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BIZ GUEST

shelve their old business model and adopt a made strategic investments in technology in
new one. One of the greatest difficulties is the past can adapt quickly, not only surviving
converting people, changing old ways of the pandemic but also picking up market share
thinking, and working that are ingrained in from struggling competitors that had done
their minds. My colleagues at FPT and I have little or nothing in terms of digital transforma-
helped our clients change their thinking and tion. The five to ten-year digital transformation
working habits in the digital environment plans of many multinational corporations have
and proved to employees at many enterprises been shortened to two to three years, making
that they will not lose their jobs because of digital transformation the top priority.
digital transformation, and that it will actually
help them improve their productivity and % The digital economy is considered a rare
increase their salaries. opportunity for Vietnam to accelerate into
In digital society and digital government, a new stage of development. What are your
with FPT’s deep understanding and more thoughts on this?
than 20 years of experience in implementing I believe that the development of the digital
important national technology systems, it economy will bring about a comprehensive
continues to stand side-by-side with the gov- change in all matters in society and give a
ernment, ministries, and localities, providing solid boost to Vietnam’s economic growth.
strategic direction and digital transformation The country’s digital economy has made great
programs in regards to finance and banking, strides forward in recent years, making it the
health, and education, thereby promoting second fastest-growing country in Southeast
the country’s digital transformation and bring- Asia in this regard. In order to further promote
ing new values to each citizen. the development of the digital economy, we
need solutions that support the digital trans-
% For some local companies, the concept of formation of organizations and enterprises,
digital transformation is still blurred. What identify solutions to share and use data ware- I believe that the
should businesses do so that digital trans- houses, and train key human resources to development of the
formation is not just a slogan that is easy to actively participate in the process.
talk about but hard to make happen? digital economy will bring
Let me tell you two stories. % What are Vietnam’s strengths and weak- about a comprehensive
Home Credit was under a lot of pressure nesses in digital transformation compared change in all matters
from its customer service department receiving to other economies?
thousands of calls a day. Based on the FPT.AI Vietnam’s position in the information tech- in society and give a
artificial intelligence (AI) platform, FPT and nology (IT) market is excellent. Fueled by solid boost to Vietnam’s
Home Credit created a “virtual employee” stable socio-economic factors, Vietnamese economic growth.”
on the switchboard, automatically making people are fully capable of advancing their
20,000 calls a day and significantly saving on technological capabilities thanks to the coun- MR. NGUYEN VAN KHOA,
cost and resources. try’s traditional love of mathematics and their FPT CEO
The second story is actually about FPT. ability to learn quickly.
Thanks to the Core AI Engine platform, we It is a source of pride that many “hot” tech-
were able to clearly identify the skills and nology trends from around the world, such as
abilities of every technician and coordinated AI, Big Data, Cloud, and RPA, are being thor- % What are FPT’s plans and goals for this
a team of 6,500 technicians to help customers oughly researched and applied in Vietnam. year, especially as its competitiveness and
quickly and conveniently. After 12 months, There is currently a community of more than the competitiveness of Vietnam in the
$2.8 million in operations and personnel costs 58,000 digital businesses, and the willingness global playground have changed?
were saved, with workplace productivity of the business community to transform digitally We have ambitious plans. Over the course
rising 27.6 per cent and a better service expe- and the government’s policy of creating favor- of this decade, FPT targets entering the Top
rience provided to customers. able conditions for this to happen are strengths 50 global enterprises in digital transformation
So, if a business can identify what “pain in promoting the digital economy. services. In the domestic market, we will be
point” needs to be prioritized for resolving a pioneer in leading the digital transformation
problems in operations, sales, or connecting % What policy recommendations would process to bring different values to people
with customers, they will know where to you make to the government to support and businesses.
begin their digital transformation journey the business community? To achieve this goal, we will focus on
and take it beyond just a slogan. Vietnam’s spending on IT is just 0.3-0.4 human resources development by enhancing
Ironically, Covid-19 prompted nearly every per cent of GDP, while the average in ASEAN our consulting capacity, rejuvenating our
business to speed up digital transformation is 1.3-1.5 per cent. The country should have teams, developing high-quality human
to ensure operations continued amid sudden a budget plan for IT in general and digital resources, investing in core technologies from
breakdowns in supply chains and production. transformation in particular, increasing spend- Industry 4.0, such as AI, Big Data, and Cloud,
According to a survey conducted by the Viet- ing on IT and helping promote national digital and developing platform ecosystems and
nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry transformation. At the same time, we expect world-class “Made by FPT” solutions. At the
(VCCI), an additional 36 per cent of enterprises there to be no discrimination between the same time, we will focus on creating a digital
digitally transformed or intend to apply digital public and private sector or large and small platform in key national socio-economic fields
technology to their production and business enterprises when it comes to providing the that bring practical benefits to people, organ-
activities because of Covid-19. opportunity to implement national digital izations, and the business community, regard-
In these uncertain times, businesses that transformation projects. less of type, scale, or field. %

FEBRUARY 2021 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | 35