A suitable IT infrastructure lends security to every business and makes enterprises able to spring back much more quickly from any difficulty. AIS Business is offering digital solutions including Internet, communications and Cloud systems, to help our corporate customers continue working with confidence through the Hybrid Work concept while the pandemic situation is still uncertain. Everyone will have to adjust to a New Normal from 2021 onwards.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to continue in 2021 but analysts believe that GDP growth worldwide can continue to improve

The resurgence of another wave of COVID-19 infections in Thailand may cause many businesses to grind to a halt again, but at least every business had some experience with dealing with the pandemic situation in 2020 and more or less learned how to survive it. To enable people in the business world to adjust even better to the crisis this time, AIS Business would like to share some statistics about the global situation from a business perspective. We obtained this information from GlobalData for Thai businesses to use as a reference when making decisions in order to arrive at more accurate forecasts.

Overall, COVID-19 infections rose throughout the past year. In Thailand, although many policies and measures were implemented to slow infections, Thai people are still at risk from several factors.

Data from GlobalData, National Statistics Office, World Bank and IMF shows that in 2020 GDPs around the world dropped to negative numbers, with the exception of China. The expected overall world GDP growth rate is -3.8%, down from the predicted growth rate of +2.6% projected before the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, most analysts agree that the most likely trend for 2021 is positive GDP growth, with an expected world average of +5.3%, mainly because of the development of COVID-19 vaccines and changes that have taken place to adapt to the pandemic. The main risk factor that needs to be assessed is the speed and certainty of distribution of the vaccines, and also their effectiveness.

Over the past year, the COVID-19 crisis impacted many industries all over the world, especially the oil and gas industry, with an 18% drop in the market index, followed by the travel and tourism industry and the construction industry, which both suffered a drop of 10%. The aeronautics, security and defense industry and the insurance industry also both dropped by 8%.

The predicted trend for Thailand’s GDP follows the global average. It is predicted that for 2020 the final figure for GDP growth will be negative at -5.93%, but there will be recovery in 2021 with a projected GDP growth rate of +4.72%. That is slightly lower than the projected average for the world as a whole, but it may hold many opportunities. Savvy Thai enterprises should prepare themselves well to take advantage of the expected growth in 2021.

Workers all over the world would prefer Hybrid Work options rather than returning to work at the office every day like in the past

Surveys by GlobalData show that businesses around the world have gradually become less worried about the COVID-19 situation and more optimistic as more knowledge about the virus and its implications has become available, and especially as people have discovered more practical ways of dealing with it. In the industrial sector, most business enterprises have successfully found ways to adapt and to continue on with their line of business.

One trend that we are seeing all over the world is that employees desire greater flexibility regarding where they work so that they can feel safe during this crisis. Surveys show that, across different geographical regions and across different industries, more than half of workers who used to work in offices full time do not want to return to that mode of work. Most of them want to have some kind of hybrid work option that combines work at home or an outside location with some portion of working at the office. Going forward, hybrid working situations will be part of the New Normal. Enterprises need to adapt with new technology so that their employees will be able to work outside the organization, especially because individuals may be required to quarantine themselves at short notice. There are some interesting things to take into account when considering Hybrid Work options:

• Workers and managers have greater flexibility in their use of technology and can keep working continuously because they can access the applications and data they need for their jobs from a remote location. They are more agile than before.
• Work-related meetings can be held online with the systems provided by the employer. There is lesser need for in-person meetings, but the total number of meetings may increase because it is easier to schedule online meetings.
• New technology will be introduced to adapt to the changing behavior of employees and trade partners. AR/VR technology will increasingly be applied for functions such as training, sales, and after-sales service. AI will be brought in for functions such as data analysis to improve the accuracy of business decision making.
• From the point of view of customers, they have become accustomed to using online virtual experiences through the company’s website or application as their main means of communicating with the company and rarely need to visit a store in person. Self service is becoming more prevalent and popular, as well as various automated sales and services. This trend means that customers can have their needs met more quickly and accurately.

Over the past year many businesses made some important adjustments to fit with these trends, and some are still in the process of adjusting or switching over. No matter how much progress you have made or what your level of readiness is, AIS Business is prepared to be your partner to help you access the technology you need to adjust to the New Normal and adopt the Hybrid Work model.

Do Hybrid Work confidently from anywhere at any time with a full suite of technology and services from AIS Business and CSL

Hybrid Work is centered around technology as the core to enable employees to do their work functions at any time from any location, as long as employees and managers are able to access all of the necessary work-related information and applications quickly and securely. The office or work place then is no longer a problem. With a full Work from Home system in place, a business can keep operating smoothly whenever there is a new COVID-10 outbreak.

AIS Business and CSL have a diverse range of technology solutions to meet the needs of Hybrid Work.

• Work from Home service Organizations can prepare their employees for remote work by making sure they have a high-speed network for work and low-cost international phone calls so they can work from anywhere and the organization can make the most of its telecommunications budget.
  • The On-top Internet package for mobile phones that enables the use of Office 365 and Zoom Video Conferencing via mobile phone at any time, anywhere
  • The 003 dialing service provides international telephone calls to 16 countries at a low price, starting at just 1.54 baht a minute
  • The dial + service offers premium quality international calls to 22 countries at prices starting at 4.65 baht a minute.
• Cloud and Data Center services Important business applications will be available to serve your employees and managers either at the organization or at remote locations, and AIS Business and CSL will be available to offer assistance 24 hours a day.
  • Cloud & Data Center - move your corporate data to the Cloud for greater flexibility of use. You can choose a local cloud (Enterprise Cloud) or a global cloud (Azure, AWS) or create a private cloud at one of the 9 AIS Data Centers in the country
  • Microsoft Azure + Express Route – link your company’s network directly to Microsoft Azure’s Data Center to maximize speed and security in accessing and utilizing your data and applications
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) simulates the company’s work screen on your employees’ personal devices so that they can work from anywhere with the same functionalities and security as at their desktop work station in the office.
• Network services corporate customers can have very secure and efficient network systems to support remote work and give greater confidence in links between branches.
  • 5G FWA enables your backup office (business contingency plan office) to link to a wireless network conveniently and to send data quickly via the AIS 5G network.
  • VPN Link allows access to the office network so you can use corporate internal work applications conveniently and securely
  • Bandwidth on Demand allow you to adjust the Internet speed as needed to support more Work from Home users
• Corporate telephone services these services meet the needs of businesses that need to communicate with a large number of external customers or that have a Call Center system to provide customer service. The Call Center employees will be able to work from home and continue their functions as normal.
  • Cloud PBX (powered by Millennium Plus One) - your phone system can be distributed to different branches, including the homes of your employees and managers and you can set the office telephone number or extension numbers as you like. Cloud PBX (powered by Millennium Plus One) creates a communications experience just like the conventional office telephones systems
  • 4G Wi-Fi Phone is for small offices that want to use Internet and desk telephones
• Intra-organizational communication system service no matter where your employees are located, you can all work, communicate and hold meetings efficiently
  • Office Anywhere is a suite of basic HR applications to support remote work
  • There are many options to choose from for long distance meeting equipment solutions that can meet the needs of different organizations, such as Cisco Webex Room Kit Mini for organizations that are already familiar with Webex, and the Conference Camera set from Logitech available at a special price

Corporate customers who are interested in using these services or want additional information can contact the AIS Business team member responsible for your account or see more details, apply or notify us of your needs at the website https://business.ais.co.th/workingfromhome

Exclusive for AIS 5G FWA customers, see more details or apply at https://business.ais.co.th/5g/fwa.html

Published 29 December 2020