Lao Dong Newspaper had a conversation with Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue - Director of Communications & Public Relations of AEON Vietnam - about the difficulties, challenges and opportunities of retail businesses in the green transformation journey.
Green transformation is becoming an objective trend and a priority in the development orientation of many countries. In your opinion, what opportunities will green transformation towards sustainable consumption bring to businesses?
- The green transformation towards sustainable consumption offers businesses many important opportunities, especially in improving operations and enhancing customer experience. For operations, businesses can increase operational efficiency through process optimization, such as reducing the time it takes for customers to redeem reward points, thereby serving more customers with higher accuracy. At the same time, applying digital and green solutions helps save long-term costs, such as reducing the cost of printing cards, plastic bags and paper vouchers.
In addition, green transformation helps improve customer experience by providing faster and more convenient services. Online shopping and e-payment applications help save time in queues. Solutions such as self-ordering kiosks and express checkouts also help customers self-checkout and arrange their goods to their liking, minimizing waiting time.
In addition, businesses can differentiate themselves by building an image of a typical corporate citizen, creating a competitive advantage and increasing trust from customers, especially those interested in sustainable development. Staying ahead of market trends through digital and green transformation helps businesses adapt quickly to changes in modern consumer trends, such as green consumption.
Businesses also have the opportunity to expand cooperation and sustainable development when building relationships with business partners and government agencies, together aiming for sustainable development goals.
In the green transition process, what difficulties do retail businesses encounter, madam?
- In the process of green transformation, retail businesses face some significant difficulties. Firstly, the initial investment costs are very high, because digital and green transformation requires large investments in technology, infrastructure and human resources. This leads to increased operating costs in the short term and the challenge here is how to balance short-term and long-term costs.
Second, there is a shortage of skills and specialized human resources. Human resources with digital technology skills and knowledge of sustainable development in Vietnam are limited. This creates difficulties in recruiting and training core staff to promote transformation projects in line with the nature of the business of the enterprise. At the same time, a segment of consumers are not yet ready to change traditional shopping habits, leading to difficulties in adapting to sustainable consumption trends.
Finally, the supply chain challenge is significant. Retailers need to work with their supply chain partners to ensure that the entire production and distribution process is sustainable. This requires significant time and effort from all parties in the supply chain to work together to achieve sustainability goals.
How do retail businesses need government policy support in the green transition process and promoting sustainable consumption, madam?
- Retail businesses need government policy support in the green transition process and promoting sustainable consumption through training and human resource capacity building activities.
For example, organizing training programs and fostering knowledge on digital transformation and green transformation for businesses, especially retail businesses, as well as workers. At the same time, encouraging universities and educational institutions to integrate training programs on digital technology and sustainable development into their curricula, in order to create a solid human resource foundation for this transformation process.
Thank you very much!
