Digital Strategy
The Feature We Refused to Build
A client asked for a customer app. The audit found their buyers would never install it. What we built instead, and how to judge a feature before paying.
·5 min read
Strategic Tech Partner
Upgrade how your business runs.
I'm Ervandra Halim, CPTO and Principal Architect. I partner with owners and leadership teams to decide what to build and how to build it: modernizing operations, putting AI to work in daily processes, and shipping products that keep up with growth.
Currently CPTO at Syntax Solution. A few engagements at a time, mostly by referral.
- 15+
- Years shipping
- 10+
- Ventures partnered
- 650K+
- Users served
- 20+
- Engineers led
- 2022
- R/GA Hall of Immortality
01/What You Get
What your business gets out of this
I don't sell technology. I help you decide what to fix, automate, and build, then deliver it with a team that has done it before.
01
Operations that run themselves
Put AI and automation to work inside your daily processes: approvals, documents, reporting, follow-ups. Fewer manual hours, faster turnaround, fewer errors.
- AI agents in real workflows, with human control
- Automated document and approval flows
- Hours of manual work removed every week
02
Systems that keep up with growth
Modernize legacy platforms and untangle architecture before it slows the business down, without stopping day-to-day operations.
- Audit and modernization roadmap
- Staged migration without disrupting operations
- Performance, security, and cost under control
03
Visibility for better decisions
Turn scattered spreadsheets and disconnected tools into dashboards and numbers you can act on.
- One source of truth for the numbers
- Real-time operational dashboards
- Metrics tied to business outcomes
04
Senior technology leadership, on demand
A CTO-level partner for strategy, architecture, vendor, and hiring decisions. A few days a month, not a full-time hire.
- Technology strategy and roadmap
- Architecture, vendor, and due diligence review
- Hiring and team development
02/Partnership
How a partnership works
No retainers you forget about, no black-box vendors. A clear path from first conversation to systems your team owns.
01
Conversation
We start with where your business is today and where you want it to go. If I am not the right fit, I will say so and point you to someone who is.
02
Audit and roadmap
I map your systems, processes, and quick wins into a concrete plan with priorities, costs, and risks. You keep the roadmap either way.
03
Build together
I architect and deliver with your team, or bring mine through Syntax Solution. You stay in control and see progress every week.
04
You own it
Systems, documentation, and knowledge end up with your team. The business runs without depending on me, and I stay on as a long-term technical partner.
For a small number of ventures each year I go deeper and build as a co-owner, so my incentives match yours.
03/Selected Work
Where this approach has worked
Global brands, national enterprises, and products built from zero. Some enterprise work stays confidential, and I'm happy to walk through it in conversation.
GP
Google Pixel
R/GAGlobal campaign frontend, multi-market and performance optimized.
ReactNext.jsContentful
Multi-market launch across 10+ countries
GFB
Grab for Business
R/GAEnterprise platform for APAC's leading ride-hailing super app.
ReactNext.js
Enterprise-scale, APAC reach
CZ
CDG Zig (ComfortDelGro)
R/GADigital product for Singapore transport services.
ReactNext.js
Singapore national transport digital product
CC
CIAYO Comics
CIAYO CorpReact/Next.js comics reading platform from zero to scale.
ReactNext.jsNode.js
656,000 active users
O
OneAccess
Syntax SolutionCore workflow platform supporting branch operations for a national multifinance company.
React.NETMSSQL
Business-critical internal platform
FM
Fleet Management
Syntax SolutionReal-time fleet tracking and management dashboard.
ReactVite.NETMSSQL
Enterprise logistics platform
04/About
Who you'll be working with
For 15+ years I've been the person teams call when the system is down, the architecture is tangled, or the roadmap has outgrown the codebase. I've led 20+ engineers at Syntax Solution, shipped a platform to 656,000 users at CIAYO, a startup I co-founded, and delivered global work for Google Pixel, Grab, and ComfortDelGro at R/GA, earning the Hall of Immortality award in 2022.
I work as a partner, not a vendor: embedded with your team, accountable for outcomes, building systems your business can own and run with or without me.
I co-founded Syntax Solution and lead it today as CPTO and Principal Architect.
05/References
What partners and colleagues say
Unedited, from LinkedIn recommendations.
David Alfa Sunarna
Associate Technology Director - R/GA
When I first meet Ervan, I know he will be a leader in engineering team someday. And it is happening now, im moving from R/GA and now Ervan replacing me to lead a world-class team in R/GA. As an engineer, Ervan's skill is no doubt. He deliver world-class technology solution for client and working with people from around the globe. As a person, Ervan's is a very responsible person and have a very good communication and writing skill. Hope we meet again, and work together again. Ervan!
Jussi Hurmola
CEO - LifeLearn Holdings Pte Ltd
Ervandra is a very special person for us. He always overdeliver his services, even without being asked. He saved us multiple times due to our primitive and outdated backend system, he provide quick and working solutions. Indeed, our most valuable person regarding to technology, especially web applications and technology solutions
Donny Riantori
VP Engineering at DDTC
Ervandra is an extraordinary software engineer, he always comes with a great solution, practical and impactful for any result of his project. You will find 'engineering thinking', lives on this very talented guy, not only on his work but also on every process that he takes.
Eko Purnomo
VP of Technology at Komunal Indonesia
When I was at R/GA Ervan helps me a lot when doing things, I never find it difficult to work with him and he was always on time for delivery. He knew the principle when doing the work and always questioned what we could improve in the future. His technical skills in front-end development are unquestionable, I can trust him to deliver without any supervision whatsoever, and he's a dedicated person. Apart from work, he's someone you'd like to share about life, idea and experiences, and I'd like to cross paths again with Ervan in the future.
06/Track Record
Where I've contributed
- Scaled from founding to 20+ engineers. Delivered enterprise platforms across finance, banking, and robotics.
- Co-founder overseeing product strategy and technology execution end to end.
- Owns roadmap, architecture, security, delivery, and measurable outcomes for clients and ventures.
- Leads AI automation and implementation initiatives across SMEs to streamline operations and increase ROI.
- Second venture: a firm pairing tax and business advisory with the systems to act on it.
- Built the technology foundation from day zero: platforms, dashboards, and metrics, so the firm runs on systems instead of headcount.
- Role is direction, not keyboards: deciding what to build, what to buy, and what to kill.
- Led a full-stack team and implemented CI/CD pipelines for a P2P fintech platform.
- Set the standard for code quality and mentored engineers toward full-stack proficiency.
- Made technically sound decisions aligned with business goals, prioritizing ruthlessly to hit milestones.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams on requirements, planning, and delivery.
- Led delivery of Google Pixel, Grab for Business, and CDG Zig. Awarded Hall of Immortality (2022).
- Managed the APAC (Indonesia) technology team: growth, working experience, and successful deliveries.
- Collaborated across R/GA offices and disciplines: experience design, visual design, and strategy.
- Owned technical feasibility, risk and effort estimation, and de-risking prototypes for client work.
- Led by example: modern, secure, well-performing code and daily mentoring.
- Led the engineering team and technology operations of a consumer wellness platform.
- Owned technical decisions, resource planning, deployments, and the liaison between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Stayed on as technology partner through early 2026.
- Co-founded CIAYO under PT. Dragon Capital Centre, a media and entertainment startup, and led its frontend division for five years.
- Built the comics platform with React and Next.js from first commit to 656,000 users.
- Wrote technical specifications, owned the project blueprint, scaling strategy, and CI/CD releases.
- Re-architected the web apps from AngularJS through Nuxt.js and Next.js as the products matured.
07/Insights
Notes from the field
Practical writing on technology, AI, and digital strategy for businesses that want to stay ahead.
Business & Tech
The Standing-Meeting Audit: Which Recurring Meetings Earn Their Slot
A standing meeting audit finds the recurring meetings quietly taxing your team. Run it quarterly with keep, kill, shorten, or async criteria, no politics.
·8 min read
Business & Tech
Reading Your P&L Like an Operator
Reading your profit and loss for decisions, not vanity: which lines to watch monthly, and which expense lines automation actually moves.
·8 min read
08/Contact
Let's talk.
Most of my work arrives by referral. If someone pointed you my way, or you're weighing a decision about your technology, I'm happy to have a straightforward conversation. No pitch, no pressure.
All the ways to reach me, and what makes a great first message