Refreshed industry digital plan launched to encourage F&B sector to adopt technology

SINGAPORE – Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food services sector have embraced technology with great success, increasing productivity and reducing food waste in the process.

To encourage more businesses to do the same, the authorities launched the refreshed Food Services Industry Digital Plan (IDP) on July 16.

“Technology can allow F&B (food and beverage) businesses to focus on what they do best, and that is creating exceptional dining experiences,” said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling, who announced the plan at Restaurant Asia and Sigep Asia 2025, held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Sigep Asia is a satellite trade show of Italy’s Sigep World in Rimini, and is focused on the gelato, pastry, pizza and coffee industries.

This is the second update of the IDP since its inception in 2018. It was developed by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in consultation with industry stakeholders.

The IDP will guide SMEs in digitalising their businesses by helping them to identify suitable digital solutions and relevant training programmes as they pursue operational efficiency and productivity and improve customer experience.

Five new categories of solutions have been identified in the new IDP. Each is designed to address the top operational challenges faced by F&B businesses today, EnterpriseSG and IMDA said in a joint release on July 16.

The first category is advanced automated cooking equipment, including smart kitchen systems with features such as pre-programmed recipes and automatic ingredient-dispensing functions.

There is also automated document reconciliation, where artificial intelligence (AI) software can digitise physical documents and reduce manual processing time by automatically matching and verifying data across receipts, purchase orders and delivery orders.

Other solutions include an automated end-to-end operation line, where back-of-house operations such as cooking, packing and sorting are automated via integrated equipment; automated self-checkout systems that use smart technology such as RFID, or radio frequency identification; as well as unmanned stores and automated kitchens.

“By automating routine tasks like inventory management, demand forecasting and paperwork, technology can actually free up valuable time for the chef, restaurant owners and staff to focus on enhancing customer relations and put creativity and care into every dish,” Ms Low said on the first day of the three-day trade show for the food service and hospitality sector.

“AI systems can also help to predict demand more accurately, reduce food waste, and also enable businesses to gain and reach out to new customers.”

Ms Low shared the example of restaurant chain The Hainan Story, which faced challenges with traditional Hainanese cooking methods that required constant supervision until it implemented an automated cooking system.

With the system in place, the chain has increased productivity by more than 50 per cent. The automation ensures consistent food quality, reduces waste and allows staff to focus on other tasks.

Mr Andrew Chan, managing director of The Soup Spoon chain of 30 casual eateries, welcomed the solutions laid out in the IDP, adding that the company has already started harnessing data to streamline systems and improve customer service.

“We generate monthly reports based on data and feedback that summarise and categorise a lot of the issues management and staff face and help us identify areas that need fixing or streamlining,” said Mr Chan, who is also the vice-president of the Restaurant Association of Singapore.

“A lot of the time, we are busy with the day-to-day tasks, so this really helps the management of the outlet focus on what are the actionable things to do, and (subsequently) increase the productivity of the outlet itself.”

IMDA said it has seen steady growth in the adoption of the digital solutions recommended to businesses since the IDP was first introduced in 2018, with eight out of 10 SMEs taking up sector-specific digital solutions. “This reflects the industry’s progress in embracing digital technologies to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency,” the agency said.

Ms Low noted: “While some people may think that AI and advanced technologies are more relevant to the realm of tech companies... F&B industry leaders are proving that these tools can be a powerful enabler for their businesses, helping them innovate and stay competitive in a fast-paced market.”

The launch of the refreshed IDP also saw the signing of several agreements between the trade show’s co-organiser Restaurant Association of Singapore and several partners, including institutes of higher learning, training providers and corporations.

Among the memorandums of understanding was one with an upcoming training school called 1-Academia to establish an academy for the food services sector that will leverage existing courses and seminars to develop new programmes with structured training pathways and industry-relevant qualifications.

The academy is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.