Thailand’s future e-commerce growth will be driven by expansion into the virtual world, experts said during the “Metaverse Expo Thailand” in Bangkok on Sunday.
Thanawat Malabuppha, CEO and co-founder of shopping search engine Priceza, said Thai e-commerce had grown exponentially over the past 17 years, thanks to the internet and Covid-19 crisis. Its success was due to its ability to satisfy consumers’ needs for convenience, diversity and promotions, he added.
Thanawat Malabuppha
“Even though Central continued expanding its branches, consumers prefer the internet rather than department stores as it meets their demand for convenience,” he said.
Under the government’s e-commerce development plan, Thailand is targeting e-commerce revenue of 5.35 trillion baht this year rising to 7.1 trillion baht by 2027.
Kulthirath Pakawachkrilers (right)
Kulthirath Pakawachkrilers, CEO of business-scaling solution provider Thailand e-Business Centre, compared the potential of e-commerce in Thailand and China.
She calculated that it would take Thailand up to three years to catch up with China. She advised Thai companies to focus on winning metaverse customers’ hearts rather than luring them with cheap prices.
“Thailand must see the metaverse as a new norm, and be ready to embrace what will happen next,” she said.
She estimated that 10 per cent of Thais are now ready to immerse themselves in the metaverse, led by hardcore gamers.
Kulthirath added that the advent of cryptocurrency is a warning for businesses to train their staff to understand new tech tools in order to boost revenue and growth.
Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, managing director and founder of e-commerce service provider Tarad Dot Com, said more Thais are now able to access technology thanks to the government’s economic stimulus during Covid.
He also pointed out that e-commerce would begin to disrupt local businesses soon as Thai retailers outside Bangkok are now adopting e-commerce platforms.
“In the future, retailers will be forced to use e-commerce to boost their business efficiency,” he said.
Pawoot Pongvitayapanu
However, the three speakers advised small and medium enterprises (SMEs) not to jump into the metaverse straightaway, warning its hardware, software and users are still insufficient.
“Marketing in the metaverse will begin bustling once technologies are ready and big players arrive,” Thanawat said. He expects people will adapt to the metaverse within three years.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has hailed a report ranking Thailand as the world’s top country for wellness retreats.
Thai wellness resorts came top in international rankings based on research into Tripadvisor reviews by leisure website Slingo.
Published last Monday, the research focused on which countries have the best resort hotels, wellness and spa activities.
Thailand ranked No 1 with an overall wellness retreat score of 9.5/10.
“Often referred to as the spa capital of Asia, Thailand is home to some of the most therapeutic and luxurious retreats in the world. Thailand tops our list, with better reviews for wellness activities and resorts than any other destination we looked at,” Slingo said.
Indonesia ranked second with an overall wellness retreat score of 8.5/10 while Maldives was third with a score of 8.5/10.
The research also ranked the countries with the highest-rated wellness activities.
Maldives topped this list with 88.73 per cent of 29 spa and wellness activities rated four-star and higher.
Thailand was ranked second, but with a far higher number (2,673) of wellness activities sampled. Of these, 73.03 per cent were rated four-star or higher. The top-rated activity was the yoga and Pilates classes offered by Ocean Sound resort on Koh Tao.
Responding to the ranking, PM Prayut praised the hard work and high levels of service among Thailand’s tourism workers, his deputy secretary-general Anucha Burapachaisri said on Sunday. The PM is confident that Thailand has strong potential for wellness tourism, Anucha added.
“The prime minister would like to thank all personnel in the tourism sector for building a good reputation for the country,” he said.
KBank Private Banking (KPB) has announced its investment strategies, focusing on five alternative assets in order to “Increase Options for Survival” in an era of economic volatility wherein conventional investment may not be the right answer.
KPB showcased its success as evidenced by its stellar performance with a return on investment of around 11-19 per cent p.a. This achievement reinforces KPB’s status as Thailand’s top-notch investment and wealth management advisory service provider.
Triphon Phumiwasana, Senior Managing Director, Private Banking Business Head, Kasikornbank (KBank), noted, “Amid highly uncertain economic circumstances, traditional asset classes may no longer provide satisfactory returns.
Investors have therefore switched to new forms of investment as alternative vehicles for risk diversification and long-term stable returns. To survive market volatility, global investors have invested in alternative assets thanks to their highly flexible investment management strategies.
Given that prices of private assets are not tied to capital market movements, therefore they reflect real fundamentals of each asset class. As a leading investment and wealth management advisory service provider, KPB has recommended that our clients invest in alternative assets since 2021 to capitalize on their growth potential while also guarding against market volatility.”
KBank Private Banking recommends the five following asset classes, comprising three types of private assets and two types of public assets with flexible investment strategies. They are, i.e.,
1. Private Equity
Private Equity (PE) is typically an investment fund which is not listed on a public stock exchange. Private equity funds mainly invest in companies with high growth potential seeking to raise funds for business expansion. Unlike public stock markets which tend to fluctuate out of emotion-driven market sentiment, PE prices are not quoted on a daily basis, and their returns typically reflect real fundamentals of the companies they are invested in. Given this, private equity potentially provides attractive returns with relatively low price fluctuations over the short-term period.
However, investors may have to measure this advantage against the need for a lengthy investment period, mostly depending on the growing stage of the invested companies. Therefore, private equity is suitable for long-term investors who can hold their investment for at least seven to nine years.
2. Private Debt
Private Debt is like a loan provided outside the capital market as an alternative form of fund mobilization for companies wishing to expand their businesses. However these companies are unable to gain access to funds per the normal course of business such as loans provided by banks, or for companies wishing to quickly mobilize funds.
Therefore Investors will enjoy higher returns amid the current upward trend in interest rates, although they may have to trade that off for relatively low liquidity compared to investment in government bonds or debentures that are typically traded in the capital market. This asset class is suitable for investors who can invest over at least five to seven years.
3. Private Real Estate
Investment in Private Real Estate or basic infrastructure that is not listed on a public stock market such as office buildings, and electricity and telecommunication projects, can help diversify risks in a volatile market, as well.
Properties with high rental rates offer investors a greater opportunity to enjoy steady returns. Investment in Private Real Estate is ideal for present investment conditions as it offers investors stable cash flows. Long-term investment of at least three years is recommended.
4. Quantitative Hedge Fund
Quantitative Hedge Fund is an alternative fund with greater flexibility in investment strategy. Trust must be placed primarily on the skills of fund managers as they anticipate positive returns regardless of any market conditions.
Quantitative Hedge Fund can invest in a diverse range of asset classes and typically uses a short-selling strategy to make profits during market downturns by borrowing assets to sell first before repurchasing them later at a lesser value or using derivatives to boost the leverage rate or other more complicated strategies, based on mathematical and quantitative statistical methods.
Overall, a quantitative hedge fund can serve as a tool to add new dimensions to investment portfolios in terms of returns and risk diversification.
5. Structured Note
Structured Note is a financial instrument combining the key features of debentures and derivatives. Its investment mechanism is based on asset prices or factors related to market changes in various forms such as stock index, foreign exchange rate, etc.
For instance Structured Note products that are preferred among Thai investors are knock-in knock-out (KIKO) structured notes with Thai or foreign stocks as underlying assets. They will offer good returns at a time when the market is moving in a narrow range, and can provide regular returns in the form of monthly interest.
Subsequently, each asset class is outstanding and can well meet the different needs of investors. Interested investors should study and understand investment details thoroughly or consult professionals for advice on appropriate investment portfolio allocation. In normal practice, alternative assets make up no more than 10 per cent of a total portfolio, as their main purpose is risk diversification.
In closing, Triphon noted, “According to operating results of last year, our alternative asset investment product with outstanding performance and satisfactory returns amid market volatility was K-GPE19A-UI fund, a private equity fund, which offered an average return of up to 19 per cent per annum. Throughout the second half of this year, KBank Private Banking is determined to continually introduce additional alternative investment products both domestically and internationally, and in alignment with investment themes of the future, namely Global Private Debt, Global Private Equity, Global and Local Private Real Estate, Quantitative Hedge Fund Strategy and Exotic Structured Note, as investment options.”
A local digital start-up has become Thailand’s fourth unicorn and its first metaverse unicorn after its shares were acquired by a subsidiary of Taiwan’s tech giant Foxconn.
The acquisition of shares in MiGroup’s Multiverse Expert by Power-All Networks was reported by Bloomberg and Digital Journal, as well as confirmed by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa).
According to reports, Power-All Networks acquired a 10 per cent stake in Multiverse Expert on July 10 this year with a US$120 million cash earn-out potential. The deal is directly aligned with Power-All’s drive in the pan-metaverse and metaverse product space in China and the global market.
Becoming a “unicorn” means a start-up can be valued at more than $1 billion. Thailand’s other three unicorns are Flash Group, Ascend Money and newcomer Bitkub.
Power-All announced that the move combines the strength of three companies – Multiverse Expert’s “metaverse” technology and innovative applications; CTG’s EDTech platform that has access to over 400,000 financial trading instruments and expertise in online financial trading; and Power-All’s own global reach, numerous patents, research in inter-cloud computing blockchain and pioneering efforts in the pan metaverse.
The company said this combination will give access to a massive worldwide market by offering new user experiences and setting up a global de facto standard with the highest number of platforms. All these platforms will offer people lifetime access to knowledge and abilities in building a new economy in the metaverse, financial knowhow, investment skills or professions that can continue beyond the retirement age.
Multiverse Expert specialises in providing advice, designing, developing and managing solutions in either private, public or hybrid blockchain projects.
It has also designed a Tokeconomics system deployed via Mainnet – an independent blockchain running its own network with its own technology and protocol. The company also provides the service of source code verification to its clients and provides advice on the development of applications both on the net and on mobile phones.
Congratulating Multiverse Expert for becoming Thailand’s first metaverse “unicorn”, Depa also pointed out that it was behind the success of two metaverse projects – Veleverse and Chiangmai Crypto City Metaverse.
Multiverse Expert has also developed two games in which players can earn crypto coins, namely Bitkub Verify Project: 3Kingdom-heroes NFT and Bitkub Register Project: BitMonster.
Depa noted that blockchain and metaverse are key digital technologies that can create new opportunities for the Thai economy. It pointed out that having unicorns in the two technologies boosts Thailand’s competitiveness and will help draw investments and a workforce with top-digital skills. This will also help Thailand achieve Web 3.0, a new iteration of the World Wide Web that incorporates concepts like decentralisation, blockchain technologies and token-based economics.
U-tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport is being upgraded with the addition of a “smart” passenger terminal powered by 5G technology.
The construction of Terminal 3 is being conducted in collaboration with Thailand’s largest mobile services operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS).
AIS senior executive Saran Phaloprakarn said the goal was to turn U-Tapao, which is run by the Royal Thai Navy, into a modern commercial airport.
U-Tapao will become the third commercial airport serving Bangkok after Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. A high-speed train route will link all three airports and the Eastern Economic Corridor development zone.
Currently, U-Tapao serves mainly foreign tourists visiting the resort city of Pattaya on the eastern seaboard.
AIS signed a memorandum of understanding with the airport on August 10, extending their collaboration on digital tech adoption.
Saran said the MOU allows AIS to work on 5G “use cases” at the airport for three more years, in time for the opening of Terminal 3.
Digitalisation at U-Tapao began in 2018 and was upgraded to 5G after AIS launched fifth-generation technology for broadband cellular networks in Thailand two years ago.
Saran said the U-Tapao’s 5G tech will be used to analyse video from closed-circuit cameras for increased safety, relying on artificial intelligence, big data and face-recognition technologies.
AIS is providing the 5G services at U-Tapao free of charge as it is trialling the technology at the airport.
Saran said results from the study may also be used to expand AIS’s business at the airport in future, including the sale of SIMs to tourists.
The smart tech would also help keep passenger queues short, he added. “5G and AI can help you predict the concentration of passengers at the airport,” he said.
The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce is organizing the must-attend annual event, the Trade Logistics Symposium 2022 – one of Thailand’s largest logistics forums – the heart of trade logistics business efficiency building and development.
Renowned speakers will take to the stage their perspective on logistics for e-commerce and cross border on September 1-2, 2022 at Lido Connect and on webinar.
Mr Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, DITP Director-General states that DITP takes progressive measures to boost the logistics industry to conform to the policy outlined by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce (Mr Jurin Laksanawisit) which is fortifying the service sectors especially logistics business to ensure the continuity of logistics activities and enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs. The Department organizes the Trade Logistics Symposium 2022 under the theme “Empowering E-commerce and Cross Border Logistics” to represent a knowledge sharing platform between the world’s foremost business leaders, experts and international organizations and logistics and international trade entrepreneurs.
As the highlights for this year’s symposium, participants will have an opportunity to meet with the distinguished speakers from top organizations. Topics include:
“E-Commerce and Cross Border impact on the ASEAN’s logistics industry” – focusing on how do e-commerce and border trade affect logistics business in ASEAN by Ms Cecile Barayre-El Shami – Chief of Digital Economy Capacity-Building Section, E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch from UNCTAD.
“Guide tips to start Door-to-Door service” – highlight on the strategies of entering the transportation field in the delivery and what lies behind the factors which make the business keep going in the battlefield of competition by Ms Jamie Ko – Director, Regional Public Affairs and Policy and from the main service provider in the region – Grab.
“Fulfillment and Warehouse in the 21st Century” – concept of how e-commerce is driving new distribution and warehousing by Mr Nattapume Pavaratn, the President of Warehouse, Silo and Cold Storage Business Association and SVP Group Commercial, JWD InfoLogistics Public Company Limited.
“Collaboration is at the heart of the e-commerce logistics” by Mr. Behzad Goudarzian, Logistics Manager and Mr Pravin Shetty, Regional IT Manager of ISS Global Forwarding – an internationally recognized supply chain solutions provider.
Panel discussion “Time for logistics marketplaces platform in Mekong Region?” by Dr Piyanoot Sumrith, the President of Thai Transportation & Logistics Association, Managing Director and Founder of WeMove Platform, the Start-up newcomer that connects shippers and carriers by using technology, together with Ms Rachelle Alexis Lim, Executive Director of Strategy & Business Development from 2C2P Co., Ltd. – a full suite payments platform trusted by global businesses.
Interested person can register free of charge at www.tradelogistics.go.th/symposium. Discover other exciting opportunities in logistics at Facebook page: DITP.Logistics.
Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios have unveiled a very special Porsche inspired by one of the most popular 911s: Sally Carrera, the famous car from Disney and Pixar’s animated film Cars.
Like Sally Carrera, the 911 Sally Special is one of a kind. There will only be one 911 Sally Special – and it’s the first time that Pixar has supported such a project.
The one-off car will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on Saturday, 20 August 2022 as part of Monterey Car Week in California.
Auction proceeds will be donated to two charities. A portion of the proceeds will benefit young women through a donation to Girls Inc. The second portion will go to USA for UNHCR, an organisation that supports refugees from Ukraine.
“Vehicles need a face and a story. And the animated Pixar’s film ‘Cars’ has impressively transferred done just that: brought cars to life on the big screen,” says Sebastian Rudolph, Vice President Communications, Sustainability and Politics at Porsche AG.
“The story conveys values such as friendship, love and mutual support – and in the middle of it all is a Porsche: ‘Sally Carrera’. Together with Pixar we have brought the spirit of Sally to life in a new way, not on the screen, but off the screen. With this one-off street legal 911, the “Sally Special”, which we are auctioning for charity, we want to help people who urgently need support, quite in keeping with the spirit of the film character.”
The project began in November 2021 and united members of the original Cars team that brought both the film character and life-size Sally Carrera to life more than 20 years ago.
The team included Jay Ward, Creative Director of Franchise at Pixar Animation Studios, and Bob Pauley, the Production Designer who first drew Sally Carrera for the Cars film.
They were assisted by members of the Sonderwunsch team at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur in Stuttgart and designers from Style Porsche in Weissach. The team worked together for ten months – the result is a unique factory one-off.
“We had great fun creating 911 Sally Special and it’s the first time we’ve worked on a project of this kind,” said Jay Ward, Creative Director of Franchise of Pixar Animation Studios.
“We decided early on that we wanted to create a completely drivable 911 – inspired by Sally Carrera, but just not an exact copy. Sally Carrera loves to drive – that was our inspiration. We asked ourselves: if Sally were built today as a road-approved model, what would she look like?”
“911 Sally Special is based on the fastest and most agile variant of the 911 Carrera model line, the 480-PS 911 Carrera GTS. The car is equipped with a manual gearbox, tapping into Sally Carrera’s passion for driving,” explains Boris Apenbrink, Director Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur vehicles.
“The customisation elements are detailed and extensive. 911 Sally Special was one of the most intense, emotional and detailed Sonderwunsch projects our team has worked on. One example is that the car is painted in Sallybluemetallic, a custom paint that was hand-applied specifically for this project. We also thought of Sally’s tattoo, of course. Implementing that was a very special challenge.”
Sally Carrera’s Turbo-look rims were reinterpreted by Style Porsche designers in Weissach and manufactured especially for the 911 Sally Special. The ‘five-arm design’ rim was adapted to the 20-/21-inch wheel dimensions of the current 911 generation and creates a visual link to the 911 Type 996 on which Sally Carrera is based. Porsche interior designer Daniela Milošević led the team that worked with Pixar to design the new blue colour as well as the vehicle’s interior.
“We were given complete freedom, which was great! In the film, Sally Carrera was a lawyer from California who valued style and elegance. At the same time, she was down-to-earth and fun-loving,” says Milošević.
“The special Sallybluemetallic is used in the interior as well, where it creates both obvious highlights and subtle details that will hopefully bring a smile to the future owner’s face. At the same time, it was important to us not to forget everyday usability and practicality. 911 Sally Special is meant to be driven often and gladly. We developed a special Pepita houndstooth fabric upholstery in three colours, combined with chalk-coloured leather and stitching in Speed Blue. Working out these details makes the project special and brings back a lot of memories of the movie and Sally Carrera.”
In addition to the car itself, the auction also includes other highlights – most notably a unique chronograph by Porsche Design, also created in collaboration with Pixar.
Like the car itself, the coloured ring is painted in Sallybluemetallic. The chalk-coloured leather strap with Speed Blue stitching underscores the sporty design of the unique timepiece.
The strap can be quickly and easily swapped out for a second strap in Speed Blue with chalk-coloured stitching, without the need for any tools. Like the vehicle, the chronograph has a limited edition marking on the back of the case. The one-of-a-kind piece is powered by a COSC-certified Porsche Design WERK 01.100 movement.
The 911 Sally Special Chronograph was precision engineered and manufactured at Porsche’s own watchmaking facility in Solothurn, Switzerland. The auction will also feature a special indoor car cover from Porsche Tequipment, a wheel rack with an additional wheelset consisting of Carrera Exclusive Design wheels, a book on the development and production of the one-off model and original drawings by designers Shuichi Yamashita and Bob Pauley.
Information about Girls Inc. and USA for UNHCR Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold through direct service and advocacy.
Operating from 76 sites across the United States and in Canada, Girls Inc. equips girls with the knowledge and skills to effect positive changes in their lives and become leaders who will change the world.
“We are grateful to Porsche and to Pixar for their commitment to this project, which will directly benefit our work,” said Stephanie J. Hull, Ph.D., Girls Inc. President & CEO.
“The character of Sally, and what she represents, is a great role model for young girls and it is fitting that she should be helping a new generation achieve their dreams.”
The United Nations Refugee Agency supports more than 6.2 million refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine. “The majority of those forced to flee Ukraine are women and children, among them unaccompanied children and those separated from their parents,” said Anne-Marie Grey, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR.
“But there is reason to hope with the critical support of companies like Porsche and Pixar who have generously stepped up to help ensure their safety and protection in months to come.”
Auction information 911 Sally Special will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on Saturday, 20 August during Monterey Car Week in California.
U.S. citizens are eligible to participate. 911 Sally Special will be available for viewing during auction week in Monterey.
New campaign celebrates the return of travel through the unscripted moments missed by travelers in Asia Pacific.
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program and marketplace, unveils its newest campaign in Asia Pacific, ‘Here’, to celebrate the return of travel. The campaign builds on Marriott Bonvoy’s global tagline “Where Can We Take You”, with ‘Here’ as an expression for reveling the authentic, relatable little moments loved and missed by travelers.
“While traveling can be about the bucket-list destinations and dining in world-class restaurants, we recognize that travel can also be made up of imperfect moments,” shares Bart Buiring, Chief Sales and Marketing Office, Marriott International Asia Pacific. “With our new campaign, we hope to inspire travelers to embark on their next Asian destination with the return of travel. We want to remind them that the joy of travel is as much about the unscripted and authentic moments as the picture-perfect ones, where the little moments make big memories.”
Produced in collaboration with Singapore-based creative company, The Secret Little Agency, and shot across Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and New Zealand, the breathtaking films are playful, authentic and fast-paced – celebrating the power of travel with moments that everyone can relate to from trips with best friends and family vacations. The idea also extends to the key visuals. From waddling through the muddy but breathtakingly green rice terraces in Bali to getting unexpectedly caught in the lively celebration of Holi in India, Marriott Bonvoy invites travelers to take their next trip and revel in these spontaneous moments of travel.
The campaign, available across the Asia Pacific, excluding Greater China, will air from today across the region with both digital and out-of-home media., and across various touchpoints in India. The campaign film and visuals will be prominently displayed across various locations including at Seoul’s Gimpo Airport, Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya Metro Station and Melbourne’s Central Station, and also on inflight entertainment and across select digital and social channels.
Travelers are invited to join the conversation and connect with one another by sharing their memories of how #TravelMakesUs on Instagram and TikTok. For more information about Marriott Bonvoy or to enroll as a member for free, visit here.
Thailand has a unique geo-economic edge within Asean. Located in the very centre of the region, it is well-positioned to serve as an important logistics hub that connects several surrounding countries. 360TRUCK aims to help elevate the competitiveness of Thailand’s logistics sector.
Operator of 360TRUCK online logistics platform, ThreeSixty Supply Chain Co. Ltd. aims to help elevate the competitiveness of Thailand’s logistics sector.
360TRUCK Reduces Costs, Saves Time, Boosts Revenue
Phraeophan Sarochwimolsin, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of 360TRUCK, explains that in logistics, preventing empty backhauls is critical to controlling costs. “Say you dispatch a truck full of goods from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, but it carries nothing back on its return trip to Bangkok – that is what we call empty backhaul, which is a waste of man-hours, resources, and energy.”
The 360TRUCK platform features a proprietary carrier-customer matching algorithm to optimize value for both carriers and customers. This algorithm also helps ensure that trucks carry goods on their return journey, thereby optimizing resource utilization, improving distribution efficiency and reducing logistics rates – ultimately contributing to a win-win situation for everyone and a better economy overall.
Professionalism for Customers of all Sizes
After three years in business, 360TRUCK has more than 50,000 trucks registered on its platform, covering logistics needs nationwide. Their fleet ranges from 4-, 6-, and 10-wheelers to 18- and 22-wheeler trailer trucks. The vehicles are operated by more than 4,000 signed-up users, ranging from individual drivers to large trucking companies.
Once a truck operator has signed up on 360TRUCK, they can inform the platform of their vehicle and route availability. On the other end, shipment customers can request trucks that best suit their requirements as well as specify pick-up location, destination, and desired rates. 360TRUCK matches operators with customers and also suggests rates for a given route.
After the goods have been picked up, the customer can track the shipment at any time. For peace of mind, all shipments are insured. Likewise, all trucks are fully insured and screened by 360TRUCK to minimize risk for customers. Truck operators, too, have peace of mind with a fuel coupon advanced by 360TRUCK, so there’s no need to pay for fuel upfront.
Phraeophan is proud to say that the selling points of 360TRUCK are professionalism, transparency, clearly quoted rates, and efficient management. With these service pillars, 360TRUCK helps corporate customers control logistics costs while offering a good customer experience. That is why so many SMEs and even large corporations like Sahapat Group and Shera choose 360TRUCK for their logistics solutions.
Detailed Work Needs Good Communication
Phraeophan says that 360TRUCK’s work involves complex and vital details. Therefore, to ensure the smooth processing of all shipments, the team needs to verify several data points from both the shipment customer and truck operator. Information such as rates, matching, the volume of goods, dimensions and weight, pick-up time, and additional requirements such as extra workers all need to be ascertained and mutually agreed upon via a telephone conversation.
To support this critical work, 360TRUCK has chosen the dtac OneCall solution with the Mobile PBX service to optimize its hybrid communications requirements. By using only one telephone number – 02-0966-360 – all customers are promptly directed to a customer service representative.
While technology makes things more efficient and speedy, human-led facilitation at each step of the process gives customers reassurance and the feeling of being looked after. This in turn creates a good customer experience and a strong reputation for 360TRUCK.
“In the past, staff using their own personal mobile phones to contact customers did not seem professional. Integrating one corporate number helps with professionalism and significantly better access and transparency for our customers,” Phraeopan explains.
As 360TRUCK plans its future expansion, analyzing its communications performance is an important consideration. The number of calls and call efficiency (measured by waiting times, call times and call recordings) is vital in supporting customer service representatives to do their jobs well. With 360TRUCK now offering its service to the general public (B2C), the customer service team will need to handle more calls and more information, and will thus require more staff. The dtac OneCall solution is a key factor in ensuring this expansion proceeds smoothly.
Technology and Human Touch for Better Service
While 360TRUCK is committed to developing logistics services with cutting-edge technology, the company believes that the human factor is vital in creating the best possible customer experience and boosting confidence and credibility. dtac OneCall solution contributes to this perfect marriage of human touch and technology through a professional Mobile Call Center service.
360TRUCK aims to achieve a 100% match rate in the near future, eliminating empty backhauls and leading the industry in cost control, time efficiency, and resource management (including human and energy). Achieving these goals will ultimately strengthen and future-proof Thailand’s position as ASEAN’s logistics hub.
QSNCC aims to attract new high-profile events to Thailand and elevate the Thai event venue to world-class status as a leader in Asia.
The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) has announced its readiness to become “The Ultimate World Class Event Platform for All” and has revealed the list of upcoming international events that are keen on moving from their original venues overseas to the newly renovated QSNCC. By highlighting the potential of the venue and its facilities, QSNCC seeks to elevate the Thai event platform and convention center to become a leader in Asia.
Sakchai Phatrapreechakul, Chief Executive Officer of N.C.C. Management & Development Co Ltd, said: “This re-opening of the new QSNCC has great potential to accommodate all kinds of events and activities as well as being suitable for all lifestyles. We are expecting that the number of visitors will be over 13 million annually, more than double the 6 million visitors per year prior to the renovation. We are no longer just a convention center but are transforming into an inspiring world class event platform for all. The new QSNCC will re-open to the public in September this year. We are convinced that there will be all kinds of event hosts and exhibitors who will choose QSNCC as their venue. This will enhance QSNCC’s reputation as an industry pioneer for both Thai and Asian event venues.”
“The new QSNCC is determined to deliver a positive impact for all Thai people. We are keen to play a crucial role in stimulating the country’s overall economic growth by driving forward relevant businesses including event organizers, hotels, shopping centers, and public transport system, all of which will greatly benefit from the advanced development of the MICE industry with a tremendously increasing number of organizers and visitors to events held at the Center, as well as bring value to the surrounding communities from various public amenities available here,” added Sakchai.
With the objective of being more than a “convention center” that facilitates “MICE,” the new QSNCC has been designed to accommodate all practical needs in terms of event spaces and facilities with the ultimate flexibility and simultaneous support for all types of event functions. The center also has the ability to assist and manage all types of activities, including logistics and transportation. In addition, with the convenience of being directly connected to an MRT station, the venue is easy to reach for all comers while safety features and facilities guarantee a high quality of life in sustainable surroundings that comply with global standards.
The reputation of the new QSNCC has already earned the trust of several major international event exhibitors and the venue has attracted new high-profile events from various countries to Thailand for the first time. These include:
Asia Pacific Leather Fair or APLF — the world’s leading leather trade fair, which is usually exhibited in Hong Kong — will now be held on October 19–21, 2022 at QSNCC.
ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, Asia’s international fruit and vegetable trade fair that was originally held in Hong Kong, is confirmed to take place on November 2-4, 2022.
Jewellery & Gem ASEAN Bangkok (JGAB), one of the grand jewellery exhibitions with a collection of trade fairs, seminars and gemstone knowledge activities for buyers and suppliers from all around the world, was originally held in Singapore but will take place on November 2-5, 2022 at QSNCC.
Besides the aforementioned major activities and events, there are over 160 activities that have been confirmed to take place at QSNCC by 2023; for instance, MICE and upcoming lifestyle activities for the first time such as “T-Pop Concert Fest,” which will feature leading Thai pop artists such as PP x Billkin, 4EVE and Bowkylion on October 29-30, 2022. In addition, Southeast Asia’s biggest gaming expo “Thailand Game Show” will take place on October 21-23, 2022. Furthermore, QSNCC will be the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference on November 13-18, 2022.
Another key highlight of the QSNCC, which seeks to become ‘The Ultimate Inspiring World Class Event Platform for All’ is a retail space in the context of Bangkok’s first holistic active lifestyle mall under the concept of BALM (Bangkok Active Lifestyle Mall) with over 11,000 square meters of area. BALM will be the cherry on top of the new Queen Sirikit Convention Center, which is located in the heart of Bangkok, and conform to all lifestyles for both Thais and foreigners. The venue is set to turn the Rama 4–Ratchada area into another prime destination for socializing with all manner of retail conveniences, such as restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, pharmacies, sports equipment stores, IT stores, etc.
Discover the new experience of “The Ultimate World-Class Event Platform for All” at QSNCC soon. For more information, visit www.qsncc.com.
Thanawat Malabuppha
Kulthirath Pakawachkrilers (right)
Pawoot Pongvitayapanu
Indonesia ranked second with an overall wellness retreat score of 8.5/10 while Maldives was third with a score of 8.5/10.
Responding to the ranking, PM Prayut praised the hard work and high levels of service among Thailand’s tourism workers, his deputy secretary-general Anucha Burapachaisri said on Sunday. The PM is confident that Thailand has strong potential for wellness tourism, Anucha added.
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