Singapore’s initiative of transforming their country into a smart nation is an awesome and great vision for its citizen. Technology revolutionizes the way people live.
Based on smartnation.gov.sg, the country envisions a Smart Nation that is a leading economy powered by digital innovation, and a world-class city with a Government that gives our citizens the best home possible and responds to their different and changing needs.
I am a living witness of how Singapore transformed a digital and technological nation. For my six years working on this prosperous and innovative country, I saw how some restaurants have no cashier. Instead, it was replaced by a touch screen booth or by a tablet which customers can conveniently select the food or items they want to order. Moreover, Fairprice and IKEA uses self-check-out counter where customers can scan on their own bought items and pay it using cash or cards.
On the side of banking, I am so amazed with their simplified transactions. Like when opening an account, it’s very easy to transact especially if it’s your first time to open an account. You just have your passport or national ID, and they will key in everything without having lots of papers to fill out. Moreover, most of their ATMs are capable of cash and coins deposit.
On government transactions, I also salute their systematic way of how to handle crowds and scheduling system. Like when I applied for my SPass and renewed it, I do not stay for a long time because, I had an appointment time to process my pass. In addition, when I was applying for the first time to be a permanent resident, I normally consolidate all documents and hand over it to Immigration officer in Kallang. With the use of technology, on my second attempt of applying PR, everything is online. The payment for processing is also online.
Currently, I am now here in the Philippines and I still miss the cashless experience I had in Singapore. I normally have my EZ link card to tap every time I will ride a bus or MRT. During the time I need to purchase, I just also tap it without having signature. Indeed, it’s very seamless.
Moving to the future, this country aims more improvement for its system like no more cheques on 2025, deployment of next generation smart traffic light control system, and a lot of more.
Photo: https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/
I wish there will be a vision in the Philippines where technological advancement is highly observed. Currently, using RFID is a great innovation started by the government plus the use of e-wallet by GCash and Paymaya which is equivalent of Paylah in Singapore.
Hopefully all nations will follow coz being Smart is a way of making life easier and better.
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