Industry News

Salesforce has unveiled its latest State of Sales report, revealing that artificial intelligence (AI) is a pivotal strategy for driving company growth in 2026. The survey, which included 4,000 sales professionals globally and 100 in Singapore, highlights the increasing reliance on AI and agents to overcome administrative bottlenecks and enhance productivity. Notably, 82% of Singapore sales leaders with agents consider them essential for meeting business demands.

The report indicates that AI adoption in sales is now mainstream, with 80% of Singapore sales organisations utilising AI for tasks such as prospecting, forecasting, and drafting emails. AI agents are becoming increasingly popular, with 50% of sellers having used them and 44% planning to do so by 2027. These agents are expected to reduce prospect research time by 32% and email drafting by 34%.

Paul Carvouni, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Salesforce ASEAN, stated, “Agentic AI is the strategic lever that allows businesses to offload time-consuming administrative tasks and empower sales teams to focus on quality sales conversations.”

The report also highlights the challenges faced by Gen Z sellers, who spend only 35% of their time selling due to manual data entry tasks. This has led to a significant shift in workforce sentiment, with Gen Z more open to leaving their jobs due to a lack of advancement opportunities.

To maximise AI returns, 85% of Singapore sales professionals are focusing on data cleansing, with high performers prioritising data hygiene. This focus on trusted, connected data is crucial for supporting AI initiatives and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.

Singapore’s real estate market experienced significant growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, with investment sales reaching S$13.7b. This surge was bolstered by easing interest rates and currency stability, according to the latest report from Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Research. The quarter saw increased interest across Government Land Sales, retail, office, and industrial segments, reflecting strong buyer confidence.

Office rents in the Central Region rose by 0.4% quarter-on-quarter, with island-wide occupancy climbing to 95.1%. This was supported by a net absorption of 236,500 square feet, despite an increase in total available shadow space to 432,000 square feet. The industrial sector also saw a 1.4% rise in property prices, led by multiple-user factories, although overall occupancy dipped to 88.7% due to new completions.

The retail market remained stable, with international visitor arrivals easing to 4 million in Q4 2025, yet full-year arrivals were resilient at 16.9 million. The Singapore Tourism Board projects further growth in 2026. Retail occupancy edged up to 93.7%, driven by demand in Fringe/Suburban Areas.

In the residential sector, prices grew at a slower pace of 0.6% in Q4 2025, with total sales hitting a four-year high of 26,492 transactions for the year. Rental prices dipped modestly, and rental volume decreased by 27.4% to 19,771 units in Q4 2025 from the previous quarter.

Looking ahead, the investment sale market in 2026 is expected to gain further momentum, supported by lower financing costs and stable economic fundamentals.

OCBC Singapore customers can now use the OCBC app to scan and pay using Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) merchant QR codes in mainland China. This new feature, effective from 9 February 2026, enhances OCBC’s existing QR payment capabilities, which already include Alipay+ and UnionPay. The bank is the only one in Singapore offering this comprehensive QR payment service across 57 countries, including key markets like Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan.

The addition of Weixin Pay is significant as it, along with Alipay+, accounts for over 90% of China’s mobile payment transactions. This integration allows OCBC customers to make payments without the need for cash or additional apps, offering competitive exchange rates and real-time rate visibility. Regina Lim, OCBC’s Head of Card Payments and Personal Loans, highlighted the convenience this brings, especially with the Lunar New Year approaching, stating, “Our customers do not even need to download another payment app.”

China remains the top destination for OCBC’s Scan & Pay feature, with one in five overseas transactions occurring there last year. The average value of QR payments in China is nearly double that of other markets, reflecting growing confidence in using QR payments for more than just small purchases. This development is expected to further simplify travel and spending for OCBC customers, aligning with the bank’s broader Scan & Pay capabilities.

SGInnovate and CompTIA have announced a strategic partnership to bolster Singapore’s deep tech talent pipeline, focusing on AI and cybersecurity skills. This collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in these fields, as job openings surged by 44% from 2024 to 2025, whilst only 20% of applicants meet the required skills.

The partnership introduces the CyberReady+ Bootcamp, a structured programme designed to help mid-career professionals, graduates, and career switchers transition into cybersecurity roles. The bootcamp offers a three-stage pathway covering essential networking concepts, threat intelligence, and AI-integrated system security. Additionally, CompTIA is launching SecAI+, its first global certification focused on securing AI within cybersecurity operations, hosted on SGInnovate’s Deep Tech Central platform.

Juliana Lim, Executive Director of People at SGInnovate, emphasised the national priority of developing talent in AI and cybersecurity, stating, “Our collaboration with CompTIA allows us to upskill individuals through a blend of preparatory workshops and formal certifications.”

The initiatives aim to bridge the gap between training and employment, ensuring that newly skilled talent is directly connected to Singapore’s deep tech ecosystem. Peter Schalkwijk, Vice President of APAC at CompTIA, highlighted the importance of combining classroom learning, on-the-job training, and professional certifications to build a highly skilled technology workforce.

By anchoring these initiatives on the Deep Tech Central platform, SGInnovate and CompTIA streamline the transition from learning to employment, connecting individuals with opportunities in the emerging tech space. Interested participants can register for the CyberReady+ Bootcamp and SecAI+ certification on SGInnovate’s website.

Nexus Global Payments (NGP) has appointed a joint venture between Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and Network for Electronic Transfers Singapore (NETS) as the Nexus Technical Operator (NTO). This decision follows a competitive procurement process and represents a significant step in establishing a global payments infrastructure. The NTO will be responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the Nexus infrastructure, ensuring compliance with global standards, and enhancing cybersecurity and operational resilience.

The joint venture was chosen due to the proven track record of both ASEAN payment networks and their commitment to innovation. The NTO will collaborate with Amazon Web Services and Endava to deliver the technical design and development of the Nexus platform. This collaboration aims to ensure that Nexus meets international standards and is scalable from the outset.

Andrew McCormack, CEO of NGP, stated, “Our partnership with PayNet and NETS is a major milestone towards our vision for an interoperable global payments network.” Praveen Rajan, CEO of PayNet, expressed pride in being part of this initiative, highlighting Malaysia’s growing role in enabling cross-border payments. Lawrence Chan, Group CEO of NETS, noted the appointment as a vote of confidence in Singapore’s role in advancing payment innovation.

The selection of the NTO marks progress towards Nexus’s first live deployment, with technical development set to begin in early 2026 and a go-live target in 2027. Nexus aims to simplify cross-border payments by connecting domestic real-time payment systems, reducing costs, and enabling instant international transactions.

JCB International Co Ltd, the international operations subsidiary of Japan’s only international payment brand, has announced a collaboration with Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore. This partnership aims to enhance the travel experience for Japanese tourists visiting the island nation. The collaboration introduces exclusive privileges for Japan-issued JCB cardmembers, including up to 20% savings on selected attractions and accommodation, as well as dining and retail benefits at participating outlets within RWS.

Resorts World Sentosa, located on Singapore’s premier resort island, is a leading integrated lifestyle destination, attracting millions of visitors annually. The collaboration with JCB is designed to offer Japanese guests curated experiences that enhance every stage of their visit, from iconic attractions to hotel stays.

Hiroko Michishita, Managing Director of JCB International Asia Pacific, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating, “Our launch of this programme comes at an opportune time amid a steady rise in Japanese tourist arrivals to Singapore.” Jenny Wang, Acting Senior Vice President of Resort Sales and Marketing at RWS, added, “We are pleased to partner with JCB to deepen our engagement with Japanese travellers and strengthen RWS’s presence in the Japan market.”

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to attract more Japanese tourists to Singapore, offering them compelling reasons to visit and extend their stay. The collaboration reflects a long-term commitment to building sustained relevance in Japan, positioning Resorts World Sentosa as Asia’s leading lifestyle destination.

Mammoet, the world’s largest heavy lifting and transport company, has signed a contract with Seatrium to manage the load-out of three substations for TenneT’s ambitious 2GW offshore grid connection programme. This initiative aims to link large-scale offshore wind farms to the European mainland, significantly advancing climate targets in the Netherlands, Germany, and beyond.

The project will see the installation of 15 high-voltage direct current (HVDC) offshore grid connection systems in the North Sea by 2032, each boasting a capacity of 2GW. This approach is expected to reduce environmental impacts by minimising the number of offshore facilities required.

Seatrium will handle the topside fabrication across its global yards, with each topside weighing over 30,000 tonnes. Mammoet will employ specialist skidding equipment to transfer these massive platforms from land to sea-going vessels, ensuring precise movement and minimising structural deflection.

Richard Verhoeff, Global Sales Director at Mammoet, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are proud to partner with Seatrium for this innovative offshore wind programme, which will support Europe’s net-zero and energy independent ambitions. Our work is redefining the scale at which these key energy projects can be built.”

This collaboration marks a significant step in Europe’s journey towards energy independence and sustainability, with Mammoet’s expertise playing a crucial role in the project’s success. The use of advanced engineering solutions ensures the safe and controlled load-out of these colossal structures, setting a new standard for offshore energy projects.

Singapore residents are increasingly turning to self-storage solutions to manage their living spaces ahead of the Chinese New Year, according to data from Lock+Store. Between 1 October 2025 and 31 January 2026, the self-storage provider noted a significant rise in enquiries for small and mid-sized units, particularly the 24 sq ft option, as families prepare their homes for festive activities.

Lock+Store, a home-grown operator with 16 facilities across Singapore, revealed that the 24 sq ft unit—comparable to a small walk-in wardrobe—has become the most popular choice. This unit size is ideal for storing 20 to 25 standard moving boxes, suitcases, festive decorations, and small furniture, making it a practical solution for short-term storage needs.

Helen Ng, CEO of General Storage Company, which operates Lock+Store, stated, “Chinese New Year is when families want their homes to feel lighter, more organised, and ready for gatherings. We’re seeing more customers plan ahead and choose practical unit sizes that help them create space at home without having to give up the items that still matter to them.”

The data also highlighted the top items being stored, including boxes, clothes, books, and furniture. Ng noted that this trend reflects a shift towards responsible storage rather than discarding items, allowing families to enjoy a more comfortable home environment during the festive period.

As Singaporeans align their storage needs with new year routines, Lock+Store anticipates continued demand for smaller units, offering flexibility and convenience for residents looking to optimise their living spaces.

FDH Aero, a global supply chain solutions provider for the aerospace and defence industry, has unveiled its expanded facility at Seletar Aerospace Park in Singapore. Announced on the eve of the Singapore Airshow, the expansion doubles the company’s footprint, transforming the logistics hub into a comprehensive regional distribution centre. This development aims to enhance speed, reliability, and availability of hardware, electronics, consumables, and expendables for customers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

The new facility includes a dedicated floor for executive offices and modern meeting suites, whilst the original space is now fully utilised for operations and warehouse capacity. This infrastructure supports FDH Aero’s growth ambitions in the region. Matthew Lacki, President of FDH Hardware, stated, “By doubling our space, we are increasing the scale and service of our operations and empowering our local teams to engage with customers and provide supply chain solutions locally.”

The facility serves as a crucial link for FDH Aero’s clients in East and South Asia, allowing for faster and more autonomous operations. Cody Ho, Managing Director of FDH Aero APAC, emphasised the importance of local decision-making, saying, “We are bringing strategic decision-making closer to our customers, so they can confidently act in real-time within one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.”

The expansion is driven by significant contract wins and growing demand in the commercial and defence sectors, including a strategic partnership with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) for its C919 platform. This positions FDH Aero to better support sub-tier manufacturers in South Korea and Japan with improved agility and local expertise.

AWE Asia 2026 wrapped up in Singapore this week, bringing together the global extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) community for three days of insightful discussions and demonstrations. The event underscored the growing importance of XR as foundational infrastructure for AI systems, which are increasingly moving beyond screens into real-world environments. AWE co-founder Ori Inbar emphasised, “There is no AI without XR,” setting the tone for the conference.

The event featured keynotes and sessions exploring the practical applications of AI and XR. Atley Loughridge from Snap Inc highlighted the transition of Snap’s augmented reality (AR) stack from experimentation to global production, showcasing its deployment across mobile, web, and wearables. Alvin W Graylin discussed the importance of trust and responsibility in AI-driven XR systems, whilst Mark Billinghurst introduced “Empathic XR,” which uses physiological sensing and AI to enhance applications in healthcare and training.

A developer panel led by Steven Xu of Snap Inc focused on building spatial experiences using Lens Studio, whilst Matt Sanders from Meta explored the potential of wearable AI to foster independence. Beng Hui Ong from Agora presented a case study on AI in toys, illustrating the synergy between spatial technologies and AI.

The expo floor featured live demonstrations, including Snap’s Spectacles, and the debut AWE Asia Startup Pitch. The Auggie Awards recognised standout contributions, with Braillic named Startup to Watch and Snap winning Best in Show. The event concluded with a call for stronger governance in AI, emphasising its alignment with human wellbeing.