Key Takeaways: Day 2 at 42nd ASEAN Innovation Business Platform Conference & Exhibition Vietnam
Valerie Tan
Constructing the Innovation and Digitalisation Story for the ASEAN Community
Closing off the 42nd ASEAN Innovation Business Platform Conference & Exhibition Vietnam together with key innovation and digitalisation leaders to address and share their best practices for "The Growth Imperative: Innovating for Impact through Technology and Sustainability", Day 2 of the conference discussed
Readying Vietnam for Industry 4.0 and Sustainable Industry
Kicking off the morning with a focus on readying the workforce with technology, Dr. Jessica Tang, Deputy General Manager, HR, Top Glove, shared about how the leading disposable rubber glove manufacturer is ‘Revolutionising Leaning with The 'Top Glove Workers' Learning App': An In-house Digital Solution to Overcome Employee Training Challenges’
Faced with language barriers and diverse nationalities among their 10,000 workers across manufacturing facilities in the region, Top Glove developed an in-house mobile learning app to provide personalised digital training which garnered 92% worker interest.
Alok Rajiv, Chief Technology Officer, Trames also shared about how digitalisation enabled more efficient freight ecosystems across the world.
In a discussion with Craig Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Masan High-Tech Materials and Pham Tuan Anh, Group CIO, Becamex IDC Corporation, moderated by Tran Duc Vi, Ph.D, Lecturer, School of Industrial Engineering and Management, International University, Vietnam National University, the conversation around driving resilient and sustainable manufacturing for Vietnam focused on overcoming disruptions in the digital era, including the importance of AI and data in improving operational efficiency and gaining competitive advantage.?
Digitalization and data integration are important foundations for leveraging AI and new technologies. AI can help optimize complex processes with many parameters by analyzing data in real time. However, data silos are a major challenge for most companies. Companies need to first utilize the data they already have and integrate data across silos to apply AI effectively. Becamex shared about how the use of AI helped their company to improve throughput rates in their production lines.
Investment in green technologies and sustainability initiatives can provide cost savings while gaining a competitive edge. Craig also shared how Masan High-Tech Materials is working to remove inefficiencies including optimisation of resource utilisation. In Germany, a production line was converted from being powered by stream to significantly lower their carbon footprint by 80%. The company also has a wastewater treatment plant, and 76% of water used in their Vietnamese operations is recycled back into their processes.
Regardless of size, enterprises need to identify their unique value proposition and differentiation to win in the market. Innovation requires an open mindset and willingness to experiment with new technologies and ideas from other industries.
Lastly, a key sentiment shared among enterprises is the importance of adopting an open mindset and willingness to experiment with new ideas. Both large established companies and startups need to apply technologies and ideas from outside their industry. Investment in green technologies and sustainability initiatives can provide cost savings while gaining a competitive edge.
领英推荐
Strengthening Digital Foundations with Innovation
In a panel discussion around strengthening digital foundations for smart city innovations in Vietnam, Tran Duc Thinh, Deputy Director of Information Communication Technology Dept, Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVNHCMC), Allan Soong, Senior Director, Hybrid Cloud Systems, Oracle, Dr. Tran Viet Huan, Chief Technology Officer, Son Kim Group, highlighted integration of digital infrastructure with traditional infrastructure, and collaboration among public services providers to align with the requirements of the city plan to support the growth of smart city.
Some key developments and technology for smart city and infrastructure technology adoption in Vietnam include bridging cybersecurity gaps especially when it comes to the use of IoT and web-based devices and AI.
Rahul Shinde, Vice-President & CIO, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, shared a case study on Coca-Cola's RTM Journey. He highlighted the shifts in the role of distributors, wholesalers, outlets, and the wider distribution landscape, and combining product category or brand-based mix models with emerging channels like Brand B2B and Marketplaces to complement traditional channels. Key initiatives to transform and adapt to changing consumer landscape include workflow and inventory management, auto settlement including automated processing for distributors and visibility of the status of shipments through a common data sharing platform. Potential focus areas include embedding AI into current processes, from order suggestions to customer visibility.
Joined by Tran Nguyen Phi Long, Group Head Of Retail Marketing, PNJ GroupLuong Tat Trung, Director of Technology, 7-Eleven Vietnam, and moderated by YY Fong, Vice President, Industry Platform, a panel discussion around Delivering Consumer-centric Digital transformation: The New Consumer in a Digital Economy discussed personalization, automation, and data-driven development as important tools to improve customer experience and operations. Security and privacy concerns around the use of customer data were also raised as key concerns.?
The use of chatbots, AI, and automation were mentioned as ways to improve customer service and optimize processes. However, participants stressed the importance of having the right skills and organizational culture to implement these technologies effectively. Data and analytics were seen as key enablers to gain insights and develop personalized experiences that drive customer loyalty.
Retailers face challenges in meeting changing customer expectations and convenience needs. Omni-channel strategies that provide a seamless experience across all channels were seen as critical for customer retention. Trust also emerged as an important factor, with retailers needing to ensure data security and privacy.
Digital transformation initiatives require a clear vision and business strategy to succeed. Participants recommended starting with high-impact projects that demonstrate value and gain management support. A holistic approach that involves all stakeholders, as partnerships and collaboration are necessary for successful innovations.
Updates from the region: Find out more about our 2023 AIBP Conference and Exhibition?