At A Glance

Thailand is hosting two major agricultural business events featuring smart technologies next week. Organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, these events will underscore the country’s leading position in the world’s agriculture industry. It is expected to draw up to 20,000 international delegates coming to explore agricultural innovations displayed under one roof. Highlights of smart-techology devices designed by Thailand, such as an intelligent sugarcane cutting machine and a smart plant-nursery with an artificial lighting system will be showcased, along with agricultural drone technology from China.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, TCEB president, said that the organisation is providing support for the two agricultural trade fairs, to be hosted in Thailand, namely Horti Asia 2018 - a leading international trade show for horticulture and floricultural production and processing technology, and Agritechnica Asia 2018 - the world’s largest trade fair for agricultural machinery and equipment. Both events will take place in Bangkok during August 22 and 24 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center or Bitec. 

Bt500m investment for value chain optimisation 

After successfully restructuring its organisation by merging the technology and operation departments together in early 2018, FWD Life Insurance Public Company Limited has announced a Bt500 million, three-year budget for the development of technology to optimise value chain with agile methodology, in order to deliver best possible personalised customer experience through FWD Customer Service Centre and all customer touch points.
 Apirak Chitranondh, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, said FWD is committed to change the way people feel about insurance and strive to surprise and impress our customers with innovative and best possible experiences in all touch points. To further strengthen our commitment, we will invest Bt500 million in the next 3 years to develop technology to optimise our value chain including products and services proposition, underwriting, premium payment, and after-sales services, aimed at achieving these five capabilities: Enablement, Experience, Deliverable, Quality, and Efficiency.

Lender pours Bt8 bn in new tech company 

In support of the inception of “Regional Life Platform of Choice” and expand regional business in AEC+3 markets, Kasikornbank (KBank) has invested Bt8 billion in a new company “KVision”, which will engage in joint ventures with leading technology and financial firms worldwide to provide financial services to a large regional customer base. KVision is an investment holding company under Kasikornbank , responsible for scouting the tech communities to find innovative firms and tech talents from all corners of the world to collaborate and develop new technological capabilities.
Pattarapong Kanhasuwan, KBank executive vice president, said that the world has changed significantly because of digital disruption, and digital technology has become the fifth requisite of people’s lives. People get access to an array of solutions and services in the digital world at their fingertips, and a new generation of consumers has emerged. As “digital consumers” have different behaviours and needs, banking services have to be redefined. 
“While products were previously designed for large segments of customers, we are now seeking to meet individual needs. With the help of big data analytics, we gain more in-depth understanding of customers’ needs and are able to create customer segments that have never existed before.” he said.