Singapore’s logistics service provider, Singapore Post (SingPost), has migrated all IT workloads, hosted in its on-premises data centres, to the cloud and this has helped it achieve cost savings of 30 percent in IT operations.
As part of a multiyear collaboration, it will run its business on Google Cloud, use AI infrastructure to handle workloads and apply the firm’s BeyondCorp Enterprise platform, ensuring secure access for authorised staff through measures including multi-factor authentication and device verification.
According to SingPost, it has developed a generative AI solution prototype to streamline e-commerce logistics operations. It eliminates the administrative burden of manually re-entering partner and supplier information from trade documents, including those with handwritten inputs, into the database.
It added that this frees up employees from the hassle of searching through document archives, allowing them to make strategic decisions and deliver high-quality customer interactions.
SingPost’s group chief information officer, Noel Singgih, said embracing technologies, coupled with strategic investment in high-growth markets, has resulted in international logistics generating 86 percent of the group’s revenue, a key milestone in the company’s ongoing transformation into a technology-driven logistics enterprise.
Its AI solution uses Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform, foundation models, and Document AI, to transform unstructured data from trade documents into a searchable repository.
The system includes a GenAI-powered chat interface capable of understanding natural language queries and providing accurate and relevant information.
Digital Industry Singapore’s vice president and head, Philbert Gomez said that the AI Trailblazers initiative has assisted SingPost in building a gen AI solution that will increase productivity.
SingPost said it is currently scaling the use of the solution to optimise supply chain orchestration across the logistics network, aiming for faster deliveries, and exploring other use cases, including automating internal legal document reviews and enhancing customer care through personalised interactions powered by Vertex AI.
It added that the company maintains full control over its data, including prompts and user inputs at inference time, as it will stay within SingPost's dedicated Google Cloud environment, encrypted both in transit and at rest, and remains inaccessible to Google Cloud or any external parties.
Enabling access to GenAI tools
The company replaces legacy productivity tools with Duet AI in Google Workspace to assist employees in writing, visualising, organising, and connecting meaningfully.
This helps incorporate GenAI into familiar cloud-native communication and collaboration applications such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Meet, and Chat.
With Duet AI, sales teams can generate memos and presentation decks in response to requests for proposals (RFPs) faster, while marketing and customer support teams can accelerate marketing copy development and reduce average response times to customer inquiries.
According to the company, it is deploying Duet AI in AppSheet.
Integrated with Google Workspace, Duet AI in AppSheet allows individuals to build apps for streamlining work tasks by describing ideas using natural language, without the need to write a single line of code.
It added that this encompasses apps for frontline service management, inventory management, and delivery route optimisation.
