Lack of middlemen helps property marketplace offer attractive discounts
Oct 09. 2020
By THE NATION
Thailand’s first offline and online property marketplace, Property Discount Center (propertydiscountcenter.com), was launched on October 1 in Phuket.
This site links buyers and sellers directly without middlemen.
“We are a property marketplace, not an agency or broker. You can place an ad for your condo, villa, business or even boat with us and we can share the info with buyers from across the world. Our advertising network covers Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, China, Russia and Europe,” said Stuart Coakley, director of the business said.
“We have over 10 years of experience successfully facilitating sales of property online. Foreign buyers do not have to come to Thailand, all the work can be done without them being present. This is important at a time when investors want to invest, but can’t visit due to Covid-19 restrictions.”
Normally developers and property owners spend 20 to 35 per cent of their selling price on advertisement, marketing, commissions, rental of boots, salaries and discounts sought by buyers, he said.
“But we use another format. Instead of spending on all this, we offer buyers an attractive discount so both parties win,” he said.
He added that during these challenging times, it’s important to find new ways to attract international investors and increase the sale of real estate in Thailand.
Huawei unveils ‘cloud+AI+IoT synergy’ trend, to revolutionise Thai smart business
Oct 08. 2020Abel Deng, chief executive officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co Ltd
By The Nation
Huawei has launched a synergy-based ecosystem between the cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) innovations to help reduce costs, improve efficiency and boost service quality of Thai businesses.
Such ecosystems will pave the way for the new fully ‘smart’ era for every industry nationwide, the company said, adding, Huawei believes that all businesses and industries will adapt to using cloud services within five years. Cloud service providers will, therefore, need to focus their priority on the issues of data security, communication speed, and the cloud ecosystem.
Abel Deng, chief executive officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co Ltd, illustrates how the cloud, AI and IoT technologies can be integrated and utilised by the Thai business sector, saying: “The joint efforts between the public and private sector to drive technological development is the key reason why Thailand has become one of the leaders in technological innovation adoption in Asean.”
“Such collaboration is seen in policies like the Thailand 4.0 strategy from the Thai government, while the private sector has consistently pushed the boundaries through the construction of innovative communication networks, as well as new service offerings for Thai users,” Abel.said.
“Thailand is also a key market for Huawei, where we offer all four business categories of our products and services: Carrier, enterprise, consumers and cloud and AI. With such a comprehensive product portfolio, Huawei will be able to deliver a complete end-to-end ecosystem, covering both hardware and software, while helping Thai industry further develop at an accelerated pace towards ‘Smart Industry’.”
He adds that cloud technology is the backbone infrastructure that enables other advanced technologies, such as AI, IoT, VR/AR, and 5G, helping foster future-oriented innovative networks.
“The cloud functions like a runway, powering efficient data processing to support these technologies. Therefore, Huawei has given precedence to our cloud development, which includes the establishment of the first cloud data centre in Thailand, operating specifically for the Thai market. This commitment can also be seen in our ‘Cloud First’ strategy for ecosystem development in Thailand, so we can deliver the best of experiences to all Thai users,” Abel adds.
Piyatida Itiravivongs, president of Cloud Business Department, Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co Ltd, states: “The synergic integration of the cloud, AI, and IoT technologies can help support the development of the ‘Smart City’ at a national level, through solutions such as smart city management, traffic management or AI drone inspection.
“As for the private sector, the synergy of these technologies within organisations will help revamp operational processes in multiple areas. Data from various sources will be collected through network systems and Internet of Things applications, then sent to the cloud for processing with the help of AI. As such, Thai enterprises that can successfully adapt these technologies will be able to reduce costs, accelerate back-end operational efficiency and deliver a better customer experience.”
Piyatida says the cloud, AI, and IoT will automate operational procedures within organisations, from basic tasks such as office lighting control and movement of people on premises, to improved operations or customer insights, enabling businesses to offer higher quality products and services and delivering a better customer experience, thereby increasing the number of returning customers and generating higher profits for their company.
Piyatida also adds that, according to the Huawei GIV (Global Industry Vision) 2025 Report, it is predicted that 100 per cent of global business organisations will utilise cloud technology and 85 per cent of all enterprise applications will be cloud-based by 2025.
In addition, 86 per cent of all enterprises will adopt AI technology, and enterprise data utilisation will increase to 80 per cent. In Thailand, cloud services will focus on the public cloud due to its convenience and higher return on investment, aligned with the current economic recovery. Furthermore, the public cloud can increase corporate flexibility, helping open more investment opportunities for business expansion. Organisations who require increased information security standards have the option to utilise the hybrid and public cloud with data centres located in Thailand.
Surasak Wanichwatphibun, chief technology officer of the Cloud Business Department, Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co Ltd, says: “Huawei Cloud is the first and currently the only global cloud service provider to have two data centres in Thailand, dedicated to providing cloud services. The local centres will be able to offer the lowest latency, data security protection under the Thai laws, and 24/7 response from customer support and the R&D expertise team located at Huawei’s headquarters.” Huawei is providing cloud services to customers in various industries in Thailand from retail to banking and manufacturing, as well as international organisations such as logistics company J&T Express, entertainment company Mango TV, and media agency Xinhua News Agency.
“Cloud service providers must place priority on their clients’ data security, and having cloud data centres located in Thailand will help maintain the highest data security since the particular cloud service is under Thai law. Moreover, the R&D and customer support service teams will be able to quickly react to solve any demands or problems. “Another advantage of the data centre being located in Thailand is the higher speed of data transactions, with latency under 10 milliseconds, 5-10 times better than other international cloud service providers, aligned and fully compatible with the development of Thailand’s new network infrastructure speed levels,” Surasak adds.
Huawei Cloud has been certified by more than 50 organisations, including ISOA27701, and aligns with Thailand PDPA.
Furthermore, Huawei Cloud is capable of providing both public and hybrid cloud, and with over 21 years of experience working with partners and clients in Thailand, leveraging its rounded expertise, Huawei has deep insights regarding the demands and challenges experienced by companies in the Thai market, the company says.
In addition, Huawei, as the ICT developer of the entire ecosystem (including hardware and software), can provide better overall performance than other cloud service providers, derived from its operations synergy, with 30 per cent more computing power and 30 per cent more cost-effectiveness, to best answer all clients’ needs, the company says.
Indorama Ventures joins World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership
Oct 08. 2020
By THE NATION
Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) has joined the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), the company announced on Wednesday.
The global partnership aims to reduce plastic leakage into the environment and is driving the transition to a circular economy for plastics.
“This partnership is aligned with Indorama Ventures’ 2019 commitment to increase the volume of recycled PET by at least 750,000 tonnes, pledging US$1.5 billion [Bt46.8 billion] towards achieving this target by 2025,” the firm said in press statement.
“By joining GPAP, we will advance our shared goal of ending PET plastic waste,” IVL chief sustainability officer Yashovardhan Lohia said. “Harnessing the convening power of the World Economic Forum, GPAP is bringing together governments, businesses and civil society to forge circular solutions – at both the global and national levels. Our recycling facilities across the world can close the loop and deliver a circular economy for PET plastic.
“In March this year we recycled our 50 billionth PET bottle since we started in 2011. We want to go further because we know PET is fully recyclable: by 2025 we aim to recycle 50 billion bottles a year. To achieve this, we have committed up to US$1.5 billion to expand the recycling infrastructure the world needs. The GPAP community is championing this shift to a circular economy and helping the world to understand the benefits of a closed-loop approach,” Lohia said.
“Joining GPAP is a clear statement of Indorama Ventures’ commitment to sustainability and advancing the circular economy,” said Kristin Hughes, GPAP director and member of the World Economic Forum Executive Committee. “Their global presence, fully integrated model and decades of recycling know-how means they are uniquely placed to close the loop for PET plastic.
“We look forward to working with Indorama Ventures and learning from their experience with collection systems around the world. Together we can drive high-potential solutions to improve collection, ensuring plastic never ends up as waste,” Hughes added.
State telecom agency CAT Telecom has teamed up with IBM to develop the CAT Covid Tracker service for alternative state quarantine (ASQ) hotels to keep track of their guests’ health condition.
This system aims to help reduce risks and build confidence once Thailand reopens its doors to foreign tourists.
Dr Wongkot Vijacksungsithi, CAT’s senior executive vice president for digital business, said the application allows ASQ hotels to keep track of guests’ health digitally instead of getting staff to check on the guest in person.
Under the system, guests will be given a username and password and will be required to record their daily health information, such as temperature and symptoms.
The system will then automatically create files that can be submitted to the Department of Disease Control. The app also allows guests to talk directly to doctors or nurses from partnering hospitals.
The app also tracks the health of hotel staff, providing notifications if any cases are found so other personnel can protect themselves and treatment can be provided in a timely manner.
The CAT Covid Tracker, which took just one month to develop, leverages the capabilities of CAT’s cloud services, together with experiences in open-source management and support services from IBM.
Anywheel ties up with Dtac to launch bike-sharing service in Chiang Mai
Oct 08. 2020
By The Nation
Anywheel, Singapore’s largest short-distance public transport provider, has chosen dtac Business’s internet of things (IoT) solutions to power its eco-friendly bike-sharing service in Chiang Mai.
Dtac Business is a unit of Total Access Communication (dtac), which was created to provide connectivity services and business solutions to corporate clients.
The Anywheel service supports the public transportation dimension of Chiang Mai’s aspiration of becoming a smart city in line with the Thailand 4.0 goals.
Cycling also supports efficient social distancing in the Covid-19 era.
Anywheel, which was founded by CEO Htay Aung, has been offering bike-sharing services for more than three years in Singapore, Malaysia, and most recently in Thailand.
Dtac Business has supported Anywheel from prototype development and testing, to the shipment of the first 1,000 IoT SIMs for installation onsite. Dtac Business IoT SIMs enable accurate vehicle fleet management with real-time positioning of all bicycles.
Rui Jie Seet, general manager of Anywheel Singapore said: “Anywheel kicked off its Thailand operation in Chiang Mai’s city centre and now has about 150 docking stations already installed and more than 6,000 users per day. The company also installed another 150 docking stations at Chiang Mai University and plans to expand its services to other university campuses and industrial complexes. I really hope that in the post-Covid era, locals and tourists will want to enjoy cycling and the scenery of Chiang Mai during the cool months. We know every year from January to March the air quality worsens, but I hope we can help improve the situation here.”
The Anywheel service is simple: download and open the Anywheel app, locate the nearest bicycle parking from its built-in map, scan QR code on the bike to unlock it. The base fare is Bt10, while a monthly pass starts at Bt200.
Anywheel also plans to develop their app to further suit urban needs with electric scooter services which would better serve longer journeys. Currently, electric scooters are only available in Singapore and Malaysia.
PTT Group has piloted the installation of a floating solar panel in the sea with a total capacity of 100 kilowatts at PTT Tank Terminal in Rayong as part of its campaign to promote renewable energy, a PTT press release said on Tuesday.
PTT Tank’s managing director ML Peekthong Thongyai said this system will help the company save Bt390,000 in electricity bills every year and cut down on the emission of carbon dioxide by 36 tonnes yearly.
The floating panel is made of special-grade plastic produced by PTT Global Chemical, while Global Power Synergy’s subsidiary Combined Heat and Power Producing Co Ltd designed and installed the system.
Tech firm links up with Oracle to provide cloud services to customers
Oct 05. 2020
By The Nation
A-HOST, a member of the Oracle Partner Network (OPN), has opened the A-HOST & Oracle Cloud Customer Centre in Bangkok to serve the needs of businesses wanting to adopt cloud services.
At the centre, A-HOST staff help customers get in touch with a team of Oracle Cloud experts to help solve their business and IT challenges.
The centre, located on the 21st floor of SM Tower in Phaholyothin Road, provides knowledge and services in all areas of the Oracle Cloud (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) with a focus on Oracle Cloud services.
The 150-square metre facility boasts state-of-the-art design and comprises a training room, workshop and co-working space where design thinking sessions can be held.
Thai Vietjet offers special domestic rates for companies, govt agencies
Oct 05. 2020
By The Nation
Thai Vietjet has launched “corporate and government tickets” for companies and government agencies, offering special packages, including fixed fares with flexible dates.
The offer is not applicable on public holidays.
Passengers will have access to two fare options – Eco and Skyboss – which come with different benefits such as baggage allowance, seat selection and priority services.
The deal is available at all Thai Vietjet travel agencies and can be applied to flights from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Hat Yai , Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ubon Ratchathani and Surat Thani from November 4. The deal will be applicable to Phuket-Chiang Rai, Udon Thani-Chiang Rai and Chiang Rai-Hat Yai flights from November 1.
IP Key SEA has revealed that counterfeit pharmaceuticals pose the greatest potential harm to the health of consumers
Oct 02. 2020
By The Nation
Research shows that counterfeit medicine cannot cure illnesses and can cause more harm to your health. Counterfeit medicines have been in the market for a long time, and without sufficient awareness, consumption of these substances can lead to unexpected symptoms, permanent disabilities, and even loss of life.
The EU-funded project IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) believes that #YourHealthisPriceless. So today, we are launching an online campaign to raise awareness of the harms that counterfeit pharmaceutical and healthcare products can cause. The campaign is also a call for the public to share their experiences with counterfeit medicines on social media.
“#YourHealthIsPriceless campaign emphasizes the EU mission through IP Key SEA project in raising awareness on IP rights on social media. We also believe that the stories shared will help envisage the current situation and encourage customers to be fully aware of the product’s authenticity and buy from legitimate sources,” said Tiago Guerreiro, IP Key SEA Project Leader.
The threat to national public health
Counterfeit medicines are medicines that do not comply with intellectual property law. In the vast majority of cases (90%), they can be harmful to a patient’s health according to a study recently released by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on ‘Trade in Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products’. The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported in the 2017 report ‘WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for Substandard and Falsified Medical Products’ that an estimated number of children may die from pneumonia each year after consuming counterfeit medicines is between 72,000 and 169,000.
The products in the sector include antibiotics, painkillers, and medicines for diabetes, central nervous system, heart disease, cancer malaria, and HIV/AIDS, among others. The sector also covers lifestyle drugs and medicines for an esthetical purpose, ranging from beauty injections to skincare, although some of these products are classified as food supplements or cosmetics in some countries. Consumers can be tricked by logo and packaging of counterfeit products designed to imitate authentic ones, promotions and lower prices offered by unauthorized sellers, or popularity of certain products among peers. They may become vulnerable to the adverse effects that medicines from illegitimate sources bring to their health and the possible failure to treat or prevent diseases.
Although a global problem, the proliferation of counterfeit medicines in South-East Asia is a particularly serious concern. A 2019 study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Transnational Organized Crime in South-East Asia identifies a number of SEA countries, including Thailand, where counterfeit pharmaceutical and healthcare products originate from. The country has also been identified as a significant transit point for such products, and a country usually linked to counterfeiting or diversion of medicines alongside the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam during 2013-2017.
“The harmful effects of counterfeit pharmaceutical products bring intellectual property (IP) closer than ever to the course of our daily lives. They show that the strong enforcement of IP rights protection–including the protection of trade mark, patent, and industrial design–can greatly contribute to consumers’ well-being and public health”, shared Tiago Guerreiro.
The threat to international trade and legal supply chains
Cross-border trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceutical products occurs with more ease in the digital age, where e-commerce and logistics have increased access to. Globalization makes it possible for second-tier distributors to sell their fake products globally; that is, they do not have to be produced in the market of distribution as they can be shipped from anywhere.
Global trade in counterfeit pharmaceutical products accounts for EUR 11.87 billion, representing more than 3.3% of total global trade in the pharmaceutical sector, according to the 2016 OECD study. It remains to be a challenge for IP and government officials to detect fake products and enforce IPRs protection measures, hence the need for local consumers to be careful when being approached by unauthorized sellers.
“The EU is supporting Thailand and ASEAN regional approach and initiatives for combatting substandard and falsified medicines. Harmonized pan-ASEAN safety and control measures allowing easier identification of counterfeit medicines, and improving verification and controls at borders, as well as a system enabling patients to identify legally operating online pharmacies, would certainly help limiting the commerce of these dangerous products”, stated Laurent Laurdais, Counsellor at the EU Delegation to Thailand.
Purchase genuine products from verified or verified and legitimate distributors and join the campaign by sharing your experiences with counterfeit pharmaceutical products alongside a description, photo, or video, include the hashtag #YourHealthIsPriceless and mention @IPKey_EU Twitter account or IP Key Facebook page.
ABOUT IP KEY SOUTH-EAST ASIA:
#YourHealthisPriceless campaign is an initiative of the IP Key South-East Asia (IP Key SEA), a four-year EUR 7 million programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the EUIPO aimed at supporting IP rights protection and enforcement across Southeast Asia, with a view to creating the appropriate legal and economic environment conducive to trade and investment in the region. By contributing to the enhancement of IP frameworks and implementation of best practices, IP Key SEA aims to ensure a level playing field for both local enterprises and EU stakeholders. IP Key SEA is one of three EU-funded programmes dedicated to IP that are being implemented by the EUIPO, together with IP Key China and IP Key Latin America.
ABOUT THE EUIPO:
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is an agency of the EU, based in Alicante, Spain. It manages the registration of the European Union trade mark (EUTM) and the Registered Community Design (RCD), both of which provide protection in all 28 EU member states, as well as carrying out cooperation activities with the national and regional intellectual property offices of the EU. Under the goals of its Strategic Plan 2020, the EUIPO, in cooperation with national and regional EU IP offices, aims to promote global cooperation on IP between EU partners, third countries and multilateral organisations.
KE Group teams with Alibaba Cloud to launch ‘first-in-Asia’ SKY OS platform for retail and real estate sector
Oct 01. 2020
By The Nation
Luxury real-estate-developer KE Group and global tech leader Alibaba Cloud have teamed up to create SKY OS – a platform offering new sales channels backed by big data to malls, shops, restaurants, hotels, offices and more.
A payment gateway and e-wallet are also included to complete the SKY OS loop.
The “SKY” application of the platform integrates different applications from its partners to provide a connected system for clients’ sales and operation management.
SKY OS has five elements:
1. A Loyalty and Campaign module enabling businesses to cultivate big data from their customer database, create the right promotions, build and maintain relationships with members, and optimise results from marketing.
2. O2O (Offline-to-Online) model for businesses to join offline and online channels through integration of sales and marketing operations.
3. Seamless integration via what Alibaba Cloud calls its world-class engine and infrastructure.
4. A massive data analytical engine provided by Alibaba Cloud to give businesses access to big data so they can target customers precisely.
5. Cashless system of e-wallet, e-voucher, e-coupon, and points collection and redemptions that serve most retail businesses’ needs.
KE Group said the platform is open to all, but will be available by the end of this year to tenants of SET-registered Bualuang K E Retail, including CDC Shopping Center, the Crystal Ekamai-Ramindra, Ratchapruek, Chaiyapruek, The Scene, Plearnary Mall, Amorini, Summakorn Place Ratchapruek, Ramkamhang, Rangsit and I’M Park Chula.
KE Group said building a SKY OS platform will cost small and medium-sized businesses between Bt300,000 and Bt1 million, compared to the Bt800,000-Bt5 million it would cost to build their own application.
Abel Deng, chief executive officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co Ltd 
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