On June 28, the Department of Enterprise Development (Ministry of Planning and Investment) coordinated with the Center for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics (Ministry of Planning) as part of the program to support enterprises in digital transformation for the period 2021-2025 and investments). The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have published a digital transformation handbook for small and medium-sized businesses in food processing and distribution.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung, deputy director of the Department of Enterprise Development of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the handbook provides basic knowledge and an overall picture of the digital transformation process of enterprises in the industry to raise awareness and provide guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises on the use of digital technology in food processing and distribution. From here, a suitable roadmap for the use of technology at different levels is given, linked to production and business goals and existing resources of the company.

In addition, the manual also analyzes some difficulties and recommends some solutions, points to consider in digital transformation activities, and shares experiences with some practical stories of digital transformation for small businesses. and medium in the field of food processing and distribution.

According to the 2022 report by EMIS – an international organization specializing in research and data – the global processed food market is expected to reach an average growth rate of 3.8% from 2023 to 2028. Trends Similar growth can also be seen in the Vietnamese market as the government considers it as one of the priority industries for development to increase the production and export value of agricultural products and processed foods. Inland.

According to Source of Asian, the food processing and distribution sector has seen significant advances in applying technology to manufacturing and business activities, with approximately 85% of manufacturing companies having access to the technology. technology at different levels.

Therefore, according to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of the Center for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics, in the current context of strong digital transformation, there is a strong focus on digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Points from which value can be created for products in a closed chain.

Accordingly, experts from the 2021-2025 Business Digital Transformation Support Program have developed digital transformation solutions that can be applied in the value chain of the food processing and distribution industry, including: collecting and analyzing data; traceability solutions; transport management; warehousing and inventory management; product quality management solutions; Multi-channel sales management solution.

Based on the characteristics of the food processing and distribution industry, this handbook presents technological solutions that are appropriately applied at different stages of the value chain of companies. The application of technology solutions can be sequential or parallel depending on the company’s potential, with the two solutions companies need to prioritize for early deployment being multi-channel distribution and access solutions. Origin to increase sales, increase the number of links in the chain.

The handbook also provides suggestions for creating a roadmap for implementing the digital transformation of food processing and distribution companies in the consumption of products for the domestic market and for export. In particular, the creation of a roadmap depends on the company’s priority for the elements of the goals and the nature of the business activities. Factors that companies must consider when creating a digital transformation plan include: compliance with government regulations and export market regulations and standards; Expand markets, win customers and optimize costs.

In particular, the program’s experts also pointed out that companies undergoing digital transformation must comply with the strict environmental, social and governance regulations of major markets around the world. In Vietnam, the Prime Minister also approved the “National Action Plan to Transform a Transparent, Responsible and Sustainable Food System by 2030” on March 28, 2023, which will oblige companies to do so. In the time to come, companies must consider the use of technology solutions to support the management and compliance of these requirements.