Movement for change Two ways to process an order
I wanted to buy 3 laptops from SingTel under a BSG grant from the government. 

I took 1 month and a lot of time to clear through the process from MTI. It was a horrible experience. I have described it in a separate story. The approval finally arrived.

I now have to submit an order with SingTel. I was given 3 manual forms to complete including placing a company stamp. I am now working from home. I have to make a special trip to the office to sort out the paperwork to buy the 3 laptops from SingTel.

This is how business is being conducted in Singapore. 

Let me share another experience - business conducted from Malaysia.

I sent a request for a quotation from a Dell All-in-one computer. The order is processed by Dell customer center in Penang. I have the email address of the account manager as I placed an order before.

She sent me a quotation the following day. It contained the details of the computer. There was instruction on how to make payment. I chose the internet banking transfer.

I made the payment and sent an email to the account manager. I received an email that my order was confirmed and the computer would arrive in 7 days time. 

The order with the customer service center in Penang took me 10 minutes to complete. (Actually, I already had the Dell bank account details from a previous order. Otherwise, it might take me another 5 minutes to set it up).

All right, Singapore companies like SingTel can continue our outdated and troublesome practices. I can only say - there will be no future for Singapore business and competitiveness, if we remain highly inefficient, wasteful and costly.

Tan Kin Lian
 

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