On June 10, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the People's Committee of Dong Nai City, and relevant agencies and businesses, announced the pilot plan to support digital transformation for wholesale and retail businesses across the city.

The initiative is one of the measures designed to realize solutions for developing the digital economy and contribute to the locality’s goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.

According to organizers, the program seeks to translate major Party and State policies on science and technology development, innovation, national digital transformation, and private-sector development into practical action. 

It also represents a step toward bringing digital transformation to the grassroots economy, a sector with a large number of participants that plays a vital role in goods circulation, job creation, and social stability.

With more than 105,000 active household businesses, Dong Nai is home to one of the country's largest household business communities, making significant contributions to commerce, services, and goods distribution.

Through the program, household businesses will receive support in accessing digital tools and solutions suited to their scale of operations, helping improve competitiveness and gradually standardize management, financial, and data practices in an increasingly digital economy.

Beyond improving business performance, the program is expected to provide policymakers with practical insights to refine future digital transformation support models tailored to the specific characteristics of this sector.

A three-party model

One of the program’s notable features is a three-party cooperation model involving the government, businesses, and household enterprises.

Government agencies will provide direction, establish coordination mechanisms, organize implementation, monitor and evaluate results, and help address difficulties arising during execution.

Digital technology companies and solution providers will directly supply platforms, services, digital tools, and incentive packages for participating household businesses.

Meanwhile, household businesses and citizens will be both beneficiaries and active participants in the digital transformation process.

To ensure the program reaches individual businesses, implementation will involve coordinated participation from departments, agencies, local authorities, community digital technology teams, industry associations, telecommunications companies, digital technology firms, and local support personnel.

Under the plan, participating household businesses will receive free assessments of their digital readiness through the RDX system provided by MST. They will also receive consultations on selecting solutions that match their business needs and scale, as well as opportunities to experience digital platforms and digital management methods for sales operations.

The program is supported by numerous technology companies and related organizations.

Free sales management software

One of the aspects attracting the greatest interest among household businesses is the package of direct and free support measures.

Participants will receive long-term free access to various sales management software and business tools, free digital signatures, support for electronic invoices, and free ".biz.vn" national domain names along with websites for business operations.

The program will also support electronic payments, customer data management optimization, integration with e-commerce platforms and online sales channels, and brand building in the digital environment.

In addition to technology solutions, digital skills training courses will be organized in communes, wards, business establishments, and government offices to help participants use digital tools in their daily business activities.

According to organizers, digital platforms can reduce operating costs while helping standardize management practices, improve business efficiency, expand customer reach, and enhance transparency.

The program will run in Dong Nai City through November 2026.

The city aims to ensure that 100 percent of wholesale and retail stores and household businesses receive information about the program. It also plans to complete digital transformation assessments for 6,000 household businesses through the online system provided by MST.

All businesses participating in the assessment will receive consultations, support, and opportunities to test digital platforms and tools suited to their needs, including sales management software, electronic invoices, digital signatures, and related services.

According to MST, the results of the pilot program in Dong Nai will serve as an important practical foundation for refining support models for household business digital transformation before considering expansion to other localities nationwide.

Thai Khang