SMEs encouraged to use more apps

SMEs encouraged to use more apps

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are being encouraged to make more use of mobile applications to strengthen their competitiveness.

Mr Sophon: goal is to increase competitiveness among SMEs.

The Industrial Promotion Department has chosen 11 apps that will be promoted for use by SMEs with the goal to help them reduce costs  and increase combined sales by at least one million baht a month. 

Sophon Pholprasit, director-general of Industrial Promotion Department, said participating companies would be able to use the mobile applications to improve business management via the Internet.

They would help them reduce administration procedures, improve the productivity through efficient auditing to reduce waste and control inventory. Their use could improve customer relations and attract new business.

The department  in 2009 launched the Enhancing SMEs Competitiveness through IT (ECIT) project, he said.

Its operation from 2009-2012 showed that the application of cloud computing in business helped participating SMEs save an average 400,000 baht each through lower costs for software purchases, machinery investment and IT staff.

He said about 360 companies are using the IT project guidelines for decision making in production planning, raw material stocking and delivery of goods.

Mr Sophon said these companies have improved their competitiveness, which was measurable in monetary terms as a total saving of approximately 200 million baht. 

He expected another 4,000 companies to join the e-Marketplace, which is a B2B online channel which helps to increase sales of participants by at least 150 million baht a month.

Kowit Charnvitayapong, dean of the college of innovation at Thammasat University, said Thailand produces many mobile apps, but most of them focus on games, entertainment and lifestyle. Few of them focus on business applications. 

He said the college's cooperation with the Industrial Promotion Department found demand for mobile business software which can be developed by Thai software industry.

Examples of mobile application for SMEs include i-Lert-u from Arunsawad dot com, which is call centre software with an alerts system; points accumulation application from Buzzebees, with a direct connection with Facebook; and a travelling control application from Mocrodrive. 


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