Google aiming to get 3 million SMEs online

This is a similar proportion to those in Malaysia and Indonesia, while 30 per cent of Singapore’s SMEs are online.
Ariya Banomyong, country head of Google Thailand, said SMEs were the backbone of the country’s economy. These companies are facing the forces of technology and consumer behaviour. The big trend is SoLoMo (social, local, mobile media), expected to force businesses to have a presence on Internet.
“Thailand can have a similar proportion [to Singapore], with 30 per cent of SMEs going online,” Ariya said, noting the success of Google’s Go Online scheme this year.
There now are 24 million Internet users in Thailand, while 28 per cent of the population, or about 18 million people, use smart phones. This shows the importance of SMEs going online.
“‘Go Online, in this context, means business must have a presence online by having websites. It is not about e-commerce. Business cannot avoid online. Online is the trend. If businesses do not adjust to be online, they will not survive. Eighty per cent of consumers seek information on the Internet on products or services they might like to purchase,” he said.
Besides its search-engine platform, Google has three main business units: Google AdWords via computer and mobile phone; Google Display Network, covering 90 per cent of total Internet traffic in Thailand; and Google Admob (on iOS and Android) advertising in mobile applications.
He noted that going online, especially with enhanced availability of third-generation wireless broadband, would be more important for SMEs as the Asean Economic Community comes into effect in just over two years.
“Partnership is the key success factor for helping Google drive Google AdWords services,” Ariya said.
Google has four premium SME partners: ReadyPlanet, Webnatics, NBC and TopSpace. Ready Planet, a 12-year-old website and online service provider, has been a key partner for three years.
Songyot Kanthamanon, chief executive officer of ReadyPlanet, said the partnership allowed it to assist Thai SMEs. “Now, we have 10,000 websites on our service,” he said.
The beauty of Google AdWords is that businesses can start with the minimum cost and then set their own budgets and get quick feedback.
“During the three years, SMEs increased usage of Google AdWords by 100 per cent,” Songyot said.
ReadyPlanet has increased its revenue from providing the AdWords service by more than 40 per cent over three years. Next year, the company aims to increase revenue from providing AdWords by more than 50 per cent both through the growing number of companies using it and how much they spend.
“We have nine Google AdWords certified professionals to help our customers go online efficiently. About 10-20 per cent of our 10,000 customers are now using Google AdWords,” Songyot said. Half of ReadyPlanet’s revenue comes from its do-it-yourself website platform, 40 per cent from Google AdWords, and 10 per cent from its training service.