EtonHouse leverages IMDA’s Digital Leaders Programme to integrate tech in education

With over 94% of firms having adopted at least one digital solution in 2023, Singapore’s digital transformation journey is in full swing¹. Structured Industry Digital Plans guide this shift, ensuring sustainable growth and competitiveness. Across industries, businesses are integrating technology to streamline operations, improve customer experiences, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The education sector is no exception.

EtonHouse, a leading education provider in Singapore, embarked on its digital transformation journey in 2021, to scale operations and enhance its student management systems. However, they quickly realised that most off-the-shelf solutions only offered baseline functionalities that did not align with the school’s unique learning pedagogy. The available systems lacked the ability to convert rich data into actional insights, which is critical for improving productivity, personalising education, and increasing enrolment. Moreover, these solutions did little to strengthen engagement between parents, teachers, and students.

Determined to close the gap between technology and pedagogy, EtonHouse turned to IMDA’s Digital Leaders Programme (DLP), an initiative designed to equip businesses in Singapore with the expertise, resources, and industry support needed to accelerate digital transformation. Mr Ng Yi-Xian, Group CEO of EtonHouse and Mr John Ang, Group CTO of EtonHouse, are especially thankful for the programme and appreciative of its benefits.

Overcoming challenges in education with data-driven digital solutions

Like many education providers navigating the digital age, EtonHouse faced several digitalisation roadblocks. These included limited functionality in existing systems that did not cater to the school’s unique pedagogy, fragmented parent-teacher communication which reduced engagement and collaboration, underutilised data that prevented the school from making informed decisions, and a heavy administrative burden, with many manual tasks slowing down the team’s productivity.

Recognising the need for a tailored approach, Mr Ang spearheaded a digital revamp by leveraging the DLP. Through the programme, EtonHouse was able to recruit an in-house digital team comprising experts in infrastructure, application development, and cybersecurity. “The newly minted digital team plays a crucial role in improving our IT systems. For example, our infrastructure team has recently successfully revamped our IT network to ensure stability,” said Mr Ang. “The application development team integrated a new student information system that streamlined administrative tasks and improved data accuracy. This would not have been possible without DLP’s support.”

Among the standout projects developed by the digital team is Kagami, a mobile app designed specifically for parents. This user-friendly app provides real-time updates on their children’s progress, school events, and other activities. With Kagami, parents can access important information at their fingertips, fostering stronger engagement and communication between the school and families.

In addition to Kagami, the team implemented multiple automation solutions to reduce manual workloads. These included automated attendance tracking, which replaced paper-based methods with a seamless digital solution, billing and fee management automation designed to reduce errors and improve transparency, as well as daily student activity reports which were previously time-consuming and inconsistent. “Previously, communication with parents was done via hardcopy letters. With the two new apps, many manual processes were eliminated, saving costs for the company and at the same time, freeing teachers of time-consuming administrative work,” said Mr Welson Tan, Senior Analyst at EtonHouse.

The impact of these initiatives has been significant. EtonHouse saw a 3% year-on-year increase in student enrolment, driven by digital enhancements that improved the overall parent experience. The school projected a 10% revenue growth, supported by better student retention rates, and achieved a 30% productivity gain, as automation reduced time spent on manual data processing, allowing teachers and staff to focus more on student development.

Looking ahead, EtonHouse is exploring Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to further boost its productivity. Mr Ang explained, “Furthermore, with Generative AI, we plan to develop and deliver a more interactive, personalised curriculum and enhanced learning experience for our students.” Future initiatives include using AI to automate worksheet creation and timetable scheduling, as well as implementing a Customer Data Platform (CDP) to personalise learning experiences based on individual student data.

How IMDA’s DLP empowers businesses

DLP is at the forefront of Singapore’s push to empower businesses with digital capabilities. Designed to help companies accelerate their transformation journey, the programme provides tailored support through a three-pronged approach:

• Empower: Strengthening digital leadership by equipping business leaders and digital teams with strategic and tactical knowledge. This includes expert-led masterclasses to help company leadership navigate their transformation journey.
• Enable: Building internal digital capabilities by providing salary support for companies to recruit an in-house digital team, including a Chief Technology Officer (or equivalent) and up to five digital members. The programme also facilitates access to industry partners, tech experts, and digital roadmap development to ensure successful project execution.
• Engage: Connecting companies with a vibrant Digital Leaders community, offering networking opportunities, peer learning, and collaboration with established digital leaders.

For EtonHouse, the DLP provided financial and strategic support to bring its digital vision to life. The programme enabled them to recruit top digital talent, implement cutting-edge solutions, and integrate technology in ways that align with their core education philosophy.

Ms Samantha Su, Director of the Digital Transformation Cluster at IMDA, underscores the programme’s significance and uptake by local businesses: “IMDA is delighted to support local brand names like EtonHouse in mapping out their digital roadmaps, identifying impactful digital projects, and strengthening their leadership and talent through our Digital Leaders Programme.” The programme is open to Singapore-registered, non-ICT enterprises with at least a 30% local shareholding, have existing digitalisation initiatives and a commitment to further transformation, as well as a willingness to invest in building in-house digital expertise.

By offering structured guidance, industry connections, and funding support, the DLP ensures that businesses like EtonHouse are well-positioned to harness digitalisation for long-term success.

Unlocking new possibilities in education through digitalisation

EtonHouse’s journey exemplifies the power of strategic digital transformation. With the power of advanced technologies, the school has not only refined its operations but also augmented the educational experience for students, parents, and teachers.

The success of this transformation offers a blueprint for other education providers, demonstrating how local institutions can build digital expertise, scale their operations, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy. As outlined in the Early Childhood Industry Digital Plan (4.27MB), businesses in the education sector have much to gain by embracing digitalisation.

Connect with IMDA easily to enquire about the programme and unlock the full potential of technologies for your organisation, so that you can thrive in the digital age.