FOURDIGIT participated in a program for COOs of Thai companies hosted by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) on August 9, 2025. CEO Ryo Taguchi delivered a presentation on the theme of “The Importance of Service Design in Business.”
About the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)
The Federation of Thai Industries is an economic organization under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and one of the most important bodies representing the Thai industrial sector. Aiming to contribute to Thailand’s industrial development and competitiveness, the FTI provides programs that help business owners and entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge necessary for sustainable growth in the digital era.
Background of the Presentation
We leverage our experience in service design from both Japan and Southeast Asia, to nurture people who can deliver service design value. As part of this initiative, we have developed and provide a short-term workshop-based course for local universities to train practical service design professionals in Thailand. The FTI resonated with this initiative, leading to the invitation for this presentation.
Presentation Overview
The presentation, titled “The Importance of Service Design in Business,” began by highlighting how shifts in economic and technological environments have brought increased focus to user experience, and how the ability for anyone to approach users directly has heightened the importance of service delivery for all companies. Against this backdrop, the term “service design” has gained increasing relevance.
Taguchi then introduced the service design process, the importance of teamwork, and our case studies. The session concluded with an emphasis on the importance of human resource development, introducing our educational initiatives in Thailand as well as plans for future training programs for professionals and corporate clients.
Educational Activities in Bangkok, Thailand
The digital economy in Southeast Asia is growing rapidly, but there aren’t enough experienced design professionals in the region. Similar challenges exist in education, where students have limited opportunities to develop practical skills despite today’s design jobs requiring knowledge of both business and technology. As a result, companies find it difficult to hire qualified designers and need to invest heavily in training new employees.
To address these challenges and promote design as a business solution, we decided to work with Thai universities, sharing our expertise in developing design talent.
We specialize in service design, branding, and customer experience design, and continuous improvement support in Japan and Southeast Asia. We also provide corporate training programs. In Okinawa, we run successful projects that combine local job creation with digital design education.
Based on these experiences, we aim to improve design education in Thailand while helping organizations develop talent more efficiently and reduce their training costs.
Organization Overview
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI)
A non-profit organization representing private companies in Thailand’s industrial sector. The FTI works to enhance the status of Thai industries domestically and internationally, support industrial promotion and development, and collaborate with the government in formulating national policies. Serving as a bridge between the public and private sectors, the FTI also facilitates connections between foreign and Thai companies.
Head Office: 8th Fl., Creative Technology Bldg. 2 Nang Linchi Rd., Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, THAILAND
URL: https://www.fti.or.th/
Established: December 29, 1987 (Predecessor: The Association of Thai Industries, founded in 1967)
