A new partnership will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthen their digital capabilities.
The National Trades Union Congress' U SME will team up with Nanyang Polytechnic to assist SMEs in their efforts to adopt new digital technologies, the labour movement said on Monday.
Students from Nanyang Polytechnic's Customer Experience and Analytics Centre will work with SMEs to incorporate digital technology to alleviate business challenges.
U SME is the NTUC body that focuses on challenges facing SMEs.
Said NTUC assistant director-general Yeo Guat Kwang: "We are excited and look forward to working with Nanyang Polytechnic and helping our SMEs thrive in the digital age.
"The student projects will provide U SME partners with an avenue to adopt digital technology and improve their productivity."
NTUC expects the collaboration to provide its SME partners with a range of business solutions in areas such as social media and customer analytics.
The polytechnic students, who will be in their final year of study, will help SMEs analyse the information they transmit online.
The students will also monitor and manage SMEs' social media interactions, and plan and execute digital strategies to help the SMEs engage their customers or users.
NTUC said the collaboration will allow these students to gain an understanding of the challenges and constraints that SMEs face and prepare them for new job demands in the digital age.
As SMEs adopt new technologies, existing workers will also need to renew their skills to enhance their employability. U SME will work with training providers to provide relevant training so that SME staff can stay abreast of digital technological advancements.
"Ultimately, the collaborations between the labour movement's expanding network and SMEs aim to benefit the enterprises so that together, we can take better care of our workers," said Mr Yeo.