Containers stacked at the Gemalink international port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. (Photo: VNA) Phan Van Chinh, Director-General of the Agency for Foreign Tradeunder the Ministry of Industry and Trade, viewed digital transformation as agame-changer for logistics firms in this time of rapid change.
He said logistics was picked as one of the eight priorityindustries in the National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025. Thefollow-up Decision No.221 laid down a course of action to improveits competitive advantages, which involves 'research and technologytransfers to accelerate digital transformation'.
According to the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLBA),Vietnam's logistics industry grew by around 14-16% annually in recent years. Itis comprised of about 3,000 domestic firms and 30 transnational heavyweights,including DHL, FedEx, and APL Logistics.
The industry has always been at a cost disadvantagescompared with those in China, Thailand, and Japan, because of inefficientport-related facilities. Firms in the industry are being left with nochoice but to rely on digitalisation to narrow the cost gap.
VLBA Chairman Le Quang Trung said 40% of the firms hadincorporated digital services into their daily operation, some of whichinvolves transportation and warehouse management.
Truong Tan Loc, Marketing Manager of Saigon Newport Corporation,said the corporation had embarked on digital transformation by introducingePort, a digital service that reduces the waiting time for vehicles by half andcut customs clearance by 2 minutes per container.
The corporation had also phased in AI-powered customer servicebots to ensure a convenient and effortless experience forits clients.
The Vietnam Post Corporation followed suit with the roll-out ofVmap, a real-time locating system used to automatically identify and track thelocation of clients, significantly improving deliveryefficiency.
Pham Anh Tuan, Business Manager of U&I Logistics Corporation,said his corporation had integrated digital factors into various aspects of itsoperation, from human resources to customer service.
The digital transformation had enabled the firm to optimiseits freight shipping transit time, reduce upkeep costs, and cut down onadministrative expenses and billing errors.
Loc said digital transformation is not a one-man job that everyfirm can pull off on its own, but requires close cooperation to make wayfor trans-regional digitalised logistics systems.
He also underlined the importance of a shared digital database forall ports in Vietnam, which could be connected to those of other ports in theworld to improve their operational efficiency and competitive advantages.
Dang Thi Bich Loan, Director of Mekong Logistics Co. Ltd., saidcustoms authorities must lead the way in digital transformation,thus kick-starting the adoption of digital technologies amonglogistics firms.
Other experts said the integration of digital technologies intologistics would require extensive research and province-specificimplementation that take time to produce their desired effect./.
VNA
