Thailand Post offers virtual service
Thailand Post's core strength is its nationwide network of carriers that can provide first-mile services, said DES permanent secretary Wisit Wisitsora-at.
He said Thailand Post specialises in door-to-door delivery and has many years of experience, with a combined workforce of more than 25,000 carriers who know every metre of the country and are familiar with local communities.
Although virtual bank operators will provide the majority of services via their virtual banking systems, Thailand Post can facilitate operations through the provision of contact points, serving virtual banks' operations through its offices and network, according to the logistics provider.
The proposed service could focus on groups such as unbanked people or migrant labourers who earn their income daily as cash.
Mail carriers can take their cash and deposit it in the virtual banking system, according to Thailand Post.
Dhanant Subhadrabandhu, president of Thailand Post, said the state enterprise began discussing the business potential of a neutral banking agent service with a winner of a virtual bank licence.
He said Thailand Post could provide several forms of operational support to all of the virtual bank lenders.
"One targeted group of the service is migrant workers and Thais who do not receive a pay slip from their employers," said Mr Dhanant.
Mail carriers could offer a variety of virtual banking services and related services to people at their residences, backed by Thailand Post's 1,600 post office branches countrywide, he said.
Thailand Post currently operates a banking agent service for all of the country's banks, which allows people to deposit and withdraw their money at post office branches.
Mr Dhanant said the state enterprise wants to turn last-mile delivery into a first-mile service, making Thailand Post the first choice for Thais for every kind of service.
Moreover, Thailand Post recently adjusted its business strategy to focus more on specialised logistics services to cope with the risk of volume uncertainty associated with its delivery services.
These specialised logistics include the delivery of medical supplies for both people and pets.
Last month, the Finance Ministry approved three virtual banking licence applicants, allowing them to establish the country's first virtual banks. The new banks are expected to commence operations within a year from the date of licence approval.
The winners were ACM Holding Co (TrueMoney), which is backed by the Charoen Pokphand Group; Krungthai Bank in collaboration with Advanced Info Service and PTT Oil and Retail Business; and the SCB X consortium of holding company Siam Commercial Bank, South Korea's largest digital bank KakaoBank, and WeBank, a global digital bank renowned for its advanced technology.
The successful applicants were selected after a rigourous review by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand from five submissions received between March 20 and Sept 19, 2024.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
18 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
CPN to open first phase of Central Park
Central Pattana Plc (CPN), Thailand's leading real estate developer, plans to open the first phase of Central Park, its 43rd shopping centre, on Sept 4, targeting 25 million visitors per year. The new mall is part of the Dusit Central Park mixed-use development covering 130,000 square metres of gross building area. Dusit Central Park includes a shopping centre, office tower, a hotel and residences, with a total investment of 46 billion baht and spanning 23 rai of land, while the Central Park brand comprises both the shopping centre and office tower, according to CPN. Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, chief marketing officer at CPN, said the first phase of Central Park will be launched on Sept 4 under the concept "Here for All of You", with a focus on gastronomy. The highlight events include "Edible Exhibition", transforming Central Park into an immersive art experience where the building itself becomes edible art. This will be followed by the full opening celebration this November, featuring even more global brands, according to CPN. The company aims to introduce world-class gastronomy as Asia's new culinary landmark, shaping a new city culture through international restaurants, art and fashion events, and dedicated spaces for curated happenings that will inspire new lifestyle trends all year round. After the grand opening, Central Park is expected to welcome more than 25 million visitors annually, or 70,000 visitors a day including both Thais and foreign tourists, he said. Kunayudh Dej-udom, asset director at Central Park, said the development blends urban living with nature at its prime location near Silom and Rama IV roads, opposite Lumpini Park. Central Park is designed with future flexibility to support evolving urban lifestyles, and all four components -- shopping centre, hotel, office and residences -- are interconnected with green spaces, including the 7-rai roof park. The mall plans to offer more than 550 leading brands, including for the first time in Thailand Kiwamiya, a teppanyaki restaurant renowned for its authentic wagyu steak from Japan; Koubai, a premium shabu-shabu; Long Jing Chinese fusion cuisine from Hangzhou; and Super Matcha, a premium green tea from South Korea. Some eateries are offering new concepts, while others are listed in the Michelin Guide and 70 street food legends will be featured, said Mr Nattakit. The company aims to create a legendary landmark that drives Bangkok's potential to become both a world-class metropolis and one of the world's most liveable cities, he said.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Backing key to growth of character marketing
Character marketing has room for growth, as non-human characters can convey messages and are loved by the public, says Vithita Group, a Thai media company. Government support is crucial for promoting characters to global audiences, said Pimpicha Utsahajit, executive director of Vithita Group, adding that character marketing has grown significantly since last year, with new characters and mascots for brands or organisations being launched in many different forms. Character marketing in Thailand is increasingly being used by brands to promote products and services, or even to spread information to audiences, she said. A "character" in this context means any non-human figure, whether fictional or based on a real-life animal or object, such as mascots, animated creatures, or symbolic animals. Characters can be used to represent a brand, convey a message, or engage an audience. For example, the pygmy hippo Moo Deng that became an internet sensation is considered a character. Last year, the yellow bear mascot "Butterbear" went viral online for her cuteness. She is the mascot of Butterbear, a dessert shop under the Coffee by Dao group. The mascot has captured the hearts of Thai internet users, building a loyal fanbase and boosting the brand's sales. In addition, her image has been used in collaborations with other brands, appearing on products such as phone cases, bags, food items, and everyday goods. Ms Pimpicha said one advantage of using characters is that they can appeal to all audiences. In contrast, a human figure can come with public prejudice -- whether related to age, appearance, or certain actions that may discourage the public. She said characters can be more cost-effective in the long term. If a character is created, crafted with great care and supported by consistent communication, it can become a valuable long-term asset for its creator. Another benefit is reduced risk compared to using humans because characters do not age, get sick, or face health-related absences that could disrupt production. On the global stage, she added that character marketing has been employed internationally for a considerable time. In Thailand it can be spotted occasionally, but there is still room for growth. To build a character that truly connects with customers, creators need to set a clear objective. The creator must consider what message the character will convey, define a clear target group, and understand the audience's insights. Ms Pimpicha believes Thais have the talent and creativity to develop compelling characters. "If the character business is properly supported, it could become a significant part of the country's creative industry," she said. Ms Pimpicha said that while government funding is an essential part of the support needed, it is more crucial to explore strategies for enhancing a character beyond its initial creation. This includes government support in promoting a character to international audiences.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
AI now a key feature of everyday life in Thailand
Some 91% of Thai internet users now use artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily lives, up from 77% in 2024, reflecting how AI has become an "invisible" part of everyday life. Gen Z also stands out as the most enthusiastic group of AI users and the most vocal critics, according to a research study conducted by leading telecom operator Telenor Asia. It is now time to focus on responsible AI: ethical safeguards, upskilling, and human oversight, the report notes. "AI is now an invisible part of our digital lives. It's integrated in our way of living and it's actually invisible to us as users," Jon Omund Revhaug, head of Telenor Asia, said on Monday in Bangkok during the company's launch of Telenor Asia Digital Lives Decoded 2025: Building Trust in Thailand's AI Future. The report surveyed 1,017 Thai respondents. Over 50% of Thais engage with AI tools at least once a day, with 28% using them multiple times a day. The number of Thais who use AI in their daily activities has also more than doubled, from 19% in 2024 to 40% in 2025, suggesting that AI has become a companion to users. Thai users are actively engaging with AI to enhance skills such as data analysis (62%), creativity (52%), and communication (35%). Importantly, there is rising awareness of new skills such as prompt engineering (54%) and ethics/bias (25%). Most Thais see AI upskilling as a personal responsibility, signalling a shift towards self-reliance in the AI era. The workplace is emerging as a key frontier for AI adoption in Thailand. Four in 10 Thais now use AI at work, a 93% increase from last year when only 21% reported they used AI at work. Among them, 61% use AI for content development, 54% for analytics, and 53% for customer service. Those who use AI at work are also significantly more optimistic about AI's impact on job security and the national economy. However, only 3 in 10 AI users at work reported that their company had an AI strategy or plan in place. Gen Z leading adoption Gen Z leads AI adoption (8.5/10), using it for everything from content to relationship advice. Yet they are also the most cautious -- 56% fear societal harm, and 61% support pausing development for safeguards. Their concerns centre on fairness, empathy, and bias. Millennials (8 in 10) are more optimistic, while Gen X (5 in 10) and Boomers (4 in 10) show moderate concern and back responsible AI growth. Online safety remains a concern, with 83% of Thais worried about account security. However, 68% believe AI can improve safety and are comfortable with its use in areas such as facial recognition and customer service. Thais expect ethical AI, especially human oversight in sensitive areas. Only 49% see AI in hiring as fair, and nearly 20% find it very unfair -- highlighting the need for human judgment in life-impacting decisions. Despite concerns over AI overuse and regulation gaps, 77% are willing to share data for better services if transparency and opt-out options exist. Notably, 61% trust themselves most to govern AI, over governments or tech firms. Ieva Martinkenaite, head of AI at Telenor Group, added that global standards for ethical AI are emerging, led by OECD and Unesco principles which have been endorsed by 193 nations including Thailand. Industries, especially telcos, are actively integrating these guidelines into practice, she added. Demand for responsible AI is rising from customers, investors and employees who want non-discriminatory, safe, fair, and secure deployment. Ms Martinkenaite said responsibility is shared across regulators, industry, and users. "Telcos play a crucial role as trusted connectivity providers and secure infrastructure providers. They are actively collaborating with hyperscalers and cloud providers to set standards for safe and secure AI-embedded products and services," she said. Creativity, critical thinking and empathy are key future skills, said Ms Martinkenaite. Natwut Amornvivat, board director for True Corporation, said AI is more than technology. Ethical AI should act as a "guardrail for human experience", not just a safety measure. The next step beyond a Thailand AI strategy is building systems for implementation, enforcement, and accountability. To address AI risk, regulators can use regulatory sandboxes for safe testing, incentivising ethical companies with recognition, and rewarding transparency to build trust. "Balancing regulation with innovation remains a challenge," said Mr Natwut.
