Advanced Info Service (AIS), through AIS Business, has partnered with Microsoft Thailand to roll out its "AI Ready for SMEs" initiative to help Thai small businesses access secure artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, providing them with a competitive advantage.
AIS Business is the company's provider of digital infrastructure and intelligent technology for enterprises.
The move supports Thai entrepreneurs with specially tailored packages for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and nationwide roadshows to improve solution accessibility, including through the development of pre-built AI agent templates.
Thai SME entrepreneurs contribute a combined 35% of Thai GDP, according to AIS.
The Thai SME Council reported that there are more than 3.13 million SMEs, representing 99.7% of all businesses and 70% of employment in the country. The sector covers businesses with 1–200 employees.
Phupa Akavipat, chief enterprise business officer of AIS, said the collaboration addresses the cornerstone of the nation's economy, adding that helping these businesses adopt AI securely, efficiently and practically will enhance their long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The latest collaboration brings together three core partners: AIS Business, which has strengths in innovation infrastructure offerings; Microsoft, the open AI platform provider with high security; and the Thai SME Council, which holds an SME database nationwide.
Through a comprehensive digital network and services, the SME sector is a vital engine of the Thai economy in terms of revenue generation, employment and GDP, Mr Phupa said.
Previously, AIS Business continuously developed solutions and forged partnerships to help Thai SMEs adapt and thrive amidst rapid technological shifts and intense competition.
"The partnership between AIS Business and Microsoft represents the delivery of smart solutions for Thai SMEs, making AI accessible, practical and highly effective for businesses of all sizes through dedicated SME packages."
Furthermore, the company's upcoming workshops and enablement programmes will provide practical, hands-on guidance to help SMEs successfully implement AI and build long-term competitive advantages, Mr Phupa added.
THREE CORE PILLARS
The AI Ready for SMEs initiative is driven by three core pillars designed to provide access to solutions, develop essential skills and foster AI innovation for Thai SMEs.
Firstly, there are comprehensive SME packages designed to help businesses easily and cost-effectively unlock the power of AI.
The packages include "SME AI Ready" offerings integrated with the capabilities of Microsoft 365 and Copilot solutions.
This is supported by the AIS Service Desk, a dedicated after-sales service team of experts available 24/7 via the 1740 hotline, ensuring SMEs can transition to AI smoothly, safely and with maximum efficiency.
Moreover, the first 1,000 customers who subscribe to the "Copilot" package will receive free access to a Copilot workshop. Additionally, customers subscribing to 10 licences or more will receive a free private on-site training session at their office to help tailor AI usage to their specific business needs.
The second pillar is a nationwide AI training programme for SMEs.
AIS and Microsoft will co-host a series of educational roadshows across Bangkok and key economic provinces, spanning seven regions nationwide.
The programme aims to train more than 700 SME entrepreneurs in AI capabilities by the end of 2026.
Furthermore, to expand learning opportunities, Microsoft is bringing its Microsoft Elevate training curriculum to AIS's online platform, allowing SMEs to learn and develop skills at their own pace.
The third pillar is SME AI agents, a set of ready-to-use AI solutions aimed at addressing practical business needs.
The initiative introduces AI agent templates for Copilot, allowing SMEs to build and customise agents for specific business functions.
Mr Phupa said this starts with the Business Assistant AI solution, which provides business owners with precise insights and recommendations to boost efficiency.
Future plans include expanding templates to other functions, such as human resources and finance, as well as developing specialised AI agents for vertical industries, including smart manufacturing, to continuously drive digital transformation.
Dhanawat Suthumpun, managing director of Microsoft Thailand and emerging markets, said that for many small businesses, digital transformation has been held back by limitations in skills, talent and budget.
In the age of AI, however, these barriers are being significantly reduced, enabling SMEs to adopt technology more easily, improve efficiency, lower costs, make smarter decisions and achieve tangible growth.
"Competitive advantage is no longer defined by the size of an organisation, but by how quickly it can adapt and turn technology into real impact."
AI presents a powerful opportunity to boost productivity, drive innovation and unlock new avenues for growth, he added.
"Microsoft alone cannot drive this initiative powerfully, but the collaboration with AIS Business and the support of the Thai SME Council could successfully bridge the gap," Mr Dhanawat said.
OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPACT
Supree Thongpetch, president of the Thai SME Council, said four Thai SME sectors hold advantages for AI adoption, including wholesale and retail (which accounts for 40% of Thai SMEs) via AI chatbots, smart inventory and hyper-personalised marketing; services and tourism via trip planners and dynamic pricing; the production sector via computer vision and predictive volume; and smart farming via temperature prediction.
The council acknowledged that AI adoption has already saved enterprises more than 20 hours per month, with 58% of SMEs reporting time savings after implementation.
SMEs can increase productivity by more than 20% by using AI in production.
In addition, companies report an improvement of more than 65% in customer service due to more accurate forecasting, while confidence indices have surged to between 67.1% and 80.6%.
"As a key organisation driving the competitiveness and sustainable growth of Thai entrepreneurs, the Thai SME Council recognises the importance of integrating AI into SME business operations to improve efficiency, enhance competitiveness and strengthen the country's economic foundation," he added.
