Listen to the visions of three strong female CEOs, pointing out the direction for driving the Thai industrial sector in all aspects in 2023.

2023 is a year of hope for the Thai industrial sector, as the pandemic crisis begins to ease. Since 2022, there have been clear signs of recovery in Thailand's targeted industrial sectors. Therefore, it's no surprise that executives or CEOs of companies in the Thai industrial sector have announced proactive business plans this year to ignite and drive outstanding economic growth at the regional and global levels.

Many interesting perspectives on advancing the development of our industrial sector come from strong female CEOs, or "female executives." Within the Thai industrial sector, there are many female executives who are renowned and capable, recognized both nationally and internationally.

Today, we present the visions of three strong female CEOs from the Thai industrial sector on the development of the Thai industrial sector in various key areas that drive the national economy. Each approach can be used to create sustainable economic growth.

Jareeporn Jarukornsakul: Let's go for 2023 Logistics Trends

Let's start with a strong female CEO whose name we believe few people will not know. This is Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, Chief Executive Officer of WHA Corporation, a company that develops, builds, and rents warehouses, establishes distribution centers, and factories, focusing on meeting customer needs as much as possible. Currently, it manages approximately 2 million square meters of warehouse space, consisting of ready-made factories and finished product factories.

Furthermore, last year, Ms. Jareeporn's name was resurfaced through a major deal, when WHA signed a 600-rai land purchase agreement with BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, to establish ASEAN's first new energy vehicle factory in the WHA Rayong Industrial Estate, which is expected to begin production in 2024.

And in the first quarter of 2023, Ms. Jareeporn published a writing that predicted the development trends of the global logistics industry in the era after the COVID-19 outbreak. After reading this writing, I believe everyone will gain a good perspective from this strong female CEO on the important trends that will determine the future direction of the logistics business in 2023.

“Last month, I was invited to speak at the Seminar 2022 by Transport Journal under the theme "Thailand Seamless: Moving Forward & Go Green." One of the topics that drew significant interest from the audience was the development trends of the global logistics industry in the post-COVID-19 era.”

“The author would like to take this opportunity to discuss the following five key trends that will shape the future of the logistics business in 2023.”

1. Digitalization, Data and Visibility Global logistics operators are embracing digital technology, modern tools and information systems to support their management, enabling them to systematically collect data. This helps companies process data to gain business insights and enhance control and visibility throughout the supply chain.

2. Sustainable Shipping and Environment Regulation: The signing of the United Nations Master Plan for Sustainable Development has made all sectors more mindful of nature and the environment. Many countries have therefore gradually introduced measures to support sustainable development. The logistics industry itself has made efforts to use innovation to enhance work processes and businesses to develop along the lines of sustainability and compliance with environmental rules, regulations, and criteria.

3. Rising Diesel Prices The war between Russia and Ukraine has caused diesel prices to rise by 55% in the first half of last year. With the war still ongoing, diesel, which directly affects logistics operating costs, remains high.

4. Reshoring and Nearshoring for Manufacturers The conflict between superpowers like the United States and China has significantly increased shipping costs. Logistics operators are therefore re-examining alternatives such as sourcing raw materials and suppliers in the region, as well as relocating production back to their home countries or neighboring countries to reduce transit times and risks. This relocation trend is expected to continue.

5. Automation: It's undeniable that automation and modern technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, IoT, and blockchain have played a crucial role in helping logistics operators, particularly those in the transportation and warehousing sectors, increase operational efficiency, streamline work processes, and promote efficient resource utilization.

“The global logistics sector is not complacent and is actively adapting to these changes. Leading Thai logistics operators, such as WHA Group, have embraced new technologies such as IoT, automation, and data analytics to enhance their business capabilities. At the same time, they are committed to developing sustainable and environmentally friendly businesses, as evidenced by their development of solar energy, renewable energy, and green logistics.”

"Legislation by legislators, consumer demand, and relevant stakeholders are key drivers of business transformation in line with sustainable development principles. Logistics companies and operators should seize this opportunity to accelerate their adoption of high environmental, social, and governance standards, enabling them to grow and remain competitive over the long term."

Kalyanee Kongsomjit: The next step for TKK Group to become a Thai SI company that is recognized globally.

When it comes to the robotics and automation industry, many people may have an image of only male executives. Until they get to know TKK Corporation, a Thai technology and innovation company, they realize that this innovative organization has a strong female CEO. Kalyanee Kongsomjit, CEO of TKK Corporation Co., Ltd., plays a key role as a "female commander," bringing fame to Thailand as a manufacturer of "Thai robots and automation systems," recognized both domestically and internationally.

Today, TKK Corporation has set a strategy to become the TKK Group, which has subsidiaries that are ready to be a full-service Thai System Integrator or SI that will stand alongside the Thai manufacturing sector, helping to elevate Thai industry to move towards Industry 4.0 or Digital Industry very soon. Ms. Kanlayanee gave an update on the latest business operations, saying:

“TKK Group divides its business into two main groups, and we place equal importance on both. The first group is TKK Corporation, which focuses entirely on smart industrial equipment and automation. The second group is digital technology products, for which we have established a subsidiary, KSI Solution Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of TKK. It's been established for some time now, and the feedback has been very positive.”

"We must admit that we are fortunate to have found the right business direction, enabling our business to align with the current digital world and the development trends in the manufacturing and industrial sectors that are evolving towards Industry 4.0 in various dimensions, as follows:

Digital Manufacturing

Equipment and supply development is very important, and now we have developed a digital platform to support it, helping us respond to customer needs faster and provide more services to customers in many aspects.

Production Technology Shift

Overview and trends of the industry: In the future, Thai industry will have significant growth potential, particularly in the area of robotics and automation, which will lead to less manual labor and greater reliance on technology in the manufacturing sector.

Automation Manufacturing

In recent times, there have been many industrial factories that have adapted their production processes to an Automation Manufacturing system.

This has made the trend of using automation systems in the production process in the Thai industrial sector stronger, which may require a relatively high initial investment, but after a period of time, the investment will be returned, and the remainder will be profits returned to the business. In addition, Ms. Kalyanee emphasized doing business in the Digital Technology Products sector with a subsidiary company, KSI Solution Co., Ltd., saying that

“The establishment of KSI Solution stems from our vision of being a manufacturer, innovator, and designer of automation systems, robots, and AI systems for use in modern factories. Therefore, KSI offers solutions in a variety of areas related to emerging digital technology, including:

1. Robotic Machine and AI

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for SIs, or System Integrators, who will set up digital manufacturing systems for modern factories in Thailand. This makes companies providing SI services very meaningful to Thailand. If we are to elevate the manufacturing sector to digital levels, we need SIs to connect these systems, linking hardware and software to meet customer needs.

Meanwhile, SI's challenge is to increase clients' income during the middle period of investment. This means that after the investment period has passed, clients gradually receive returns. This is our responsibility to explain this to clients together, ensuring that TKK Corporation and KSI Solution have the strength of being a distributor of spare parts, machinery, automation systems, and robots, with a network of distributors worldwide.

For example, in Japan, we have a very good supply chain. Almost every city in Japan has stocks stored with our suppliers. Therefore, we can determine the delivery time precisely, which is the heart of SI.

2. IoT Solution

TKK Corporation and KSI Solution have jointly introduced the e-F@ctory solution with partners such as Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation and the AIS 5G network, ready to provide services and elevate the manufacturing sector with Smart Manufacturing. This solution will completely enhance efficiency within the manufacturing sector, increasing quality, reducing production costs, and meeting the needs of private network applications. It also enhances data security, speed, and reduces latency to fully support IoT operations.

3. Smart Service Robot

The ongoing pandemic has made it clear that every service robot's function must address contactless service delivery. Previously, service robots may have played a role simply in enhancing a business's image as a modern enterprise, but today they play a much greater role. They help address the workforce shortages during the COVID-19 crisis and reduce contact, which poses a risk to workers. Therefore, investing in these robots is definitely worthwhile.

"Therefore, when these aforementioned strengths are combined with our existing SI knowledge, we can create a robust digital manufacturing system. Coupled with Thailand's IoT and 5G ecosystem readiness, this combined ecosystem will undoubtedly create a powerful force that will undoubtedly enhance efficiency in the Thai industrial sector."

"Because today, we are not alone. We are not alone. We live on this planet. In addition to making a living and generating profits for the organization, we must also give back to society. TKK therefore sees itself as not just a small part, but a very important part in helping the world."

"Therefore, TKK's new vision is: Transforming work with robotics, automation, and AI technology to help people do their best. This means transforming the work of our customers and partners by embracing technologies like robotics, automation, and AI to help them perform their best in the future."

“And in 2023, we plan to launch a digital hypermarket for tech industrial products. This innovation stems from TKK's original business of sourcing spare parts for various types of machinery. We have a substantial database of these items, making it easy to launch a digital hypermarket.”

"Today, customers waste a lot of time checking for items and finding spare parts. Therefore, if there's an application that supports these needs, and supports millions of items from various brands, allowing them to instantly check availability within 1-2 minutes, it will greatly facilitate and save time. We plan to launch a digital hypermarket platform in the middle of this year."

Chadatip Chutrakul: Above the Ocean Strategy: Survival for the Tourism, Shopping Center, and Service Industries in the Post-COVID Era

If you mention the names of the 5 giant department stores, I believe that both Thai and international shoppers will know them, whether it's Siam Paragon, ICONSIAM, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, and Siam Premium Outlets. All of these department stores are under the supervision of the Siam Piwat Group, which is certainly managed by a strong female CEO, Chadatip Chutrakul, as Chief Executive Officer of the Siam Piwat Group.

Throughout the past 63 years, Siam Piwat has operated alongside Thailand, weathering every crisis, particularly in the heart of the capital, Siam, a key commercial battleground for the country. Nevertheless, it has consistently guided the businesses of its business partners and retailers through every crisis.

Especially during the COVID-19 situation, Siam Piwat itself has been severely impacted, just like other businesses. However, the accumulated experience has undoubtedly become a powerful weapon that has helped the business overcome this crisis gracefully once again.

"It's not easy for an executive to sustain a business through any situation, but it's even more challenging to transform it into a future-proof business." Recognizing this fact, Ms. Chadatip has used every crisis as an opportunity to propel Thailand's tourism, shopping centers, and service industries back to profitability in a timely manner. The COVID-19 crisis is no exception.

“Siam Piwat viewed the COVID-19 crisis as a significant learning experience and leveraged the experience gained from previous crises, coupled with the decision to quickly adapt and reorganize the organization, enabling us to cope with this crisis. As a result, our performance in the first nine months of 2022 exceeded that of the same period in 2019, pre-COVID, even though there had been no return of tourists.”

"Throughout its history, Siam Piwat has never set a goal of becoming the number one shopping center, nor has it aspired to be the number one in terms of market share and space. Instead, Siam Piwat has adopted a four-pronged Top of Mind strategy, which has consistently sustained the business to this day."

1. Number one in the hearts of people, not just Thais but people all over the world. This goal was realized when Siam Paragon ranked 6th on Global Facebook as the most checked-in place in the world and also as the most checked-in place on Instagram. All of Siam Piwat's shopping centers have been voted by international tourists as the shopping centers they admire the most throughout the year.

2. Top Partners' Choice Siam Piwat is committed to its mission to ensure the continued success of its tens of thousands of store partners. It has proven that it generates over 100 million total annual foot traffic, including over 25 million tourists. This has resulted in many brands opening branches within Siam Piwat achieving the highest sales figures in the country, while international brands rank among the top 10 globally when compared to other branches.

3. Number one in the hearts of business partners. In the past, Siam Piwat shopping centers have joined hands with both the public and private sectors to create new business models, jointly creating experiences beyond expectations for customers of various partners.

4. World-class shopping centers: Because shopping centers are a key magnet for Thailand's tourism industry, turning them into shopping paradises that attract people from around the world, Siam Piwat is committed to creating projects that will compete with other large projects around the world. This aims to build respect within the global shopping center industry and enhance Thailand's reputation. Consequently, every Siam Piwat shopping center has won more than 40 first-place awards from world-class organizations in various categories. This is a phenomenon that no other shopping center in Thailand or the Asian region has ever received and is so highly regarded.

"Siam Piwat's new strategy is to shift from a Blue Ocean Strategy to an Above the Ocean Strategy, a strategy that transcends change. We step back and re-examine our business, breaking through traditional business paradigms and creating new things based on our inherent value without limitations. We operate without competitors, but with partners. We collaborate to build an ecosystem for greater and sustainable success, creating a new world without borders and filled with multidimensional opportunities through various mechanisms, such as:"

1. Sharing benefits for all parties (Sharing Economy) through ONESIAM SuperApp and VIZ COINS.

2. Collaboration to Win by creating a success ecosystem with 50 partners from 13 industries that have already started working together.

3. Create sustainability through every process and every business operation (Sustainable Value in Process) to create shared growth in all sectors, including people, the environment, and the economy. Define and pioneer new businesses in the form of products, services, and platforms that promote opportunities for a better quality of life, leaving no one behind. Participate in the restoration and passing on a livable world to future generations.

"Siam Piwat's Above the Ocean Strategy will enable us to create sustainable growth together with all sectors, resulting in positive impacts on society, communities, and the environment, and contributing to Thailand's rise to global prominence," concluded Ms. Chadatip.