IMDA works with Enterprise SG to digitise food services industry

Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore have jointly developed the Food Services Industry Digital Plan (IDP) as part of the "SMEs Go Digital Programme" for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).The Food Services industry has over 160,000 workers, contributing to 5% of the total employment in Singapore. The industry also accounts for 0.8% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).The SMEs Go Digital Programme comprises of the industry digital plan, consultancy services, project management services and pre-approved solutions. The IDP provides SMEs with step-by-step advice on the digital technologies to use at each stage of their growth and serves as a guide for their digital journey. It will be updated over time as the industry progresses and newer technologies are introduced. A digital roadmap in the Food Services IDP will cover areas such as “Getting Digital Economy Ready”, “Growing in the Digital Economy” and “Leaping Ahead”. Getting Digital Economy Ready: Ready-to-go digital solutions enable SMEs in the Food Services industry to adopt technologies to enhance customer experience and optimise operations in specific areas. Solutions such as automated reservation, online food ordering and digital payment focus on enhancing business productivity.Growing in the Digital Economy: More advanced digital solutions like e-procurement and data analytics enable Food Services SMEs to integrate existing digital technologies to better visualise and manage their entire business value chain.Leaping Ahead: Food Services SMEs can go a step further to incorporate artificial intelligence to their business operations. These technologies can come in the form of smart predictive ordering and autonomous food preparation robots.This roadmap outlines both front-of-house and back-of-house digital solutions and serves as a reference on the training programmes required to raise employees’ digital skills. The training roadmap was developed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and the Asian Culinary Institute. It is aligned to the digital skills and competencies of the Skills Framework for food services and includes SkillsFuture Series programmes across eight emerging areas. Larger enterprises in the Food Services industry can also use the digital roadmap to guide their digital journey.SMEs can use the online checklist to assess their digital readiness and identify opportunities to go digital based on their current business operations, level of digitalisation and business expansion plans.Meanwhile, as part of the consultancy services, SMEs can approach Business Advisors at the nearest SME Centre for business diagnosis and advisory on digital solutions relevant to their operations. SMEs that require specialist consultancy on sophisticated technologies, such as data analytics and cybersecurity, will be referred to the Principal Consultants at the SME Digital Tech Hub. These consultancy services are provided at no cost to SMEs. In addition, SMEs can also engage Project Management Services to support them in the implementation of digital solutions. The project managers can help with business processes re-engineering and job redesign for maximum benefits and have more sustainable outcomes from going digital.SMEs requiring productivity tools such as customer relationship management or inventory management solutions can pick from the list of pre-approved solutions on Tech Depot and receive grant support for eligible projects. Tech Depot is a one-stop, centralised platform aimed at improving SMEs’ access to technology and digital solutions. SMEs will also be able to participate in digital sector projects that are initiated jointly by IMDA, Enterprise Singapore and the industry leaders.The Food Services industry has over 160,000 workers, contributing to 5% of the total employment in Singapore. The industry also accounts for 0.8% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).