Thai Companies to Boost AI Spending 44% to US$26 Million
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Thai businesses plan to increase artificial intelligence spending by 44 per cent over the next two years. That will lift average corporate investment from US$18.3 million to more than US$26 million.
Expected financial returns will rise from 18 per cent to 35 per cent over the same period. That equals US$8.8 million per company by 2028.
The projections come from the SAP Value of AI report, produced with Oxford Economics. The study surveyed 200 corporate executives in Thailand and 2,400 peers across 12 other markets. Automated systems currently handle 24 per cent of tasks across surveyed Thai firms. Executives expect that share to reach 42 per cent by 2028 as deployments shift from pilot projects to direct operations.
The Push Toward Agentic Workflows
Much of the projected financial upside rests on agentic AI. Unlike tools that only generate text or summaries, this software executes multi-step business workflows. Thai enterprises project US$8.5 million in financial returns from agentic systems over the next two years, delivering a 13 per cent return on investment on those tools alone.
Although 71 per cent of respondents express satisfaction with current tech returns, 55 per cent state their existing deployments fail to capture the full commercial potential of the software. To narrow that gap, 72 per cent of Thai businesses plan workforce upskilling and reskilling programmes.
“Thai enterprises project US$8.5 million in financial returns from agentic systems over the next two years, delivering a 13 per cent return on investment on those tools alone.”
Governance Deficits and Infrastructure Gaps
For Southeast Asian retailers and supply chain operators, accelerating software outlays without underlying data integration creates drag rather than efficiency. Regional competitors in Singapore and Malaysia face similar integration hurdles. Legacy enterprise resource planning platforms often struggle to feed unstructured store and warehouse data into automated ordering algorithms.
Corporate governance lags behind these spending commitments. Only 13 per cent of Thai businesses report having the internal skills needed to govern automated software effectively. Just 14 per cent possess adequate governance processes and compliance frameworks. Without clear operational boundaries, autonomous systems that place purchase orders or adjust inventory allocations risk compounding data errors across commercial networks.
Shifting Away From Standalone Pilots
Earlier technology cycles across Southeast Asia focused primarily on standalone front-end tools, such as customer service chatbots and isolated marketing generators. Those deployments produced rapid initial cost savings. However, they rarely connected directly to core supply chains, warehouse databases, or enterprise financial ledgers.
Thai businesses are moving from AI experimentation towards execution, and we are seeing that momentum reflected in growing returns.
This transition now tests whether internal data architectures can support automated execution at scale. Some 57 per cent of Thai enterprises report that their data infrastructure is technically ready for automation. Yet readiness remains uneven across departments. Inventory, finance, and logistics units must align their core databases before projected 2028 budget increases take effect.
Questions & Answers
Q.What percentage of tasks do automated systems currently handle in Thai firms, and what is the projection for 2028?
What percentage of tasks do automated systems currently handle in Thai firms, and what is the projection for 2028?
Automated systems currently handle 24 per cent of tasks across surveyed Thai firms. Executives expect this share to reach 42 per cent by 2028 as deployments move from pilot projects to direct operations.
Q.What is the expected financial return from agentic AI systems for Thai enterprises over the next two years?
What is the expected financial return from agentic AI systems for Thai enterprises over the next two years?
Thai enterprises project US$8.5 million in financial returns from agentic systems over the next two years. This represents a 13 per cent return on investment specifically from those tools.
Q.What are the main governance and infrastructure challenges Thai businesses face despite increasing AI spending?
What are the main governance and infrastructure challenges Thai businesses face despite increasing AI spending?
Only 13 per cent of businesses have internal skills for effective governance, and 14 per cent have adequate governance processes. Also, 57 per cent report data infrastructure readiness, but this is uneven across departments.
Q.How satisfied are respondents with current tech returns, and what is planned to capture more commercial potential?
How satisfied are respondents with current tech returns, and what is planned to capture more commercial potential?
Although 71 per cent of respondents are satisfied with current tech returns, 55 per cent feel existing deployments don't capture full commercial potential. To address this, 72 per cent plan workforce upskilling and reskilling programmes.
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