Digital economy increases opportunities for industries and SMEs: Poll

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) -- The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) said that its latest opinion survey showed that operators view digital economy can facilitate their business but does not significantly benefit their cost reduction and marketing. OIE director-general Udom Wongviwatchai, said the survey on operators in 16 industries showed that 25.96% of large-scaled operators understood digital economy well, 39.42% moderately understood it and 34.62% had limited understanding. Meanwhile, only 4.10% of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs understood digital economy well, 61.03% had limited understanding, 31.79% had moderate understanding and 3.08% had no ideas about it. For those using digital economy, 63.86% of the respondents did online communication, 25.26% conducted digital marketing and public relations, 5.96% made digital financial transactions, 1.75% applied it to facilitate cargo transport, 1.40% used it for trade in products and services, 1.05% applied it to facilitate production and 0.70% used it for research. Of surveyed operators, 78.45% did not think digital economy had any impact on their production costs because it was applied only to facilitate communications. Meanwhile, 21.55% of them were aware that digital economy helped them reduce costs. Among those seeing cost-reduction benefits, 60.66% said the internet helped them reduce their workforce and 39.34% said emails cut their phone fees. The survey also found that digital economy cut production costs in automotive, auto parts, electrical, electronic, plastic and wood industries. (TNA)