Lalamove, the Hong Kong-based on-demand delivery platform, has sharpened its focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand, with the aim of improving their cost efficiency.
It has also tailored its services to meet their specific needs.
“SMEs are the driving force of Thailand’s economy, and at Lalamove, we see ourselves not only as an on-demand delivery platform but also as a trusted partner in their growth journey,” Ben Lin, managing director of Lalamove Thailand, said during the company’s recent “LALAMOVE x SME” event.
The platform has seen a 30% increase in active corporate users over the past year, with SME orders now making up around 25% of total volume — a share it aims to push to 30%.
To strengthen its regional footprint, Lalamove recently opened business development offices in Chon Buri and Khon Kaen, to collaborate with local logistics providers and extend its service coverage.
With a diverse fleet including nine types of vehicle, the company supports a wide range of sectors, ranging from food and flowers to construction and auto parts, delivering fast, flexible and cost-effective solutions that help entrepreneurs save time, cut costs and scale efficiently.
“We have several hundred drivers and around 5 million users in Thailand,” said Mr Lin. “What sets us apart is our diverse fleet and cost-effective model — we don’t charge SMEs directly. Instead, we operate on a gross profit-sharing model with our drivers, which varies by vehicle type.”
He suggests that the spate of same-day delivery services from e-commerce operators and last mile delivery players has yet to impact Lalamove as on-demand delivery services are quite complex while Lalamove offers a diverse fleet in terms of vehicle type.
Mr Lin recognises that economic challenges significantly impact SMEs. Many are forced to adjust their business models, and some even have to shutter.
However, he also noted that these same conditions often give rise to new SMEs, as entrepreneurs adapt to changing markets and seize emerging opportunities.
“We continue to grow our business in a sustainable way with the aim of growing 30% and widening our services such as ride-hailing that we initiated early this year,” said Mr Lin.
Thanapong Vongchinsri, better known as “Torpenguin”, the founder of the influential “Torpenguin” page, said during the same event that adaptability is the most critical skill for SMEs — especially in the restaurant sector — during times of economic uncertainty.
He said businesses must develop strong unique selling points and adopt an asset-light approach by outsourcing non-core functions.
Collaborations, such as the partnership between Hey! Coffee and PASTA AMA, which share space to attract broader customer segments, are examples of strategic moves that expand reach without heavy investment.
Mr Thanapong also urged business owners to embrace digital tools and efficient delivery services to tackle order management challenges.
“By doing so, SMEs gain flexibility in handling orders and can focus more on developing their products and services,” he said.
Meanwhile, Itthikorn Thepmanee, founder of the dog treat brand JAIKLA, shared his journey of turning food waste into opportunity by creating insect-based protein treats for dogs.
One of the biggest challenges SMEs face is managing raw materials and logistics — especially when demand fluctuates, making operations hard to plan, he added.