Support businesses to develop digital transformation

An Tam salted pork production facility in Xuan Sinh commune (Tho Xuan) promotes the application of digital technology in product promotion and distribution.

By the end of 2024, Thanh Hoa will have more than 21,350 small and medium enterprises, accounting for 90% of the total number of enterprises in the area. The rate of digital transformation enterprises reached 29.65%, an increase of 3.85% over the same period last year. The whole province currently has 5,550 enterprises surveyed to assess the level of digital transformation completion along with 337 digital technology enterprises according to regulations. Many enterprises have successfully applied digital transformation models and digital platforms, thereby improving production and business efficiency and competitiveness.

Recognizing the importance of digital transformation in improving the competitiveness and sustainable development of enterprises, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province has implemented many plans to support digital transformation enterprises, of which Plan No. 77/KH-UBND dated March 28, 2023 is one of the important steps. This plan sets a target that by 2025, the whole province will have at least 100 digital enterprises and by 2030, this number will reach at least 150 enterprises. To achieve this goal, Thanh Hoa province has allocated nearly 2.5 billion VND in 2023 to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in digital transformation, especially micro, small and medium enterprises. This amount will be used to provide digital transformation consultancy and apply digital technology to enterprises, helping about 15 SMEs improve their production and business processes; At the same time, support 25 micro, small and medium enterprises with the cost of renting or purchasing digital transformation solutions to automate and improve operational efficiency.

The maximum support level for each digital transformation solution consulting contract is 50% of the contract value, not exceeding VND 55 million/contract/year for small enterprises and VND 110 million/contract/year for medium enterprises. These support policies not only help reduce the financial burden on enterprises but also create conditions for enterprises to quickly access and apply new technologies, thereby enhancing competitiveness, improving production efficiency and expanding the market.

Thanks to the active support from the government, many businesses in Thanh Hoa have achieved remarkable results in developing digital brands. Many businesses and individuals have owned reputable online sales websites for their products, typically the Hien Quyet Nem Chua production facility in Quang Hoa commune (Quang Xuong). After being certified as a 3-star OCOP in 2023, this facility has participated in training courses on product promotion on digital platforms. Thanks to that, the Nem Chua product of this facility has been widely introduced on online channels, helping to increase output and expand the consumption market to major provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

Currently, many other production facilities are also promoting digital brand development. Typically, the rice vermicelli production facility Phuc Thinh (Yen Dinh) has set up Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok pages to reach customers, implementing livestream sales, helping sales increase by more than 50% in 2024 alone. Along with that, famous specialties of Thanh Hoa such as Phu Quang Lam tea, Tu Tru sticky rice cake, and Ba Lang fish sauce are also gradually affirming their position in the market thanks to e-commerce and digital marketing strategies.

However, according to statistics from the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), Thanh Hoa currently has only about 300 e-commerce websites selling goods; the number of organizations, traders and individuals registering domain names in commercial transactions is still quite limited and has not met the necessary criteria to build a sustainable digital brand. This shows that many organizations and individuals in our province are still not fully aware of the importance of building a brand on a digital platform. They have only just begun to form a rudimentary mindset for developing digital brands, lacking a clear and methodical strategy. Moreover, protecting brands in the digital environment still faces many difficulties, especially for businesses that do not have enough protection measures, such as brand theft, counterfeiting, imitation of products, or taking advantage of the reputation of a brand that has been carefully built. Therefore, implementing brand protection solutions on digital platforms and raising awareness of e-commerce is an important factor helping Thanh Hoa businesses develop sustainably in the digital age.

By 2025, Thanh Hoa province will strive to be among the top 10 provinces and cities in the country in digital transformation. To achieve this goal, the province will continue to implement policies to support businesses, promote digital economic development and build digital government. At the same time, it will focus on raising awareness and skills of digital transformation for the business community, encouraging businesses to proactively innovate and apply digital technology to improve productivity, product and service quality. Supporting businesses to develop digital brands is one of the top priorities of Thanh Hoa province in the context of an increasingly developing digital economy. Thanks to the attention and support from local authorities, many businesses have been transforming strongly, improving their competitiveness and expanding their markets. However, to achieve the set goals, there needs to be close coordination between the government, businesses and related organizations to remove difficulties, promote digital transformation and develop sustainable digital brands.

Article and photos: Chi Pham

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ho-tro-doanh-nghiep-phat-trien-chuyen-doi-so-244598.htm