Salesforce launches new program to help 5,000 Singapore SMEs unlock value of data, boost AI adoption

• Salesforce’s new Data + AI Boost SME Program aims to help 5,000 Singapore SMEs over two years, across all stages of digital maturity, to better harness data and AI-enabled solutions for growth in collaboration with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
• The program is a pledge under the Ministry of Communications and Information’s (MCI) Digital Enterprise Blueprint (DEB)
• The program provides SMEs with education and tailored support, including workshops, webinars and consultations, and access to Salesforce’s Trailhead online learning platform

SINGAPORE, 29 May 2024 — Salesforce today announced the launch of the Data+AI Boost SME Program, designed to equip 5,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore, across all stages of digital maturity, with the tools and knowledge to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) by unlocking the value of their data.

The new Salesforce program was announced at the Asia Tech x Singapore Summit 2024, as part of a series of pledges under the Ministry of Communications and Information’s (MCI)  Digital Enterprise Blueprint (DEB). DEB is a strategy to support Singaporean companies in their digital transformation efforts and harness the potential of the digital economy, by providing organisations with the tools to adapt to technological advancements and secure a competitive edge while empowering the workforce to acquire necessary industry-specific skills. Salesforce will collaborate with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to bring this program to SMEs in Singapore.

Democratising access to AI by unlocking trapped data 
According to the Singapore Business Federation’s National Business Survey 2023/2024, SMEs recognise emerging technologies, such as AI, as one of the top business trends affecting their operations. They also identified growing revenue as their top priority for the year. 

While AI provides SMEs with a significant opportunity to drive operational efficiency, better customer service and higher revenue, its effectiveness hinges on the quality and integration of the underlying data. Salesforce’s recent AI Trust Quotient research has found that data is critical for building trust in AI, with 61% of workers in Singapore saying that incomplete data will break their trust in AI. Among workers who don’t trust AI, 70% shared that it lacks the necessary data to be useful.

Salesforce’s new Data+AI Boost SME Program aims to help SMEs utilise their rich but often-underused data assets, typically disconnected across multiple systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, data lakes, and legacy systems, in order to build a strong data foundation for AI. 

Tailored tools, knowledge, and support for SMEs to harness AI for growth

By harnessing the powerful combination of valuable, integrated data and AI, Singapore SMEs are able to uncover and act upon customer preferences, market trends, and areas for improvement more efficiently, in order to compete and scale their businesses.

Through the program, SMEs can use the knowledge-sharing and training opportunities offered to overcome real or perceived expertise and resource limitations that could otherwise be a barrier to AI adoption.

The Data+AI Boost SME Program will include:

• Webinars, workshops and events that provide Salesforce training for SMEs to harness trusted AI and data to drive business growth, operational efficiency, and customer relationships 
• Complimentary 1-1 consultation sessions with Salesforce to understand an SME’s business challenges and needs, and uncover ways to catalyse their innovation and growth
• Access to Trailhead, Salesforce’s online learning platform to help employees to understand how to use generative AI in their daily work. This includes dedicated modules, such as Ethical Data Use in Personalisation and Ethical Data Use Best Practices, which will help SME workers learn how to use data and generative AI responsibly 

Quotes

“SMEs are the bedrock of the Singapore economy, and ensuring they are in the best possible position to embrace AI will be critical. Building the right data foundations for AI will support their growth and competitiveness into the future. After all, AI tools are only as good as the data those tools are accessing and acting upon. The immediate challenge for SMEs is to ensure that their data sets are interconnected in a way that is valuable,” said Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Salesforce ASEAN.

“Through the Data+AI Boost SME Program, Salesforce is seeking to support and boost adoption of this transformative technology for SMEs. With the right tools, knowledge and support, SMEs in Singapore will be better placed to keep pace and compete in a fast-moving economy.”“Through the Data+AI Boost SME Program, Salesforce is seeking to support and boost adoption of this transformative technology for SMEs. With the right tools, knowledge and support, SMEs in Singapore will be better placed to keep pace and compete in a fast-moving economy.”