Lenovo Singapore has entered into a strategic partnership with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) to upskill Singaporeans from the manufacturing and retail industries in utilizing AI-powered solutions. This collaboration comes as part of Lenovo’s ongoing efforts to support the Singapore Economy 2030 vision that is built on four pillars: Trade, Enterprise, Manufacturing and Services.
This year, Lenovo launched a comprehensive suite of smart manufacturing and retail solutions aimed at enhancing productivity, improving customer experiences, and optimizing operations for businesses. These solutions are also tailored to help SMEs in Singapore rapidly digitalize and remain competitive in a fast-evolving market. Lenovo’s smart manufacturing solutions include advanced tools like the Automated Storage and Retrieval System, and Supply Chain Intelligence while its smart retail solutions including Dynamic Pricing and Electronic Shelf Labels, focus on operational efficiency and real-time updates. These solutions, recognised by the 2024 Edison Award, help local enterprises future-proof their operations by reducing manual labour and errors, and allowing enterprises to remain agile in a fast-paced global marketplace.
“Lenovo’s smart manufacturing and retail solutions are designed to empower businesses to achieve operational excellence and stay competitive,” said Lawrence Yu, General Manager for Lenovo Retail Solutions. “By leveraging our cutting-edge technologies, companies can optimize their supply chains, enhance customer experiences, and drive digitalization. We’re committed to helping businesses stay ahead of the curve and thrive in today’s rapidly evolving market.”
Expanding on its AI-driven offerings, Lenovo recently introduced a new range of AI-powered laptops to redefine the future of work. The integration of AI within the processors of laptops, such as the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 and ThinkPad P14s Gen 5, enables seamless collaboration, content creation, data analysis, and more. The significantly improved response times of these laptops, as compared to previous generations further enhancing productivity for professionals in fields such as architecture, data science and design. By leveraging AI advancements, Lenovo aims to redefine what it means to work smarter and faster in today’s dynamic business environment and empower businesses to stay competitive in the digital age.
Upskilling Singapore’s workforce for the future
Recognizing the importance of a skilled workforce, Lenovo and SMF are introducing upskilling and reskilling programs in Singapore. This initiative aims to equip employees in the manufacturing and retail sectors with the necessary AI knowledge and hands-on experience with AI-powered smart manufacturing and retail solutions. The objective of the programs is to inculcate specific knowledge on AI advancements to the workforce as well as train employees with hands-on-experiences. This ensures Singapore’s workforce can fully leverage cutting-edge tools for enhanced productivity while bridging the skills gap in AI adoption and empowering local enterprises to implement AI solutions effectively. “We recognise that Singapore’s workforce is the backbone of the economy, and we are committed to supporting the growth of its employees through our smart solutions and talent development initiatives. By equipping local enterprises and their teams with the necessary tools and skills, we are helping them to become more competitive, sustainable, and future-ready.” said Nigel Lee, Country General Manager at Lenovo Singapore.
Other than the partnership with SMF, Lenovo also has existing collaborations with educational institutions such as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). These initiatives include the eXtended Reality Centre (XRC) at ITE which provides students with hands-on experience in utilizing advanced technologies like virtual and augmented reality. Additionally, Lenovo’s Laptop Refurbishment Program trains ITE students to refurbish Lenovo laptops for donation to those in need.
Partnering enterprises of all sizes
By investing in talent development and fostering innovation, Lenovo is creating a pipeline of skilled professionals that will also benefit SMEs in Singapore. As SMEs adopt AI-powered solutions, they will need a workforce that is equipped to implement, manage, and optimize these technologies. Lenovo’s talent pipeline initiatives will ensure that SMEs have access to the necessary expertise to leverage AI effectively.
In addition to nurturing the local workforce, Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group (LCIG) is playing a crucial role in supporting promising AI startups to internationalize and become globally competitive. The LCIG provides start-ups with Lenovo’s technology, resources, and networking opportunities. Two notable examples of startups that have benefited from LCIG support are Aibee, and Syrius Robotics. Aibee, a leading AI-powered retail solutions provider, has leveraged Lenovo’s mentorship to scale its operations and expand its product offerings. Syrius Robotics, a startup specializing in autonomous driving technology, gained access to Lenovo’s technology infrastructure as well as research and development capabilities. These startups, including Datamesh, were also featured alongside Lenovo at SWITCH 2024, where they had the opportunity to network with industry leaders, explore new business opportunities, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends in the technology landscape.
