Salesforce unveils AI programme to boost Singapore SMEs
Salesforce has introduced the Data+AI Boost SME Program at the Asia Tech x Singapore Summit 2024 to support 5,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). It seeks to better equip SMEs with the tools and knowledge necessary to harness their often-underutilised data across various systems, enabling the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
Announced during the Asia Tech x Enterprise 2024, this programme is part of a series of partner pledges that support the Digital Enterprise Blueprint (DEB). Launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), the DEB is designed to aid Singaporean enterprises and their workers in advancing digital transformation. The DEB outlines four focal areas: empowering enterprises to adopt AI-enabled solutions, enabling enterprises to scale faster through integrated digital solutions, improving cyber resilience to make enterprises safer, and upskilling workers to optimise the use of digital capabilities.
Salesforce has committed to bringing this programme to 5,000 SMEs in Singapore over the next two years, catering to businesses at different stages of digital maturity. The programme's key offerings include webinars, workshops, and events focused on providing Salesforce training to enhance business growth, operational efficiency, and customer relationships using AI and data. Additionally, SMEs will have access to one-on-one consultations with Salesforce to understand their specific business challenges and needs, as well as access to Trailhead—Salesforce's online learning platform—which offers educational resources on the use of generative AI in daily tasks.
According to the Singapore Business Federation's National Business Survey 2023/2024, SMEs acknowledge emerging technologies such as AI as significant trends impacting their operations. Growing revenue was cited as their top priority for the year. While AI presents substantial opportunities for improving operational efficiency, customer service, and revenue growth, its effectiveness largely depends on the quality and integration of underlying data. Salesforce's recent AI Trust Quotient research highlights that data is vital for building trust in AI, with 61% of Singaporean workers indicating that incomplete data would undermine their trust in AI. Furthermore, 70% of workers who lack trust in AI believe it does not have the necessary data to be useful.
The Data+AI Boost SME Program is designed to help SMEs utilise their rich but often fragmented data assets, typically spread across multiple systems such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, data lakes, and legacy systems. By integrating these data assets, SMEs can build a robust data foundation for AI. Salesforce's programme includes individual consultation sessions to guide SMEs in identifying their needs and business challenges, and providing access to knowledge and learning tools through Trailhead. This approach aims to help SMEs unlock the full potential of their data assets, understand the ethical use of data and AI, and leverage technology responsibly.
By combining valuable, integrated data with AI, SMEs in Singapore can more effectively uncover and act on customer preferences, market trends, and areas for improvement, enabling them to compete and scale their businesses. The programme includes dedicated modules on ethical data use in personalisation and best practices, equipping SME workers to better understand and use data and generative AI responsibly.
Leong Der Yao, Assistant Chief Executive at IMDA, Sectoral Transformation Group, commented, "Aligned with Singapore's Digital Enterprise Blueprint, IMDA is excited to partner with Salesforce to enable our SMEs to stay ahead of the curve. The Data+AI Boost SME Program will help strengthen AI adoption by providing the know-how to unlock the full potential of their data assets and access to resources to understand the ethical use of data and AI."
Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Salesforce ASEAN, added, "SMEs are the bedrock of the Singapore economy and need access to AI and its foundational building blocks to support their growth and competitiveness. Setting up the right data foundations will put them in the best possible position to embrace AI. The immediate challenge for SMEs is to ensure that their data sets are interconnected in a way that is valuable."
