SMEs told to smarten up for digital era

SAP is a world giant among enterprise application software providers.
Talking about the challenges and opportunities for SME’s in a fast-changing digital environment, Siow said that with the initial buzz of digital transformation was now becoming a reality, and has proved challenging for small enterprises to apply the theory to tangible applications and get the journey started. This has kept many small and midsize business owners awake at night with the fear of being left behind.
“Unlike large enterprises, they [small and medium-sized businesses] have neither the resources, nor the big data pockets or expertise to successfully transform their businesses,” she added.
But, she said, that there was an opportunity for SMEs to join forces with the right business and technology partners that will scale with their business operations and help them get ready for the future. The SMEs must also realise that they can remain competitive in the digital era by using intelligent technology.
“Selecting the right business and technology partner is essential for every midsize enterprise on their digital transformation journey. Consuming intelligence as a service makes it possible for companies to keep up to date with technology changes and respond to market and industry shifts without the need to develop from scratch.” 
She added that SAP works closely with partners and businesses all around the world, enabling them to establish their digital capabilities by adopting technologies proven in their industries, and innovative solutions for their target market. 
She said that SAP is committed to helping every customer become a best-run business. Its strategy is to deliver the intelligent enterprise for customers, so they can achieve their desired outcomes and make the world run better.
An intelligent enterprise combines machine and human intelligence across all business functions, automating repetitive tasks and business processes and allowing an organisation’s workforce to focus on high-value work.
Siow said that Asean overall has a robust economy, generating an overall gross domestic product of $2.5 trillion (Bt76.8 trillion) and growing at 6 per cent yearly. It also has rapidly growing smartphone penetration, and a well-developed ICT cluster with a track record of innovation and investment in new technology.
“We see the similar trend in Indochina. This region has potential to jump to the forefront of the fast-moving global digital economy. For the past few years, we’ve see a promising sign as the governments across the region have acknowledged the integral role that technology plays in helping SMEs achieve efficiency and productivity.”
Siow was appointed as managing director for SAP Indochina in August 2018. She is responsible for scaling the business across Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Bhutan and the Maldives.