Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country's mobile market leader in terms of subscriber base, has partnered with Krungthai Bank Plc (KTB) to turn AIS points into unlimited cash discounts for customers shopping at more than 400,000 participating retail stores through the bank's Tung Ngern app.
KTB's Tung Ngern app enables retail shops to receive e-payments, including those tied to government assistance programmes.
AIS indicated the move is meant to thank customers for its 32 years of operations by aiming to accommodate the daily needs of all its users.
The company also unveiled its 5GVERSE strategy to foster a new customer experience through the metaverse, which forms part of the firm's transformation towards "a cognitive telco", or a smart telecom organisation.
Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive of AIS, said the company had entered into its 32nd year of operations and it is now homing in on 5G network rollout, supporting people's daily lives as well as working with every industry in the digital realm while boosting the country's digital economy.
The firm is aiming to offer privileges to its customers in five campaigns, he said.
First, AIS worked with Krungthai Bank to enable shoppers to redeem AIS points for discounts for their shopping at retail stores using the bank's Tung Ngern app. Two points represent a discount of one baht.
The move is meant to ease people's daily costs during this difficult time while capitalising on the digital infrastructure of Krungthai Bank, said Mr Somchai.
Some 400,000 local shops are receiving AIS points for cash discounts and the number of participating shops is expected to reach 1 million soon.
In the second campaign, the company partnered with Central Retail Corporation Plc (CRC) to allow users to redeem AIS points for a coupon to purchase products with at CRC outlets.
The third campaign is the organisation of lucky draws for customers with rewards worth 5 million baht.
In the fourth campaign, the company plans to organise a TEAM AIS5G Faniverse concert on June 26 exclusively for AIS customers.
Finally, it will air a live broadcast of a historic football match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Thailand via the AIS Pay app in 360-degree format as well as at SF cinemas.
Mr Somchai said AIS is driving towards becoming a cognitive telco under its three-year plan, which consists of three components.
The first is to foster consistent customer interactions and the second is to drive personalisation of services for customers. The third is to provide a quick response to customer needs in real time.
According to Mr Somchai, a cognitive telco requires its moves to keep up with customer demand and support the installation of infrastructure and IT systems to create a smart network drawing upon the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics.
"Today we are the first and only operator to have entered into the metaverse. We have begun working with metaverse human virtual influencers, such as Ai-Ailynn, since 2021," he said.
On the metaverse front, AIS has provided virtual shopping space V-Avenue via the v-avenue.co website as well as performances by Ai-Ailynn.
Mr Somchai said the company is gearing up for the development of three business groups.
The first concerns mobile network equipped with smart AI and data analytics and the second pertains to AIS Fibre and enterprise business, which can draw on the power of innovation to strengthen partners in its ecosystem.
The third concerns new digital services which would take shape in the first half of this year, including digital lending services under AISCB.