Local startups find silverlining during COVID-19 pandemic

For many startups, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a nightmare. However, the pandemic has also opened up a number of new opportunities for those prepared to innovate.
Local startups find silverlining during COVID-19 pandemic ảnh 1Startups need to identify their core values as well as choose technologies that will be suitable in the distant future (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - For many startups, the COVID-19 pandemic has been anightmare. However, the pandemic has also opened up a number of newopportunities for those prepared to innovate.

According to Le Group, in the first half of the year, the number of firms thatceased doing business was 59,800. However, over the same period, they alsorecorded the establishment of 78,300 new enterprises, an increase of 11.9 percentover the same period last year.

Many have been, relative to the rest of the economy, quite successful.

“It is not difficult to see businesses that were doing well that are now introuble because of the pandemic. However, it is also undeniable that manystartups have grown stronger because their products and technology are suitablefor the changes that the pandemic has made to the habits of consumers,” said HungTran, co-founder of Got It, an online platform that administers digital giftcertificate programs for businesses.

He believes that startups need to identify their core values as well as choosetechnologies that are suitable for what will be trending in the distant futureinstead of just solving current problems.

COVID-19 had also presented an opportunity for small businesses, which werepreviously unable to compete with large companies with both financial andtechnological potential, he said.

“There are difficulties, but this is also an opportunity for Vietnamesestartups to rise up, reaching out to the region and the world,” he added.

Over the past year, working from home has emerged as an ideal solution to bothfight the pandemic and ensure business continuity. As a result, platformsserving people working from home have exploded. This is no longer a trend. Aspeople realise that they can do good work without having to go to the office,more and more people are choosing not to go into the office.

Le Ba Tan, Deputy General Director of Viettel Networks agreed. He saidrecognising limitations in existing operations and investing in newtechnologies was necessary moving forward.

Taking the story from Viettel itself, Tan said digital transformation had beenpromoted before the pandemic broke out because Viettel had noticed a decline intelecommunications revenue. "Digitisation is not only a trend but also thekey to ensuring growth."

“However, it is not easy for startups to realise these new trends. That's alsowhen they need to seek the support of technology incubators like VietSolutions. Viet Solutions brings together leading experts in various fields...and is the perfect platform for startups to find the right path and overcomechallenges,” he said.

By the end of this year or early next year, Viettel will put the 5G networkinto commercial operation on a national scale. The main objective of 5G is tofacilitate the development of internet of things (IoT) products, making lifeeasier.

“Automation and robotics have been talked about a lot in Vietnam. But inreality, there is not a lot of development in the industry. We want to go tothe heart of their development and create a real ecosystem of high-techinfrastructure,” he added.

The Deputy General Director said that big or small businesses need to sharewith each other. With the rollout of 5G nationwide and adding an extra layer ofconnectivity for 4G networks, the company would support any firm developingproducts and solutions that need telecommunications connectivity.

He added that Viettel had invested in two modern IoT laboratories in SoutheastAsia in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The labs would provide free support forstartup ideas that have the potential to be useful to society and business. Ifthe lab model is successful, Viettel would expand to other localities.

“These labs are equipped with leading-edge technologies in the field of IoT,big data, cloud computing and AI. They are completely free. Similar to themodel of Viet Solutions, we also have a team to evaluate ideas. Viettel willcreate an environment that facilitates the development of ideas and relatedproducts,” he added/.
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