Exceptional leadership transforms companies, driving them to new heights with vision and determination. Dr. Matthew Yap is a prime example of this transformative force. With over 20 years in the private security sector, his career began with a decade in the Singapore Armed Forces, followed by a key role as Deputy Commander with the Airport Auxiliary Police Force. In 2008, ASHTREE International was founded and in 2016, joined ADVANCER GLOBAL (SGX-ST: 43Q) as its first wholly owned subsidiary. As Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for ADVANCER IFM and CEO of Onestop Security Platform (OSP), Dr. Yap transformed OSP 2.0, establishing it as a leading workforce solution provider in Singapore and Malaysia.
CEO Insights ASIA engaged in a one on one interaction with Dr. Matthew Yap, let’s hear from him.
Could you share the story behind the inception of the Onestop Security Platform and its current standing in the market?
Established in 2013, OSP has been a key player in workforce solutions and manpower placement for Singapore's private security industry. With 48,000 licensed security officers across 280 agencies, the industry still faces a shortfall of 10,000 officers. In response to rising wages and productivity demands through the Progressive Wage Model, OSP 2.0 was relaunched in 2024 to cater to a broader workforce, including security, cleaning, landscape, and pest control sectors. As a leading integrated facility management (IFM) workforce solution provider, OSP now boasts over 34,000 registered subscribers, 600 published jobs, and 4,000 applications. Its learning management system allows 24-hour e-learning to upskill workers, aiding in audit and license renewals. Available for free on iOS and Google Play, OSP 2.0 emphasizes understanding client needs before offering tailored solutions, marking a shift from selling to solution-driven approaches.
What challenges do you tackle regarding manpower, training, development, and resource management?
In the IFM workspace, business owners prefer employing a trained workforce licensed in security, landscape, cleaning, pest control, and fumigation. However, when Managing Agents or service buyers don't require multi-skilled workers, business owners lack the incentive to develop such a workforce. The Singapore government has provided productivity and training grants during the COVID pandemic to encourage upskilling for post-pandemic employment. With tender specifications favoring IFM workforces and outcome-based contracts, alongside the Progressive Wage Model's impact on costs, forward-thinking business owners are shifting towards resource optimization and workforce development. OSP collaborates with tripartite agencies, including unions, employers, and the government, to support jobseekers and business owners. Yet, many business owners are hesitant to bear the additional training costs when service buyers may not agree to pay, creating a dilemma of whether to train or deploy minimally trained workers.
How would you describe the team behind building these solutions and the expertise they bring to the table?
As a workforce solution and placement service provider, the OSP team constantly seeks to understand our clients’ need to offer the best in class solutions. Like a LEGO system, the final solutions and services are often more than just the sum of the bricks. Hence as LEGO architects, the skill sets are firstly, a pleasant and persuasive personality who is always willing to listen, secondly, a creative and exploring mindset to bring these best in class solutions to the client, and thirdly, a check and feedback loop if the solution needs an upgrade, support or review. The LEGO brick of the future is not only just colours, shape and sizes but one which can illuminate, compute, speak and even move on voice command.
How do you stay at the forefront of digital transformation? What are the latest technological innovations you utilize in your company?
OSP leverages big data, ChatGPT, and cloud computing to collaborate with commercial and academic stakeholders in workforce management. This includes partnerships in human resource management systems, advanced payroll, microloan services, chatbot coding, and predictive data analytics to provide comprehensive solutions for jobseekers and business owners. OSP also engages with internships and incubator start-ups at local and foreign universities to experiment with cutting-edge AI and chatbot technology. As an adjunct faculty at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and an associate faculty at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), I stay connected to the latest technological trends and understand the needs of Gen-Z and Gen-A workers, ensuring OSP remains ahead in workforce solutions.
What does the future hold for Onestop Security Platform?
In the post-COVID era, there's less dependence on a physical workforce. Businesses are shifting to sustainable margins, multi-skilled and flexible workforces, and technology to boost productivity. Our business model aligns with these trends, and client responses have been positive. For OSP 3.0, we plan to enhance our app with AI and ChatGPT, support corporate clients in new revenue projects, and expand our reach to new workforce demographics in Southeast Asia. In 2025, we will rebrand as Onestop Service Platform, marking a new chapter while maintaining our core mission.
Dr Matthew Yap, CEO, Onestop Security Platform
Dr Matthew Yap is the CEO of ONESTOP Security Platform, an AI-powered workforce solution service provider for the integrated facility management industry. A skillsfuture fellowship award recipient for lifelong learning, Dr Yap also serves as adjunct university faculty for SUSS and ERAU in public safety and security, and volunteers on the boards of non-profit bodies and law enforcement associations.