In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, Da Nang’s businesses have made significant strides with their digital transformation journeys over recent years. However, not all businesses, especially small to medium enterprises ( SMEs ), make sure that their digital transformation go on the right track.

Currently, many businesses are using digital technologies for developing their new products. In the photo: Staff of the Ky Viet Investment and Engineering Consultant Joint Stock Company creating graphic design for a construction project. Photo: THANH LAN

Digital transformation – a new direction for business

Digital transformation is considered to be one of the key solutions to boosting production in SMEs and creating their breakthrough products after COVID-19. However, most SMEs in Da Nang are still struggling with digital transformation. In their efforts to help these enterprises to find out a suitable and optimal solution to digital transformation, ministries and agencies of national and municipal government, especially the Department of Information and Communications, and the Department of Planning and Investment in Da Nang are focussing on helping  SMEs access information technology (IT) application services and promote applications fundamentally and comprehensively across their production activities. Besides, the heed is paid to promoting the provision of online public services at level 3 and level 4 to SMEs, as well as working with the municipal Business Association, the Da Nang branch of Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the municipal Business Support Center and other relevant agencies to organize conferences and trainings on digital transformation for local SMEs. Furthermore, importance is attached to coordinating with IT companies to run digital transformation pilots in some SMEs in the city.

Mr Nguyen Hoang, the Director of the An Khe Bamboo Rattan Cooperative said that digital transformation has brought many benefits to Cooperative, such as reducing operating costs and reaching more customers. In addition, the Cooperative’s leaders have made decisions faster and more accurately thanks to its timely and transparent reporting system, thereby improving operational efficiency and increase competitiveness of the Cooperative. In its efforts to promote digital transformation in the coming time, the Cooperative will make immediate changes to its brand identity, upgrade its website and register on Alibaba as a seller to sell its products globally in an attempt to increase its exports.

Mr Hoang stated said that the An Khe Bamboo Rattan Cooperative specializes in supplying handicrafts at both home and abroad, thereby eyeing cooperation with domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to increase sales of its products. The use of IT has benefited the Cooperative as it has attracted more customers, gained more revenue, and won the trust of its customers. These are prime benefits from digital transformation for SMEs.

Mr. Le Minh Phuc, the Director General of the Danacap Real Estate Investment Consulting Joint Stock Company, highlighted the importance of digital transformation in helping businesses re-evaluate themselves in order find best way to restructure them to adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Creating the most favorable conditions for SMEs to implement digital transformation

Many businesses in Da Nang hope for more digital transformation training courses, funding and technical assistance from local relevant agencies to help them quickly access new technologies.

Mr Nguyen Hong An, the Director of the An Thinh Phat Investment Joint Stock Company underlined the need for relevant agencies to help SMEs find out a suitable and optimal solution to digital transformation and  allow them get full access to consulting support as they are operating in different industries and not all them have knowledge of IT.

Mr. Pham Dinh Thanh Hoang, the Director of the Da Nnag Business Support Center under the municipal Department of Planning and Investment said that the center has organized many seminars and training courses on digital transformation for businesses , thereby helping the local business community accelerate their digital transformation.

Mr Le Minh Tuong, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment said that in 2021, Da Nang issued important guidelines and policies to build the foundation for promoting digital transformation in businesses. Included were the city’s Digital Transformation Plan to 2025 with a vision to 2030, and the Digital Transformation Project which was identified as one of the key projects for the city’s development. In early 2022, the municipal administration issued Digital Transformation Plan for 2022, the Smart City Plan in the 2022-2025 period, and Digital Government Transformation strategy in the 2022-2025 period.

Mr Tuong emphasised the necessary for specific implementation practices of these plans in local businesses to achieve sustainable results in digital transformation.

Reporting by THANH LAN – Translating by H.L