Efficiency on tap with digital payments
SG5, a leading alcohol distributor in Singapore, was born from the 2018 merger of four independent alcohol distributors. From the outset, the company was focused on improving productivity and gaining economies of scale. But while operations were consolidated, payment processes remained largely manual.
The company supplies fresh draught, keg and packaged beer and stout to restaurants, bars, hotels and retail outlets across Singapore, managing daily transactions from a large and diverse customer base.
“Back then in 2018, we were still handling a lot of cash and cheques. That involved a lot of risk and manual labour, as it took hours to collect, count, and reconcile payments”” said Lee Su Mien, CEO of SG5.
“But new times demand new ways of working and to lift up to our efficiency promise, we decided go digital and that changed the whole game for us,” she added.
To modernise its payment systems and reduce manual workload, SG5 began its digital transformation in earnest. DBS played a key role in this journey, engaging directly with SG5’s front-line teams to better understand its operational challenges.
Rather than rely solely on office-based meetings, DBS accompanied SG5’s sales staff during their rounds. This gave the bank first-hand insight into how the business ran and where digital tools could make a difference.
The tailored solutions that followed included the company’s adoption of DBS MAX, which gave SG5 the ability to collect payments via a single QR code and receive real-time payment confirmations. This not only reduced paperwork but also significantly improved cash flow management.
Resilience Through Change
The shift to digital payment collection proved to be timely. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after implementation, SG5 was able to continue collecting payments without face-to-face contact. The business remained operational despite mobility restrictions, thanks to the digital systems that were already in place.
“The timing was perfect. Just after we launched digital payment collection, COVID hit. But we could still collect payment digitally so business carried on as usual” said Su Mien.
The switch has also delivered measurable results. SG5 now saves around 3,300 man-hours every month in accounting and administrative work. Payment reconciliation, once a time-consuming task, happens almost instantly now.
Meanwhile, tasks that used to require manual checks and staff intervention have been replaced by a more efficient process, allowing the team to focus on higher-value areas.
Support at Every Step
Transitioning to a new digital platform presented its fair share of hurdles. From generating QR codes to helping long-time customers adapt, the process was not always straightforward. DBS provided technical support and timely fixes throughout, ensuring the changeover was smooth and disruption-free.
“If you think about it now, generating QR codes and onboarding customers seems easy. But back then it wasn’t,” revealed Su Mien.
DBS helped address these issues as they came up, making the overall transformation manageable and far less stressful.
Planning for the Future
Beyond immediate improvements, the collaboration with DBS has helped SG5 lay the groundwork for future growth. Su Mien noted that the bank’s proactive approach stood out, especially its commitment to working with SG5 to identify new opportunities.
“They don’t just think about today, they plan for the future. They add their strength to our business and support us to grow in new ways” she said.
SG5 is now exploring further digital initiatives, confident that it has a partner who understands its business and can provide solutions that scale with its ambitions.
DBS offers a range of services and solutions that can help businesses support their growth objectives. Get started today by opening an account with us.
