When the YCH Group was looking for a name for their newly spun-off technology division in 2000, they wanted something that would evoke a sense of wonder in people. This, according to Chief Operating Officer James Loo, was the reason that the name Y3 Technologies was chosen. "By making them think of 'why three?' we could show them how the information, physical and financial worlds integrate within the supply chain in the modern world," he said.
A specialist in the supply chain management (SCM) solutions arena, Y3's solutions help businesses effectively manage the incoming, outgoing and returning processes of a myriad of inventories from suppliers and customers. "With the use of emerging technologies, we are able to effectively meet the needs of our customers who require instant updating of available inventories whether they are a component provider, warehouse/inventory hub manager, manufacturer or reseller," Loo says.
The initial years after the founding of Y3 were tough. Loo realised that this difficult period offered an opportunity to reinvent the company. He believed that as businesses globalised, production would shift to where costs were lowest and finished products would go to the richest markets. This would provide a fertile ground for Y3's solutions when the economy improved.
He was proven right. Repackaging previous supply chain solutions into new solutions that met the needs of clients in different parts of the supply chain also gave them the opportunity to incorporate changes and accommodate the latest technologies. By being a technology partner of Oracle, Y3 was the first in ASEAN to migrate applications over to Oracle 9i. Oracle technicians also spent six months in Singapore working with Y3 to develop RFID technologies and integrate them into Y3's supply chain solutions.
Partnerships, according to Loo, take a long time to develop. Especially that with MNCs. Loo feels that for a new Singapore firm, the opportunity to work with a company like Oracle is a testament to the success of partnership programs like the Infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Program (iLIUP) by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. In Singapore, both Y3 and Oracle have been involved in implementing SCM solutions for several logistics firms. According to Loo, "Thanks to our iLIUP partnership with Oracle, we can bring our solutions to market, both in Singapore and overseas."
Loo says that both Y3 and Oracle are now looking at the next phase of their partnership. "Our next step together is to look at bringing our solutions to a bigger market and working as equal partners to create a win-win situation for both of us," he said.
When asked about what he had learnt and could impart to budding entrepreneurs, Loo said that it was important to constantly look at and revisit the way you do business. "You can't just buy low and sell high," he said, "The need to add value is always there. You can't just do the same old thing as everybody else does. To succeed, you need to be able to use IT to add value to what you can give your customers. This will help you stand out and ultimately succeed."