DIGITAL INNOVATIONS

The “Think Big, Start Small, Move Fast” concept is most often applied to digitalisation and technology-related projects, and this was the approach the SAF took when COVID-19 spurred us to come up with digitalisation innovations when the pandemic made it impossible to do things the usual way. Beyond fitness training, virtual meetings, even virtual open houses, became the new norm. The positive feedback on the many innovations gave impetus for us to move fast and scale up digital means to reach more stakeholders, including our servicemen posted overseas and their families. Working with DSTA and DSO, a multitude of digital solutions was developed and widely implemented.

Besides developing tech solutions to support the WoG fight against COVID-19, such as the SwiftCobra app, the SAF developed several apps for use by its own people and units. The ArmyDeclare and SwiftMED apps were developed for visitor entry to SAF camps to enable efficient contact tracing. The RSN set up a tele-consultation service for medical reviews to assist COVID-positive servicemen when they were recovering at home or in the naval base.

When the innovations worked well, we were encouraged to scale up and to explore and adopt even more digital solutions. More apps were developed, starting small with pilot projects. Some showed potential for application across the SAF, such as the RSN's SafeGuardian app which digitalised safety processes and hazard reporting, so that training safety and safety compliance were enhanced. Another was the RSAF MTMobile app, which was a ground-up innovation that tracked journey details and maintenance records automatically. This app reduced administrative work for transport operators and supervisors by 75% and improved sustainability. In time, MTMobile will be scaled up for use throughout the RSAF and can potentially be useful for the Army as well.

Organisationally, the SAF has also adopted the Think Big, Start Small, Move Fast philosophy. In the digital and intelligence realm, the SAF started small with the C4I Community in 2012 and then the Defence Cyber Organisation in 2017. These steps enabled the SAF to trial many initiatives and build up critical mass and expertise - which set the foundation for the new Digital and Intelligence Service which was announced by Minister for Defence at the 2022 budget debate.