📋 Tender Overview
For many years, data has often been mentioned as a technical concept, associated with information technology or large technology companies. But entering a new stage of development of the digital economy, data is leaving the server room and going straight to the business executive desk. Data is not just a story of the State or the technology industry, but a matter of survival for the business community. The question is no longer whether to collect data or not, but where businesses stand in the data game. The game is recognized as increasingly determining competitiveness and growth rate. At the 3rd National Forum for Digital Economic and Social Development taking place on the morning of December 20 at Government Headquarters, many statements showed that data is not just a story of the State or the technology industry, but a vital issue for the business community. When data becomes a new type of resource, businesses are forced to choose: either participate in the game proactively, or accept being left behind. Data: From technical concept to economic asset In his speech at the forum, Major General Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, Director of the National Data Center, Ministry of Public Security, gave an easy-to-imagine view of the role of data in the modern economy. The Major General emphasized: Humanity has gone through many economic forms, each of which is associated with specific means of production. The 21st century is now the era of data and artificial intelligence. This comparison is not purely theoretical. In fact, data is directly participating in the process of creating economic value. From analyzing customer behavior, optimizing the supply chain, personalizing products, to forecasting market demand, data becomes the foundation for faster and more accurate decisions. Major General Nguyen Ngoc Cuong affirmed the economic role of data when he said: Data is a special economic asset, which can be exchanged, valued and commercialized; data is the foundation for intelligence, for forecasting and for decision making. This approach shows that data is no longer simply for storage or reporting, but needs to be seen as a profitable asset if exploited properly. At the macro level, the Government considers data as the foundation for digital government, digital economy and digital society. At the micro level, it is data that determines how fast or slow a business can go in an increasingly fierce competitive environment. In fact, most Vietnamese businesses do not lack data. They have customer data, sales data, operational data, financial data. The problem is that very few businesses turn this data into a competitive advantage. Many businesses still stop at the basic level of digitalization, which is storing discrete data in different departments, using data mainly to compile reports or look back at what happened. Data analysis to forecast trends, optimize strategies or design new products is still quite limited, especially in the group of small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, Vietnams digital economic picture is expanding very quickly. According to the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company, the scale of Vietnams digital economy is expected to increase by about 17% in 2025 compared to the previous year and be among the fastest growing in Southeast Asia. This number shows that the digital market is large enough for businesses to exploit, but only businesses that know how to take advantage of data can benefit. Not only in terms of scale, the role of the digital economy in the economy is also increasingly clear. According to the goals set by the Government, the digital economy is expected to contribute about 20.5% of GDP by 2025, with total revenue estimated at more than 50 billion USD. This means that more and more business activities will be based on digital platforms and data, from trade and finance to logistics and services. Gap between national data and business data One notable point emphasized at the forum is the connection between national data and business operations. In recent years, Vietnam has invested heavily in building national databases on population, businesses, insurance, and land. These systems help regulators reduce paperwork, increase transparency and improve operational efficiency. But the impact of national data does not stop at the public sector. When data is standardized and connected, businesses are direct beneficiaries. Faster information authentication and simpler procedures help businesses save time and costs. Further, these data sources also open up the possibility of developing new products and services based on data, from digital finance, e-commerce to insurance and logistics. Major General Nguyen Ngoc Cuong said that, if exploited properly, national data can become input material for the private sector. This requires businesses to not only wait for data to flow in, but to proactively build the capacity to receive, analyze and connect data with their business strategy. The current gap lies in the fact that many businessesBusinesses are not ready in terms of infrastructure and human resources to take advantage of this increasingly rich data source. If not prepared, businesses can stand outside a new value flow that is forming. Big opportunities, not small challenges More broadly, the data game is not only a technology race but also a race of management thinking. Businesses that want to go far need to move from experience-based management to data-based decision making. This requires changes from leadership to operations, from the way of investing to the way of taking risks. In fact, the number of technology and digital businesses in Vietnam is increasing rapidly. According to statistics from the Ministry of Science and Technology, by 2025, Vietnam will have more than 75,000 digital technology enterprises operating stably. This is both an opportunity and a competitive pressure, because businesses that master data better will have a clear advantage. However, a
