Why the leap is harder than it looks

Q & M Dental's AI journey

Reasons pilots fail when you try to scale 

Bringing your people along

Governance guardrails

In this episode of Ask PwC Singapore, Claressa Monteiro sits down with Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, Dr Ng Chin Siau, founder and CEO of Q & M Dental Group, and Kwek So Cheer, partner for Digital Solutions at PwC Singapore, to talk about what AI adoption actually looks like on the ground. Not ambition. The reality.

Dr Ng spent millions, trained 40 people, navigated regulatory approvals and managed 300 dentists who did not want to use the tool. Kwek maps out exactly why pilots fail when businesses try to scale them. And SMS Tan explains why buying technology without training your people is the single fastest way to waste your investment.

If your business is anywhere on the AI journey, from curious to committed, this conversation will save you time, money and many avoidable mistakes.

This episode is produced in collaboration with PwC Singapore.

Highlights

00:15 From pilot to scale: why the leap is harder than it looks

01:28 Q & M Dental's AI journey: millions spent, 300 dentists convinced

04:24 The four reasons pilots fail when you try to scale them

09:43 Bringing your people along: culture, training and the human problem

19:43 Governance guardrails: when to build them and why upfront is the only answer

More about:

Explore the Singapore findings from PwC’s Global AI Performance Study

Learn more about PwC Singapore's AI Hub

Follow PwC Singapore on LinkedIn

--

Now, we want to hear from you! Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg. We’ll look into it for future episodes.

---

Podcast written and presented by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)

With Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, Dr Ng Chin Siau, founder and CEO of Q & M Dental Group, and Kwek So Cheer, partner for Digital Solutions at PwC Singapore

Post-production: Claressa Monteiro & Chai Pei Chieh

Video production: Studio +65

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

---

Follow BT Podcasts:

Channel: bt.sg/pcOM

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/pcAP

Spotify: bt.sg/pcSP

YouTube Music: bt.sg/giK9

Website: bt.sg/podcasts

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. 

---

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

In this episode of Ask PwC Singapore, Claressa Monteiro sits down with Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information &amp; Ministry of Health, Dr Ng Chin Siau, founder and CEO of Q &amp; M Dental Group, and Kwek So Cheer, partner for Digital Solutions at PwC Singapore, to talk about what AI adoption actually looks like on the ground. Not ambition. The reality.
Dr Ng spent millions, trained 40 people, navigated regulatory approvals and managed 300 dentists who did not want to use the tool. Kwek maps out exactly why pilots fail when businesses try to scale them. And SMS Tan explains why buying technology without training your people is the single fastest way to waste your investment.
If your business is anywhere on the AI journey, from curious to committed, this conversation will save you time, money and many avoidable mistakes.
This episode is produced in collaboration with PwC Singapore.
Highlights
00:15 From pilot to scale: why the leap is harder than it looks
01:28 Q &amp; M Dental's AI journey: millions spent, 300 dentists convinced
04:24 The four reasons pilots fail when you try to scale them
09:43 Bringing your people along: culture, training and the human problem
19:43 Governance guardrails: when to build them and why upfront is the only answer
More about:
<a href="https://www.uob.com.sg/private/index.page"></a><a href="https://www.pwc.com/sg/en/publications/looking-for-roi-from-ai-focus-on-scale.html" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pwc.com/sg/en/publications/looking-for-roi-from-ai-focus-on-scale.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1780644259122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2D9slm-KieSeAOGydk2dQM">Explore the Singapore findings from PwC&rsquo;s Global AI Performance Study</a>
<a href="https://www.pwc.com/sg/en/ai-hub.html" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pwc.com/sg/en/ai-hub.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1780644259122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3nKtdDmha3YXaaMPPlVcPu">Learn more about PwC Singapore's AI Hub</a>
<a href="http://linkedin.com/company/pwc-singapore/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://linkedin.com/company/pwc-singapore/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1780644259122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3PmnTEuWI9wvKIsaOu46CE">Follow PwC Singapore on LinkedIn</a><a href="http://linkedin.com/company/pwc-singapore/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://linkedin.com/company/pwc-singapore/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1780644259122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3PmnTEuWI9wvKIsaOu46CE"> </a>
--
Now, we want to hear from you! Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:btpodcasts@sph.com.sg">btpodcasts@sph.com.sg</a>. We&rsquo;ll look into it for future episodes.
---
Podcast written and presented by: Claressa Monteiro (<a href="mailto:claremb@sph.com.sg">claremb@sph.com.sg</a>)
With Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information &amp; Ministry of Health, Dr Ng Chin Siau, founder and CEO of Q &amp; M Dental Group, and Kwek So Cheer, partner for Digital Solutions at PwC Singapore
Post-production: Claressa Monteiro &amp; Chai Pei Chieh
Video production: Studio +65
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
---
Follow BT Podcasts:
Channel: <a href="https://bt.sg/pcOM">bt.sg/pcOM</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://bt.sg/pcAP">bt.sg/pcAP</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://bt.sg/pcSP">bt.sg/pcSP</a>
YouTube Music: <a href="https://bt.sg/giK9" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bt.sg/giK9&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1757992386890000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bIf09Xh5-r8oKBeoEHCxe">bt.sg/giK9</a>
Website: <a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/podcasts">bt.sg/podcasts</a>
Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg
Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party&rsquo;s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.&nbsp;
---
Discover more BT podcast series:
BT Money Hacks at: <a href="https://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks">bt.sg/btmoneyhacks</a>
BT Correspondents at: <a href="https://bt.sg/btcobt" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://bt.sg/btcobt&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1725767545308000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1MZyDZ2ZxkzhbmmY3UOc3Z">bt.sg/btcobt</a>
BT Market Focus at: <a href="https://bt.sg/btmktfocus">bt.sg/btmktfocus</a>
BT Lens On: <a href="https://bt.sg/btlenson">bt.sg/btlenson</a>

The Business Times Podcast Channel presents diverse perspectives, in-depth analysis and news covering career, business, markets, investing, current affairs and tech.

Powered by the Journalism of The Business Times and Tech in Asia.

Available on all your favourite audio and video content apps and at www.businesstimes.com.sg/podcasts

Produced by BT Audio, thrive and Tech in Asia. The Business Times, SPH Media.

The Business Times Podcast Channel presents diverse perspectives, in-depth analysis and news covering career, business, markets, investing, current affairs and tech.
Powered by the Journalism of&nbsp;The Business Times and Tech in Asia.
Available on all your favourite audio and video content apps and at www.businesstimes.com.sg/podcasts
Produced by BT Audio, thrive and Tech in Asia. The Business Times, SPH Media.