While “tech start-up” is a common buzzword in the sector these days, venturing into any kind of business that involves introducing or implementing technology in the real world can be daunting. For this reason, businesses – especially successful ones – need consultants or industry experts to advise them on IT strategies and solutions.

Career overview

There are various ways to classify the nature and services of a technology consultancy firm, but most of them fall into one of five categories.

The industry – which focuses on assisting their clients with specialist expertise and advisory services – typically offers their know-how in several areas, such as audit, tax, accountancy, consulting, law, corporate governance, corporate finance and risk assessment. Some of the most recognisable professional services firms in Singapore include BDO, EY, Deloitte, KPMG and PwC – all of which are well-known for offering assistance when it comes to compliance with various legal requirements related to accounting and business processes.

Business organisations often enlist the help of IT service providers to cut costs, improve service efficiency and gain access to a range of technological expertise. The process generally entails the assessment of the clients’ needs, followed by the implementation of a solution before moving on to support and aftersales services.

Clients typically expect four things from a good technology partner:

A rapidly-growing area in the IT sector, IT outsourcing is encouraged by the speed in which technology evolves and changes. It’s also driven by companies that find it challenging to maintain an in-house team that keeps them abreast of advancements, and prefer outsourcing instead.

Telecommunications is all about connecting people, whether through traditional fixed-line telephones, computers and laptops, or mobile devices.

A key enabler for various fields and regulated by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), telecommunications is vital in raising Singapore’s productivity and transforming business processes. As for IT, its involvement in this sector has become essential in Singapore’s bid to become a Smart Nation.

Career overview

Job opportunities are usually divided into two categories: vendors and carriers.

A very wide-ranging industry that covers a broad spectrum, almost all sectors around the world depend on it. Although key areas in Singapore such as the electronics, manufacturing, telecommunications, defence and aerospace fields benefit the most from the hardware industry, it also supports other less typical sectors, much like tourism.

The recent boom in mobile and “smart” technologies have also invigorated the hardware industry.

There’s no denying the growth the gaming industry has been experiencing the past few decades, as well as the impact it has on the current generation. Singapore’s not exempted from this development, and as a result, the government has been very supportive of this relatively young sector within the country.

Thanks to the country’s solid IT infrastructure, ease of communication and transportation and ready talent pool, many international players – such as Ubisoft, Gumi Asia and Tecmo Koei – have set up their regional bases here.

The growth of financial technology, also known as fintech, has led to a time of innovation in financial services and in turn, has opened many employment opportunities in the industry.

Career overview

Graduates keen on entering this field can look forward to working with technologies that are aimed at automating parts of the banking sector, and also programmed to lend support to functions such as handling data management, interactions and transactions between financial firms and their partners and clients.

While not wholly dependent on them, financial organisations still rely heavily on their IT systems alongside a variety of software to provide their customers with smooth and efficient service. From data analysis to planning investments and trading activities, analysts, asset managers and traders trust in either customised or off-the-rack software to help them make informed decisions.