Initiative seeks to strengthen SMEs

The Department of Business Development (DBD), together with Thailand Post and other partners, have joined forces to bring trade and market opportunities to 3.2 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) nationwide through their digital solutions and e-commerce platforms.
The collaboration aims to strengthen Thai entrepreneurs, ensuring they can sustainably compete in the market.
Auramon Supthaweethum, the department’s director-general, said the partnership includes the launch of the department’s SMEs 360 web-based portal site yesterday to offer all related software and digital tools to facilitate SMEs to enter the e-commerce arena.
The collaboration covers the DBD, the Thai Startup Association and Business Online Co (BOL).
In addition, the department and Thailand Post are synergising their information technology systems which they will deploy to enhance the capabilities of SMEs, aiming to drive SMEs’ contribution to GDP from 35% at present to 40% within three years.
Dhanant Subhadrabandhu, chief executive of Thailand Post, said the partnership also opens opportunities for entrepreneurs to sell their products on the ThailandPostMart e-commerce platform, which features over 20,000 leading products from more than 6,000 businesses across the country.
In addition, Thailand Post is exchanging information with the DBD to develop a system to locate corporate offices under the Digital Business Registration System (DBD Biz Regist) project.
By leveraging the strengths of Thailand Post’s cloud network, this project aims to provide accurate business location information.
Mr Dhanant said Thailand Post would also support traditional convenience stores to serve as EMS service outlets, aiming to help them create income opportunities and to facilitate the dropping off of parcels.
Currently, more than 10,789 locations, including convenience stores, restaurants and cafes, are interested in offering this service.
Mr Dhanant said Thailand Post has consistently provided tailored solutions, services and technology to SMEs to help them keep abreast of market changes and competition.
Amid the ongoing digital transformation, Thailand Post is committed to evolving into an information logistics provider to support accurate, fast and efficient services, he added.
This approach meets the needs of consumers and helps entrepreneurs, particularly in the increasingly popular e-commerce sector, to conduct business effectively. The growth of e-commerce requires continuous support with new tools and knowledge, he added.
Currently, logistics business generates around 45% of Thailand Post’s total revenue, followed by the postal group (33%), the international service group (13%) and the retail business group (5%), with others accounting for the remainder.
Thailand Post’s market share in local logistics services is around 32%, while the remainder is dominated by foreign logistics service providers, especially those from China.