwan Kamel), decided to establish a technology company.

Nik Izwan Kamel , who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering and a MBA started coding in C++ at the tender age of 9. He went on to found his first IT business at only 14, by providing web hosting and development services. A few years later and he was already proficient in Linux server and the system architecture.

He, along with another progressive friend sharing the same vision, Ahmad Aliff bin A S Ahmad Shariffuddin (Aliff Shariffuddin) founded Ifcon Technology, focusing on the latest technologies in the market. Aliff Shariffuddin, an engineer who graduated and worked in Australia for almost 10 years, was already an owner of several businesses in Australia and Malaysia. He brought with him technical expertise and years of practical experience in business management, as well as passion and enthusiasm in expanding into the technology sector.

At the time, a whitepaper on Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer payment system has just been published and blockchain technology was introduced to the world. But Ifcon Technology would not be involved in the technology until a few years later.

Ifcon Technology as an IT firm and software powerhouse

Both Nik Muhammad Izwan bin Nik Mohd Kamel and Ahmad Aliff bin A S Ahmad Shariffuddin set up Ifcon Technology as an IT firm providing consultations and business solutions to enterprises, from small and medium businesses to large and established corporations. The firm is also a software house, providing technical services such as web and systems development, setting up mobile and desktop software, big data analysis and other related services. From a small office in Kuala Lumpur to several offices in overseas such as Indonesia, Australia and the United Kingdom.

But Ifcon Technology is not just an IT service provider. It has also built its name in Malaysia as a drone specialist. Ifcon Technology provides drone-related services including aerial mapping, surveillance, inspection, media and training. Not only that, it also specializes in building its own drones. It has expertise in a number of drone designs and can customize drones according to the clients needs and demands. Some of the customizations offered by Ifcon Technology are camera and gimbals controls, specific circuit board design, communications and messaging, ground control system as well as on-board processing unit.

Road to Blockchain and beyond

2016 marked the year Ifcon Technology officially foraying into the blockchain industry. Prior to becoming a blockchain solutions provider, the firm tried its hand in mining. Purchasing several mining rigs, both Nik Muhammad Izwan Nik bin Mohd Kamel and Ahmad Aliff bin A S Ahmad Shariffuddin set up their mining operations in a converted office building. A few months later, they managed to accumulate a sizeable holding of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Nik Izwan Kamel and Aliff Shariffuddin, who are both visionaries, decided to expand Ifcon Technology’ services beyond web development and went on to develop blockchain solutions for clients all over the world, including Europe, USA, UK, Vietnam, Indonesia and their homeland, Malaysia. Between the years 2017-2018, Ifcon Technology was the main developer in 14 cryptocurrency projects, creating coins and tokens according to clients’ requirements and specifications. Ifcon Technology has experience developing a vast array of protocols and token standards, such as ERC20 and other iterations, PoW, PoS and dPoS.

Besides that, Ifcon Technology has also developed other blockchain related applications including smart contracts, exchanges, blockchain explorers, wallets, and blockchain-based certifications verifier for universities.

Rapid growth

Ifcon Technology has enjoyed many successes venturing into blockchain technology industry. It was not an easy road, especially with few understanding the potential of blockchain technology and refusing to see beyond its hype. Ifcon Technology’ willingness to learn everything it can get it hands on the technology and promoting its benefits to clients in different industries has resulted in them gaining the leading position as a blockchain developer.

“Persistence is always key.” Aliff Shariffuddin said.

“We had the knowledge that not many IT companies have at the time, and we wanted to sell it as something really beneficial for any company to adopt. We also had the advantage of experiencing different parts of the ecosystem – developing, mining, trading, ICO. We not only develop and integrate blockchain technology into our clients’ companies, we also support and assist them throughout their whole operation from start to end.”

Besides developing blockchain-based systems and applications for clients, Ifcon Technology has also developed their own products or worked with other strategic partners. Some of their popular products include Coin.my, a leading portal in Malaysia about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, Ifmal.com, an e-commerce platform selling imported goods, Scrut.my, a platform for users to check the conditions of recond cars, Bayan token, a smart contract token with syariah-compliant certified, Drone.my, a portal for all about drone technology with e-commerce platform, Idsb.my, a fintech platform for personal financing, and others.

This year, Ifcon Technology established a blockchain research lab at University Malaya, the top universities in Malaysia. Ifcon Technology became the main sponsor of the lab in this strategic partnership, and has also sponsored several students furthering their studies in Masters and PhD.

Challenges and looking ahead

“The best thing about the blockchain industry is its low barrier entry point,” Nik Izwan Kamel says.

“Anyone can get involved and try their hands in the pot of gold, so to speak. But that’s also where the challenges are.” According to both Nik Izwan Kamel and Aliff Shariffuddin, besides the lack of clarity in the regulatory environment, especially in their home country, Malaysia, there are various challenges getting to the top in the blockchain industry.

The main challenge is establishing a stable presence beyond the hype and buzz surrounding blockchain technology. Additionally, more and more startups are offering their own unique blockchain solutions, and staying uptrend and relevant can be as difficult as looking for new opportunities.

“Since we got involved in blockchain industry,” Aliff Shariffuddin notes,“it has been really fast-paced. We all know that technology changes rapidly, but the immense growth in blockchain means that you have to always keep up with the new trends, or risk losing out on opportunities.”

Ifcon Technology has been involved in many parts of the ecosystem, from mining to developing coins and tokens to organising ICOs to integrating blockchain into current systems. As more startups and companies enter the race and compete to become leading companies in the industry, Ifcon Technologyis quietly leading the charge in Malaysia. Governments all over the world are starting to acknowledge the potential of blockchain technology in transforming traditional systems, and Ifcon Technology wants to be at the helm when that ultimately happens.

Web: www.ifcontech.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ifcontech
Email: [email protected]