UOB offers SMEs online training programme

In‭ ‬ ‭‬collaboration‭ ‬ ‭ ‬with‭ ‬ the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Digital‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Economy‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Promotion‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Agency,‭ ‬ the‭ ‬ ‭‬Association‭ ‬ ‭‬of‭ ‬ ‭Thai Software‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Industries,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Line‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Thailand,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Shopee‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭‭The FinLab,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬training‭ ‬ ‭ ‬programme comprises 12 online courses.

Each runs for one to two hours and will enable SMEs to gain insights into the “new normal” business and social environment Covid-19 has created. For instance, given the growth in online‭ ‬ ‭ ‬spending ‭ ‬during ‭ ‬the ‭ ‬pandemic,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬SMEs‭ ‬ ‭ ‬will‭ ‬ ‭ ‬learn‭ ‬ ‭ ‬how‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬use‭‭ ‬digital‭ ‬ ‭ ‬solutions‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬attract customers‭ ‬ ‭ ‬through ‭ ‬better‭ ‬ ‭ ‬digital ‭ ‬marketing, ‭ ‬content‭ ‬ ‭ ‬management‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭ ‬customer‭ ‬ ‭ ‬relationship management. 

As part of preparing their businesses for recovery, SMEs will also learn how to accelerate their digital transformation for greater business efficiency.‭ ‬ For example, UOB BizSmart, an integrated suite of cloud-based business solutions, can help the enterprises to manage digitally processes such as accounting, invoicing, employee and payroll management. 

UOB’s innovation accelerator, The FinLab, will connect‭ ‬ ‭ ‬‬SMEs‭ ‬ ‭ ‬with‭ ‬ ‭ ‬suitable‭ ‬ ‭ ‬technology‭ ‬ ‭ ‬solution‭ ‬ ‭ ‬providers‭ ‬ to‭ ‬help‭ ‬ ‭them‭ ‬ ‭implement‭ ‬ ‭ ‬relevant digital solutions to seize opportunities.‭ ‬ The bank will also run a course on overseas expansion strategies and opportunities as the region gradually resumes its economic activities. 

According‭ ‬ ‭ ‬to‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Office‭ ‬ ‭ ‬of‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Small‭ ‬ ‭ ‬and‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Medium‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Enterprises‭ ‬ ‭ ‬Promotion,‭ ‬ ‭ ‬the‭ ‬  ‬pandemic has resulted in a Bt120-billion loss in income for SMEs as of April. As such, many SME owners recognise the need to react quickly and adjust their strategies and plans so that they can sustain their businesses.