SET-listed tech and ICT solutions provider Samart Corp is confident the sector will skyrocket post-pandemic, driven by digital transformation among businesses eager for tech solutions.
"Our company has spent years transforming the business to enter the digital era. We are developing new solutions for opportunities in the post-Covid period," said Watchai Vilailuck, executive vice-chairman in charge of corporate strategy and new business development. "After this crisis, changes should drive the ICT segment to grow."
He said Samart sees opportunities in the business-to-government-to-consumer (B2G2C) model amid the crisis.
The model assumes state agencies want to improve their public services but face barriers to investment. It is a more flexible model based on revenue sharing or pay-per-use, said Mr Watchai.
The company plans to invest in installing related digital systems on the agencies' behalf, gradually transitioning to revenue sharing later, he said.
Through the B2G2C model, Samart last year clinched a seven-year contract to provide direct coding solutions on beer packaging and increase tax collection efficiency for the Excise Department. The project begins in July and is expected to generate 1 billion baht a year for the firm, Mr Watchai said.
Direct coding can also be applied to other products such as fruit juice, liquor and fuel for taxation, he said.
Samart is targeting a business turnaround this year with a projection of 15 billion baht in revenue, driven by large government projects in the ICT sector and digital services.
It also signed deals worth 1.33 billion baht in total in the first quarter, including the installation of a tele-education system via satellite broadcasting at a cost of 380 million baht and a cyber-intelligence system worth 189 million.
The company's backlog of projects is worth 6.8 billion baht in total.
For its digital business, the company expects a turnaround with revenue from digital truck radio services, fortune telling services as well as a new mobile security app.
Samart invested 20 million baht to develop a mobile security app called PokPong, powered by technology from US-based mobile security firm Lookout, which has over 150 million users globally.
Samart Group also has high hopes for its Cambodia Air Traffic Service (CATS), although revenue dipped as traffic declined during the pandemic, said Mr Watchai. Cambodia is improving its airports and developing three more, presenting a good opportunity for CATS.
Samart booked 1.84 billion baht in revenue in the first quarter this year, down from 2.83 billion year-on-year.
