The First Word: Solving the “platform squeeze” in the ride-hailing industry
Singapore has seen a strong economic rebound for drivers in ride-hailing, fueled by both a full-scale return to the office restoring daily commuter demand and nearly 16 million tourist arrivals this year. The strength of this demand is evident, with reports of Chinese tourists being undeterred by high costs, such as S$18 for a 10-minute […]
The First Word: Bridging the AI skills gap in HR through training
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative force reshaping industries worldwide, with extensive applications especially within human resources (HR). From recruitment, administration and finance, dispute resolution and workforce planning, it’s well known that AI has the ability to change how HR teams operate and the quality of decisions they make. The big question is: even with […]
Five ways organisations optimise HR tech stacks
Southeast Asia’s dynamic business landscape presents unique challenges for HR technology implementation. With workforces spanning multiple countries, languages, and regulatory environments, organisations must carefully craft technology strategies that balance sophistication with practical adoption. The region’s varying levels of digital infrastructure further complicate standardised approaches to HR technology deployment. Despite these challenges, forward-thinking organisations across Southeast […]
The First Word: Future-ready talent starts with human-centred hiring
Southeast Asia and particularly Singapore’s manufacturing sector is facing a skills crisis. Businesses contend with long-standing structural challenges — an ageing workforce and a STEM talent pipeline that, while growing, still struggles to keep pace with the Island nation’s immense demand for highly skilled professionals. Policymakers have been clear about the scale of the challenge. […]
Five change management approaches for digital transformation
Digital transformation initiatives are reshaping organisations across Southeast Asia, accelerating rapidly since 2020 when remote work necessities catalysed technology adoption. Beyond implementing new systems, HR professionals throughout the region face the complex challenge of managing the human elements of these transitions. Despite substantial technology investments, research from regional business schools indicates that nearly 70% of […]
The First Word: AI’s role in Singapore’s clinics
In Singapore, the conversation around artificial intelligence often veers toward disruption and job displacement. Headlines warn of machines replacing human roles, while companies scramble to integrate AI into operations. Yet amidst the buzz and fear, AI scribe is quietly earning gratitude rather than controversy. Unlike other tools that have sparked debate, AI scribes are designed […]
Five HR policies requiring updates in 2026
The rapidly evolving workplace landscape across Southeast Asia demands forward-thinking policy revisions to address emerging challenges. As regional organisations navigate complex regulatory environments spanning multiple jurisdictions, proactive policy development becomes increasingly critical to organisational resilience. Technological advancements, demographic shifts and changing employee expectations are reshaping employment relationships throughout ASEAN economies. HR departments must review and […]
The First Word: Easing AI anxiety in the workplace
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t the next big thing coming down the pike. It’s already here. It all started with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which took the world by storm. Since then, a wave of AI products have entered the market from Microsoft Copilot to Claude, Perplexity, DeepSeek and Meta AI. But that doesn’t mean workers are happy […]
Five ways organisations foster innovation
Innovation has become the cornerstone of organisational sustainability in today’s rapidly evolving Southeast Asian business landscape. As regional economies transition toward knowledge-based systems, companies that cultivate environments conducive to innovation gain significant competitive advantages in attracting top talent and driving business growth. Across Southeast Asia, forward-thinking organisations are implementing structured approaches to foster innovation while […]
The First Word: Transforming work with AI agent communication
In the modern workplace, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool; it’s a teammate. As we move further into the age of AI, a new and transformative development is on the horizon: AI agent communication. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionise workforce management, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible […]
