Singapore is a thriving hub for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially in the food and beverage (F&B) industry. In this fast-paced landscape, many SMEs must balance growth, efficiency, and innovation to stay afloat. Yet, businesses like Wanpo Tea Shop are proving that success is not only achievable but scalable, thanks to IMDA’s Chief Technology Officer-as-a-Service (CTO-as-a-Service).

Since 2021, Wanpo Tea Shop has more than doubled its outlets from three to seven; an impressive feat made possible through digital transformation. Specifically, IMDA’s CTO-as-a-Service and solutions such as Connected Business Suite have helped F&B businesses like Wanpo unlock growth and streamline operations in the digital economy. Reflecting on his decision, Wanpo’s founder Ryan Koh said, “I will be recommending Connected Business Suite to other newcomers in the F&B space”.

Wanpo’s journey highlights the importance of digital adoption for SMEs. According to the Singapore Digital Economy (SGDE) Report, SMEs are the backbone of the digital economy, making up 99% of businesses and employing 71% of the workforce¹. The F&B sector, in particular, faces a number of unique challenges in balancing front-of-house operations, back-of-house processes, manpower management, and payments. For SMEs like Wanpo, digital solutions have been key to overcoming these hurdles and unlocking sustainable growth. In fact, almost 95% of SMEs have adopted digital technologies in at least one of the six key areas, including cybersecurity, cloud, e-payments, e-commerce, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). What’s even more inspiring is that SMEs are not just adopting these digital tools but are also increasingly integrating them into their essential business functions. For example, 82% of SMEs use at least one digital solution to enhance general business functions like accounting and marketing, up from 69% in 2021².

IMDA’s CTO-as-a-Service, a one-stop digital self-help platform, allows SMEs to assess their digital readiness through Digital Health Check and access tailored and market-proven digital solutions to guide them through every stage of the process. Using IMDA’s CTO-as-a-Service and Connected Business Suite solution – which integrates solutions and connects with other entities across value chains – Wanpo not only transformed its operations but set a standard for F&B SMEs looking to thrive in Singapore’s evolving digital landscape and future.

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