Many businesses take an interest in the digital technology application
Less than 50% of businesses made digital transformation
Amid the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, more and more organizations and businesses in Hue boost DT application in order to cope with the difficulties caused by the pandemic while increasing operational efficiency as well as saving costs.
According to the assessment by the Provincial Business Association, the DT activities are taking place as a natural need of businesses, production and business establishments with an eye to meeting customers’ changing consumption behavior. In fact, some production and business establishments have applied software and solutions to sale management, online and multi-channel sale, marketing, customer relation management, and distribution channel management.
However, out of more than 5,400 operating businesses, with more than 4,600 small and medium-sized businesses (according to the statistics by the Provincial Business Association, up to December 31, 2020), the percentage of businesses which made DT is less than 50% of the number of businesses surveyed; many businesses have taken no interest in customer database. Regarding payment, businesses still use two systems of bank transfer and cash in parallel. The trends of payment by e-banking and mobile banking tend to increase.
However, in working with State management agencies, the written text and oral forms are still in the majority. The businesses in Thua Thien Hue are encountering barriers such as lack of digital skills and human resources (17%), lack of IT platform to enable DT (16.7%), lack of DT mindset (15.7%)…
Chairman of the Provincial Business Association, Mr. Duong Tuan Anh, said that about one-third of businesses have prepared well for DT. However, the remaining businesses are still "steering" at a snail’s pace and still vague about the DT concept. These are businesses that do not yet have the full mindset and awareness of DT, lack the commitment and perseverance from leaders, lack the information about DT, and have limited resources and finance.
According to Director of Song Viet Joint Stock Company, Hue branch, Ms. Chau Thi Nho, she specializes in gifts, souvenirs and specialties at Phu Bai International Airport, but under the impact of the pandemic, business here encounters many difficulties.
“In order to meet consumers’ needs, in recent years, besides the traditional sale channel at shops, the company has also applied online sale, or direct delivery to customers, yielding certain results. However, the good preparation for comprehensive DT has not yet made," said Ms. Nho.
A director of a shrimp-raising company said that DT in sale and marketing is two areas in which businesses are very interested to boost product consumption. Especially in the context of the businesses facing many challenges due to the pandemic, seeking output for products is a great concern for many businesses.
“We wonder where to start to make DT while applying IT in production and business. Therefore, businesses hope to receive technical guidance and consultancy, know the roadmap of what to do first or later and prepare infrastructure or budget for operations," said this director.
100 businesses supported in digital transformation
In support of DT, the Ministry of Planning and Investment developed the DT Support Program for businesses, cooperatives and business households in 2021-2025. The goal of the program is to help raise DT awareness for more than 800,000 businesses across the country, Thua Thien Hue businesses included; to give technical support for 100,000 businesses and pilot support for 100 typical businesses in DT…
In Thua Thien Hue, the Provincial People's Committee has just issued the Plan No. 262 to implement the Program "100 businesses make DT in 100 days". The program aims to support small and medium enterprises and cooperatives in the province in accessing and making the effective application of DT aid tools in the production and business process.
Accordingly, the program will select the small and medium enterprises, registered cooperatives to ensure diversity in 5 areas: tourism, agriculture, traditional craft production and industrial production, service trade, and information technology.
As regards the policy of supporting businesses, cooperatives in DT, the province will support DT in internal management, DT in products and services, trade promotion, product sale, etc. Concurrently, the plan also develops training to raise DT awareness in businesses and cooperatives; assesses the DT capacity for groups of businesses and cooperatives; coordinate with partners to propose the solutions and activities to support businesses and cooperatives in DT.
According to Director of the Department of Information and Communications, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Son, The crucial thing for businesses in DT is to focus on the IT application in their management and production activities to increase management efficiency and product quality; apply IT to provide services and products on a digital platform and make the most of the digital market to attract customers and increase output.
To develop the DT program, the province planned to select 100 businesses as a pilot model to provide a basis for assessing, multiplying and attract associations’ involvement. This is the force that brings together businesses. The programs, content, and digital platforms should be concretized to help businesses access, take the initiative in DT and better understand the policies of DT business support. Simultaneously, the people are involved in activities in which services and products on digital platforms provided by businesses in the province are used.
For small and micro businesses, according to Mr. Son, this is a vital component in the DT process. For businesses of different scales, the province built the programs and platforms to lend appropriate support. The province's view is to accompany businesses in DT.
“What businesses in the current circumstances cannot do, the province will develop a mechanism to support businesses. When eligible, these businesses share that support to provide the support resources for other businesses," said Mr. Son.
Story and photo: Lien Minh