When Chan Weitian graduated from Singapore Management University’s School of Information Systems, he seemed destined for a thriving career in tech. After starting as a software engineer in 2016, he founded OneThreeOneFour, a wedding photography platform connecting overseas photographers with clients worldwide. His career path appeared well laid out, far removed from the family dry cleaning business his parents had run since 1992.
But in 2017, when Presto Drycleaners needed a new direction, Chan found himself stepping into an unexpected role. “My journey into the family business wasn’t exactly planned,” he reflects. “There wasn’t a formal succession plan in place; it was more about the business requiring additional support and skills at the time.
Chan quickly realised that the drycleaning industry was steeped in tradition, reliant on manual processes, and resistant to change. The challenge before him wasn’t just about improving operations; it was also about bringing an old-school industry into the modern era.
NAVIGATING TRADITION
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