Technology investments bring abundant opportunities to Vietnam firms: executives

Leaders of businesses and banks viewed investments in technology as not only a gateway to new investment opportunities but also a means to optimize resources, heard a workshop hosted by The Investor in Hanoi on Wednesday.

AI adoption for resource optimization

Tran Anh Thang, a board member of private lender Eximbank (HoSE: EIB), noted increasingly fierce competition among traditional banks in digital finance. He said in some angles, banks are less efficient than financial technology (fintech) companies.

“The current landscape is different from the past. Previously, banks could be seen as having a monopoly in money-related business, but now it is clear that the banking sector is sharing this space with fintech companies,” he said.

However, the pace of technological changes in fintech firms during the 2023-2024 period was five times faster than that of banks. While it took banks 3-6 months to implement technological changes, fintech companies needed only two weeks to roll out new technologies, Thang added.

According to Thang, in terms of technology, investment opportunities for fintech companies are abundant, particularly in digital finance.

"In recent years, many banks have heavily invested in digital technology and digital finance. While some have succeeded, others have failed due to the use of cloud computing. However, given security concerns and technical challenges, several banks have reverted to using physical servers, posing a significant challenge for the banking sector."

Thanks to the Politburo’s Resolution 57 dated on December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, the banking industry is expected to strongly continue implementing digital finance, AI, blockchain, and other technologies, Thang said.

As a result, fintech companies are no longer standing alone, but are increasingly collaborating with banks and securities companies, he noted, adding that banks are accepting that they no longer have a monopoly in business and are willing to share resources with financial companies.

Since 2024, Eximbank has allocated significant resources to blockchain and AI technologies to improve its operational system, with "encouraging" results recorded from August 2024.

Blockchain technology and digital transformation have not only created investment opportunities, but also significantly helped reduce operational costs for the lender.

Eximbank has integrated robotic automation and AI into its operational process, helping optimize workforce management and improve the quality of staff.

Investment needed to achieve technological independence

According to Pham Xuan Dung, director of data science, advanced analytics, and innovation at Techcom Securities (TCBS), the technological change is too rapid. Just 1-2 years ago, businesses struggled with digital transformation, but now AI has arrived like a storm.

"In other words, businesses that have not even started their digital transformation or data collection efforts are already being forced to engage with AI. The investment opportunity here lies in whether companies are ready to invest heavily in AI and blockchain.

"TCBS is unique as it does not have brokers and considers technology the most important factor. The company’s journey started from scratch, without any knowledge of AI or blockchain. However, it recognized the need to be self-reliant in terms of human resources and technology. Therefore, we prepared knowledge, technological infrastructure, data, and digital transformation to enable AI adoption."

TCBS aimed to apply these technologies for practical use, enhancing customer services and business operations. "The rapid technology changes have allowed it to reduce human resources for tasks that once needed many workers."

Dung said that TCBS started investing in blockchain early, launching the first blockchain layer in 2022 to facilitate bond trading and reward point transactions.

Resolution 57 features the sandbox model, which is essential for technological experimentation, innovation, and continuous improvement, he said, noting that in a favorable environment, this is an excellent time to invest in AI and blockchain technology infrastructure.

Technology as a tool for business and economic development

Doan Huu Hau, director of digital transformation consulting and AI application at FPT Digital, a subsidiary of tech giant FPT Group, emphasized that Resolution 57 has provided a boost to the perception of investment opportunities and future directions.

Amid significant changes, the resolution aims to drive technology as a key tool for the development of businesses and the economy.

“I have worked in finance, securities, and at foreign companies before joining FPT Group. When I joined FPT, it was a time when chairman Truong Gia Binh recognized the necessity of investing in technological platforms and capacity improvement. Thus, FPT dared to invest in AI and semiconductors, and build infrastructure for the electric vehicle industry.”

FPT leaders understood that technology is one of the key factors driving economic growth. Vietnam must invest in technology and leverage it to drive national economic development, aligning with the Party and Government’s policies.

In the future, technology - especially AI - will evolve daily, becoming a tool to support business and investment orientation and bring ideas to life. Ideas that once seemed impossible to achieve for years can now be realized thanks to new technologies.

“This is the moment for tech companies to grow, invest more, and become less reliant on the technological platforms of other nations. AI is erasing national boundaries,” he stressed.

The Investor and its Vietnamese-language sister publication www.nhadautu.vn organized a workshop titled "Investment Opportunities in the New Context" on Wednesday in Hanoi.

The workshop aimed to provide practical information and data to help investors and businesses make investment decisions. It also served as a forum for policymakers and regulators to hear opinions and recommendations of the business community.

The event attracted representatives from ministries, experts, as well as leaders of banks, securities companies, and foreign/domestic businesses.