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 […]
HR Tech Update: HR data literacy as a core leadership capability
HR data has become central to how organisations across Southeast Asia plan, develop, and retain their workforces. Learning platforms, performance systems, and workforce analytics now generate large volumes of information, yet many leaders remain uncomfortable interpreting what this data actually means. As HR technology becomes more embedded in daily decision-making, data literacy is no longer […]
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 […]
HR Tech Update: Addressing digital fatigue through better HR systems
Digital fatigue has become a growing concern across Southeast Asia as workplaces adopt more platforms, dashboards, and always-on communication tools. HR systems that were introduced to improve efficiency have, in some cases, added to cognitive overload rather than reduced it. Learning platforms, performance tools, and collaboration software now compete for attention, leaving employees struggling to […]
The First Word: The truth behind ATS rejections
The claim is everywhere: “75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems before a human ever looks at them.” It appears in LinkedIn posts, career-coach webinars, and countless template-selling sites. Job seekers spend hours tweaking fonts, removing tables, and stuffing keywords, convinced they’re outsmarting a ruthless robot. A new study from resume platform Enhancv […]
HR Tech Update: Why HR tech pilots struggle to scale in Southeast Asia
HR technology pilots are becoming increasingly common across Southeast Asia, particularly within learning and development. New platforms are often introduced to test digital learning, skills assessment, or analytics capabilities in a controlled environment. These pilots are supported by a growing number of regional start-ups and global providers offering flexible, low risk entry points. However, while […]
HR Tech Update: Priorities shaping Southeast Asia in 2026
Technology is changing learning and development at a pace that was difficult to imagine even a decade ago. Across Southeast Asia, HR and L&D teams now operate in an environment where digital tools shape how skills are identified, learning is delivered, and impact is measured. At the same time, the market has expanded rapidly, with […]
