Microimage celebrates 25 years of innovation and business growth

From left: Director/Co-Founder Damindu Jayaweera, Founder/ Chief Executive Officer Harsha Purasinghe and Director/Chief Product Officer Suren Rupasinghe

Microimage is celebrating its 25th anniversary in business and the growth of its services across the globe. The holding company for MiHCM and Microimage Mobile Media has grown from a high school start-up into an internationally recognised provider of human capital management (HCM), broadcast and digital media solutions.

Founder and CEO of Microimage, Harsha Purasinghe, credits the company’s sustained growth and expansion to the support and loyalty of his team, clients and partners. “Microimage has achieved this 25-year milestone through passionately innovating & reinventing the company during key technology transitions, hard work and dedication of our business units, our devotion to delight customers with innovative products & outstanding service, and our network of partners. We look forward to the future and to building on our proud 25-year history.” Purasinghe said.

Microimage first developed language support software before venturing into HCM solutions. In 2001, the company introduced the first-ever web-based human resource information system (HRIS) solution in Sri Lanka. 

The more evolved MiHCM which was launched in 2017 (formerly Microimage HCM Cloud) now has a client list of over 300 companies in varied industries and is one of the fastest-growing enterprise software-as-a-service (SAAS) HR solutions available in South Asia and Southeast Asia. 

“The future of work will be shaped by how we develop our technology,” said Suren Rupasinghe, Director Microimage & Chief Product Officer. “If we don’t support a continual process of learning, innovation does not happen, processes remain unchanged, and nothing new is ever developed.”

In 2006, Microimage developed the world’s first patented local language messaging and content browsing application to provide customised, local language support for entry-level applications on mobile devices. It won the award for Most Innovative Mobile Application at the inaugural Asia Mobile Innovation Awards hosted by GSM Association (GSMA).

In 2007, the company diversified into mobile media and broadcast solutions by incorporating Microimage Mobile Media. As a result, platforms like mStudio and vStation currently power all key radio networks and DTH TV operators in Sri Lanka and number of others across Southeast Asia. 

In 2014, Microimage strengthened its regional presence by establishing its first regional operations in Kuala Lumpur through a joint venture with public listed technology conglomerate Omesti Berhad. MiHCM Asia served as a Launchpad to deliver proprietary HCM solutions like MiHCM Cloud outside of Sri Lanka. 

The new office combined the financial strength and business network of the Omesti Group together with the extensive and proven HR domain-centric R&D expertise of Microimage. In 2015, the company invested in the digital business start-up Antyra Solutions. 

“Many of the world’s leading SAAS companies were built to exponential scale thanks to great leadership, culture, performance, and strategy,” said Damindu Jayaweera, Director and Co-founder of Microimage. “We will continue researching and developing flexible solutions for our customers to help them address the changes and challenges within their industries. Our dedication to providing value for customers is not going to change and we fully expect those efforts to continue to fuel our desire to be a billion-dollar company.”

Microimage is no stranger to solving the world’s most pressing social and environmental problems. The company co-developed the Disaster Early Warning Network (DEWN), a mobile-based early warning mechanism aimed at minimizing the risk of disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. DEWN is the primary emergency warning alerting system used by the Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka. 

To mark the company’s 25th anniversary, Microimage launched a new sustainable initiative to deliver needed resources to schools in the rural communities of Sri Lanka. The company will sponsor three fully fledged technology labs to most underprivileged rural schools during this financial year. The first technology lab was donated to a school in Lenadora, Dambulla in Matale District. 

“Microimage was formed by group of like-minded high school students in a computer lab. 25 years ago, we were privileged to have access to computers. Even after 25 years there are schools without access to computers/internet. We believe it’s an equal right for all school children have access to digital technology & education.” Purasinghe further echoed.