Singapore city planning is Customer Centric: things just make sense!

Singapore city planning is customer centric, with examples from all over the city.

I am continually impressed by Singapore and the way the country implements things are customer centric, improving the quality of life for their people. Many of these just make sense, and you start to wonder other cities haven’t done the same thing.

Here are a few examples spotted in my most recent trip.

MRT problem? Report it on Whatsapp!

Reporting a fault on the Singaporean MRT is as easy as snapping a photo and sending it to a WhatsApp number. It is convenient for the customer as it requires very little effort (compared to the past where you may not even know how to report faults) and capitalises on one of the dominant messaging services.

More time for senior citizens to cross

Singapore is an ageing society and as people age, they need more time to cross the road. At this traffic light pedestrian crossing, elder citizens can scan their citizen cards to increase the time the green man stays green. This would mean fewer accidents while ensuring that society takes care of our senior citizens.

MRT queue: making efficient use of space

Again on the MRT, Circle line has floor markings for people to line up for the train, which maximizes use of empty space between the doors. In other transportation systems, there are only two lines to enter, meaning this space between doors is poorly used, causing congestion. For a comparative example, look at the second picture below from the equally excellent Hong Kong MTR, which has more traditional queue line markings.

The Singaporean MRT

Versus the Hong Kong MTR

USB chargers on busses

We’ve become so dependent on our phones that a flat battery can cause significant despair. On some newer buses, USB charging ports have been installed in-between each seat. Now that you can pay for your fare using Apple Pay and other mobile wallets, you can now ensure that you have enough juice left on your iPhone to tap on and off.

Recycling at Changi Airport

And finally, forget the usual boring bins imploring you to separate your trash. The ones at Changi Airport are impossible to ignore and immediately understandable.

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I’m sure there are many more examples which demonstrates how much thought and care has gone into their city planning. Do you have any other customer-centric examples? Attach your photos in the comments section below.