HR Tech Update: Using people analytics to close gender pay gaps
Gender pay equity remains a persistent challenge across Southeast Asia, influenced by occupational segregation, career interruptions, and inconsistent data practices. While awareness of pay gaps has increased, many organisations still struggle to translate intent into action. HR technology, particularly people analytics, is increasingly viewed as a practical tool for addressing this issue. In 2026, HR […]
HR Tech Update: Designing HR technology that works for women
Technology is playing an increasingly influential role in shaping how work is organised, assessed, and rewarded across Southeast Asia. Yet many HR systems were originally designed around standardised career paths and working patterns that do not reflect the lived experiences of many women. As organisations continue to invest in digital HR platforms, questions around inclusivity […]
The First Word: Why 2026 will redefine the employee experience across Southeast Asia
As workplaces evolve across Southeast Asia, HR leaders are facing a pivotal moment. Digital transformation is now a daily reality, AI is moving into mainstream use, and expectations around the employee experience are growing rapidly. These shifts are already influencing how people work and how organisations prepare for the future. In my role overseeing people […]
HR Tech Update: How SMEs are shaping the future of HR tech in Southeast Asia
Small and medium sized enterprises play a central role in Southeast Asia’s economies, employing a large proportion of the workforce. Unlike large organisations, SMEs often operate with limited HR resources, making efficiency and simplicity critical. As a result, their approach to HR technology is reshaping how learning and development tools are designed and used. In […]
The First Word: Redefining leadership for APAC’s evolving workforce
Across the Asia-Pacific, leaders are being asked to deliver results in talent markets that are tighter, more complex, and less predictable. As workforce expectations evolve and competition for critical skills intensifies, traditional models of leadership are no longer sufficient. Increasingly, success depends not just on what leaders know, but on how effectively they build capability […]
HR Tech Update: Workforce planning tools for volatile labour markets
Labour markets across Southeast Asia remain highly volatile, shaped by economic shifts, regulatory changes, and ongoing skills shortages. For HR and learning teams, workforce planning has become more complex, requiring faster adjustments and better visibility. Traditional planning methods, often based on static headcount assumptions, are no longer sufficient. In 2026, workforce planning tools are increasingly […]
The First Word: Beyond the busywork for Singapore’s small business owners
In my ongoing conversations with small business owners across Singapore, one challenge I continually hear is: “There is too much to do, and never enough time”. This isn’t a complaint; it’s a genuine capacity crunch. Running a small business means continually juggling an endless list of seemingly impossible priorities – everything from revenue, HR, marketing […]
The First Word: Small businesses must build capability fast to adapt AI
Singapore’s small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy—driving growth, creating jobs, and shaping the future with agility and resilience. In the past couple of years, the number of small businesses in Singapore grew by an impressive 5%, outpacing larger enterprises, which saw less than 1% growth. They have also expanded their workforces at double […]
HR Tech Update: Lessons from Lunar New Year workplace practices
Lunar New Year continues to shape how work is organised across Southeast Asia, influencing leave patterns, productivity cycles, and employee expectations. For HR and learning teams, the period highlights how cultural practices intersect with technology use at work. While digital systems operate year round, employee engagement with learning, performance, and communication tools often shifts significantly […]
HR Tech Update: Simplifying HR tech stacks in complex organisations
Across Southeast Asia, HR teams have accumulated a growing number of systems over the past decade. Learning platforms, performance tools, engagement surveys, payroll solutions, and workforce analytics often sit side by side with limited integration. Each system may have been introduced to solve a specific problem, but together they create complexity that slows decision-making and […]
