Singapore – Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) have launched a refreshed Retail Industry Digital Plan (IDP) aimed at helping more than 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) retailers accelerate digital transformation and strengthen business growth.
The updated roadmap was announced on 26 May during the “Retail Reimagined – From Now to Next” event, organised by EnterpriseSG. The launch was officiated by Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
First introduced in 2017, the Retail IDP was designed to guide SME retailers through digital adoption, beginning with foundational technologies before progressing to more advanced solutions. According to EnterpriseSG and IMDA, more than 75% of SMEs have adopted entry-level solutions, while 45% have implemented intermediate technologies.
However, findings from IMDA’s 2025 annual retail sector survey showed that adoption of advanced digital solutions remained limited.
The agencies said the refreshed plan comes as Singapore’s retail sector faces increasing operational costs, manpower shortages, and heightened competition from global e-commerce players. They added that developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other retail technologies have created new opportunities for retailers to improve competitiveness and operational efficiency.
EnterpriseSG and IMDA said they worked with SMEs and industry groups, including the Singapore Retailers Association, Singapore Fashion Council, and Singapore Furniture Industries Council, to identify new business challenges and digitalisation needs since the IDP’s original launch.
Under the refreshed framework, the IDP will now organise solutions around business touchpoints instead of digital readiness stages. The agencies said this approach is intended to help retailers identify pain points across front-of-house, back-of-house, and corporate operations more easily.
The updated IDP also places greater emphasis on AI-powered and AI-enabled technologies. These include AI concierge and generative AI customer engagement chatbots for customer service, demand forecasting tools for inventory and operational planning, and generative AI systems for marketing content creation and digital training.
According to the agencies, homegrown florist Far East Flora reduced content production time by an estimated 50% after implementing a generative AI marketing and sales content generation solution.
The refreshed roadmap also incorporates a cybersecurity and data protection component to help SMEs adopt digital tools more securely. Retailers will have access to cybersecurity toolkits and solutions including anti-malware, firewall, backup, and secure protection systems.
In addition to technology adoption, EnterpriseSG and IMDA encouraged retailers to invest in workforce transformation, including job redesign and employee reskilling initiatives.
Retailers can also work with EnterpriseSG and Workforce Singapore to develop integrated enterprise and workforce transformation plans aimed at improving both business and workforce outcomes.
