With Cheers Selection: Northern Strawberry, the company in a press release on Thursday said it had selected a local ingredient that is recognised with pride by Thais.

Over the past year, Cheers has invented and created beverage innovations consisting of special flavours under the sub-brand called, “Cheers Selection” with the aim of offering a distinctive experience and increased choice for consumers, according to the release.

In the past two years, Cheers has launched “Cheers Selection Riceberry” created with the combination of ingredients such as imported malt and local Thai riceberry; “Cheers Selection Shogun Orange,” orange-flavoured beer, among others. The latest selection, northern strawberry, is yet another unique flavour to brighten up the month of love and which will be available for six months, said the company in the release.

Grab and Samsung will work together on a wide range of initiatives to bring the benefits of technology, such as enhanced customer experiences and improved income opportunities, to millions of consumers and Grab drivers across Southeast Asia, said the companies in a press release.

Grab is a market leader in ride-hailing in Southeast Asia, an industry that is one of the fastest growing Internet services sectors and expected to be a $25 billion market by 2022 in this region. As part of the wide-ranging strategic collaboration, Grab and Samsung will develop customised solutions for the ride-hailing industry, including micro-financing schemes for Grab’s over 2.3 million drivers, improved customer booking and in-car experiences, and new mobility solutions. The two companies will also work together to expand into Southeast Asia’s fragmented mobile payments ecosystem and provide a mobile payments solution that will serve the needs of consumers in Southeast Asia.

“Southeast Asia is home to the world’s fastest growing emerging markets, yet many in the smaller towns and cities do not have easy access to the growing digital economy,” said Anthony Tan, the Grab group CEO and co-founder.

“Mobile technology can bridge the infrastructural divide and make economic growth more inclusive. Samsung is one of the world’s most innovative technology companies, and we’re thrilled to partner with them to empower more people in Southeast Asia to improve their livelihoods and provide more digital services for everyone on the Grab platform.”

Sangchul Lee, president and CEO, Samsung Electronics, Southeast Asia & Oceania, said: “Here at Samsung, developing meaningful innovations for the betterment of our consumers’ lives is always at the heart of what we do. We believe in the Internet of Things; the various benefits a more digitally connected world brings, and we are excited to be partnering with Grab to provide consumers within the region an enhanced array of digital solutions for their everyday needs. Through this collaboration, we hope to explore how we can work together to tap into the massive growth opportunity of Southeast Asia’s digital economy.”

The move comes as part of a global growth strategy to build a stronger presence in Asia, bringing human capital management, financial management and analytical application capabilities to new markets.

Workday’s Thailand office will support both local businesses such as Agoda Thailand, Principal Healthcare Co Ltd (a subsidiary of Principal Capital Public Co Ltd) and Bangchak Corporation Public Co Ltd, as well as Workday’s global and regional customers, many of which have operations in Thailand. Glico Thailand is the latest company to join its local customer list, with the partnership also announced on Thursday.

To mark the launch, Workday hosted a panel discussion on “Engaging Thailand’s Future Workforce” featuring local business visionaries and academics. The panel discussed how companies now face increasing challenges to attract and retain the best talent for sustainable growth, and how new trends in HR and technology would change the way people work.

David Hope, Workday’s president, Asia Pacific, said each generation of employees have different values and priorities and it is essential for HR managers to identify what is important, be it career progression, stability, workplace diversity opportunities or something else. For example, millennials are becoming increasingly attracted to the idea of on-demand work. These on-demand services promise workers more control over the structure of their working day, and contribute to workplace flexibility that millennials desire. Workday’s technology can help Thai businesses to thrive and make better use of their HR and financial data.

The cloud is increasingly vital to businesses around the world, and the impact is being felt in Thailand as more businesses are adopting cloud-computing services for HR.

The transformation, which includes the deployment of Amdocs’ “converged multiplay solution, provides True with a single convergence multiplay service platform that supports both consumers and enterprises across all postpaid lines of business, said a press release from Amdocs. It will enable True to quickly launch multiplay bundled services, combining traditional telecom services such as fixed voice, fixed broadband, pay TV and mobile with innovative new digital services and content.

“We are committed to implementing new ideas, together with bringing quality products and services to our customers, while continually setting new benchmarks for customer experience,” said Pichit Thanyodom, IT director at True Corporation.

“Amdocs’ converged multiplay solution is a key platform that enables us to achieve this objective. It allows us to provide a large choice of bundled packages and quickly launch and monetise innovative services, while providing a single bill for all services – all of which improves customer experience and engagement.”

Added Gary Miles, chief marketing officer at Amdocs: “True is focused on providing its customers with compelling combinations of digital content and services.

“Our solution provides an agile and contextual way of bundling multiplay and digital services in exciting new combinations, enabling a larger variety of choices for both consumers and enterprises. This means that True can deliver a superior customer experience and continue to grow rapidly in a highly competitive market. Completion of the billing transformation program also further enables Amdocs to bring innovative new business ideas to our partner True.”

The new service is free of charge and is available for all domestic passengers. Interested passengers can simply contact Bangkok Airways Call Centre at number 1771 (24 hrs.)

To use the new check-in service, passengers are requested to check-in 24 hours in advance or at least two hours prior to departure.

Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways, said in a Friday press release: “Bangkok Airways always strives to enhance every passenger’s journey. We have been committed to developing innovative systems and new technology to make our passenger flying experience even more convenient. Our new Call Centre Check-in service is believed to help facilitate those passengers who would like to expedite their check-in process at the airport.”

The “grab & go” mini-bistro-style shop is at Metro Mall MRT Petchaburi.

Chutidej Poocharoentou, The Mall Group’s vice president of merchandising, said it’s the second

commercial space within an MRT station to arise from the partnership with BMN. The original Gourmet Market is at Ladprao station.

“These launches cater to the needs of MRT commuters and condominium residents who value quality and convenience at one-stop shops,” he said. “The Petchaburi branch is different, as it’s located within the MRT’s commercial space Metro Mall, and there are offices and a university in the area. The store follows the Gourmet To-Go concept, a compact, 200-square-metre store that upholds Gourmet Market’s quality standards.”

Office employees, university students and MRT commuters can buy food or enjoy food throughout the day.

The offerings include sandwiches, bakery items, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, fruits, juice, soup and salad.

Those who prefer to dine on-site can settle in the mini-bistro zone, where Bibimbab Express offers Korean meals including the Topping Bowl or Dak-Gangjeong fried chicken in three flavours.

Sushi Ichiba serves 30 variations of sushi and rice bowls. Thai Too Taste offers different main dishes over rice and made-to-order meals.

Gourmet To-Go is open weekdays from 7am to 9pm and weekends until 8pm.

“Metro Mall offers foods, drinks and bakery items from our partners including Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, BreadTalk and Karmakamet to meet the ever-evolving needs of Bangkokians,” said BMN managing director Natthavut Trivisvavet.

“We have received positive feedback on these initiatives, and with increasing number of offices and condominiums along the subway stations, we are confident that Metro Mall will continue to grow.

“This year we plan to renovate Metro Mall at Chatuchak station to feel more modern. Retailers will mostly be food and drinks, but given a commercial space of 1,800 square metres, there will be shops offering services such as hair and nail salons and money exchange to boost variety and meet consumer needs, whether they are office employees, students or tourists.

“Last year the Sukhumvit station went through a major makeover and many retailers will open their doors there, starting with Starbucks in March.”

Sales volume in the current quarter stood at 302,000 tonnes, it said.

The flood situation in Central and North Thailand, coupled with holidays in October and December, affected deliveries.

Construction-sector growth remains sluggish, slowing demand for reinforcing bars. This was partly made up by healthy sales of wire rods.

Net sales during Q3 FY18 of Bt5.743 million were similar to the previous quarter and 24 per cent higher compared to the same quarter last year, due to higher prices.

EBITDA in Q3 FY18 at Bt478 million was 11 per cent higher than the previous quarter and 14 per cent year on year due to better management of spread and improved product mixes.