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SUCCESS CASE
How a Warewashing Firm Secured Over S$100K for Automation and AI
RIC helped a Singapore warewashing firm secure EDG support for automation and AI solutions that improved productivity, hygiene, and operational efficiency.
CATEGORY
Factory and Process Optimisation
CLIENT TYPE
Commercial warewashing / F&B services
GRANT TYPE
Enterprise Development Grant support
FUNDING SECURED
Over SGD 100,000
About the Client and Project
Client Profile
The client is a Singapore-based integrated warewashing management solutions provider serving the F&B sector. Incorporated in 2015, it has grown to employ over 100 staff and provides off-site and on-site warewashing, crockery rental, and stewarding services. Its business helps F&B operators address space and staffing constraints while maintaining food safety standards, making productivity, hygiene, and operational reliability central to its service model.
Project Nature
The project involved implementing advanced automation and AI technology to improve the client’s warewashing operations. The scope included automated soaking and sorting systems, advanced dishwashing and drying equipment, AI-based software, and professional consultancy support. The project targeted manual pre-washing, sorting, tub tracking, hygiene risks, labour dependency, and water usage. By automating core warewashing workflows and introducing AI-enabled tracking, the client aimed to improve process efficiency, reduce manual handling, strengthen hygiene standards, and scale operations more effectively.
Funding Objective and Challenge
Funding Objective
The funding objective was to support the client’s operational efficiency transformation under the Enterprise Development Grant. The grant helped fund qualifying costs for automation and AI solutions, including automated soaking and sorting systems, dishwashing and drying equipment, AI-based software, and related consultancy support. The project was intended to reduce manual labour, improve process efficiency, strengthen hygiene practices, reduce water usage, and increase overall productivity in a high-volume commercial warewashing operation.
The Challenge
The client operated in a labour-intensive warewashing environment where manual pre-washing, sorting, and tub tracking created productivity constraints and higher operating costs. Its work also required strict hygiene standards because it served F&B customers handling dining ware and utensils at scale. The application needed to show that the project was not just an equipment purchase, but a structured process transformation covering labour reduction, hygiene improvement, water savings, tracking accuracy, and overall productivity gains.
How RIC Supported the Client
RIC supported the client through the EDG application process for its automation and AI transformation.
RIC’s support included:
• Structuring the grant application around process automation, productivity improvement, hygiene enhancement, and cost savings.
• Helping frame the business case for automated soaking, sorting, dishwashing, drying, and AI-enabled tracking.
• Preparing documentation to support the client’s automation scope and expected operational impact.
• Managing clarification rounds with the officer, including questions on vendor selection, project deliverables, and project funding.
• Supporting the client through post-approval scope changes when the quantity of hardware components was reduced.
• Helping ensure that the application remained coherent despite changes in project configuration.
RIC’s role was focused on navigating the grant application requirements, responding to clarifications, and helping the client secure approval for a practical, high-impact automation project.
Outcome
FUNDING SECURED
Over SGD 100,000
The client secured over S$100,000 in EDG support, covering up to 70% of qualifying costs. The automation project delivered more than 85% improvement in weekly productivity, saved over 800 staff hours per week, generated estimated annual savings of more than SGD 350,000, improved hygiene through reduced manual handling, and supported water conservation through recycling systems.
What This Means for Similar Companies
For labour-intensive service businesses, automation grants are not limited to traditional factories. Warewashing, cleaning, laundry, central kitchen, and other high-volume operational businesses can also build strong cases when the project clearly connects automation to productivity, hygiene, cost savings, and service quality. The key is to show how the operating model changes, not just what equipment is purchased. This case is a reminder that grant evaluators need to see measurable operational impact, practical implementation logic, and credible business value.
