Digital transformation is making waves worldwide. Taking advantage of the digital age to grow, to be able to protect companies and gain an edge over competitors is what businesses strive for.

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend that businesses have to embrace sooner rather than later to remain in the race. A corner of the city based IoT Space co-working venue is seen here.

Like others nationwide, small to large sized businesses in Da Nang have been paying special attention to boosting the digital transformation in the burgeoning fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). They, however, are in urgent need of more active support from the local authorities to successfully make the integration of digital technology into their operation.

Digital transformation in organisations and businesses is the process of changing from traditional models to digital enterprises by applying new technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and cloud computing. It also changes operation and leadership methods, working processes and corporate culture.

The use of new, fast changing digital technology brings many benefits such as cutting operating costs, reaching more customers in a shorter time, quicker and more accurate decisions thanks to timely reporting systems, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and competitiveness of organisations and businesses.

The city-based Ha Giang Phuoc Tuong Mechanical Engineering Company specialises in manufacturing heavy industrial equipment. Two years ago, the company embarked upon a big project, which was of great significance to its long-term development.

To grasp this opportunity, the company decided to import modern machinery and equipment, including 3-dimensional design software and robotic accounting in order to reform management processes.

Digital transformation brings many benefits to businesses in the burgeoning fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).

Besides large enterprises, small and medium-sized ones have also been actively involved in digital transformation process.

Established in 2016, the Thanh Khe District-based Things Changing Co., Ltd., which specialises in designing and manufacturing educational toys for children, has built an introduction and sales website with a modern and easy interface and the integration of online payment methods by domestic debit cards or Internet Banking. The number of orders that company receives through the e-commerce service usually account for more than two-thirds of the total figure.

The FPT Software Da Nang company (Fsoft Da Nang) is one of the city’s leading companies in accelerating digital transformation and providing solutions in this aspect to other local businesses.

According to Mr Nguyen Tuan Phuong, the Fsoft Da Nang Director, the method of digital transformation that the FPT Corporation, and Fsoft Da Nang in particular, has used is firmly based on the principle of building a system featuring near real-time data processing in a bid to make timely and accurate decisions.

Ms Hoang Thi Bich Hanh, an official from the Viet Nam National Institute of Software and Digital Content Industry under the Ministry of Information and Communications, remarked the fact that, with Industry 4.0 taking root, digital transformation is an inevitable trend that companies in Viet Nam, and around the world at large, have to embrace sooner rather than later to remain in the race. However, it is necessary for businesses to promote technological applications towards the right direction in order to obtain their development objectives.

Hanh suggested that enterprises need to assess their current operation status, clearly set goals, visions and future desires, identify what all needs to be done to bridge a gap between the present and future states, and build an appropriate digital transformation roadmap.