[Podcast] COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY: “DO NOT GO ALONE”

[Podcast] COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY: “DO NOT GO ALONE” – PART 4

27 Jul, 2023

Era 5.0 – The era of a super intelligent society is what will happen and the timeline is very close: 2035 or maybe earlier. “The rise of a series of super technologies” – “Enhancing human-machine interaction” – “human-centered” are the “hot” keywords when referring to this period. Keeping up with the trend of the times, UEH believes that: More than ever, administrators and leaders in the fields of Business, Economics, Law, State Management, Data, and Communication need to understand and know how Apply Computers and Technology to professions and professions. This is also the motivation for UEH to deploy the series of Computer and Technology “Don't go alone” application knowledge series with 5 attractive parts under the participation of leading experts.

Understanding the “difficulty” of human resources in Computer and Technology and transcending the boundaries of one field, currently, Computer and Technology have become the common intersection of many fields. Besides science and technology, Computer and Technology are now needed to be emphasized from the perspective of “applied science”. Why shouldn’t Computer and Technology go alone? What are the applications of Computers and Technology in Business, Economics, Law, State Management, Data, Urban, Design, Communication?

With the “Computer and Technology: Don’t go alone” Theme, the main part of the series of knowledge articles will bring to the community the useful sharing from the practical experience of experts in multi-fields as follows: Mr. Nguyen Manh Tan - Marketing Director, Haravan Company; Mr. Dinh Cong Chinh - Vice Director/CIO of European Cosmetics and Fashion Company (ACFC); Dr. Dinh Tien Minh - Head of Marketing Department, Faculty of International Business-Marketing, UEH School of Business; Dr. Nguyen Viet Bang - Director of Digital Business Program, Lecturer at Faculty of Management, UEH School of Business; Dr. Duong Kim The Nguyen - Dean of Faculty of Law, UEH School of Economics, Law and Governance; MSc. Phan Hien - Vice Dean of Faculty of Business Information Technology, UEH School of Technology and Design; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Truong Thinh - Director of the Institute of Intelligent and Interactive Technology; under the coordination of Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh - Vice President of UEH School of Technology and Design.

Experts sharing the Topic “Computer and technology: Don't go alone”

In case that Computer, Technology and Business pair (BizTech)

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: It can be stated that: Computer and technology have now become an intersection point, not a specific industry, academic science, computer and technology are also known purely for their application scientific aspect. When computers have technology combined with business, it will create Digital Business. How are computers and technology being applied in this industry today? What is the future development of professions in one society? What will students majoring in Digital Business learn?

Mr. Nguyen Manh Tan: Computers and technology are being applied diversely in life. Currently, we can do business on the E-commerce platform. We can do online business, manage sales; we can control all our business based on a smartphone. It is the combination of technology application on a phone. How are other models? When going to the stores in the mall, you can see the connection of computers and technology list as: checking inventory, paying online and so on. The combination of computers and technology makes the more convenient and faster shopping experience.

In addition, the technologies and equipment for business listed as computers and data servers that can integrate towards creating big data analysis (Big data). Those are bigger problems for businesses to apply in storing information and serving customers by personalizing business messages for the company’s customers.

Therefore, Computers and Technology are increasingly penetrating deeper into the business field. We connect to the world with just one phone. Not only does it bring business growth with outstanding results but it also helps to improve customer experience as well as to connect to the network and to develop our customer network system very optimally and efficiently.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Bang, PhD.: In 2022, in accordance with the statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, 57 to 60 million Vietnamese people have made online purchases. The same as the last Covid wave, buying and selling activities took place entirely on the online platform. Because of this demand, UEH has developed Digital Business. UEH builds based on the foundation of technology integration of all business activities of enterprises. We provide digital platforms from finance, marketing as well as operations management and supply chain management including human resource management that are digitally integrated into subjects to equip learners with digital knowledge to run the business. In addition, UEH has provided students with more background in technology, listed as the background on Big data. This foundation on infrastructure that will help graduates have a better and more holistic view of the future from the digital business and labor infrastructure based on that platform.

In case that Computers, Technology and Marketing pair (MarTech)

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: What advantages will it bring when computers and technology are being applied in the field of marketing? How will the industry change as well as the market and customers change?

Mr. Dinh Cong Chinh: In the past 5 years, marketing-related technologies, called MarTech for short, have been developed very rapidly. At the forefront are completely big companies listed as Salesforce. After that, other big technology players, listed as Microsoft or Amazon, started to enter the market to provide technology tools for marketing. Business to customers, is no longer a marketing advertising story, it focuses on the story regarding how to achieve the best user experience. When users come to businesses, people can come from aspects listed as traditional offline channels to stores upon looking at street billboards or videos.

In the past, when we mentioned Marketing in the traditional way, we would not be able to measure and identify the value of the money which was spent on marketing. In other words, we could not measure the ROI exactly. It was because when marketers do billboards on the street (OOH) or run ads in buildings or elevators, you could count in a very mechanical way: how many people would pass on that road or how many people would see the billboards. On the other hand, I skip one stage, obviously, how many people could identify how much money it would cost the business. In terms of digital advertising, it is clear that this cost can be measured with great accuracy: how many users, how many people interact or how many people click on those ads and how much money will be converted into the business by those clicks. Obviously, MarTech is not just going alone and making that story, it needs technology platforms listed as Big Data, Customer Data Platform - customer data platform. The fact that this will help us to be able to analyze customer behavior, to run more accurate ads can improve advertising dynamic plans so as to generate the best revenue for the company.

Mr. Dinh Tien Minh, PhD.: In the last sharing from the perspective of businesses, people should also look at the businesses themselves, currently, it is applying technology in a lot of their business activities. As a result, there is no reason that from UEH perspective: as a trainer, we do not train students who, later, graduate so as to be able to keep up with businessmen’ expectations. The MarTech training program that, currently, UEH has completed and officially put into enrollment so that students will learn many blocks of knowledge which may be approached from many angles; for example, in terms of the customer experience section. This is explained by the fact that they approach selling online like that, they leave a lot of data, from which we can evaluate their experience.

How will students learn to apply technology in marketing activities? From doing market research, using social networking platforms to applying technology to marketing activities. Specifically, in terms of advertising on social networking platforms, even writing articles. Even when students write articles, they write articles on social networking platforms, on websites: it is in terms of not only content but also design. From the perspective of businesses that aim to attract more users and customers, UEH will train students to do those things so that customers can interact and shop more. In terms of businesses, they expect better sales as well as business metrics.

In short, with MarTech’s current training and outreach program provided by UEH, students will learn the foundational knowledge of technologies applied to marketing activities in general as well as many activities in particular regarding researching marketing, advertising, writing and designing with the purpose of closing the gap between UEH and business gradually. Besides, it depends a lot on how the teachers will teach students. For a long time, UEH as well as the Marketing industry individually has put businesses in the subjects. In other words, students have conducted projects in conjunction with businesses so that lecturers can guide students to conduct specific projects. Given the levels of curricula and the pedagocical way, I am also convinced that this gap is closing. When students graduate from UEH, businesses can use this knowledge immediately.

Sharing session presenting leading experts in the field of Computer and Technology

In case that Computers and Technology and Communication cooperate

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: At UEH School of Technology and Design, there is also a major called Digital Communication and Multimedia Design which is very close to the industry, MarTech. In this new major, digital communication and multimedia design is to create the generation of students who will work in the field of communication, especially digital media, you will know how to design a publication product in the media. Students can apply new technologies, listed as AR, VR, virtual reality and augmented reality. This is the technology that can be used prr apply AI to design or to use Big Data.

These technologies are introduced so that learners can effectively implement programs and projects operated in the field of digital communication, connecting fields from art to technology to guide them so as to innovative solutions in communication, from the activities of companies specializing in the media and event organization or television. The introduction of technology and computers into technology design platforms for application in industries has been focused at UEH in the previous time.

In case that Computer, Technology, Logistics merge

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: In the recent times, we have also heard about globalization as well as its values in the world. The global supply chain was broken somewhere during the pandemic; curently, this supply chain is being gradually restored and connected. When we can apply technology in this industry, this will be a very large market segment, opening up many opportunities for students. What is the potential for Logtech development in the future?

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Truong Thinh: Logtech is the first industry at UEH that trains engineers. This is one of the two majors that train engineers at UEH. Nowadays, all professions have to embed technology and especially in the digital age, all problems are related to technology. Regarding Logtech and Logistics in the past, all Universities in Vietnam mostly focused on supply chain management, especially, how to manage the Logistics system. For the Logtech Industry at UEH’s School of Technology and Design, we focus on training engineers who can design, operate and control as well as deliver ideas in supply chains. How can these supply chains be accomplished in the best way? To achieve the added value, we will give the students the knowledge, especially the new knowledge, the new approach, the most modern, listed as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, IoT, electricity Cloud computing, Big data. We provide you with this knowledge so that you can supplement your logistics knowledge, from this foundation, a solid knowledge base can be created. Currently, there are many businesses that need personnel in this industry and UEH is the only University in Vietnam that trains engineers in the Logtech industry.

In case that Computers, Technology and Law cooperate

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: It wil be difficult for the Law industry to apply technology because the legal system has also been built stably and firmly. How will the application of technology in the law industry open up a future market. What are its development potentials?

Dr. Duong Kim The Nguyen: From a legal perspective, we look at technology in two stories. The first story is that we, as being behind the scenes, support and continue to review legal stories that may arise in the process of technology development. The process of technology development can influence human rights stories involving secrecy, individuality and privacy secrecy. Upon considering those stories from a legal research perspective, we will have to find ways to limit the negative impacts on people and human rights. Consequently, it has a legal field called LawTech as the study of legal issues that serve technology. The legal issues for technology have been studied many times as follows: information technology law, electronic transaction law and so on. These laws are to serve the technological life and to create favorable conditions for the promotion of developing techology activities in general and digital business activities in particular. Businessmen should do personal business in the way that does not infringe on people’ legitimate rights and interests.

That second angle is the time to be delivered. We are legal service providers. In the process of providing legal services, stories arise so that we needed technology to support our legal service activities. That’s what we call Law Tech, or, providing legal services. It will encounter a series of problems. For example, applying AI to make judicial judgments means predicting what the outcome of a lawsuit will be or how consultants should suggest upon being asked for advices?

Technology is applied in both the private and public sectors. You can hear stories of online juristical trials. How are the series of stories: enabling the judge to be able to make decisions. One of the extremely important contents is electronic evidence. Does this series of business activities and transactions leave evidence? Is that evidence enough to be presented in court? In terms of evidence collection, which technological requirements are required? How to decipher the evidence? All of these concerns help to provide reliable evidences for the judge to make absolutely fair decisions.

In case that Computers, Technology, Agribusiness, Finance - Banking cooperate

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: As a multidisciplinary University, UEH, in addition to Business, Economics, Law and State Administration, trains technology, design, computing and agribusiness. Currently, how will the application of technology in the field of agriculture be a new and potential category?

MSc. Phan Hien: Agriculture, Technology and Computers that are gradually bringing various benefits. Specifically, the technological activities as follows: IoT devices in monitoring the farming and working process as well as automatic devices with human control does lead to the increased agricultural productivity. Because of this, it is possible that many careers in technology and IoT or in automatic control devices will benefit greatly. Concurrently, after agricultural products can be yielded, the remaining problem is how to push this to the market. A second branch of technology, being very popular, is E-commerce. It will help us push agricultural products to market in a new way, not like every tradition.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: What is your viewpoint regarding the field of Finance - Banking? How will technology and computers be applied in information security and customer asset management?

MSc. Phan Hien: Mentioning finance, almost everyone knows about the popularity of the Economics and Finance majors trained by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). However, in the recent times with the emergence of specific new concepts listed as virtual money and digital assets, it has led to a series of ways for people to control this value. A variety of other methods has been able to handle it better. Finance is where the tech industry is getting into. When it comes to financial markets, it is referring to other problems in traditional transactions and people are more modernized. In Vietnam, currently, I mostly talk about finance as people are holding a lot of a very popular field, that is, electronic payment. These are the areas that, currently, Vietnam and most Technology Universities are aiming to push technology in these areas.

In case that Computers, Technology, Robots and Artificial Intelligence are combined

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: How will robotics and artificial intelligence (engineering systems) meet current human resource needs?

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Truong Thinh: Like LogTech, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are the engineering training majors of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). All UEH lecturers are aware that robotic artificial intelligence is the foundation of the 4.0 Revolution. We are talking about the main characters, specifically, robots and artificial intelligence. We have inherited and developed based on foreign training programs. We have built a lot of features for Vietnam as well as in the Asian region so that students can access knowledge as well as the latest information in the region and the world. Actually, the current robotics and artificial intelligence industry in Vietnam is only being lectured at 3 or 4 training Institutions. However, we have the advantage that UEH is being very strong in terms of business and economics.

Artificial intelligence is the brain that handles the problem; on the other hand, the tasks of implementation and performance do require robotic systems and automation systems. UEH and businesses with a close relationship with UEH School of Technology and Design have developed this program. This field of study will be the highlight of UEH to be able to enter a new era - the digital era towards building a modern society.

In case that Computers, Technology and Management Information Systems merge

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh: What training will the UEH Information Security Industry provide? Which feature makes this new major stand out from the training programs at other Universities?

MSc. Phan Hien: Regarding this industry code, people think it is a completely pure field of technology as almost students will be interested in one technology-specific training institute. However, students should reframe the issue in terms of this modern time. I take information security as an example: it is refered to as a branch of engineering math. The truth is that if a person working in information security, in practical terms when entering an enterprise, lacks knowledge of business processes or knowledge of the actual operation of such an enterprise, he/she does not know where the problem lies to be sure whether the information is accurate. This leads to a new aspect that we will be able to combine a person with technology knowledge; concurrently, having a very good knowledge regarding business processes and organization operation. It will help information security personnel to step into a new field right now.

Concurrently, data science as well as computer science is one of the newer developments. We are doing new things; actually, the main purpose is to serve people, to serve business activities and organizations operating in this life. Therefore, what people perform must show applicability and reasonable use in an organization and in a system. Because of this reality, there will be groups of applied sciences born. Students majoring in Information Security, Information Technology, and Computer Science receive specialized training in technology; concurrently, gaining additional knowledge from the field of economics, organization and administration so that students can bring this in-depth knowledge to serve the society in an appropriate way.

In short, Assoc. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh concluded that:“We are being in the 4.0 Revolution when IoT, Data Analytics as well as AI are taking over the mainstream. We are also preparing for the steps into the Industrial Revolution 5.0. A super-smart society will increasingly develop towards sustainable development, in which human beings are the focus of development. We will know how to master technology and to develop harmoniously in human-machine relationships. Technology as well as computers is not only a pillar on which we develop; rather, a harmonious relationship needs to be considered. Human beings, artistic issues and socio-cultural issues as well as being relevant in many transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary professions are the central issues. These will be the key ideas for innovative solutions towards solving all problems in a multi-dimensional and multi-modal viewpoint.”

This is an article in the series of articles spreading research and applied knowledge from UEH with the “Research Contribution For All – Nghiên Cứu Vì Cộng Đồng” message, UEH cordially invites dear readers to watch the upcoming Newsletter DIGITAL ECONOMY #80.

News, photos: Group of experts, UEH Department of Marketing and Communication