DISG and AI Singapore to support digital upskilling programme for SMBs

In an era where technology is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are presented with both challenges and opportunities.

Speeding up the pace of learning among SMBs amidst technology change is one of the focus areas for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), said Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Tan Kiat How.

In June 2024, the MDDI launched the Digital Enterprise Blueprint to drive the next wave of digitalisation for businesses. Under this initiative, more than 15,000 SMEs are to benefit from AI-powered solutions in the next two years.

“The government recognises the impact of AI, and it continues to encourage our enterprises to build up AI, upskill our workforce, and ensure responsible use of technology,” said Tan. He was speaking at the launch of a new programme to support digital upskilling for SMBs.

While artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are enabling small teams to enhance their creative and productive capabilities that used to be exclusive to larger companies, the challengesthe challenge comes in knowing how to effectively use these tools to reap the benefits.

This is the gap that this year’s Upskill with Meta programme seeks to bridge, according to Meta’s Managing Director for Singapore, Damian Kim. With the support of Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) and AI Singapore, the programme is expanding to include AI-driven components to upskill SMBs and AI student practitioners.

This year’s programme began with the launch event held at Meta’s APAC headquarters in Singapore last Friday. The event included a panel discussion about AI’s potential to empower SMBs, and what it takes for technology to drive inclusive growth.

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Keeping pace with the future of work

The Minister shared that the programme’s objectives complement government-led efforts to support digital development.

For instance, the generative AI (GenAI) Sandbox programme launched earlier this year by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), was designed to help SMEs gain hands-on experience with GenAI to transform their businesses, SMS Tan shared.

He added that investment in technology must go hand in hand with human resources to build a digitally resilient workforce.

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AI as a leveller

As SMBs make up 99 per cent of all businesses in Singapore and contribute around 50 per cent of the national GDP, the new phase of Meta’s upskilling programme aims to ensure SMBs continue thriving in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

To empower individuals and small businesses with digital skills, the first step is to demystify AI, said Kim. Beneficiaries of the upskilling programme will mainly be non-technical users who seek to understand these tools to employ them in their work.

“We want to provide confidence in using AI, because it can sound or feel intimidating given that it’s moving so quickly,” Kim shared during the panel Building for Inclusive Growth: AI for SMBs.

“I challenge the mindset that innovation is the domain of large companies – SMBs can innovate and create new products and new solutions as well,” SMS Tan added.

With the upskilling programme, SMBs can experiment with technology and enhance their capabilities at an even faster pace than larger companies, Kim added.

The current phase of the programme offers a series of masterclasses on AI-powered strategies for marketing, customer support, and business messaging tools.

“Through the Upskill with Meta initiative, students, educators, as well as SMBs in Singapore will be equipped with cutting-edge tech skills to seize opportunities in the digital economy,” said DISG, Executive Director, Philbert Gomez.

To support all areas of society to thrive in a digital ecosystem, SMS Tan called for continuous collaboration across sectors that enables information-sharing and wider networks that do not leave anyone behind.