Picking a vendor for an EDGE project can feel like a routine purchase. But it is not. The vendor you choose shapes how quickly your application moves, how much cash you put up front and how much risk you carry if something goes wrong.
Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) is clear on one point, where an activity has pre-approved vendors, businesses should choose from that list, because those vendors have been assessed for credibility. That narrows the field, but it does not make the decision for you. Two vendors on the same list can still differ a lot on price, delivery speed and support.
The seven questions below are meant to make that comparison easier. The main points to note are: pick a vendor whose exact package is listed for your activity, who is upfront about your cost after grant, who can deliver within the grant timeline, and who guides you without submitting for you. Do note that EDGE does not allow vendors to submit on your behalf.
What Is an EDGE Pre-Approved Vendor?
An EDGE pre-approved vendor is a solution provider that has been assessed for credibility for a specific automation or digitalisation activity, with listed packages that SMEs can choose from. For standalone solutions such as accounting or HR software, you can browse vendors on the IMDA SMEs Go Digital platform.
These four points frame most of the decision:
| Item | What EnterpriseSG says |
|---|---|
| Annual grant cap | S$100,000 per company, resetting each year from 1 April to 31 March |
| Digitalisation sub-cap | Up to S$30,000 within that cap for single-function digital solutions, integrated enterprise systems and pre-scoped equipment |
| Support level | Up to 50% for SMEs and up to 30% for non-SMEs (70% and 50% apply to internationalisation and sustainability activities) |
| How you receive it | Reimbursement after your claim is approved. There is no cash advance. |
When to Get Pre-Approved Vendor vs Your Own Vendor
For integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects, EnterpriseSG allows two routes, and the right one depends on whether a listed package already covers what you need. The table below shows when each route applies and how they differ.
| Pre-approved vendor | Your own vendor | |
|---|---|---|
| When it applies | A listed pre-packaged solution fits your needs | The functions you need are not available in a pre-approved package |
| Minimum scope | At least 3 core functions | At least 3 core functions |
| Processing time | 1 week | 10 weeks |
| Vendor checks | Assessed for credibility | You carry out your own due diligence |
7 Questions to Ask Before You Commit to a Vendor
1. Is this exact package pre-approved for my activity?
Being a pre-approved vendor is not a blanket pass. EnterpriseSG assesses a specific solution under a specific activity, so a vendor can be listed for one product and not another.
Get the package name, then look it up on the IMDA SMEs Go Digital platform, or on the EnterpriseSG integrated ERP page. Check that the modules, number of users and implementation scope match your quote line by line. EnterpriseSG says the platform has a package builder for adjusting items such as staff size, implementation period and training services, so a quote that differs from the listing deserves an explanation.
2. Is it a single-function solution or an integrated system?
This sounds technical, but it decides which rules apply to you. An integrated ERP solution needs at least three functions from EnterpriseSG’s list. Financial Management and Human Resources Management are both on it, along with Supply Chain & Inventory Management and Sales & Customer Relationship Management, among others.
Accounting plus HR comes to two functions, which is short of the three-function minimum for the integrated ERP activity. That does not rule out support. It means you should find out which activity the package is listed under, and why, before you plan your budget around it.
3. What will I pay after the grant, and when?
EDGE pays by reimbursement. You pay the vendor, complete the project deliverables, pay all project costs in full and then claim. Your cash flow has to cover the whole amount until the claim is approved.
Here is a simple illustration, not a real quote. If a package has S$12,000 of supportable costs and support of up to 50%, the grant would be up to S$6,000. You pay S$12,000 first and get the reimbursement afterwards. Actual figures depend on the package and on what counts as supportable.
Ask for an itemised quote that lists components such as licences, implementation, data migration and training clearly. EnterpriseSG points to the SMEs Go Digital platform for the supportable cost breakdown and professional services costs may be supported where they help adoption, subject to the package scope. Do also find out what the software costs once the supported period ends, such as subscription renewals.
4. Can the vendor deliver within the grant timeline?
Your project qualifying period starts on the day you submit, and its end date is set from the approval date. The length depends on the activity and is stated in your Letter of Offer. For single-function digital solutions and integrated enterprise systems, claims open from 1 November 2026.
EDGE accepts one final claim only, and you can extend the claim due date once. That makes a slow implementation costly. Ask for a realistic schedule, and find out what proof of delivery the vendor will give you. EnterpriseSG gives a software licence number, user ID or user email address as examples of the unique identifier needed for these activities.
5. Who actually submits the application?
The company applies, pays and claims. EnterpriseSG says vendors and other third parties cannot submit on the company’s behalf, so the submission goes through the Business Grants Portal, made by your own staff who hold the BGP Preparer or BGP Acceptor role in Corppass.
But this does not mean that you have to work it out alone. An application has several moving parts: choosing the right activity, matching your quote to the listed package, uploading the right documents and keeping to the timeline after you submit. A vendor with grant experience can walk you through each step, so your team submits correctly the first time. It is one of the strongest reasons to choose an experienced vendor, so ask what guidance is included before you commit.
6. What happens after go-live?
Grant money spent on a software which nobody uses is wasted. So before you commit, find out what training your finance and HR teams will get, whether user guides are included, how data migration is handled and how quickly support responds. It is also worth asking what changes when the supported period ends.
Check the licence set-up too. EnterpriseSG says a supported digital solution should be used only by the applicant entity, not by a related party.
7. Will this vendor still be the right choice at claim stage?
You cannot swap vendors after approval. EnterpriseSG’s guidance is to terminate the project and submit a new application before going ahead with a different vendor, and the same applies if you want to change vendor after submitting. A poor choice is expensive to undo.
EDGE launched on 30 September 2026, so nobody has a long EDGE record yet. PSG history will then be a fair indicator because EDGE streamlines PSG, though the rules are not identical. This is where Team 361C stands out: it has been a pre-approved vendor since the early PSG days, was the first pre-approved vendor for Xero, from 2019, and has served more than 2,500 SMEs across diverse sectors. Whichever vendor you consider, ask how many SMEs they have supported, whether they can share references, and how they handled difficult cases such as delays or claim queries.
Quick Vendor Checklist
| Question | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| 1. Listing | Package name and listing shown before you commit |
| 2. Category | Clear statement of single-function or integrated, with the reason |
| 3. Price | Itemised quote and a clear view of your cost after grant |
| 4. Timeline | Realistic schedule that fits the qualifying period and claim dates |
| 5. Submission | Guidance given, with your own staff submitting in the portal |
| 6. Support | Training and after-sales terms stated in writing |
| 7. Track record | Specific PSG and EDGE experience, with references |
Used PSG Before? What It Means for EDGE
Businesses that applied for or received PSG funding can apply for EDGE. EnterpriseSG says EDGE is meant for new projects, so you should not seek EDGE support for a previous similar project that has already received PSG support. Earlier PSG use does not count towards the EDGE caps.
If you adopted accounting software under PSG, adding HR software may count as a new project under EDGE.
Not Sure Which Package Fits? Talk to Team 361 Before You Commit
Team 361 has been a pre-approved vendor since the early PSG days, and was the first pre-approved vendor for Xero, all the way back in 2019. Under EDGE, Team 361 offers pre-approved accounting software (Xero & ABSS) and HR software (HReasily) for SMEs. More than 2,500 SMEs across diverse sectors have worked with the team.
A short conversation before you commit can save you from locking into a package that does not fit the rules. Here is what Team 361 can go through with you:
- Whether the package you are considering is listed, and under which activity
- A realistic timeline against your qualifying period and claim dates
- A clear view of your cost after grant
- What to prepare before you submit in the Business Grants Portal
EnterpriseSG requires you to submit your own application, so Team 361’s role is to guide you on what to prepare and when. Because vendors cannot be changed after approval, it is worth having this conversation before you submit.
To talk through your accounting and HR software options under EDGE, call Team 361 at 6515 7906 or email enquiry@361dc.com.
FAQs
A solution provider assessed for credibility for a specific automation or digitalisation activity, with listed packages that SMEs can choose from.
It depends on the activity. Where pre-approved vendors exist, EnterpriseSG advises choosing from the list. For integrated ERP, you can use your own vendor if the functions you need are not available in a pre-approved package.
For integrated ERP, EnterpriseSG states 1 week with a pre-approved vendor and 10 weeks with a non pre-approved vendor. For other activities, processing time depends on the activity, so do check the activity page.
No. The applicant company must submit through its own authorised staff in the Business Grants Portal. Vendors and other third parties cannot submit applications or claims on its behalf.
No. Change requests only cover the project end date and claim due date. To change vendor, terminate the project and submit a new application before proceeding.
No. EDGE is paid on a reimbursement basis. You pay the project costs first, then claim after completing the deliverables.
Yes, for new projects. Earlier PSG use does not count towards the EDGE caps, but you should not seek EDGE support for a similar project that already received PSG support.
