COTD: Manufacturing sector leads BDA adoption amongst S'porean SMEs

They are followed by the lifestyle cluster, driven by the retail and hospitality sectors.

64.58% of SMEs in the manufacturing sector are adopting Big Data Analytics (BDA) into their operations, leading most Singaporean SMEs, according to a report by the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

This aligns with global trends, where manufacturing has been at the forefront of leveraging data for Industry 4.0 initiatives like optimising supply chains and enhancing production efficiency.

Amongst the Lifestyle Cluster, 47.83% adopted BDA, driven largely by the retail and hospitality sectors. The Built Environment Cluster saw a 45.45% adoption, supported by increased digitalisation in construction and real estate.

Meanwhile, the Modern Services Cluster saw 36.05% adoption, despite including ICT and financial services—industries typically expected to lead in digital innovation.

On the other hand, the Essential Domestic Services Cluster saw 32.26% adoption, reflecting emerging but limited applications in healthcare and education.

The study was conducted through an empirical, quantitative online survey between June and August 2023. Responses were captured from 390 SMEs across six key industry clusters, offering a comprehensive view of how Singapore SMEs navigate the BDA landscape.

Chart from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.