22 September 2026, Supply Chain City, Singapore – The second YCH Asia Supply Chain Summit focused on how AI can strengthen Asia’s supply chains amid changing trade patterns, geopolitical uncertainty and rising sustainability requirements. Building on the inaugural summit in 2025, the event examined practical applications of AI across planning, warehousing, transport and logistics platforms, and their implications for competitiveness, resilience and growth.
The summit brought together leaders from government, industry, academia and technology. Organisations represented included Enterprise Singapore, GLP Capital Partners, the National Climate Change Secretariat, the National University of Singapore, Procter & Gamble, Resorts World Sentosa, and the Singapore Land Authority. Discussions covered the policy, business, technology, sustainability and workforce dimensions of AI adoption.
In his opening address, Dr Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group, emphasised that resilience increasingly depends on visibility, speed and coordination across connected supply chain networks. Reflecting on recent geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions, he argued that stronger supply chains require closer collaboration among businesses, technology providers, public agencies and educational institutions to build shared capabilities before disruptions occur.
Speakers emphasised that successful organisational transformation with AI depends on trusted data, governance, leadership, operating model redesign and workforce readiness. SME participation was also identified as critical to sector-wide transformation. Many SMEs lack the scale, expertise and investment capacity to deploy AI independently. Participants highlighted the need for shared platforms, common standards and practical implementation support to ensure that AI adoption benefits the wider economy.
YCH’s role as Singapore’s Tripartite Queen Bee for Supply Chain and Logistics featured prominently. Speakers highlighted how YCH is leveraging this platform to help SMEs adopt AI, sustainability and workforce capabilities. Discussions noted that many SMEs lack the scale and resources to develop these capabilities independently, underscoring the importance of shared platforms, practical implementation support and ecosystem-level collaboration
Workforce development and sustainability were presented as integral to AI transformation. Speakers emphasised that AI should augment human capabilities and create opportunities for higher-value work, supported by skills upgrading, leadership development and job redesign. Discussions also explored how AI can improve emissions visibility, resource efficiency and decarbonisation across logistics networks.
The summit’s central message was that AI transformation must be scaled across the wider ecosystem, including through public-private partnerships. Long-term competitiveness will depend not only on the ability of leading enterprises to adopt AI, but also on whether SMEs can access the necessary capabilities and workers can acquire the skills needed to benefit from new opportunities. Through its role as Singapore’s Tripartite Queen Bee for Supply Chain and Logistics, YCH seeks to help bridge that gap and support sector-wide transformation.
Graphic summaries of the presentations and panel discussions:
