Vietnamese SMEs need to improve innovation capacity for digital transformation

Vietnamese enterprises need to build digital human resources, improve innovation capacity and competitiveness in the market in order to meet requirements about digital transformation, local experts said.

SMEs lack of digital skills to meet the requirements of digital transformation. Photo: CMC

More than 300 delegates discussed and gave recommendations for digital conversion in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the online seminar themed “Digital Transformation - from policy to a practical solution for small and medium enterprises” organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Vietnam and its partners on September 9.

Speaking at the event, Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of VCCI emphasized most Vietnamese SMEs have faced many barriers in digital transformation including lack of digital skills and human resources, a shortfall of strong information technology platform to enable digital transformation as well as poor adaptability to changes in digital thinking or culture at the company.

“SMEs need to train digital human resources to meet transformation requirements,” Phong added. “Enterprises are required to develop products and services to meet new needs of the market during the pandemic and closely connect with partners.”

According to Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Digital Transformation and Innovation, businesses who have built and applied digital technology will help employees work better, connect customers well, optimize operations and transform products.

“In customer engagement, businesses can apply digital advertising, manage and analyze customer data, online sales, and provide customers with multi-channel experiences. With operational optimization, digital transformation takes place in data-driven logistics and supply chains, digital device management, quality control, and intelligent processes,” he said.

As to the question “How should SMEs start digital transformation?” posted at the seminar, Ton Anh Dung, Product Manager of Elite Technology JSC, said digital transformation is simply the application of digital technology to production and business to create new values and business model. Therefore, digital transformation must start from thinking and awareness.

“Business owners need to perceive the opportunity for them and employees to take appropriate action. The digital transformation process is not difficult at all, most businesses have done it before, but it is still fragmented, not synchronized, and methodical,” he underlined.

Dung suggested some practical solutions along with technology models that some SMEs have widely applied in digital transformation.

Digitization for the model from 50 to 100 users needs only from VND50-80 million (US$2,197-US$3,515). An enterprise employing more than 200 employees, can invest about VND200 million ($8,788) in digital transformation. The solution’s security reliability is very high as well as the ability to upgrade, Dung said.

According to a survey conducted by the VCCI, the pandemic has affected more than 87% out of 10,000 businesses, the majority of which the majority are small businesses who suffer the most due to insufficient human resources and markets.