Evolving cloud computing can transform Thai SMEs, US tech company says
California-based NetApp says it can help Thai companies remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy by reducing their costs and increasing their agility through cloud computing.
Cloud computing can help Thai companies, particularly small and mid-sized enterprises, swiftly accelerate their ability to thrive amidst the digital transformation, NetApp country manager for Thailand, Anchalee Towannasoot, told Nation Thailand.
Cloud computing gives businesses the flexibility, scalability, and agility necessary to increase innovation and enhance value, she said, referring to the remote servers cloud computing uses.
Thai companies are fully aware that digital transformation is key to their competitiveness. A recent study by Deloitte found that 95% of the Thai businesses it surveyed agreed that digital transformation was necessary for their survival.The digital transformation is being driven by competitors as well as customers, the survey found.
"This is where NetApp comes in,” Anchalee said. “By working closely with our local customers and partners … we can unleash the full potential of digital and cloud technologies. We are committed to helping our customers achieve simplicity, security, savings, and sustainability in their cloud journey."
The key question is: How can businesses better manage data's exponential growth, intrinsic value, and movement?
She added that businesses must also find ways to improve data security and customer experience.
Cloud computing is the solution, Anchalee said, adding that it also allows users to better deflect cyber-attacks through its data-centric approach for bolstering cyber resilience.
Anchalee said NetApp helps companies remove barriers that separate data and ensure it is delivered where, when, and how businesses need it by providing hybrid cloud infrastructure.
Hybrid cloud infrastructure refers to a mix of in-house and remote data storage.
Cloud computing saves IT costs and gives small and mid-sized companies the same capacity for managing data that large companies have. This increases the competitiveness of smaller companies without requiring massive investments in IT, Anchalee said.
She also said that cloud computing had evolved to a new level, explaining: "We have reached the next phase of the evolved cloud, which focuses on delivering a better hybrid multi-cloud experience. Organizations will need a strategic approach that seamlessly connects a mix of clouds and on-premises environments.”
The shift to cloud computing is unstoppable, Achalee said, citing the 2021 study “Unlocking Thailand’S Digital Potential” by AlphaBeta. The study, which was commissioned by Google, said that if Thailand made full use of digital technologies it would generate up to THB 2.5 trillion baht in annual economic value by 2030 – an amount equivalent to about 16% of Thailand's 2020 GDP.
Achalee said NetApp's 30 years of cloud innovating experiences has positioned it as a leader in the provision of “unified hybrid multi-cloud experience with built-in data protection”.
"NetApp offers our customers something no other company can: the freedom to choose NetApp's cloud services natively in the world's top three public clouds, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud," she added.
Anchelee said that increasing NetApp's relevance in Thailand remains its key focus over the next five years.
She said Thailand is at a crossroads and that many businesses here have already created hybrid multi-cloud environments. This represents a significant opportunity for NetApp to help them “smoothly transition into the next phase of the evolved cloud”.
According to Statista, Thailand's public cloud market revenue will increase by more than 270% from 2022 to 2027, reaching US$2.75 billion a year.
