From Proof-of-Concept to Payoff: Cracking the Code to Successful Deployment
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The journey of a tech startup—especially in Southeast Asia—is rarely linear. For emerging players in the enterprise technology space, one of the first major milestones is proving product viability. And in markets where enterprises are cautious about untested innovations, this step is critical.
Why Proof-of-Concept Matters
Convincing large enterprises to bet on a new solution is no small feat. These organizations often rely on established systems, and any switch demands strong justification.
“A lot of enterprises want to try products before they deploy them because once it’s deployed, it means you’ve already set everything, so change is very difficult,” says Jennifer Zhang, CEO of Singapore-based AI startup Wiz.ai.
This is where proof-of-concept (PoC) projects come in—designed to demonstrate that a product works not just in theory, but in real-world settings. For startups like Wiz.ai, whose cutting-edge Conversational AI and AI Agent solutions aim to transform customer engagement, PoCs are essential for building trust.
Bridging the Gap Between Concept and Reality
A PoC is not just a demo. It is a strategic trial that validates technology, proves business value, and uncovers integration feasibility.
The PoC serves as a bridge between startups and clients, allowing the former to demonstrate the real-world applications of their solutions to the latter.
“The purpose of a proof-of-concept is to test several things, but the primary goal is to showcase the technology’s feasibility or advantage,” Zhang explains.
Wiz.ai’s AI-powered Talkbots are designed to streamline customer service operations using Generative AI and intelligent AI Agents. To prove their value, the company must go beyond technical performance—they need to show seamless integration with existing enterprise systems and deliver measurable impact.
For instance, Wiz.ai demonstrated its multilingual Gen AI capabilities to a bank by recognizing and understanding various Southeast Asian languages. At a hospital, they automated appointment scheduling through Conversational AI-powered call center operations—driving efficiency and reducing costs.
“We use the PoC phase as a learning ground to understand customer needs and adapt accordingly,” Zhang adds.
This feedback loop is key to refining the product and building lasting client relationships.
Overcoming Challenges with Government Clients
While onboarding enterprises is already a complex task, navigating the government procurement process adds another layer of difficulty.
Public sector clients often require ready-to-deploy, production-grade solutions, even during the PoC stage. Their procurement processes also demand high security, strict compliance, and robust integrations.
“You can’t experiment or collaborate on something that’s still in its early stages. The expectation is a mature, functional product that’s ready to be implemented,” says Zhang.
To address these challenges, Wiz.ai partnered with Tech Acceleration Lab (TAL), part of the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) Accreditation program. TAL helps startups meet rigorous government requirements and navigate the PoC process effectively.
From Proof to Deployment: A Case Study with MSF
Through TAL’s support, Wiz.ai secured its first government project with Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). The issue: multiple hotlines left citizens unsure which number to call. Wiz.ai’s AI Agent-powered Talkbot redirected calls to the right department, reducing inquiries to the general hotline by 20%.
“IMDA works with you to make sure that everything’s good to go. You understand how the government system is, what their security requirements are, and what the integrations look like,” says Zhang.
This collaboration gave Wiz.ai valuable insights into public sector operations and opened doors to more opportunities, eventually leading to a whole-of-government project involving multiple agencies.
Building Confidence Across the Ecosystem
The ripple effect of successful PoC deployments is significant. Not only do startups gain credibility and traction, but their learnings raise the bar across the industry.
“After successfully providing solutions to government agencies, a startup can confidently say they’ve met the highest standards of security, data management, and solution design required,” Zhang says.
In fact, 40% of enterprise PoCs and 50% of government PoCs under TAL have successfully converted into full-scale projects. The acceleration benefits are also tangible—PoC cycles have shortened by 4x to 4.5x, reducing timelines from months to just 1–2 months.
“Working with TAL also proves the standard of data security in our solution and builds confidence among enterprise clients across the region,” Zhang adds.
Scaling the Startup Ecosystem
Since its inception in 2014, IMDA’s Accreditation program has helped over 100 startups accelerate their path to commercialization. Through TAL, startups receive end-to-end guidance on technical standards, integration, compliance, and deployment readiness—especially vital for companies in Conversational AI and Generative AI domains.
“If you run the whole PoC and deployment process well, it has a wider impact on the entire industry,” says Zhang. “It gives confidence for startups and agencies to go a lot further.”
Want to accelerate your PoC-to-deployment journey?
“Visit IMDA’s website or email the TAL team now at tech_acceleration_lab@imda.gov.sg to get started.