High Tech Efficiencies

For those of you that don’t know, Singapore has the justifiable reputation for being at the forefront of technology to everyday life easier.  Everywhere you turn you see practical applications of technology in normal day that make things easier and more efficient.

In my first week in Singapore I had to go to a government office to get my Employment Pass, basically the permit that allows me to live and work in Singapore.  This is the key document that is not just a legal requirement to work, but it is needed to quickly enter the country, to open up a local bank account, to get a cell phone, etc--pretty important.

If I had to do this in the US I would dread.  I’m guessing the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has an aspirational goal to meet the same service level as going to the DMV without an appointment.  My tipoff that might be different in Singapore is when I received my paperwork (electronically I might add).

• The appointment was for 5:45pm on a weekday:  What? I don’t have to take time away from the office? 
• The office is in the CBD (Central Business District—at some point I will write about acronyms in Singapore) to also make it convenient.
• The appointment form came not with just an address, not with just a map, but with photos showing you every turn and door to get there.

Bottom line is that I found the Employee Pass Service Centre  easily and was 15 minutes early for my appointment.

My notice had a barcode for the self-service check-in kiosks in the lobby.  I walked in expecting lines and almost no one was there.  While I was putting down my bag to pull out my paperwork on of the agents came up to help me check-in (so much for “self check-in”).  As I open my file folder she quickly found the right paper and checked me in.

She then escorted me to another agent (while pointing out my name on a video screen showing I had checked in).  I quickly had my picture taken and was asked if I liked it or not before editing and cropping it to the right size.  Then it was time for electronically capture my fingerprints.  The agent noticed that my fingers were dry and brought out lotion to moisturize them to better capture the prints.

I was then thanked, given a tracking number and website,  and told I would have the card in 4 days.  Total time from building entry to building exit?  10 MINUTES!

Things run well here.