Poly student's digital fix for motorcycle retailer leads to start-up

Trade association pairing students with businesses to solve problems using tech

- Krist Boo Senior Business Correspondent

A Nanyang Polytechnic student's project to digitalise a small motorcycle retailer's catalogues for 120,000 vehicle parts saved the firm 180 man-hours and ended with the pair co-founding a startup to help other shops.

Second-year student Teo Yu Xiang, 26, and Auto Machinery Singapore were cited as part of a trade association's efforts to pair students with businesses to solve real-world problems using technology, while training the next generation for today's jobs.

Their story was told by Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Jasmin Lau to bolster her encouragement to business leaders to take the first step, learn and persist in digitalisation.

She was speaking at the inaugural two-day tech symposium organised by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) at its Hill Street headquarters on Jan 21.

About 95 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore already adopt at least

one digital solution, and 15 per cent are using artificial intelligence (AI) as at 2024, said Ms Lau.

But still, some bosses are taking a wait-and-see approach.