Students will help the SMEs plan and execute digital engagement strategies
As long-standing business practices face disruption from rapid advancements in technology, Singapore’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to draw support from a partnership between National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC’s) U SME and Nanyang Polytechnic aimed at strengthening their digital capabilities.
“While digital technology and innovation can help businesses create ideas and value in their products and services, some SMEs may not know what digital tools are available or may find the cost of adopting these technologies too high for them,” said NTUC in a statement.
According to a study recently published by Mercer, three-fourths of Singapore employees believe technology at work is likely to have the most impact on their organizations in the next two years. These include automation, robotics, machine learning, and wearables. But only 56% of HR professionals in the city-state agree.
Together with lecturers, students at Nanyang Polytechnic’s Customer Experience and Analytics Centre (CEAC) will work with U SME’s partners to leverage digital technology and provide solutions to actual business challenges and issues faced by the SMEs.
The students will help the SMEs analyse their digital footprint, monitor and manage their social media interactions; as well as plan and execute digital engagement strategies, NTUC said.
Workers will also benefit from the partnership as U SME will work with training providers such as the NTUC LearningHub to provide training for them to stay up to date with digital technological advancements.
“Ultimately, the collaborations between the Labour Movement’s expanding network and SMEs aim to benefit the enterprises so that together we can take better care of our workers,” said Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Assistant Director-General of NTUC who oversees U SME.