SINGAPORE — With earlier efforts to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) go digital failing to gather steam, and many saying they are not sufficiently tech savvy, the Infocommunications Media Development Authority (IMDA) is stepping in to coordinate and customise digital plans for various sectors.

It will spend S$80 million over four years on the SMEs Go Digital programme, collaborating with big companies such as telcos, banks and other firms to put together digital solutions packages for SMEs so that they will not have to manage multiple vendors.

The programme will start with the retail, food services, wholesale trade, logistics, cleaning and security sectors. For example, the IMDA will work with telco StarHub to offer a digital solution package for SMEs in the food and beverage (F&B) and retail industries.

“Given the increasing sophistication of ICT solutions and rapid pace of change, it is timely for the Government to make a bigger push to help SMEs in different stages of digitalisation to gain access to the tech resources required,” said the IMDA, as debates over the Ministry of Communications and Information started yesterday.

And under the Smart Retail Programme, which will target 1,000 SMEs in the F&B sector, ICT solutions will be integrated into a single service, which includes Wi-Fi and broadband connectivity, retail analytics and digital ordering and payment. For example, the IMDA has worked with department store Robinsons to integrate 200 SME suppliers on the same e-procurement platform.

To come up with solutions that can be scaled up and potentially benefit SMEs sector-wide, the IMDA will partner with vendors and some SMEs to pilot solutions.

For SMEs with more advanced digital needs, such as data analytics, cyber security and Internet of Things, a new SME Digital Tech Hub will be launched by the third quarter of this year. This hub will connect SMEs to ICT vendors and consultants, and conduct workshops and seminars.

And with data being a source of “competitive advantage” for Singapore, a Data Innovation Programme Office will be opened within IMDA to help SMEs collect, analyse data and facilitate data sharing. This includes a Data Sandbox to provide a neutral and trusted platform for companies to share data securely, without threatening their individual interests.

“The level of awareness of how data can potentially generate value for businesses is not high across the various sectors. There is a shortage of talent to help businesses tap on data analytics for growth. There is also a lack of trusted platforms for businesses to discover and exchange data,” the IMDA said.

To that end, IMDA will also aim to develop talent in this area, and will work towards increasing training and growing the pool of professionals with data analytics skills. It will also build up research in data science by forming a consortium of research institutions to coordinate these efforts.

In recent years, an increasing number of businesses have been tapping on big data to improve their operations. For instance, ride-sharing services such as Uber and Grab collect real-time data of drivers and vehicles, and analyse this data to better match passengers with the closest available vehicles.