Enterprise Singapore is backing F&B and food manufacturers with innovative digital projects

RESTAURANT 3.0: Embracing Technology in the Food Industry

Enterprise Singapore showcased new digital solutions at Food&HotelAsia (FHA) 2018. These solutions aim to help Singaporean food and beverage (F&B) and food manufacturing companies expand internationally and enhance their operational efficiency.

The showcased digital initiatives include a B2B online platform for food manufacturers and the RESTAURANT 3.0 exhibition for F&B businesses.

Enterprise Singapore, in collaboration with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), launched the “SMF SMART App” at the Singapore Pavilion during FHA. This app simplifies and streamlines the export process for food manufacturers. Developed by iSprint Innovations, a Singaporean tech company, this B2B platform allows overseas buyers to consolidate online orders. Additionally, it offers product traceability and authentication.

Trade show attendees can use this smart app to scan product barcodes at FHA for detailed information and even complete purchases. Other app features include:

  • Access to the SMF Digital Marketplace
  • Automatic calculation of product quantities for shipping containers
  • Authentication of Singaporean products with track-and-trace functionality using QR codes and IT security
  • Simplified online procurement for food manufacturers

Beyond the physical event, Enterprise Singapore and SMF extended the Singapore Pavilion’s reach to Alibaba.com, allowing buyers to explore Singaporean products and express their interest.

Sunny Koh, SMF Deputy President and F&B Industry Group Chairman, highlighted that these digital tools enhance their existing export program. These tools benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them with international buyers, particularly in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the SMF SMART App’s track-and-trace feature helps combat counterfeit goods, creating a win-win situation for both local and global buyers and sellers, promoting authentic, high-quality Singaporean brands.

Currently, 103 Singaporean companies with 871 products are onboarded on the SMF SMART App and SMF Alibaba.com platforms, and SMF is actively working to include more food manufacturers. They are also exploring the potential of expanding these digital initiatives to other sectors.

According to Kee Ai Nah, Executive Director of Lifestyle & Consumer Cluster at Enterprise Singapore, this partnership empowers Singaporean SMEs to seize more international opportunities by simplifying the procurement process for buyers through technology. They hope to collaborate with other trade associations and chambers to implement similar digital solutions for the collective benefit of SMEs.

These digital initiatives are supported by Enterprise Singapore’s Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD) program. This program focuses on enhancing industry and enterprise competitiveness by partnering with industry associations.

The food services industry in Singapore is a significant employer, with over 160,000 workers, accounting for 5% of the total workforce. Technology plays a crucial role in helping companies streamline workflows, improve the work environment, and retain skilled employees. By the end of 2017, over one-third of food outlets in Singapore had already adopted technology solutions like digital services and kitchen automation.

RESTAURANT 3.0, showcased at FHA 2018, highlighted emerging technologies for F&B businesses. It demonstrated how digital tools, robotics, and technology-enabled modular systems can optimize the food service supply chain, from farm to table. This showcase was a collaborative effort between Enterprise Singapore, Workforce Singapore, Singapore Productivity Centre, and the Restaurant Association of Singapore.

Back-of-house innovations included:

  • Urban farming solutions allowing businesses to grow their own vegetables and herbs in controlled environments, catering to the rising consumer demand for fresh, healthy ingredients.
  • Outsourcing food preparation to larger, well-equipped central kitchens operated by food manufacturers.
  • The ready meals model, where central kitchens prepare meals, and kitchen staff only need to reheat, plate, and serve them, reducing labor needs and enabling new distribution channels like supermarkets and e-commerce.
  • Small-scale automation in kitchens for tasks like inventory management, food preparation, dishwashing, and cooking.
  • Robotics, such as a pre-programmed robotic arm capable of grilling beef from start to finish with a single touch.

Front-of-house innovations included:

  • Food vaults, where customers order meals through mobile apps or websites and collect them from designated lockers, similar to post office boxes.
  • RFID-enabled vending machines that are entirely automated, operate 24/7, and can dispense a meal within three minutes of ordering. Vendcafé, the first of its kind launched in 2016, requires 90% less manpower compared to traditional eateries with similar menus and seating capacity.
  • Robotics, including a fully automated robotic platform capable of serving ice cream in coconut shells or preparing coffee.

Explore:

Watch the Instagram video of Makko, the robot chef, skillfully handling fries.

Hashtag: #FHA2018

Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0