Lack of common standards is a barrier to the goal of traceability

On November 19, the Vietnam Digital Future Forum 2025 took place with the theme "Developing and applying strategic technology for digital transformation and traceability - Leverage to create a digital future for Vietnam's integration".

The event was organized by Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Electronic Newspaper in collaboration with the Institute of Information Technology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), with the aim of spreading the spirit of innovation and promoting the application of technology in all areas of life.

Vietnam Digital Future Forum 2025 was broadcast online.

In his opening speech, Mr. Pham Manh Hung - Deputy General Director of Voice of Vietnam - said that the forum was organized with the theme of developing strategic technology applications for digital transformation and traceability, aiming to implement Resolution 57 on scientific and technological breakthroughs, innovation and national digital transformation.

This Resolution affirms that digital data and artificial intelligence will become the decisive resources for Vietnam's competitiveness in the new period. This is considered the "golden key" to help ministries, branches and localities build national data infrastructure, develop the "Make in Vietnam" digital platform, promote AI and innovate mechanisms and policies for comprehensive digital transformation.

In that context, digital traceability plays an important role in supply chain transparency, consumer protection and enhancing the value, quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese goods domestically and internationally.

Assessing traceability activities in Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Duc Le - Department of Domestic Market Management and Development (Ministry of Industry and Trade) - said that GS1 codes have been deployed according to Decision No. 100, but the actual application is still not uniform.

According to Mr. Le, some businesses apply the GS1 standard correctly – an international system of codes and barcodes that helps uniquely identify goods in the supply chain. However, many other businesses use their own codes, not following the common standard, leading to duplication or difficulty in identifying between stages.

The application of GS1 codes has not been synchronized, leading to the supply chain having too many languages to "talk" to each other, Mr. Le pointed out the problem.

He stressed that the lack of uniformity in GS1 application is creating a major barrier to the goal of transparent and comprehensive traceability. When identifiers are “disordered”, integration into the national system will be difficult, especially in the process of converting, loading data and ensuring product uniqueness.

"Currently, the level of digitalization in the field of product traceability is still very fragmented. While some large enterprises and units required to implement traceability have deployed solutions, many small enterprises and the domestic market still do not consider this a top priority," he said .

The fragmented and disconnected traceability data creates "digital islands", making management difficult. When the level of digitization is not synchronized, the risk of businesses faking the origin and copying the traceability code becomes easier.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Le pointed out that the current traceability tool is mainly static QR codes. This limits the ability to track information and is easily copied. Although many products have applied barcodes to facilitate inventory, this does not effectively support traceability.

"New technologies such as blockchain and digital signatures still have difficulty applying to static QR codes. Therefore, businesses should be encouraged to switch to using RFID chips and dynamic QR codes to enhance security and prevent counterfeiting," he assessed.

He warned that static QR codes can be easily copied, leading to the risk of products being disguised, making traceability useless.

Professor Chu Hoang Ha spoke at the forum.

At the forum, Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, proposed macro solutions to improve the effectiveness of the fight against the production and trade of counterfeit and fake goods, as well as intellectual property infringement.

He emphasized that the application of electronic authentication stamp technology is necessary to collect data on goods circulation, thereby helping to identify sellers and authenticate goods, effectively protecting consumer rights.

In addition, the application of advanced technologies such as RFID semiconductor chips, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, big data and artificial intelligence (AI) will create strong momentum for the formation of a modern, interconnected and secure traceability ecosystem.

To make technology effective in practice, Prof. Ha also called for closer coordination between ministries and localities, and the need to perfect a unified legal framework. He emphasized the importance of promoting public-private partnerships to support businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, in accessing technology, reducing implementation costs and improving innovation capacity.

Finally, management agencies need to soon complete the standards and database system of goods, helping businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to conveniently declare new goods and existing goods objectively. This will improve the efficiency of State management, ensure the rights of origin and circulation conditions of goods, and prevent tax losses.

Phan Hoang

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/thieu-chuan-chung-la-rao-can-voi-muc-tieu-truy-xuat-nguon-goc-ar988298.html