Vietnam Communist Party: Determined to Overcome Digital Transformation Bottlenecks

The Vietnamese Communist Party convened a meeting at its Central Committee headquarters to review the progress of digital transformation (DX) within Party agencies and determine key tasks for the second half of the year. Comrade Trần Cẩm Tú, Politburo member and Standing Secretary of the Secretariat, chaired the conference. According to the report, in the first six months, 74 DX-related documents were issued, and policies to support specialized DX personnel were developed. The Party's central data center completed installation and trial operations, and a secure network capable of handling confidential documents is largely in place. Of the core business processes, 156 were streamlined to 120, with 62 processes digitized and operational. Four administrative procedures, including party fee collection, were digitized for the first time, processing approximately 4.4 million applications. Some indicators, such as the pilot implementation of AI and information systems for propaganda and mobilization, showed progress exceeding plans. However, the biggest bottleneck was identified not in technology but in organizational implementation, operation, and the utilization of systems and digital platforms. Issues such as the lack of user-centric process restructuring and insufficient data analysis and forecasting to support decision-making were highlighted. The conference called for proposals for special mechanisms to secure human resources and funding for DX promotion, in addition to technical infrastructure development. The emphasis was placed on completing overdue tasks and achieving year-end plans. Standing Secretary Trần Cẩm Tú stressed that DX must be substantive, specific, and carried through to completion. He stated that results should be judged by operational products, verified data, actual users, and measurable effectiveness, contributing to the improved quality of Party agencies' operations. He identified 10 outstanding issues, urging relevant agencies to take decisive action. Four urgent tasks to be completed in July were specified: approval of project design and budget, digitization of core business processes, operational launch of the data center, and ensuring system operational capacity. Regarding software and document digitization, he called for reviews of shared and specialized software to avoid duplication and ensure proper authorization and security. Each agency is required to optimize internal procedures and update deployed software based on user feedback. The improvement of fragmented data, lack of interlinking, and inaccurate data was also instructed. Under Vietnam's one-party system, enhancing the efficiency and sophistication of information management within Party agencies is crucial for strengthening the foundation of policy-making and execution. Delays in digital transformation could lead to a decline in the quality of administrative services and information dissemination to the public. Promoting DX, especially in areas directly impacting citizens' lives, is vital for gaining public trust.