In a world that’s quickly shifting towards the digital age, Jareeporn Jarukornsakul is spearheading a transformative journey for WHA Group. Just two years after aspiring to rebrand the conglomerate as a tech powerhouse, Jareeporn confidently anticipates hitting this groundbreaking milestone next year. WHA Group, known for its industrial estates, logistics, utilities, power sectors, and digital platform services, has been digitalizing its operations with gusto, thanks to her visionary leadership.
As both the group chief executive and chair of the executive committee, Jareeporn is fully committed to steering WHA into new territories of business opportunities, armed with the incredible advancements in digital technologies. From the ubiquitous smartphone apps to the marvels of generative artificial intelligence, she’s got her sights set on a tech-forward future. She envisions a future where all branches of WHA, especially the industrial estates, will flourish hand in glove with digital transformation, ushering in new growth avenues amid looming geopolitical uncertainties.
In Jareeporn’s playbook, digital technologies are not mere tools; they’re revolutionizing how WHA operates and meets its environmental objectives. The company’s green vision shone brightly during the 2024 Techsauce Global Summit in Bangkok, where WHA unveiled Mobilix, an innovative software empowering users with effective management of electric vehicles (EVs) and their batteries. Mobilix has already been a revenue-generating champion this year, propelling WHA’s ambition of conquering the green logistics domain by curbing carbon emissions. By 2050, WHA is ambitiously committed to hitting net-zero, meticulously balancing greenhouse gas emissions with absorption.
In alignment with this goal, Jareeporn has pioneered the transition from oil-guzzling vehicles to EVs in WHA’s industrial estates, aiming for a massive 10,000 EV fleet in the near future. The focus: electric trucks, pickups, and passenger vehicles that drive not just WHA, but its clients, towards net-zero horizons.
Beyond green strides, WHA’s innovation pipeline is churning robust digital solutions. In collaboration with Samitivej Hospital, WHA launched WHAbit, a trailblazing app that lets users take charge of their health and wellness. Meanwhile, WHASApp, a super app, integrates comprehensive services for WHA patrons and provides real-time data on utilities and energy consumption across its reach. “Our stride towards becoming a data-centric, tech-driven behemoth by 2025 is well underway,” Jareeporn passionately shares.
This tech metamorphosis is financially backed by a colorful 60 million baht budget allocated to pioneering artificial intelligence in 2024. Through AI’s transformative prowess, WHA has embarked on a dozen projects designed to elevate operations, trim costs, and unleash untapped business values.
WHA’s industrial estate division is riding high, driven in part by intrepid foreign entrepreneurs seeking fertile grounds amid geopolitical turbulence. The buoyancy in demand led WHA to notch up its industrial land sales target to a hearty 2,500 rai this year, a leap from the prior 2,400 rai objective. The complex quilt of global trade tensions and geopolitical frictions has spurred businesses to pivot their production sites to the vibrant economies of Southeast Asia, with WHA primed to capture this surge.
With a promising trajectory before it, WHA is not just setting sights high in Thailand but also eyeing expansion in Vietnam. In the first half of the year alone, WHA’s land sales crescendoed to 1,042 rai, a tally combining 979 rai in Thailand and 63 rai in Vietnam.
Indeed, under Jareeporn Jarukornsakul’s astute eye, WHA Group is not merely adapting – it is thriving, standing poised on the cusp of a tech-centric evolution that promises to redefine its landscape.
Visionary leadership? Sounds more like typical corporate PR speak to me.
I kind of agree. Whenever companies push digital, it’s often just a buzzword exercise.
Exactly! Let’s see how ‘visionary’ it is when you look behind the curtain.
But what if this is more than just words? Maybe they’re actually doing something meaningful.
But not all digitization is just lip service. Some companies make real strides that affect bottom lines and the planet.
True, but at what cost? And is it sustainable?
I’m all for transformation, but why is everything going green suddenly? It’s just a trend that won’t last.
The planet won’t last if we don’t change our ways. It’s about survival, not trends.
Actually, green tech is where the real innovations are happening. Look up Mobilix, for instance.
Mobilix seems like a game-changer for EVs! This could reshape logistics completely.
Only if they can mass-produce them to be accessible to everyone, not just big corporations.
And if the cost savings can be passed down, it could be revolutionary for consumers too.
Agreed, it could democratize access to sustainable tech.
I think their focus on AI is brilliant. Future-proofing their operations.
AI could help, but it also displaces jobs. What’s the plan for the human workforce?
That’s a valid point. Ideally, companies should also invest in retraining programs.
What’s AI? Can it make robots smarter than people?
Not exactly. AI helps computers learn tasks but lacks human intuition.
Jareeporn’s vision for a 10,000 EV fleet is inspiring. That’s leadership in action!
How practical is that number though? Are there even enough charging stations available?
Infrastructures can be built in tandem. Innovations need bold steps.
EV infrastructure development is indeed a bottleneck but solvable with proper planning.
Thailand and Vietnam are really going to benefit from WHA’s expansions.
Definitely. Their economy could experience remarkable growth.
The 60 million baht AI investment could truly innovate their processes.
That’s a lot of money. Hope it’s efficiently used to yield results.
With all this digitalization, I worry about privacy. Who’s protecting our data?
The geopolitical opportunities sound opportunistic, almost like they’re profiting off tensions.
Every company navigates geopolitical waters to survive. It’s nothing new.
Industries like this make me concerned about Thailand becoming too dependent on foreign money.
But such partnerships can drive local development and innovation, strengthening the domestic market.
I don’t believe in such corporate niceties. It’s always about profit over planet.
Jareeporn’s efforts are commendable if she truly walks the talk in blending tech with sustainability.
How is WHA’s land sales strategy sustainable with environmental goals?