iLIUP case study

A Vibrant Local Infocomm Industry

Growing strongly, with potential for even more robust growth. That sums up the Singapore infocomm industry as highlighted by the Second Infocomm Industry Survey (1999-2000), commissioned by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

According to the study, the Infocomm industry has grown by 30% to reach a value of S$26 billion last year, as compared to S$20 billion in 1998. This new engine of growth contributed 7% or almost S$11 billion, to Singapore's GDP. As a whole, these figures suggest that Singapore may be right on track to achieving the targeted $40 billion infocomm revenue by 2005.

The iLIUP Programme

One of several key initiatives to maintain the growth momentum in the infocomm sector is the Infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Program (iLIUP), which promotes mutually beneficial partnerships between Singapore's infocomm local enterprises and multinational infocomm corporations. IDA created the impetus for MNCs with the right technology to focus on building the capabilities of local companies in the infocomm industry.

Through these partnerships, MNCs are able to localize their technologies to serve the local product or service markets while local enterprises benefit from the exposure to world-class, cutting-edge technologies and international marketing expertise. In many instances, the tie-up with multinational players has also paved the way for local companies to penetrate overseas markets, vis-à-vis the products developed.

ILOG Asia-Pacific's partnership with local solutions provider KnowledgeTouch is but another example of a successful iLIUP partnership, leading to the development of a world-class manpower scheduling solution mScheduler. This partnership was formed in 1999. The IDA iLIUP has given a form of branding for ILOG partners, which allows them to better leverage their selling efforts.

Partnership with Common Goals

Mr. Foo Jong Tong, General Manager, ILOG Asia Pacific, emphasised "We are confident that ILOG can contribute to the success of our iLIUP partners in delivering world-class products with our best-of-breed optimization, visualization and rules-based technologies. Like other iLIUP MNC technology partners, ILOG provides the technology, technical and marketing assistance to these Singapore companies to develop robust and flexible solutions."

Ms. Jesselynn Mah, CEO of KnowledgeTouch said, "Our partnership with ILOG has enabled us to further develop our software solution, enhance distribution channels and expand our global marketplace. KnowledgeTouch has invested considerable resources over the past few years to build the product. It reflects KnowledgeTouch's ambitions to be a global player in the market for manpower scheduling solutions."

What mScheduler Does

ILOG software components power mScheduler, an innovative manpower scheduling solution which assists companies to efficiently plan, optimize, and regulate operations especially those in industries characterised by long opening hours, many flexi-shift workers and staff trained in different duties. The managers have to plan a feasible work schedule, which covers every function, and optimize the manpower resource to keep costs down and service levels up. The system also assists in determining the training needs of staff and ensures that the right staff with the right skill sets are scheduled to match the demand curve.

Looking Forward

ILOG takes on a holistic approach to groom local partners to build world-class products. "We hope that when our partners are successful, ILOG will be successful from the deployment licenses, which will be ILOG's future revenue stream." said Foo.

Mah said, "We intend to seek a global marketplace for our services and solutions. Our iLIUP partnership with ILOG has provided us a launch pad by which we can achieve this ambition."

About ILOG

Headquartered in Paris and Mountain View, Calif., ILOG is a world-leading supplier of cutting-edge software components. Founded in 1987, the company offers embeddable optimization, visualization and business rule components that dramatically shorten the development time of enterprise applications for supply chains, telecommunications, transportation, defense and financial services. ILOG has a commanding share of the market for optimization software and is playing an active role in the emergence of the market for e-business software components. Visit www.ilog.com.sg or contact ILOG at T:+65-773 0626 for additional information.

http://www.ilog.com

For more information, please contact:

Ter Hui Peng
Associate Director
McGallen & Bolden Associates (PR consultant)
Tel: (65) 324 6588, (65) 9 616 4869
Email: huipeng@mcgallen.com

About KnowledgeTouch

Knowledge Touch is a young company with a vision to be a world leader for human resource planning solutions. It is powered by a dynamic team of passionate individuals, specializing in optimization, manpower operations management and software engineering. KT has developed a robust world-class product for manpower planning and scheduling. Their clients include top-10 brands global companies, government authorities and top local system integrators who find them a choice partner in tenders with manpower scheduling requirements.

KT's human resource optimization solutions best fit industries with either a large number of staff or industries with highly-skilled personnel. Examples: Fast Food, Retail, Theme Parks, Airports/Seaports, Call Centres, Hotels, Hospitals, Maintenance/Repair.

For more information, please contact:

Jesselynn Mah
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (65) 391 1352/ 9761 9739
Email: jesselynn@knowledgetouch.com
URL: www.knowledgetouch.com