FAQs

How we work and do business has changed, no thanks to the pandemic and you know SMEs suffered the most.

Understand the action steps SMEs can take to overcome challenges and thrive in the post-pandemic world. If you are still battling the challenge, maybe one of the solutions we have provided in this space will help. Whatever you do, don’t forget that it is important to remember that seeking assistance from the appropriate sources can often be helpful.

Click here to book a 1-to-1 business advisory session with a Business Advisor today to strengthen your business competencies today!

The business landscape in Singapore is being actively supported and nurtured by the government through the introduction of various policies. These policies encompass grants, subsidies, funding, and tax deductions. We have compiled a comprehensive list of schemes that can be utilized to support your business. Whether you require financial assistance, subsidies for local hiring, the adoption of digital solutions, tax breaks, or productivity innovation, there are options available for you to explore.

To access these resources, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility criteria and submit an application. It’s also a good idea to do your research and understand the specific requirements and guidelines for each grant or scheme before you apply.
Click here to find out what are the grants and programmes that are available for your business.

To determine the current market trends in your industry in Singapore, you’ll need to conduct research and gather information specific to your business sector. It is important for business owners to seek proper advice and obtain an external professional opinion. They should seek counsel from individuals who have a wider perspective and surround themselves with the appropriate people and advisors.

Here are some general trends that are impacting various industries in Singapore and some strategies you can consider to adapt your business to keep up with these changes:

Digital transformation: With the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of digital solutions has accelerated, and businesses that have successfully implemented digital solutions have been able to thrive. To adapt to this trend, you can explore incorporating digital solutions in your business, such as e-commerce platforms, online marketing, and cloud-based collaboration tools.

Sustainability: Consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact of their consumption on the environment, and there is a growing trend towards sustainable products and services. To keep up with this trend, you can explore incorporating sustainable practices in your business operations, such as reducing waste and using eco-friendly materials.

Health and wellness: The pandemic has heightened awareness of health and wellness, and consumers are placing greater emphasis on maintaining good health. To adapt to this trend, you can explore offering products and services that promote health and wellness, such as fitness classes, healthy food options, and supplements.

Personalization: Consumers are looking for personalized experiences, and businesses that are able to provide tailored products and services are seeing success. To adapt to this trend, you can explore ways to personalize your offerings, such as offering customization options or providing personalized recommendations based on customer data.

Remote work: The pandemic has also led to a shift towards remote work, and businesses that are able to support remote work are likely to attract and retain talent. To adapt to this trend, you can explore offering flexible work arrangements and investing in technology that supports remote work, such as video conferencing and project management tools.
These are just a few general trends impacting businesses in Singapore, and it’s important to conduct industry-specific research to identify trends that are relevant to your business. Once you’ve identified the trends impacting your industry, you can explore strategies to adapt your business to keep up with these changes.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore can take several steps to improve cash flow management and ensure their financial sustainability in the long run.

Here are some suggestions:

Monitor cash flow: SMEs should closely monitor their cash inflows and outflows on a regular basis. This can be done using cash flow statements or software that can automate the process. By doing so, SMEs can identify potential cash flow problems early and take corrective action.

Set up a cash reserve: SMEs should consider setting up a cash reserve that can be used to cover unexpected expenses or emergencies. This will help to prevent the need to borrow money, which can add to their financial burden.

Negotiate better payment terms: SMEs should negotiate with their suppliers to extend their payment terms. This will help to improve their cash flow by allowing them to hold onto their cash for a longer period of time.

Invoice promptly: SMEs should ensure that they invoice their customers promptly and accurately. This will help to ensure that they are paid on time, which will improve their cash flow.

Offer incentives for early payment: SMEs can offer their customers incentives, such as discounts or free products, for paying their invoices early. This can help to improve their cash flow by incentivizing their customers to pay their invoices promptly.

Manage inventory effectively: SMEs should manage their inventory levels effectively to avoid overstocking or stockouts. Overstocking ties up cash that could be used for other purposes, while stockouts can result in lost sales and revenue.

Consider alternative financing options: SMEs can consider alternative financing options such as crowdfunding, invoice financing, or factoring to improve their cash flow. These options provide immediate cash flow and are often easier to obtain than traditional bank loans.
By taking these steps, SMEs in Singapore can improve their cash flow management and ensure their financial sustainability in the long run.

Marketing and promoting a SME business in Singapore requires careful planning and execution. Here are some strategies that can help your SME business reach a wider audience and increase sales:

Use digital marketing: Digital marketing is a cost-effective way to reach a wider audience in Singapore. Use social media, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, email marketing, and content marketing to promote your business and drive traffic to your website.

Build a strong online presence: A strong online presence is essential for SMEs in Singapore. Build a professional website that is optimized for mobile devices, create social media profiles, and list your business in local directories to boost your visibility online.

Offer promotions and discounts: Offering promotions and discounts is a great way to attract new customers and boost sales. Create attractive offers that are relevant to your target audience and promote them on social media, email marketing, and other digital channels.

Focus on customer experience: In Singapore, customer experience is crucial to business success. Provide exceptional customer service, respond to customer inquiries promptly, and offer personalized recommendations and solutions to build customer loyalty.

Leverage partnerships: Building partnerships with other businesses can help you reach a wider audience and generate new sales. Partner with complementary businesses or influencers in your industry to co-promote each other’s offerings.

Attend trade shows and conferences: Attending trade shows and conferences can help you connect with potential customers, learn about the latest industry trends, and promote your SME business. Network with other business owners, hand out business cards, and promote your services or products.

Use word-of-mouth marketing: Encourage your satisfied customers to spread the word about your business. Ask for referrals, encourage customer reviews and testimonials, and create a referral program that rewards loyal customers for bringing in new business.
By implementing these marketing strategies, your SME business can reach a wider audience in Singapore and increase sales over time.

Improve your company’s value proposition and learn how you can develop marketing strategies to drive competitiveness and sales.
Click here to find out more: https://usaei.smu.edu.sg/marketing-toolkit

Attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive job market can be a challenging task for SME businesses in Singapore. Here are some strategies that can help your business attract and retain the best employees:

Offer competitive compensation and benefits: In order to attract and retain top talent, it’s important to offer competitive compensation packages and benefits. This includes a competitive salary, health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other perks.

Provide career growth opportunities: Employees want to feel that their work is meaningful and that there is room for career growth. Provide opportunities for professional development, training, and career advancement to keep your employees engaged and motivated.

Foster a positive company culture: A positive company culture is key to attracting and retaining top talent. Create a supportive work environment, provide opportunities for team building and collaboration, and recognize and reward employee achievements.

Offer work-life balance: Work-life balance is increasingly important for employees in Singapore. Provide flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or flexible work hours, and encourage employees to take time off to recharge and avoid burnout.

Communicate regularly: Regular communication is important for building trust and maintaining employee engagement. Communicate openly with your employees, provide feedback and recognition, and listen to their concerns and ideas.

Hire based on cultural fit: When hiring new employees, prioritize cultural fit over skills and experience. Look for candidates who share your values and are aligned with your company culture, as this can lead to better job satisfaction and employee retention.

By implementing these strategies, your SME business can attract and retain top talent in a competitive job market in Singapore and create a positive and productive work environment for your employees.

Click here to find out more on the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC).

Incorporating technology and digital tools is a cost-effective and efficient way for SME businesses in Singapore to streamline operations and increase productivity. Here are some ways to leverage technology and digital tools:

Cloud-based applications: Cloud-based software, such as accounting software, project management tools, and customer relationship management (CRM) software, can help SMEs manage their operations more efficiently. These tools provide real-time access to business data, enabling better collaboration and decision-making.

E-commerce platforms: E-commerce platforms with low commission and transaction fee can help SME businesses sell their products and services online effortlessly. This enables SMEs to reach a wider audience and increase revenue, while also automating order processing, payment processing, and inventory management.

Mobile apps: Mobile apps can help SMEs manage their operations on the go. For example, mobile apps for project management, accounting, and inventory management enable business owners to manage their operations from anywhere, at any time.

Automation tools: Automation tools, such as chatbots, email marketing automation, and social media automation, can help SMEs streamline their marketing and customer service operations. These tools can help SMEs save time and resources by automating routine tasks, such as responding to customer inquiries and sending marketing emails.

Analytics tools: Analytics tools, such as Google Analytics is a free tool, can help SMEs gain insights into their website traffic and user behavior. This enables SMEs to make data-driven decisions and optimize their website for better performance.
By leveraging technology and digital tools, SME businesses in Singapore can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. However, it is important to carefully evaluate the tools and applications before adoption to ensure they align with your business goals and objectives.

Find out how the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) help businesses enhance their processes with technology.

Given our limited domestic market, it’s not surprising that Singaporean companies have a strong desire to expand internationally, despite the obstacles that may arise. Expanding into overseas markets can be an exciting but challenging prospect.

Here are some steps and challenges to consider:

Steps to Expand into Overseas Markets: Research and Evaluate Potential Markets: Conduct market research to identify potential overseas markets that may be a good fit for your products or services. Evaluate the economic, cultural, and regulatory environment of each market.

Develop a Strategy: Develop a clear strategy for entering the target markets. Determine the best approach to enter the market, whether through distributors, agents, or joint ventures.

Build Partnerships: Build partnerships with local businesses and organizations that can help you navigate the cultural and business landscape of the target market.

Customize Your Product or Service: Customize your product or service to meet the needs and preferences of the local market. This may involve adapting your marketing, branding, packaging, and pricing strategies.

Establish a Strong Online Presence: Establish a strong online presence to reach potential customers and partners in the target market. This may involve creating a localized website, social media presence, and online marketing campaigns.

Challenges to Expand into Overseas Markets:
Cultural and Language Differences: Different cultures have different business practices, communication styles, and consumer preferences. Language barriers can also make it challenging to build relationships and negotiate deals with local partners.

Regulatory Compliance: Each country has its own regulatory requirements and standards that businesses must comply with. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in legal and financial penalties.
Currency Exchange and Payment Issues: Currency exchange rates and payment systems may differ between countries. This can create difficulties in pricing and payment processing.

Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Managing logistics and supply chain in a foreign country can be challenging. It is essential to work with reliable partners and navigate customs, import/export laws, and transportation challenges.

Competition: Entering a new market may mean competing against established players with more resources, brand recognition, and market share. It’s important to differentiate your product or service and find a unique selling proposition.
Expanding into overseas markets can be a complex process, but with careful planning and execution, it can be a rewarding experience for Singapore SMEs looking to grow their business.

Receive a customised report on how you can better prepare your company for overseas expansion.
Click here to access the toolkit.

In today’s competitive business environment, establishing a strong brand identity is critical for the success of any SME in Singapore. A brand identity sets the tone for the business and helps to differentiate it from competitors. It builds recognition, builds loyalty, and adds value to the company.

To establish a strong brand identity, SMEs in Singapore should start by developing a brand strategy. This strategy should outline the business’s goals and target audience and should be based on market research and customer preferences. Once the strategy is established, SMEs can create a compelling brand name and logo that is aligned with the brand’s personality and values.

Here are some steps that can be taken to build a unique and recognizable brand identity that sets the business apart from its competitors:

Develop a Brand Strategy: A brand strategy outlines the business’s goals and defines its target audience. This should be based on research of the market, competitors, and customer preferences.

Create a Compelling Brand Name and Logo: Choose a brand name that is easy to remember and a logo that is simple, visually appealing, and aligned with the brand’s personality and values.

Define Brand Voice and Personality: Determine the brand’s voice and personality, which should be consistent across all channels and communications. This includes the tone of voice, language, and messaging.

Establish a Brand Promise: Define the brand promise, which should encapsulate what the business stands for and what customers can expect when they interact with the brand.

Use Consistent Branding Across All Channels: Ensure that the brand is consistently represented across all channels, including the website, social media, email marketing, and advertising.

Deliver Quality Products and Services: The quality of the products or services is an important part of building a strong brand identity. Ensuring that they are high-quality and meet or exceed customer expectations is key to building brand trust.

Encourage Positive Customer Experiences: Provide excellent customer service and actively seek customer feedback to ensure that their experience is positive and aligned with the brand promise.

Engage in Marketing and PR Efforts: Engage in marketing and public relations activities to build brand awareness and increase visibility. This includes creating content, social media marketing, and media relations.

You too can grow your business with a focused branding plan.
Make an appointment with our business advisors to give your branding a boost.

The Singapore government has developed a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s cybersecurity posture and safeguarding the country’s digital assets and data.

Developing a cybersecurity strategy is critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore to protect their digital assets and data from cyber threats. Here are some key priorities that SMEs should focus on when developing a cybersecurity strategy in Singapore:

Conduct a risk assessment: SMEs should start by conducting a thorough risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats to their IT infrastructure. This assessment should consider the types of data they store, the systems they use, and the third-party vendors they work with.

Develop policies and procedures: Once the risk assessment is complete, SMEs should develop policies and procedures to protect against identified risks. These policies and procedures should include password policies, access control policies, incident response plans, and data backup and recovery plans.

Implement security measures: SMEs should implement appropriate security measures such as firewalls, anti-virus software, intrusion detection systems, and encryption to protect their IT infrastructure and data.

Train employees: Employees are often the weakest link in the security chain. SMEs should provide regular training to employees on how to identify and avoid potential security threats, such as phishing scams and social engineering attacks.

Conduct regular security assessments: SMEs should conduct regular security assessments to identify and address any vulnerabilities that may have arisen since the last assessment.

Monitor for threats: SMEs should implement monitoring tools to detect and respond to potential security incidents in real-time.

Comply with regulations: SMEs in Singapore should comply with the country’s data protection regulations, such as the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which sets out the requirements for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data.

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) launched the Safer Cyberspace Masterplan 2020 to create a safer cyberspace in Singapore, and SMEs can benefit from the initiatives outlined in the plan.
One of the key initiatives is the provision of free cyber health screenings for SMEs. Through these screenings, SMEs can identify potential cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in their IT systems and take appropriate measures to address them. SMEs can also use the one-stop portal, the Cyber Hygiene Portal, to access a range of resources and tools to enhance their cybersecurity posture.
The Cyber Hygiene Portal provides SMEs with access to resources such as cybersecurity guides, best practices, and tools, as well as a cybersecurity self-assessment tool. SMEs can use the self-assessment tool to evaluate their cybersecurity posture and identify areas for improvement.

Click here to read more on the Safer Cyberspace Masterplan 2020.