Thailand logistics firm WHA Group has joined Bangkok Bank venture capital firm Bualuang Ventures, to become the main investor in the Series B funding round of GIZTIX, a Thai startup that provides a digital platform for e-Logistics, with total funding of more than $7.75 million.
WHA Group said in a statement, Bualuang Ventures and WHA Group will each invest $3 million in Giztix. The Series B funding round was also attended by institutional investors in the startup industry, including Addventures by SCG, KK Fund and CAC Capital.
According to the statement, GIZTIX plans to use the funds to develop services and technologies in transportation and to expand the service areas while reducing transportation costs as much as possible.
WHA Corporation Pcl Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer Jareeporn Jarukornsakul said, the partnership between Bualuang Ventures and GIZTIX is an important collaboration and in line with WHA Group’s digital innovation and transformation strategy which is focused on applying new technology and innovation to further develop a full range of products and services with business partners and startups.
She said, the partnership responds to new needs under megatrends and will create more value and quality for WHA Group’s products and services, including the development of modern and international standard Smart Warehouse, the use of robotics and automation together with 5G technology, and providing Smart Logistics to support entrepreneurs to collect and use data for in-depth analysis that will benefit their business, along with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning that can enhance efficiency and reduce business costs in the long term.
As Thailand’s leader in fully-integrated logistics, industrial estates, and utilities, she said WHA Group is ready to bring in its expertise and the ecosystem of its four main businesses as well as its good relationship with customers and Thai and foreign e-Commerce and logistics operators to join with Bualuang Ventures and GIZTIX to support the growth of Thai entrepreneurs, reduce logistics costs and increase Thailand’s competitiveness.
Over the next few years, she said WHA Group will continually seek new investment opportunities with leading partners to expand its business and achieve sustainable growth in Thailand and the region.
Meanwhile, Bualuang Ventures Managing Director Krit Phanratanamala said that the joint investment with GIZTIX, is a collaboration between Bualuang Ventures as a financial partner and WHA Group as a strategic partner that will drive Thai startups to prosper and help them to compete domestically and internationally.
As a subsidiary of Bangkok Bank, he said, Bualuang Ventures is ready to bring in financial technology (FinTech) to further enhance services on the GIZTIX platform such as digital lending for GIZTIX drivers, working capital for entrepreneurs on the GIZTIX platform, as well as analyzing payment data to develop future solutions.
This will provide greater access to financial services for platform users and strengthen the competitive edge for small logistics operators, while increasing the ability to respond to future needs of the e-commerce sector, he added.
He also foresees growth in the e-Commerce sector and related businesses such as logistics.
“As consumers have grown to enjoy having many choices for their logistics provider, we are confident that this investment will support the growth of the entire supply chain, from sellers to logistics operators, to consumers. Everyone will receive an efficient service thanks to digital technology that helps manage, control costs, and speed up delivery time under GIZTIX’s system that is about to be developed using this funding to enhance service capability,” he added.
GIZTIX Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Sittisak Wongsomnuk said that the proceeds received from the Series B funding round will be used for business development in four areas: developing more comprehensive transportation services and technologies using advanced technology; expanding the transportation network to provide nationwide services, especially in strategic road transportation routes using e-Logistics; investing in marketing and sales to help distribute income to transport operators in every province; investing in management and technology to maintain profitability in parallel with business expansion.
“It is also preparing to list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2025 or in the next four years,” he said.
Despite the fact that there is fierce competition in the logistics industry in Thailand as many large corporates from foreign countries have entered the market, he said, GIZTIX’s strong point is it chooses to focus on business customers and mainly large-sized products which are less competitive.
He said, the company also offers a full range of services that are particularly designed for business customers, while running every work process with technology support, and continue to gain trust from its customers.
He also said, the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020-2021 has encouraged businesses to increasingly turn to online services, and as a result, the number of transport trips managed through the GIZTIX platform has increased by more than 420 percent or more than 500,000 transportation trips per year.
GIZTIX Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Sittisak also said that the road transport business in Thailand is worth more than $19 billion a year and there is a huge opportunity for the company to grow further as Thailand is also a strategic hub for transportation and logistics in the region.
“Unfortunately, businesses in the logistic sector still lack digital systems that will connect data and provide real-time communications. Therefore, it is an important opportunity for GIZTIX to help develop these businesses in Thailand using our digital technology, so they can be in line with the National Logistics Master Plan,” he said.