Continuously updating and monitoring water sources and quality on smartphones, or managing customer information with Zalo Official Account (Zalo OA), are among popular digital transformation solutions that the Da Nang Water Supply JSC (DAWACO) has implemented over recent years. This has created a number of positive changes for the city’s water supply industry.                                                                                          

DAWACO has boosted digital transformation in corporate governance. IN THE PHOTO: Technicians process the water sample quality test data and update it to the electronic system. Photo: T.TUNG

DAWACO General Director Ho Minh Nam remarked, in recent years, the city's water supply industry has focused on upgrading water supply infrastructure.

Specifically, water distribution pipeline network has been expanded to increase the coverage rate of clean water supply services. Meanwhile, old machinery and equipment at wastewater supply plants have been replaced with new ones in an effort to maintain stable water supply capacity for the city.

Thanks to the operation form of a joint stock company, the city’s water supply industry has been more active in production and business activities, thereby shortening the investment time in the construction of technical infrastructure items.

DAWACO has proactively selected qualify construction contractors, and chosen technologies from advanced countries at competitive prices, in order to accelerate the implementation of projects to quickly meet the needs of water users.

At the same time, the company has been active in promoting the application of science and technology in water supply system management work.

In 2020, DAWACO established the Centre for Management and Operation of the Water Supply System, and upgraded SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) at the Cau Do (Red Bridge) and International Airport water supply plants.

These water supply plants have been automated in controlling water supply operations to ensure accuracy, timeliness and efficiency in controlling pressure, flow, and quality of supplied water throughout the system, hereby contributing to saving costs of management, operation, chemicals, labour, and others, improving the quality of water supply services and reducing water loss.

In terms of business management, DAWACO has soon applied e-invoices, developed solutions and promoted the application of information technology to read water meters, thereby making a great contribution to the prevention of revenue loss and water loss.

DAWACO has stopped collecting water bills at home and switched to collecting water bills through banks, counters and intermediary organisations.

The rate of collecting water bills through intermediaries in 2021 reached 99.9%. This contributes significantly to the prevention of revenue loss.

During the 2016-2021 period, the salinity of water at the Cau Do water plant was recorded at high levels, but Dawaco strictly controlled the quality of raw water to ensure tap water supplies for the entire city.

The control of raw water and clean water ensures parameters and data and is regularly updated on the information technology system, including a management application on smartphones.

DAWACO General Director Nam revealed that his company is currently finalising the model, scope and roadmap for digital transformation.

Top priority will be given to developing a digital transformation plan over the 2022-2026 period to change and reshape business activities in line with the development process.

Specifically, from March 2022, DAWACO will accelerate the use of Zalo OA social networking platform so that customers can easily look up water bills, seek water bill collection points near their houses and get the fastest information from the service provider on their smartphones.

“In addition to reporting water usage numbers and looking up monthly water bills, Zalo OA is a channel for DAWACO to exchange information and interact with customers, thereby improving its service quality” added Mr. Nam.

Currently, DAWACO's Zalo OA account has more than 2,000 customers, and the figure is expected to increase to more than 300,000 customers by late this year.

Director of the Gia Han Industrial Cleaning Services Co., Ltd. Nguyen Cam Ly highlighted the convenience of the deployment of e-invoices by DAWACO in facilitating businesses to shorten processing, storage, and maintenance time, as well as avoiding losing invoices or tearing invoices. Additionally, it is convenient for businesses to control, look up, pay money, and declare taxes in a quick, simple and convenient manner.

Reporting by TRIEU TUNG - Translating by M.DUNG