Bank gives small businesses lessons on surviving crises

Some 30,000 vendors have taken part in this intensive training scheme, in which they learned essential skills like financial planning, powerful sales techniques and cashless payments.

Roy Agustinus Gunara, TCRB’s managing director, said that by providing knowledge and boosting business opportunities, this programme can be effective in helping vendors boost their income during this crisis.

A survey of 45,075 vendors nationwide revealed that 70.3 per cent were suffering from a slump in sales, while 83.6 per cent had no access to online channels.

The spread of Covid-19 has made household debts soar by 83.8 per cent, the highest in 18 years, while only 48.6 per cent of Thais have been found to have financial knowledge. The survey also found that 33.33 per cent of Thais have few savings.

Considering that small businesses form the foundation of the Thai economy and are TCRB’s major customers, the 4th Smart Micro Customers scheme is designed to help them survive the crisis.

In it, participants are given lessons on financial planning, techniques to reach and attract customers via online channels and social media, payment methods via QR Code as well as the use of e-Wallet application, among others.

The latest programme has won a strong response, attracting some 30,000 vendors from all regions. As a result, 95 per cent of the participants have been able to pay off their debts and boost their financial credibility, while 53 per cent have realised that they need to change their behaviour to boost financial discipline in debt repayment to achieve good credibility.

Narumol Chan-aum, a coffee vendor in Rayong province, said: “I learned that payment via QR Code helps prevent infections and reduces mistakes. This form of payment has played a greater role during the Covid-19 outbreak as customers wanted to avoid touching bank notes or coins, so we had to change. QR Code payments have helped boost sales because of greater convenience and cuts the problem of giving the wrong change or handling counterfeit money.”

Phutniphan Rampoeypol, the owner of a car-care service in Bueng Kan province, said she learned that meeting customers’ needs was key to service, so she has introduced free pick-up and delivery, which has boosted her revenue by 30 to 40 per cent.

Chalanthorn Khamdaeng, the owner of a grocery and coffee shop in Chiang Mai, said the training has helped her learn how Line groups can be used to generate more revenue and profits. She created a Line group and added the accounts of her clients. In the group she began promoting consumer products and got a good response, especially at the height of the outbreak. She also provided free delivery service, encouraging customers to come back for more.

Narumol Kosolset, a shoe vendor in Bangkok, said the programme focused on income-and-expense accounts to promote savings, in that vendors can save money if they enter items in the account sheet carefully. This way, she said, vendors can see cash flow every day without waiting for the end of the month.

“The bank has placed greater importance on providing financial and sales knowledge to help small and micro business owners prepare for crises. The next programme will be available both online and offline, and will come packed with insightful information that responds to the current situation and meets international standards. This revised programme will be certified by leading educational institutes, making the participants proud of what they have learned,” Gunara concluded.