Big data and analytics spending in Thailand is expected to continue double-digit growth in 2017, driven by the availability of data, a new generation of technology and a cultural shift toward data-driven decision making.
Teradata Thailand, the local enterprise software unit of US-based Teradata Corporation, expects double-digit revenue growth this year in line with the overall growth of the big data and analytics industry.
"The digital transformation of organisations and intense competition in businesses are forcing companies to embrace big data and analytics technologies," said Jeerapa Kongswangwongsa, managing director of Teradata Thailand.
To capitalise on this growth opportunity, she said Teradata has increased its local staff by 20% this year to support the company's growth plans, especially in the rising-star sectors of energy, retail, utility and transport.
The banking and telecom sectors spent the most on Teradata's advanced technology services last year.
Mrs Jeerapa said the introduction of Thailand 4.0 has been a wake-up call for Thai industries to transform in order to thrive in the digital era.
Internet of Things enhances overall efficiency and productivity with minimal disruption and creates value through the usage of data and analytics.
She also said Thailand is an important market for Teradata thanks to a slew of high-profile customers using its products and services such as PTT Plc and two mobile operators.
Teradata is also working with local universities to increase the number of data scientists locally to support the development of the country's digital-driven economy.
The company is in talks with five leading universities in the country to provide curricula for learning data science, after providing similar services in Malaysia and Singapore, she added.
The course is aimed at producing more data scientists in the country to accommodate the proliferation of big data analytics and address shortages.
Mrs Jeerapa said the shortage of data scientists is becoming a serious constraint, with a deficit of around 1 million in Asia-Pacific.
There are only 300-400 data scientists in Thailand, she added.
Mrs Jeerapa said Teradata Corporation has allocated data scientists to its local office to support its data science consulting services.