How a missed 2,000-kueh order pushed a heritage Singapore brand to adopt AI
System trained to recognise all the naming variations on HarriAnn’s menu for its corporate clients and cafe outlets.
In March 2025, a missed 2,000-kueh order thrust Singapore's heritage food brand HarriAnns Nonya Table into a period of crisis, prompting a shift towards artificial intelligence integration. The incident unfolded when the chef of a prominent hotel informed CEO Alan Tan that a crucial order had been overlooked. The order, which was supposed to be prepared the previous day, was missed due to an administrative error involving pages of the hotel's purchase order that hadn't been printed.
This error led to a scramble by the kitchen staff to blast-chill the traditional cakes, and drivers had to deliver them with just two hours' notice. The repercussions were far-reaching, as the company's eight cafes ran low on kueh, and staff found themselves working overtime to catch up on regular orders.
The incident highlighted the flaws in HarriAnns' existing ordering process, which relied on emails, printed orders, and manual tallying in Microsoft Excel. The company's co-owner, Sharon Goh, noted that the order system was the backbone of the business, and its failure threatened the entire ecosystem. The company's clients, primarily hotels with rigorous operations, were reluctant to adopt the company's own ordering portal. Instead, they preferred a solution that could seamlessly integrate into their existing systems.
To address these challenges, HarriAnns turned to AI technology. The development of the platform began in July 2025 by Singapore tech consultancy Knovel Engineering. The AI system automates the tallying of purchase orders and recognizes various naming variations for the company's over 120 unique product codes. It was rolled out in June 2025, consolidating both online and cafe outlet orders.
The system was partly funded by Enterprise Singapore's Enterprise Development Grant, covering half of the $50,000 development cost. The AI platform not only reduces administrative workload but also spotlights anomalies in ordering patterns and offers valuable insights into consumer trends for future planning.
For HarriAnns, a brand with roots tracing back to the 1940s, this digital transformation represents a strategic move to remain relevant in an increasingly digitized world. The heritage brand, founded by Tan's grandmother, has evolved from a pushcart selling handmade kueh to an eight-outlet cafe chain. The co-owner, Goh, emphasized the importance of embracing modern technology while preserving traditional values to avoid obsolescence in the future.
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