Da Nang once again topped the Digital Transformation Index (DTI) rankings in 2021, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications announced at the third meeting of the National Committee on Digital Transformation on August 8.

Digital transformation is the new driving force to promote the city's development. IN THE PHOTO: Employees are seen working at the FPT Software Co., Ltd. Photo: M.Q

The central coastal city topped the ranking for provincial and city levels with 0.6419 points, 0.1545 higher than last year’s score.

Da Nang is one of the few localities nationwide that has deployed many digital platforms to serve State management work and the development of digital government, digital economy and digital society in the locality.

Many digital platforms deployed

In 2021, Da Nang issued a digital transformation project to 2025, with orientation to 2030, in which digital transformation was identified as the city’s task.

The municipal government has also issued many important documents to implement digital transformation resolutions and projects during the 2022-2025 period. Included are a project to build Da Nang into a smarter city during the 2018-2025 period with the orientation to 2030, and a plan to develop e-government towards digital government during the 2022-2025 period.

Since late 2021, Da Nang has developed 5G network infrastructure with 11 broadcasting stations at riverside roads, the city’s Administrative Center, the IT Zone No. 1, the Museum of Cham Sculpture, the Han Market, and the Dragon and Han River bridges.

Currently, the city is installing 41 more stations, including one at the Da Nang International Airport and 40 in Lien Chieu District with expected coverage area of 8km², equal to a half of residential areas in the district. The installation is expected to be completed in 2022. Also, the city is piloting the radio transmission station using LoRa technology.

As for the results of digital data implementation, the city has put into use the Open Data Portal with nearly 600 data sets in socio-economic fields with a variety of search and exploitation channels such as API, web, SMS and Zalo.

The city has started to use some digital data instead of paper documents in such public services as land use right certificates, household registration books, and business registration certificates, thereby forming a city-wide shared data warehouse in service of collecting, integrating, cleaning, standardising and sharing data for agencies to exploit and use.

The warehouse model has been highly appreciated by the Ministry of Information and Communications, and expanded into other provinces and cities nationwide.

For the smart axis, Da Nang has built and effectively exploited shared applications such as email system, one-stop-shop electronic and feedback apps, online payment portal, and online training portal.

At the same time, the city has developed a series of apps in various areas such as the ‘Danang FantastiCity’ app which aims to provide visitors with useful tourism information about the city, integrated service platforms for environmental monitoring, smart surveillance camera system, top-level online enrollment software, and hospital and electronic medical examination management app.

In early April, a 4.0 wet market model was introduced in Da Nang. This is one of the activities to promote digital transformation and IT application in trading activities in general and non-cash payment in wet markets in particular.

The city’s online public services portal has been put into operation at the address https://dichvucong.danang.gov.vn, which connects to the National Public Service Portal.  Nearly 97% of online public services in the city are being offered at levels 3 and 4, and 100% of online public services are eligible for level 4.

Da Nang ranked first the Digital Transformation Index (DTI) rankings for the second year in a row. Photo: Q.T

Supporting businesses in digital transformation

Till date, there are 2.1 digital technology enterprises per 1,000 people in Da Nang (the national average of 0.5), behind Ho Chi Minh City. More than 44,000 people are working in the city’s IT industry.

Mr. Tran Manh Huy, Director of the V.B.P.O JSC, assessed that Da Nang boasts good infrastructure for the IT development, so it is not surprising as the city takes lead for the DTI rankings for the 2 consecutive years. However, many businesses in the city have not yet caught up with digital transformation. Therefore, he stressed the need for the city to promote digital transformation synchronously in businesses.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Hung, Vice Chairman of the municipal Young Entrepreneurs’ Association cum Director of the city branch of the Fast Business Management Software JSC, that the city has secured its leading position for 2 years in a row in the DIT rankings demonstrates the municipal Party and Government’s great efforts in issuing policies on digital transformation, especially on the three pillars of the digital economy, digital society and digital government.

Meanwhile, many small and medium-sized enterprises across the city are facing difficulties in digital transformation due to a lack of human resources and capital.

Mr. Hung also expressed his hope that the city will have more specific policies to help local businesses succeed in digital transformations because many businesses are thinking about digital transformation but don't know where to start.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG, MAI QUE - Translating by M.DUNG