E-commerce - Leverage for digital economic breakthrough - Part 2: Enterprises enter the "digital race"

In the process of digital transformation, e-commerce is considered the shortest way for businesses to access large markets, not limited by geographical borders. For Khanh Hoa, a province with strengths in tourism, services, agricultural products and seafood, exploiting e-commerce is not only an inevitable trend, but also a new driving force to promote the digital economy.

The shortest way to market

According to the representative of the Department of Industry and Trade, up to now, 100% of enterprises in the province have applied e-commerce at different levels. Enterprises have used digital signatures, electronic invoices, emails or online tools such as Zalo, Viber, Messenger...; cashless payments. In particular, all organizations, enterprises and business households have switched to using electronic invoices. From that result, we can see the rapid change in business habits of the business community in the province.

Mr. Tran Ba ​​Ninh (right cover) - Director of Ba Ninh Company Limited (Hoa Thang ward) introduces the product of triphala.

In Hoa Thang ward, Ba Ninh Company Limited is a typical example of the transformation of local enterprises in the digitalization trend. Mr. Tran Ba ​​Ninh - Director of the company said that currently, the company grows and processes medicinal herbs xao tam phan on an area of ​​over 100 hectares, with product lines such as: dry tea, tea bags, roots, seedlings... Previously, the company mainly did business in the traditional way. Recently, grasping the technology trend, the company has changed its strategy, boldly bringing products to e-commerce platforms and social networks. Thanks to expanding online distribution channels, the average monthly revenue reaches from 1 to 1.5 billion VND, much higher than before. However, the company's biggest difficulty is the lack of technology-savvy human resources, which limits the development of online sales channels. Mr. Ninh hopes that the authorities will support additional trade promotion channels and connect online sales for the province's typical products, so that domestic and foreign customers can easily access them.

Truecoop Organic Cashew Cooperative (Bao An Ward) has an output of 7,000 tons/year, of which 95% meet international organic standards, and is researching and gradually utilizing e-commerce for its key cashew product. Mr. Bui Duy Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Truecoop Organic Cashew Cooperative, shared: “We really need consulting support, digital skills training, bringing products to the market and especially logistics support policies. When transportation costs are reduced and prices are more competitive, farmers will boldly convert to digital. Exploiting e-commerce is the shortest way to access the market. Therefore, we plan to promote e-commerce applications in the next 5 years, invest in digital management software, promote the Truecoop brand associated with organic certification and OCOP, aiming to expand online exports”.

The key to creating resilience

In the digital economic picture, e-commerce is emerging as an important driving force. However, for the “digital door” to truly open, in addition to the self-efforts of enterprises, digital infrastructure and accompanying policies from the State are the keys to breakthrough.

Regarding supporting businesses to develop e-commerce, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 645, dated May 25, 2020, approving the Master Plan for e-commerce development for the period 2021 - 2025. On that basis, the Department of Industry and Trade has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue the E-commerce Development Plan for the period 2021 - 2025, focusing on training human resources, supporting the application of digital solutions and investing in e-commerce infrastructure. Up to now, dozens of training courses on e-commerce sales, livestream skills, digital marketing, or digital transformation solution seminars have been organized, helping many businesses and cooperatives to approach more systematically. In addition, the province is also promoting the construction of an e-commerce trading floor to support the consumption of local specialty products.

Customers choose to buy products of Truecoop Organic Cashew Cooperative (Bao An ward).

However, for e-commerce to truly become a lever, there needs to be a partnership between the State and enterprises. Enterprises must proactively invest in human resources, improve product quality, and cooperate in logistics, payment, and digital marketing to optimize costs. On the State side, completing high-speed internet infrastructure to rural areas, expanding convenient electronic payments, maintaining regular training, and having policies to support transportation for OCOP products and organic products are key steps.

Reality clearly shows the importance of digital infrastructure and support policies. Not only Ba Ninh Co., Ltd. or Truecoop Organic Cashew Cooperative, but many other enterprises and cooperatives in the province are also facing similar difficulties: Lack of technology-savvy human resources, high logistics costs, uneven digital skills, and online trade promotion channels that are not really diverse. Therefore, if digital infrastructure is completed and support policies are timely, e-commerce will have a strong boost, expanding opportunities for both small and medium enterprises.

Mr. Vo Van Khanh - Chief Representative of Vietnam E-commerce Association in the Central Highlands region affirmed: "Khanh Hoa enterprises should take advantage of local specialties, combine products with tourism , and at the same time strongly exploit social networks and livestream to reach customers. More importantly, enterprises must standardize packaging, trace product origin and cooperate in logistics to improve competitiveness."

From the practical picture and policy orientation, it can be seen that e-commerce is no longer the "playground" of large enterprises. With increasingly complete digital infrastructure, increasingly practical support policies, and proactiveness from enterprises, Khanh Hoa can completely turn e-commerce into a key driving force, along with tourism and services, creating a new momentum for the province's digital economy.

Part 1: Lots of potential... but many barriers

Final episode: The desire to break through

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202510/thuong-mai-dien-tu-don-bay-but-pha-kinh-te-so-ky-2-doanh-nghiep-vao-duong-dua-so-14f5bf4/