Beyond the Warehouse Walls

Singapore is recognised as Asia’s leading logistics hub, with the industry contributing over 7% of the nation’s GDP and supporting more than 86,000 jobs.¹⁶ As logistics companies race to digitise and automate, the Asia-Pacific warehouse automation market is set to grow at more than 14% annually until 2029.¹⁷ 

At YCH Group, one of the region’s largest homegrown logistics providers with more than 8 million square feet of warehouse space across Asia, the future of warehousing is constantly being reimagined. Known for their pioneering spirit, YCH has long invested in technology – from flying inventory drones to towering automated storage systems. But staying ahead means more than maintaining an edge; it requires fresh eyes, renewed curiosity, and bold new thinking.

That is where the SMU-X Lifelong Learning programme stepped in. Partnering with YCH, a team of adult learners from the Industry Practice Master of Digital Economy embarked on a journey to explore what’s next in warehouse automation. Under the guidance of Vice Provost (Education) Professor Venky Shankararaman ¹⁸ and Associate Provost for Lifelong Learning Professor Gary Pan, they assessed nine emerging technologies including Smart Labels, AI-enabled Vision Systems, Immersive Reality, Warehouse Execution Systems, Exoskeletons, 3D Printing, Advanced Connectivity, Mobile Autonomous Robots, and Edge Computing. 

The learners brought with them diverse professional experiences: Toh Wei Kwan, a supply chain continuous improvement expert; Choo Wee Tong, a lifelong learning advocate with a passion for logistics innovation; and Lim Bing Qian, a former mechanical engineering student from Nanyang Technological University who now specialises in supply chain consultancy at Ernst & Young. Their mission: to evaluate each technology’s business potential and co-create a roadmap that would inform YCH’s future investments. 

We had to stay nimble and adaptable... The scope kept evolving and there were confidentiality boundaries we had to respect, but we learned to stay focused, find workarounds, and keep moving forward.

－ Choo Wee Tong

Through deep research and critical analysis, they reviewed implementation costs, use cases, constraints, and ROI forecasts, building a comprehensive strategy to align innovation with value. The project also involved stakeholder interviews and iterative design thinking to refine insights into actionable recommendations. 

“We had to stay nimble and adaptable,” reflected Wee Tong, one of the learners on the YCH project team. “The scope kept evolving and there were confidentiality boundaries we had to respect, but we learned to stay focused, find workarounds, and keep moving forward.” “Visiting the YCH warehouse was unforgettable,” added Wei Kwan. “The scale of the automation, systems towering four storeys high, made everything we’d studied in class come alive. It gave our research depth and grounded our ideas in reality.” 

For Bing Qian, the most defining moment came when the team decided to go beyond market scans and visualise how an integrated warehouse of the future might look. “The satisfaction of figuring out how to piece all the ideas together, from data to technology to user flow, was incredibly rewarding,” he shared. “It gave us a chance to design something forward-looking and real.” 

The project delivered more than analysis. The learners also proposed a prototype vision of an integrated warehouse system, offering practical implementation scenarios to accelerate YCH’s innovation roadmap.

 For Sanjeev Dhiman, Group Innovation Services Lead at YCH, the research brought significant value. “The team’s work was structured and insightful, aligning with our operational needs while enhancing our strategy. Their ideas helped us advance technologies like Smart Labels and 3D Printing with greater clarity and confidence.” 

He further noted how the learners’ fresh perspectives and detailed evaluations added a new dimension to ongoing innovation efforts. “Their ability to understand our complex environment, identify relevant technologies, and propose practical use cases showed a remarkable level of maturity and professionalism. This collaboration affirmed our direction and sharpened our approach.” 

Venky reflected, “Working with adult learners is a very different dynamic. They bring decades of experience into the room. Their insights are grounded, their thinking strategic. It’s a joy to witness how such learners transform academic inquiry into real business value.” 

The YCH project also reflected a larger SMU-X evolution, where more organisations are turning to SMU as a trusted partner for collaboration. “In the past, we had to knock on doors. Now, companies come to us because they’ve seen the difference our students can make,” Venky added.