In 2025, digital transformation went from a competitive advantage to a business imperative. Organizations large and small raced to embrace AI, cloud, and automation – some thriving, others hitting walls. Technology alone does not guarantee success. This was the resounding theme of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) webinar “Ahead of the Curve 2026 & Beyond: Innovative Transformation for Future-Ready Business”. Moderated by Jiri Pik, CEO & Chief AI Strategist of RocketEdge.com, the session gathered industry leaders to share candid lessons from 2025 and how to turn those lessons into a 2026 advantage. Below we recap the key insights and inspiring quotes from each speaker, highlighting that digital transformation is a continuous journey – one that’s as human as it is technological.
Frank Lee: AI as Core Capability, Delivering ROI Today
Frank Lee, Founder of Jumpstart Disruptive Innovations (JDI), opened with a clear message: “AI is no longer an experiment; it’s a core capability.” The conversation has shifted from “What is AI?” to “How do we industrialize it for maximum impact, efficiency, and competitive advantage?”. In Frank’s experience, AI is already delivering measurable ROI across industries. For example, generative AI co-pilots embedded in everyday tools are yielding “a 15–20% efficiency gain in tasks like drafting emails, summarizing meetings, generating code, and creating marketing content”, automating the mundane and freeing humans for strategic work. AI isn’t just hype – it’s driving tangible improvements in productivity and customer service. Frank noted that AI-powered chatbots now handle over 70% of initial customer queries, providing 24/7 support and allowing human agents to focus on higher-value relationships.
However, Frank also cautioned that the primary challenge isn’t access to AI tech itself, but deep integration of AI into the fabric of business operations. “Data – garbage in, garbage out,” he reminded, stressing that clean, well-governed data is essential for scaling AI successfully. Equally important is an “AI-first” mindset: companies must re-imagine processes with AI at the core rather than just bolting AI onto old workflows. Frank encouraged investing in upskilling talent – developing AI translators who bridge tech and business – so that organizations can effectively collaborate with AI tools and not be limited by a talent gap. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, he predicted the rise of autonomous AI agents that execute multi-step tasks independently, and industry-specific AI models (e.g. “FinanceGPT”) built on proprietary data. The takeaway from Frank’s presentation was clear: AI is here now delivering value, but achieving sustained impact requires strategic integration, quality data, and human talent to guide the technology.
Audrey Fauvel: Embracing Agentic AI – “Human at Heart, AI at Hand”
Representing the fintech sector, Audrey Fauvel, CEO of Fennech Pte Ltd, introduced the concept of agentic AI as the next frontier of digital transformation. Fennech’s journey exemplifies moving from traditional systems and basic automation to deploying virtual AI agents that mimic real organizational roles (from finance to marketing), effectively adding “extra virtual staff” to the team. Audrey’s guiding philosophy is “Human at heart, AI at hand,” meaning that while AI agents autonomously orchestrate many tasks, humans remain firmly in the loop for oversight, governance, and strategic direction. This human-centric approach to AI ensured trust and accountability, aligning with regulatory frameworks (like MAS’s FEAT principles and the EU AI Act) to build compliance and transparency by design from the start.
The results Audrey shared were nothing short of inspiring. By integrating agentic AI, Fennech compressed project lead times from quarters to weeks and scaled capacity by about 3× – “With 20 people today, we are building the equivalent capacity of ~70,” achieved in roughly 8 months. These gains translated into concrete business outcomes, such as increasing liquidity headroom by 8%, reducing forecast variance by 40%, and lowering borrowing costs by 15% in their treasury operations. Crucially, Audrey emphasized they never delegate management to the AI. The company created an internal AI Advisory Board of agent representatives, but all AI outputs are supervised and reviewed by human experts. By treating AI agents like junior team members – complete with training, KPIs, and even “sanctions” for misbehavior – Fennech ensures that AI augments human teams rather than replaces them. Audrey’s experience makes a compelling case that the future of fintech (and many industries) lies in this synergy: leveraging autonomous agents for speed and scale, while keeping people at the heart of decision-making.
Ashley Yeo: Transformation Beyond Technology – People, Data & Purpose
Ashley Yeo, Director of Le Wagon Singapore (a leading tech academy), took a step back to remind us that true digital transformation goes far beyond just adopting new tech. It requires a holistic alignment of people, processes, data, and technology. Ashley outlined four pillars of successful transformation:
- Data – “Without reliable and structured data, no advanced transformation effort is sustainable.” Clean, accessible data is the foundation of any AI or analytics initiative.
- Processes – Optimized, well-defined processes are needed before you can automate or augment; as Ashley quipped, “You don’t augment or transform from nothing. Something has to exist first.”
- Technology – The tools enable change but “technology does not create change by itself”. It must be the right technology matched to your needs – not just the latest hype.
- People – Ultimately, it’s people who execute and evolve processes. Successful transformation depends on skills, mindset, and culture.
He illustrated the evolution from basic digitization (going paperless) to digitalization (using software to speed up processes) to true digital transformation (rewriting processes and roles using technology), and now toward digital augmentation with AI. In the era of Generative AI, the playing field has broadened: “Programmers made up ~0.5% of the population… Now generative AI lives in the hands of all professionals”. This democratization means innovation isn’t limited to those who can code; however, human expertise is more critical than ever. Ashley used a vivid analogy: “Working with AI is like working with interns. You get people who know the work to train them.” In other words, AI tools require guidance from domain experts to be effective. We shouldn’t expect AI to replace skill, but rather to amplify it – under the mentorship of knowledgeable staff.
A key message from Ashley’s talk was that transformation must be intentional and continuous. Organizations need to clearly understand their team’s strengths, their business processes, and their goals before applying AI. “Avoid applying AI where there is no meaningful impact,” he advised – it’s not about automation for its own sake, but solving real pain points. Success with AI and tech also demands a commitment to ongoing training and change management. As Ashley put it, transformation is not a one-and-done project – it’s a mindset of constant iteration. Leadership must set the direction (e.g. whether the goal is improving customer experience, efficiency, accuracy, etc.) and then empower teams to use AI as a tool to achieve those outcomes. By investing in reskilling and upskilling, and fostering a culture that embraces change, companies can ensure their people are ready to co-create value with emerging technologies, not be displaced by them.
Key Takeaways for a Future-Ready Business
The webinar reinforced several core takeaways for any business aiming to stay ahead of the curve in 2026 and beyond:
- AI Transformation is Imperative, Not Optional: The pace of technological change is only accelerating. Adopting AI and digital transformation is now about survival and relevance, not just gaining a competitive edge. Companies that hesitate risk being left behind as industries evolve.
- Be Strategic and Outcome-Focused: Successful tech transformation requires a deliberate strategy with clear, measurable outcomes (ROI). It’s critical to integrate data, processes, technology, and people in a cohesive plan. Rather than random acts of digitization, organizations need a comprehensive roadmap that aligns tech initiatives with business goals.
- Keep Humans at the Center: A recurring theme was human-centric implementation. Technology should augment, not replace, human judgment. Whether it’s AI decision-making or automation, companies must establish governance, transparency (e.g. explainable AI), and oversight. Trust is a currency in digital transformation – maintaining ethical and accountable use of AI is paramount.
- Build a Future-Ready Culture: Beyond any single tech, the hallmark of a future-ready business is adaptability. That means resilient systems and a strong data foundation, yes, but also an empowered workforce that continuously learns new skills. Invest in your people through reskilling/upskilling programs and cultivate a culture that embraces innovation and change. With the right mindset, employees become the driving force of transformation rather than a hurdle.
In essence, the journey of tech transformation has no finish line – it’s a continuous cycle of learning, implementing, and refining. As the panelists stressed, there is no “end state” where one can say digital transformation is done. The tools will keep evolving (AI being a prime example), and so must our strategies and skills. The organizations that will lead in 2026 and beyond are those that are proactive about change, strategically savvy in execution, and deeply committed to their people.
Stay Ahead: Watch, Join, and Engage
If you’re feeling inspired by these insights, now is the time to act. Technology transformation is continuous, and staying ahead of the curve means plugging into communities and resources that keep you informed and agile. One great way is to join the SICC Tech Transformation Resource Group, a community of like-minded business leaders and innovators. This group focuses on practical knowledge-sharing around emerging tech and its business impact – exactly the kind of peer network that can help turn ideas into action. We highly encourage professionals and organizations in Singapore (and beyond) to get involved with SICC’s initiatives. By engaging with the Tech Transformation group, you’ll gain access to regular events, real-world case studies, and a support system for your transformation journey. Don’t navigate the future alone – join a community of innovators to learn and grow together.
👉 Watch the full webinar on YouTube to hear these stories and lessons directly from Jiri, Frank, Audrey, and Ashley in their own words. Their candid experiences – from AI experiments that fell short to culture shifts that unlocked innovation – offer a masterclass in what works (and what doesn’t).
As we gear up for 2026, let’s carry forward the wisdom that every setback is a lesson and every success is a springboard. The path to a future-ready business is not a straight line, but with a clear vision and the right allies, we can all stay ahead of the curve. At RocketEdge, we’re excited to continue this conversation and support our community in innovating fearlessly. Feel free to reach out to us or SICC to learn more about upcoming events and how you can participate.
Stay innovative, stay collaborative, and keep pushing the boundaries – the future is what we make of it.
