Last week we spent two days at B2B Tech Asia 2026, Indonesia’s largest B2B software expo, held on 1–2 July at AXA Tower, Kuningan City Grand Ballroom in Jakarta.
More than 50 exhibitors filled the venue, joined by founders, enterprise leaders, investors, and technology teams from across the country. Some visitors came looking for new software. Others wanted practical advice on AI adoption, digital transformation, or simply a clearer picture of where the market is heading.
B2B Tech Asia 2026 was a two-day B2B software expo held on 1–2 July 2026 at AXA Tower Jakarta, bringing together 50+ exhibitors and industry speakers across IT, Finance, Marketing and Sales technology tracks. Represented by Alfi & Hilmy, Slash participated as visitor, held matchmaking sessions, and attended key sessions across both days.
The Event at a Glance
B2B Tech Asia 2026 positioned itself as Southeast Asia’s definitive B2B software showcase, focused entirely on the SaaS and software ecosystem, with ten specialised department zones covering AI, Finance, Marketing, HR, and more. For the Slash team, it was the right room to be in.
That focus showed in both the exhibitors and the speaker lineup. Speakers represented some of the most recognised names in Indonesian and global enterprise technology: Hiroyasu Tei from Softbank, Arvy Egadipoera, COO of Mekari, Yosep Stephen, CEO of Accurate Indonesia, Rajesh Grover, Chief Digital Officer at Domino’s AI division, Franki Djingga from Salesforce, and Eryan Ariobowo from AWS, among many others.
Alongside the seminars, the organisers scheduled structured matchmaking sessions between exhibitors and prospective clients. We also somehow found ourselves watching a Japanese chef break down an entire tuna on the main stage before serving sushi and sashimi to the crowd. Not exactly what you’d expect at a software conference, but nobody seemed to mind.
Day 1: Seminars, Expo, Matchmaking with Labamu, and the Main Stage Surprise
The exhibition floor opened alongside the seminar programme, and before long the venue had settled into a steady rhythm of demos, presentations and conversations.
Walking the floor at B2B Tech Asia 2026, one theme kept surfacing in almost every booth we visited. Businesses of all sizes, from growing SMEs to large enterprises, weren’t asking whether AI had a place in their organisation anymore. They were asking much more practical questions: where should it fit, what should they automate first, and how could they introduce it without disrupting the systems already in place?
We also took part in a dedicated matchmaking session with Labamu, the B2B platform founded by Emmanuel van de Geer to support small and medium-sized businesses across Indonesia. Having dedicated time away from the bustle of the exhibition floor made for a more focused conversation than the quick introductions that often happen at large conferences.
Besides, we explored cutting-edge regional innovations and connected with incredible teams on the floor, including Avo AI, Ada, BowNow, Bitbybit, Gaji.id, SunFish, and VRI.
Then came the main stage moment that nobody had put on their agenda: a live tuna cutting demonstration by a Japanese chef, followed by freshly prepared sushi and sashimi available to attendees. It was theatrical, it was delicious, and it broke the standard expo rhythm in the best way. Watching a chef execute a full tuna breakdown in front of a crowd of founders and CFOs was, without question, the most memorable scene of the two days.
Day 2: Dentsu’s Session, More Matchmaking, and Final Connections
By the second day, many of the conversations had moved beyond introductions. We spent some time at a short lecture by Takenobu Sugiuchi, Senior Marketing Director and General Manager at Dentsu. The discussion centered on how AI is finding its place in modern marketing. Topics ranged from customer insights and data to the changing role of creative teams as AI becomes part of everyday workflows. It was a practical session, grounded in the realities of how organisations are adapting, rather than predictions about where the technology might go next.
The session resonated with what Slash sees in its own client conversations. The companies pulling ahead are not just deploying AI tools. They are rethinking the underlying systems and workflows that connect data, decisions, and customer outcomes.
What B2B Tech Asia 2026 Confirmed for Us
Two days on the floor confirmed several things that we’ve been building towards at Slash.
- Indonesia’s B2B software market is accelerating. Rising wages, increasing operational complexity, and competitive pressure are pushing businesses toward automation and AI-driven systems faster than most forecasts anticipated.
- Matchmaking creates better business conversations. The structured format helped cut through the noise of the expo floor and gave us space for more focused discussions. Our session with Labamu was a clear example.
- Integration is now the real question. Many of the most interesting conversations were not about which software to buy, but how to connect existing systems, make them work together, and build something that can scale.
- Events like this still matter. In a world of virtual demos and remote-first sales, being in the same room with decision-makers for two full days creates a quality of connection that digital channels cannot replicate.
Across the two days, conversations rarely centred on individual features or standalone tools. Instead, they focused on how software, data, and AI can work together within existing systems. As more businesses move from experimenting with AI to implementing it, integration has become just as important as innovation.
Looking Ahead
We left B2B Tech Asia 2026 with new connections, a sharper view of where the market is heading, and a strong appetite to keep showing up in rooms where Indonesia’s business technology conversation is happening.
If you were at the event and met us, or if you want to continue a conversation we started over the past two days, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us here.
