AHEAD OF THE CURVE
The majority of Thai businesses are digital adopters, according to the Dell Technologies Digital Transformation Index.
The majority of Thai businesses are considered digital adopters, with cybersecurity, multi-cloud, data centre, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) among the top technology investments, according to the Dell Technologies Digital Transformation Index.
“Business is at a crucial intersection where technology, business and mankind meet to create a better, more connected world,” said Noppadol Punyatipat, country manager of Dell EMC Thailand.
Only tech-centric organisations will reap the rewards offered by a digital business model, including the ability to move quickly, to automate everything and to delight customers. This is why digital transformation needs to be a No.1 priority, he said.
The index found 71% of Thai heads of business believe their organisations will struggle to meet changing customer demands within five years and 33% fear they’ll be left behind.
The index calculations are based on companies’ perceived performance in the following areas: delivering against the core attributes of a digital business, their existing IT strategy, workforce transformation strategy and planned investments.
The index was completed in collaboration with Intel.
Two years after the initial index was launched in 2016, Dell Technologies and Intel have more than doubled the scope of the research, from 16 countries to 42, covering 4,600 businesses, of which 100 are from Thailand. This research was conducted by marketing research Vanson Bourne.
The index categorised 40% of Thai businesses as digital adopters, which have mature digital plans, investments and innovations in place.
Another 25% of businesses are digital evaluators, which are cautiously and gradually embracing digital transformation, planning and investing for the future.
Some 23% of the respondents are digital followers, with very little digital investment, while 5% are digital laggards, with no digital plan nor investment.
Only 7% of Thai businesses are digital leaders, for which digital transformation is ingrained in the DNA of the business.
Companies are turning to emerging technologies and cybersecurity to power and secure their transformations.
The survey found the top five technologies for planned investments within the next one to three years are cybersecurity, multi-cloud, a computer-centric approach to data centre design and workload optimisation, AI and IoT.
A significant number of businesses are planning to experiment with nascent technologies in blockchain, cognitive systems, virtual reality and augmented reality.
The survey found 96% of Thai businesses face major impediments to digital transformation.
The top five barriers are data privacy and cybersecurity concerns; an immature digital culture with lack of alignment and collaboration across the company; lack of a coherent digital strategy and vision; lack of the right technologies to work at the speed of business; and lack of the right in-house skill sets and expertise.
These barriers are hampering digital transformation efforts. For instance, 90% of Thai business leaders believe digital transformation should be more widespread throughout the organisation. Some 61% strongly agree they’ll disrupt rather than being disrupted within five years.
The survey found 69% of Thai businesses using digital technologies to accelerate new product/service development, while 68% build security and privacy into all devices, applications and algorithms. Some 65% are striving to develop the right skill sets and expertise in-house, such as teaching staff how to code, while 52% are sharing knowledge across functions, by equipping IT leaders with business skills and business leaders with IT skills.
Only tech-centric organisations will reap the rewards offered by a digital business model, including the ability to move quickly, to automate everything and to delight customers. NOPPADOL PUNYATIPAT Country manager, Dell EMC Thailand