depa Leads Group of Press in Observing Progress of Digital Technology Adoption of Communities in the North, Aiming to Improve Quality of Life for Local Communities in Sustainable Way 
November 9–10, 2020, Chiang Mai–Lamphun: The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) led a group of press in observing the success and progress of community enterprises and development projects in the upper North
after receiving promotions and support from the depa to adopt digital technologies and innovations. The depa also announced its commitment to providing support under the guiding principle to allow communities to find out solutions, choose the right technologies and innovation, and get things done for sustainability with the ultimate goal to encourage more than 200 communities nationwide to embrace and adopt digital technologies.
Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President/CEO of the depa, said one of the depa’s main missions is providing promotions and support to communities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the regions to provide them with opportunities and greater access to digital technologies and innovations developed by the network of digital startups and digital providers that registered with the depa. It aims to further enhance the development of local wisdom through the use of digital technologies, maximize competitiveness and business development efficiency as well as elevating the quality of life of all people, stakeholders in the community in a sustainable way through assistance measures and support under the depa Digital Transformation Fund for Community.
A group of the depa’s executives and a group of press followed up on the progress of the chicken egg incubation and management project (Khai Kai Arom Dee) initiated by Ban Na Huk farm product processing community enterprise at Mae Rim District in Chiang Mai. The project adopted the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to help with real-time monitoring and tracking the hatchery management in each stage of egg production, including managing the number of eggs ordered by customers, egg inventory management, and tracking the cumulative chicken eggs delivered to communities as well as sales and distribution management of chicken eggs of Ban Na Huk farm product processing community enterprise. Moreover, the ERP system is capable of tracking sales and distribution as well as statistically compiling quantitative data about demand and supply of chicken eggs of all sizes. All data collected will be used to evaluate and forecast the volume and sizes of eggs in order to match the demand, inventory management and sufficient distribution to meet the real demand in the market.
With the use of smart farming solutions driven by digital technology, it has enabled farmers in the community to learn, acknowledge and understand the advantages of digital technology. The adoption of digital technology coupled with an efficient management system resulted in income per capita of Ban Na Huk farm product processing community enterprise rising to 180,000 baht per year. It also helped with reducing operating and labor costs by more than 120,000 baht per year.
After that, the depa’s working group observed the progress of the digitalization of the Predictive Machine Vision project, in which the digital technology was utilized in the quality inspection and screening processes to ensure quality dried longan as data processing was enhanced by the use of machine learning. Lamphun DS Foods Limited Partnership in Mueang Lamphun District leveraged the Predictive Machine Vision technology to help optimize the quality inspection for dried longan with data processed using machine learning. It works with an efficient mechanical design to create processing machinery for the dried longan industry in order to build an automated quality inspection and screening machine, capable of classifying the standard and damaged dried longan. The Predictive Machine Vision technology also helped report and analyse the quality inspection and screening process performed by the automated dried longan quality inspection machine as well as following up on the progress of the quality inspection process and providing online monitoring of dried longan production.
Lamphun DS Foods Limited Partnership was able to lower labor costs and increase production capacity with enhanced product quality and value. Its dried longan now becomes a more sought-after product in the market. It presents a major step forward in technological implementation and development for the benefits of the country’s agri-food processing industry.
“For 2020, the depa remains committed to continuing its support under the concept of allowing communities to find out solutions, select the right technologies and get things done for sustainability in communities with the support and promotions from the depa to encourage more than 200 communities across the country to adopt digital technologies and innovations developed by digital startup network and digital providers. The depa also aims to improve local communities to become digital communities as well as elevating the quality of life of people in communities, increasing income and creating career opportunities for people in communities in a sustainable manner,” said the president and CEO of the depa.
