Retailers today are becoming less the abacus-wielding mom-and-pop stores of yesteryear and more like IT power users in-the-making, fairly savvy but still eager to learn more about how technology can help them succeed in a highly competitive market.

To assist them in this quest, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has embarked on a new initiative together with the Federation of Merchants, Singapore (FMAS) to identify common problems faced by different groups of heartland retailers and the potential ICT solutions that can help to meet these challenges. This was announced at the 5th HDB Retail Seminar, which was held at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh on 15 August.

“The IDA is partnering FMAS for the first time to reach out to our heartland retailers,” said Guest of Honour Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development. “Through this collaboration, we seek to identify trade association members who are able to participate in focus group studies.”

The SME Infocomm Resource Centre at Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRC@SIRS) will conduct the studies with FMAS members such as the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre Merchants’ Association, the Radio and Electrical Association of Singapore and the Institute of Chinese Medical Studies.

The focus groups can help reduce the time needed to identify and develop ICT solutions, and potentially make it more cost-effective for SMEs to deploy such solutions through bulk adoption. iSPRINT (Increase SME Productivity with Infocomm Adoption and Transformation) funding for up to 70 per cent of ICT purchases may also be offered to merchants.

iSPRINT smoothens the path for SMEs to apply for assistance for ICT adoption with IDA as a one-stop contact point. It motivates first-time ICT adopters among SMEs by supporting their varied needs, from simple solutions that help automate a business function to end-to-end solutions that can transform the operations of the business or sector. It also encourages collective sector-wide ICT adoption to enjoy economies of scale.

About 400 retailers turned up for the Retail Seminar “Small Steps. Big Gains.” to find out more about these and other initiatives aimed at helping boost the competitiveness of the sector through the use of ICT. Also on hand were representatives from other agencies such as SPRING Singapore, Workforce Development Agency and the SME Infocomm Resource Centres.

Many participants were armed with gadgets considered standard nowadays – iPhones, tablets, notepads – to help them imbibe the flurry of ideas at the event. Some were already familiar with such Internet communication platforms as Facebook or Twitter. But they were eager to learn more.

Mr John Khor is the Business Development Manager of Fritters On The Go, a HDB heartland shop in Aljunied. It sells a range of fritters including yam, banana, sweet potato and sesame.

He attended a pre-seminar workshop just before the seminar proper. The topic: How to implement E-commerce in a simple and cost effective way. “I’m here to keep track on developments, to see how I can follow up on methods to promote our products,” he said. “I find the talk useful. I also intend to find out more on how to increase productivity through ICT solutions.”

Mr Ngiam Tong Kun and his wife, Wendy, run a pastry outlet, Oven Marvel, in Sunshine Plaza, Middle Road. They signed up for the workshop because they wanted to learn how to use Facebook to promote their muffins, puffs and pies. They were looking for tips on how to get better and more attractive photographs to show off their products.

“We were inspired by a number of our customers who were already giving good reviews on their blogs,” said Mrs Ngiam. “And they were keen to help us spread the word around, something which would be easier to do if we ourselves are clear about how Facebook functions. We are glad we came to the seminar to find out more.”