The future of Thailand 4.0 with the IoT Platform for business expansion and standards of digital industry

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Thailand 4.0 is a policy for the country's economic development from a contract manufacturer towards becoming an innovator through technology and creativity by stepping into a new economy with high income populations and covering all industries. To enable all industries to implement appropriate technology and innovation for the development of scientific and mathematical knowledge to invent new things, it is crucial to have technology systems as a driving force.

What is an IoT Platform?

An IoT Platform is a software or an operating system to support and connect among hardware, devices and other sensors in working together, which include communication and data transmission, hardware management with different protocols, and detection via internet or internal network towards a comfortable and convenient daily life.

What is the capability of the IoT Platform?

Currently, there is an IoT Platform that has been developed by the Thai people for various industries. For instance, in an agricultural industry or a Smart Farmer, water can be provided into the soil when the temperature and humidity are lower than the specified values. Big Data can be used for data collection before analyzing the ways to generate better returns. Electrical and electronics industries have a Smart Home to create convenience for homeowners and users. In the medical and pharmaceutical industries, it can be applied to temperature control cabinets for the storage of medicines. The Smart Watch model or health watch helps detect pulse, heart signs and exercise-step count. Most concretely, the bicycles with GPS can be available for rent to anyone who is interested. The application can be loaded with registration and scanned for the QR Code, then the bike will be unlocked and ready for immediate use. When reaching the destination, just press the lock from the application. The system will take out the rental payment from the application according to the amount and time spent.

Is this platform available in Thailand?

The development of Thailand's IoT Platform has been continuing for a certain period of time. Nonetheless, it remains unpopular for lack for development and expansion. Mostly, companies have developed the platform for their own systems, such as the applied IoT systems of the PTT Group for natural gas pipeline monitoring systems, with sensors that are immediately sent to the controller. Advance Info Service Public Company Limited has developed the platform under the name, AIS NB-IoT, so called Magellan, which gives developers a chance to try it for free. There are also many IoT platforms by Thai people, such as NETPIE, Anto.io, True NB-IoT and ioTtweet.

What can be the use of IoT to expand your business?

From the aforementioned information, only some private and public companies have truly implemented the IoT system. Despite the importance and benefits of this system, the application to people or small private companies remains scarce. The building of this platform requires some knowledge on program writing for application and expansion into businesses with full potentials or more development of intelligent software systems. The general public can apply it as if it were a finished computer, by just pressing the button and then it can already work automatically. The device can also be connected to the circuit board with the installation of ready-made software like a computer for immediate application.

Examples of IoT products in the current market

• Smart Watch

• Agricultural drones with a button to go and back manually without a controller

• Automatic vacuum cleaner

• Temperature and humidity detectors for soils and medicines

• Intelligent traffic system

• GPS speed control system

At present, many entrepreneurs have received assistance and investment support from the Electrical and Electronic Product Design and Development Promotion Fund, established to assist SMEs. For instance, the Smart Bridge kit can connect orders to lighting control devices using smartphones, which are actually produced and sold in the market. To promote the design and development of electrical and electronic products, there is also the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) to help investors in the areas of industrial parks and receive additional privileges when such industry becomes a technology development and competitive industry. Thus, the IoT technology is one of the industries that truly receive additional benefits from the BOI, even if it is not in the industrial estates.

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