IMDA Drives Integration and Interoperability of Autonomous Mobile Robots for 500 Local Enterprises

1. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) today announced plans to drive the integration and interoperability of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for Singapore's digitally mature enterprises or Digital Leaders¹, with the launch of a new comprehensive AMR x Digital Leaders initiative. The AMR-focused initiative will benefit 500 local enterprises over the next three years, marking the next phase of enterprise digitalisation. It complements IMDA's existing Digital Leaders Programme, developed to guide digitally ambitious and progressive local enterprises to propel their digital transformation, build digital capabilities and capture new business opportunities.

2. Leveraging AMRs will help enterprises transform operations and achieve significant productivity gains, potentially accessing new markets or developing new products. In a study by IMDA with some 50 Digital Leaders across four sectors², 80% of enterprises without existing deployments are planning to deploy AMRs within the next two years. Among them, 80% see AMRs as a potential solution to address manpower inefficiencies and 70% believe AMRs can boost productivity. However, challenges remain – 65% of enterprises are uncertain about which AMR solutions best fit their operations, and 60% do not know how to start implementing AMRs.

3. Despite these challenges, enterprises with existing AMR deployments reported tangible impact, including a 22% increase in workforce retention, and within the built environment sector specifically, a 25% improvement in workplace safety, validating AMR’s transformative potential. In fact, 76% of them are looking at scaling up their AMR deployment. For AMRs to reap benefits, enterprises would need to focus on better integration of data and enable interoperability between AMRs with building infrastructure and other systems. This interoperability is important in the long term for the potential deployment of a diverse fleet of AMRs. To extend the benefits of AMR adoption and deployment to more local enterprises, the new AMR x Digital Leaders initiative comprises a three-pillar strategy designed to address every stage of the adoption journey:

• Strategic partnerships with industry players to provide enterprises with greater access to tech expertise, and to uplift the mindsets and capabilities of their leadership teams from scoping impactful AMR projects to implementing and deploying AMRs across their organisations;
• Identification of quick-win digital projects or interventions with technology companies that help enterprises tackle critical AMR deployment barriers and build confidence to scale AMR firm-wide; and
• Provision of practical resources to lower the barriers to entry, enabling enterprises to navigate AMR adoption, avoid common pitfalls, and accelerate deployment.

Strategic Industry Partnerships for End-to-End Support

4. For a start, IMDA brings together strategic partners Singapore Polytechnic, Panasonic, dConstruct Robotics and The Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab (SMARTLab) by CapitaLand to create a holistic ecosystem for AMR adoption and deployment, supporting integration and interoperability. Together, these partners will provide enterprises with end-to-end implementation support from training, tech discovery and deep dives to prioritisation and scoping of AMR use cases, and finally development and deployment, helping them overcome key challenges in AMR deployment.

5. The four partners bring proven track records of successful collaborations and complementary capabilities that address the complete AMR journey:

• Singapore Polytechnic, having done many industry AMR projects, will focus on the education and skills imperative, bringing technical expertise and developing robotics talent.
• Panasonic is the systems and infrastructure integrator, offering end-to-end capabilities spanning lift integration, robotics solutions, and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms for intelligent automation, resolving Singapore’s AMR-infrastructure integration challenges.
• dConstruct Robotics supports this initiative through its end-to-end d.ASH (Digital Autonomy Services Hub) robot-management stack and dedicated technical consultancy for participating enterprises, enabling them to prototype robotics solutions and collaborate with the right technology partners to deploy automation systems tailored to their operational needs.
• SMARTLab by CapitaLand has been collaborating with IMDA to drive smart city innovation. With its domain expertise and extensive network of partners, SMARTLab works with industry and Singapore enterprises to develop and deploy practical business use cases leveraging on emerging technologies such as AI and AMR for productivity and growth.

6. The partners will equip enterprises with knowledge and skills to leverage AMR strategically through Tech Discovery Workshops, supported by digital clinic sessions offering hands-on consultation and access to technical expertise. These workshops combine knowledge sharing with practical demonstrations, helping enterprises understand AMR capabilities while receiving personalised guidance on their specific operational challenges.

7. IMDA will also co-fund³ integration and interoperability elements of AMR projects, as well as the building of in-house robotics capabilities to sustain enterprises’ investments in AMRs. This structured approach supports enterprises with a smoother transition from exploration to AMR deployment.

Targeted Digital Projects Address Critical AMR Deployment Barriers and Build Enterprise Confidence

8. IMDA also recognises that while enterprises are eager to adopt AMR technology, specific technical barriers prevent successful implementation and scaling. Our study revealed that 70% of interested enterprises face integration challenges, particularly in Singapore's unique high-rise urban environment where multi-floor operations are essential for business continuity. To build enterprise confidence and demonstrate practical solutions, IMDA is launching targeted digital projects that tackle these critical barriers through collaboration with technology companies, providing both funding support and proven implementation results.

9. One example is the need for stronger integration of AMRs with building systems, particularly lifts, to enable reliable multi-floor operations. To address this gap, IMDA will work with technology partners to fund enterprises in adopting pre-approved lift-integration solutions that support seamless AMR movement across floors. The six-month project will involve multiple technology providers generating valuable data on market demand, return on investment validation, and scaling potential to guide future deployment strategies, while demonstrating to enterprises that complex integration challenges can be solved systematically.

10. IMDA plans to expand more digital projects providing proven, funded solutions to address other critical AMR integration and interoperability barriers identified through enterprise feedback. Future support aims to tackle challenges where digital solutions or tools can be leveraged to enhance robot manoeuvrability across diverse terrains, obstacles detection and avoidance, and human-robot interaction. 

Singapore's First AMR Playbook for Enterprises to Enable Independent Planning

11. Enterprises will, for the first time, have an AMR Playbook – a comprehensive self-help guide that provides step-by-step guidance with real-world insights from successful deployments, covering key areas from leadership alignment, technology assessment, and operational redesign to infrastructure preparation and talent development. This online resource will lower the barrier to entry to support enterprises in navigating AMR adoption methodically. The AMR Playbook for Enterprises is available for download here (30.35MB).

Building on Proven Success and Systematic Implementation to Drive Adoption

12. The AMR x Digital Leaders initiative takes learnings from IMDA’s earlier proof-of-concept trials, which led to breakthrough deployments in Singapore's unique environment for urban robotics. These early implementations revealed major gaps in technology capabilities, operational requirements, and business models, which were used to develop targeted solutions to address Singapore's dense urban environment requirements. Building on these insights, the AMR x Digital Leaders initiative now tackles the fundamental barriers of AMR adoption, focusing on integration and interoperability of AMRs with surrounding infrastructure while uplifting the Digital Leaders’ skills, confidence and in-house capabilities, to drive scalable and sustainable AMR deployments. 

13. The inaugural AMR Tech Discovery Workshop, held today at IMDA’s innovation hub, PIXEL, showcases IMDA’s collaborative approach with presentations from industry partners and digital clinic sessions offering hands-on consultation for participating enterprises. This workshop marks the beginning of IMDA's commitment to transforming Singapore's AMR landscape from individual proof-of-concepts to widespread enterprise adoption.

14. "Singapore enterprises are eager to embrace AMR technology, but they need systematic support to overcome implementation barriers," said Mr Johnson Poh, Assistant Chief Executive, Enterprise Transformation and Innovation Group, IMDA. " The AMR x Digital Leaders initiative represents the next phase in enterprise digitalisation, where we're moving beyond individual pilot projects to build a comprehensive ecosystem for our Digital Leaders. It strengthens IMDA’s wider Digital Leaders Programme by giving enterprises a dedicated path into robotics with a focus on better integration and interoperability. This will enable them to embrace advanced automation technologies and AI to maintain their competitive edge in the digital economy."

15. Please refer to Annex A (166.25KB) for details on the respective partnerships and partners’ quotes, and Annex B (152.51KB) for the list of company profiles for reporting.