Artificial Intelligence Applications Fall Short of Expectations in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Minister Vu Hai Quan announced that digital transformation faces five major challenges and that artificial intelligence integration has not accelerated sufficiently in SMEs.
During the 2026 National Digital Transformation Day, Minister Vu Hai Quan stated that artificial intelligence application has not yet progressed at the desired speed in small and medium-sized enterprises and that digital transformation faces five main challenges.
Infrastructure and Industry Revenues in Digital Transformation
While the foundations of national digital transformation were strengthened in the past period, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Information System on September 11.
As of September 2026, 5G network coverage reached 91.9% of the population, and fiber optic cables were deployed to all communes and wards. The digital technology sector's revenue is expected to reach 770,766 billion VND in September 2026.
Five Key Challenges Faced
Minister Vu Hai Quan stated that the country's digital transformation process still faces five major challenges: data, platforms, infrastructure, digital transformation of businesses, and human resources.
The Minister emphasized that although the demand for application in businesses is increasing, artificial intelligence and digital transformation applications are not progressing as fast as expected, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises.
Human Resources and Personnel Shortages
Stating that the most important challenge is human resources, Quan noted that there is a shortage of personnel responsible for digital transformation, particularly at the commune level.
Five Proposed Key Tasks
To cope with these challenges, Minister Vu Hai Quan proposed the implementation of five key tasks.
The proposed tasks include improving the institutional framework, developing digital infrastructure and platforms, and establishing a citizen- and business-centric digital government.
Digital Economy and Society Objectives
Other items proposed by the ministry include making the digital economy a new growth engine and building an inclusive digital society and a highly qualified workforce.