AI and the obstacles facing Vietnamese businesses.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future trend but a current necessity to increase operational efficiency and business results for enterprises.

Not ready, feeling awkward.

Mr. Pham Tuan Anh, representative of the AI ​​Center of TMA Technology Group, said that according to a McKinsey & Company report surveying 1,363 businesses worldwide on AI adoption, 72% of businesses have applied this technology in at least one department.

However, in Vietnam, surveys show that the majority of businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are not yet ready and are still hesitant to apply AI.

The reasons cited include difficulties in securing funding and human resources, and challenges in managing large amounts of data from various sources such as Google Drive and Excel.

"Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) immediately think of high costs when AI applications are mentioned, but in reality, these costs are very small compared to the costs of digital transformation and data analysis."

"Businesses are hesitant to invest in AI applications because they fear low efficiency and the need for these tools to meet the company's significant needs, while AI requires training to understand the company's data," Mr. Tuan Anh analyzed.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Le, representative of MISA Joint Stock Company, stated that 97% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam face problems when applying AI. Firstly, most businesses store data in many files, divided into numerous folders, making it difficult to control the accuracy of the data, while AI needs centralized data for analysis.

Secondly, as businesses scale up, AI tools may not be able to meet their needs, and further investment would increase costs, not to mention the difficulty in data inheritance. Thirdly, most businesses only use AI for certain departments such as accounting, human resources, sales, and operations, leading to a lack of synchronization in business operations. Finally, businesses haven't invested in AI systems due to high costs, or investing too heavily without fully utilizing the features would be wasteful.

Businesses explore devices integrated with artificial intelligence. Photo: HOANG TRIEU

According to the owner of a plastics manufacturing business in Ho Chi Minh City, the actual benefits of applying AI to business are not yet clear. Furthermore, implementing this smart technology requires investment in workforce training and operational development.

"The use of AI also poses challenges regarding data security and integrating AI systems into the existing infrastructure of businesses," this business owner expressed his concern.

At a recent workshop on AI applications in businesses organized by Quang Trung Software Park, Mr. Phan Tan Quoc, Deputy Director of Innovation Programs at KPMG Vietnam, observed that the general sentiment among many businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is reluctance to adopt AI due to "fear of being replaced".

"They think that there will come a time when AI acts as a 'CEO,' causing humans to be phased out. Employees are hesitant to use AI for fear of losing their jobs. This is especially true for businesses with stable annual profits; they lack the motivation to innovate," Mr. Quoc pointed out.

What solutions are available to help?

According to Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Le, to promote the application of AI in businesses, it is necessary to widely disseminate information about the benefits this technology brings to business leaders. For example, AI can help accounting departments automatically verify invoices with invalid information or warn about businesses that have been or are in the process of dissolution, thereby ensuring almost absolute transparency and accurate invoices.

AI can also help sales departments analyze customer data to suggest which products or services salespeople should recommend to customers next.

"Businesses need to consider the long-term benefits of using AI instead of focusing solely on initial costs. Applying AI will help businesses achieve rapid and sustainable growth in the current trend; hesitation will only lead to delays," Ms. Le advised.

According to Mr. Pham Tuan Anh, businesses need to clearly define their goals for applying AI, specifying the field, the timeframe, and then develop a reasonable roadmap. Furthermore, to avoid abandoning the AI ​​application midway, businesses must build a centralized data system.

Mr. Hoang Quang Hai, a training and management system assessment expert at DNV Business Assurance Vietnam, believes that in addition to investing in AI technology, businesses need to build a robust management system based on international standards or researched AI governance frameworks.

This not only helps optimize operational efficiency and facilitates the step-by-step development and application of AI, but also protects businesses from risks associated with the use or development of this technology.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ai-va-luc-can-voi-doanh-nghiep-viet-196240629195616233.htm