Digital literacy skill enhancement for women entrepreneurs: RMIT experts

By Abdul Rohman, Vo Diem Trang
Mon, April 8, 2024 | 7:11 am GMT+7

If digitally trained, women who make up the majority of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) could hold the potential to accelerate national economic growth, write RMIT Vietnam experts.

Associate lecturer Vo Diem Trang (left) and senior lecturer Dr Abdul Rohman from the School of Communication & Design, RMIT Vietnam. Photo courtesy of RMIT.

Associate lecturer Vo Diem Trang (left) and senior lecturer Dr Abdul Rohman from the School of Communication & Design, RMIT Vietnam. Photo courtesy of RMIT.

Digital technologies must benefit everyone and include those who are unable to afford and fully optimize their potential.

While the digital platforms have been promised to uplift the socio-technical and economic realms, women entrepreneurs still face perpetual socio-technical challenges that bury their actual citizenship.

Vietnam aims to boost its digital economy to $52 billion by 2025, by transforming household industries and MSMEs. The country's General Statistics Office reported that women make up over 44% of the urban workforce and 47% of the rural workforce in such businesses. While digital technologies have been reportedly able to narrow the economic gap, they have not fully benefitted low-income women participating in the digital economy.

Low digital literacy skills

E-commerce is rapidly growing in Vietnam and half of the Vietnamese population has used e-commerce platforms and services for various categories. The rise of digital shopping offers opportunities to overcome economic challenges and yet it is still difficult for low-income women entrepreneurs to keep up with digital demand due to low digital literacy skills.

E-commerce is rapidly growing in Vietnam and half of the Vietnamese population has used e-commerce platforms and services for various categories. Photo courtesy of Global Focus Magazine.

E-commerce is rapidly growing in Vietnam and half of the Vietnamese population has used e-commerce platforms and services for various categories. Photo courtesy of Global Focus Magazine.

Limited financial resources hamper their ability to learn and access digital technologies. They often have little time to learn due to the urgency of making a living. About 30.7% of Vietnamese women in the informal sector, including MSME workers, work more than 48 hours per week (5.9% higher than formally employed workers).

Low digital literacy skills make it difficult for low-income women entrepreneurs to keep up with digital demand as they cannot utilize e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, digital payment, or digital customer services securely and effectively.

Linh Phuong, who owns an online store, leverages various social media platforms to engage with her customers, allowing them to order products, schedule deliveries, and receive updates on product availability. However, Phuong said that she relied on her children for setting up social media profiles and handling any complications in digital transactions.

One of the interviewees shared that they had a tough beginning for learning to use their smartphones to sell more stuff and most women business owners around them are intimidated by technology, such as food ordering apps because they are confusing for middle-aged or older women, and nobody gives them a step-by-step instruction. Therefore, they have little to no improvement in revenue or profit.

Vulnerability to online threats

The rise of the digital economy has also brought new threats to low-income women entrepreneurs. Nearly 90% of victims of online scams in Vietnam are female. As they try to keep up with digital trends to grow businesses, they become prone to misinformation, phishing, scams, identity theft and financial fraud.

In addition to a limited ability to protect themselves from online threats, the urge to keep up with digital trends has outweighed the need to safely access the online sphere. About 62% of low-income woman entrepreneurs face difficulties in verifying online information. A large proportion of them are also not familiar with devices, tools, and steps to protect their personal data in the digital space, such as incognito browsers, deleting browsing history, VPN, blocking other websites to collect data or virus detection software.

A lack of opportunity to access education poses other barriers to absorbing information related to data privacy and safety, making them more vulnerable to online crimes compared to other demographics.

As part of their business activities, women entrepreneurs often disclose their phone numbers on social media which opens the door to malicious actors who exploit their personal information, and “that threatens me”, said another interviewee.

By empowering low-income women entrepreneurs with digital skills, knowledge and support networks, we can unlock their entrepreneurial potential, enhance their competitiveness, and create opportunities for more economic autonomy.

The research team also said that to harness the full potential of digital technologies and mitigate the risk coming from it, concerted efforts are needed from the government, policymakers, women’s unions, and relevant stakeholders.

The research team delivered a series of digital literacy training to a group of low-income women entrepreneurs in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. They then transferred the knowledge they gained from the training to more than 230 women across the country. While increasing digital literacy skills remains important, mitigating the risks presented by digital technologies is a new challenge that requires an immediate response.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Sumitomo subsidiary acquires 49% stake in Vietnam’s top crop protection firm

Sumitomo subsidiary acquires 49% stake in Vietnam’s top crop protection firm

Summit Agro International Ltd., a member of Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo, has acquired a 49% stake in Hop Tri Investment Corporation, a leading crop protection firm in Vietnam.

Companies - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 8:25 pm GMT+7

E-wallets get thin as banking apps prosper in Vietnam

E-wallets get thin as banking apps prosper in Vietnam

E-wallets appear unable to compete strongly against online banking applications in Vietnam, several market observers say.

Banking - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 7:15 pm GMT+7

Use social media influencers in targeted manner for e-commerce success: Vietnam execs

Use social media influencers in targeted manner for e-commerce success: Vietnam execs

Vietnamese companies should use new generation influencers in a targeted manner, prioritizing specific market segments, standardizing quality and focusing on strong product categories to achieve e-commerce success, says Nguyen Ngoc Luan, CEO of Meet More Coffee.

Companies - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 4:26 pm GMT+7

VinFast’s parent, PV Power partner to speed up charging station expansion

VinFast’s parent, PV Power partner to speed up charging station expansion

Vietnamese private conglomerate Vingroup, the parent firm of electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, and state-controlled PV Power have entered an agreement to develop charging stations across the country and promote rooftop solar installations.

Companies - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 4:11 pm GMT+7

Petrovietnam, Petronas to boost renewable energy cooperation

Petrovietnam, Petronas to boost renewable energy cooperation

Petrovietnam and Petronas, two state-owned oil & gas giants of Vietnam and Malaysia, will further cooperate in renewable energy, including exchange of information, knowledge, and experiences.

Energy - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 2:59 pm GMT+7

FTSE Vietnam ETF may heavily buy Vinhomes, sell Vingroup in upcoming reshuffle: broker

FTSE Vietnam ETF may heavily buy Vinhomes, sell Vingroup in upcoming reshuffle: broker

FTSE Vietnam ETF is forecast to strongly buy in several Vietnamese heavyweights such as Vinhomes, Hoa Phat, and Vietcombank in its upcoming portfolio reshuffle.

Finance - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 2:45 pm GMT+7

$681 mln central Vietnam urban area project eyed by Sun Group gets authorities' nod

$681 mln central Vietnam urban area project eyed by Sun Group gets authorities' nod

A VND17.3 trillion ($681 million) urban area project that is drawing the interest of major realty developer Sun Group has received an in-principle approval from Khanh Hoa province's administration.

Real Estate - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 1:53 pm GMT+7

Vietnam foreign ministry dismisses allegations of tightening visa rules for foreigners

Vietnam foreign ministry dismisses allegations of tightening visa rules for foreigners

Allegations of Vietnam tightening visa policies and control over foreigners are "baseless", Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said Thursday.

Politics - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 11:29 am GMT+7

Thailand-invested food giant CP fined $31,000 for environmental violations

Thailand-invested food giant CP fined $31,000 for environmental violations

Vietnam’s southern province of Dong Nai has issued a fine of VND790 million ($31,080) to Thailand-invested C.P. Vietnam Corporation for violating environmental regulations.

Companies - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 10:48 am GMT+7

Vietnamese billionaire’s daughter spends $25 mln on Masan share purchases

Vietnamese billionaire’s daughter spends $25 mln on Masan share purchases

Nguyen Yen Linh, the daughter of chairman Nguyen Dang Quang of consumer goods giant Masan Group (HoSE: MSN), has purchased nearly 8.5 million MSN shares over the past three weeks, meeting 85% of her target.

Finance - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 10:27 am GMT+7

PYN Elite manager upbeat about Vietnam’s economy, stock market despite Trump uncertainty

PYN Elite manager upbeat about Vietnam’s economy, stock market despite Trump uncertainty

The Vietnamese economy will still fare well, and the local stock market will remain appealing despite the recent pullback following Donald Trump’s election win for a second term, said Petri Deryng, portfolio manager of Finland-based the PYN Elite fund.

Finance - Fri, November 22, 2024 | 8:25 am GMT+7

Central Vietnam province plans to build $2.4 bln LNG power plant from 2031

Central Vietnam province plans to build $2.4 bln LNG power plant from 2031

The 4,800-MW Chan May LNG power plant, with an investment of $2.4 billion, can be deployed in 2031-2035, according to Thua Thien Hue authorities.

Energy - Thu, November 21, 2024 | 10:41 pm GMT+7

Indonesia, France step up cooperation in economy, defence

Indonesia, France step up cooperation in economy, defence

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto discussed economic and defence cooperation during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Antara reported.

Southeast Asia - Thu, November 21, 2024 | 10:25 pm GMT+7

Thai economy to maintain upward momentum in 2025

Thai economy to maintain upward momentum in 2025

The National Economic and Social Development Council of Thailand (NESDC) expects the Thai economy to sustain its upward momentum in 2025 with a growth of 2.3-3.3% despite growing risks.

Southeast Asia - Thu, November 21, 2024 | 10:24 pm GMT+7

Former parliament chairman Vuong Dinh Hue warned for violations

Former parliament chairman Vuong Dinh Hue warned for violations

The Politburo, Vietnam's supreme decision making body, on Wednesday issued warnings to Vuong Dinh Hue, former Chairman of the National Assembly, and Nguyen Van The, former Minister of Transport, for violations while on duties.

Politics - Thu, November 21, 2024 | 10:10 pm GMT+7

Sumitomo insists on building LNG power plant in central Vietnam

Sumitomo insists on building LNG power plant in central Vietnam

Japanese trading house Sumitomo has been pushing for a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fed power plant investment in Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa.

Energy - Thu, November 21, 2024 | 8:53 pm GMT+7