InnoEx 2025 highlights how data and AI drive profits

For the first time, global giants like Qualcomm shared the same roundtable with Vietnamese startups, legacy corporations, and young innovators, all united by a single goal: turning raw data into assets and innovation into profits. Data exploitation is no longer the privilege of tech firms but a survival imperative for every business; fall behind, and you risk being left behind.

InnoEx 2025 held on Aug. 21-22 at ThiskyHall Sala (HCMC). Photo courtesy of InnoEx

Businesses recognize data value when in crisis

At the InnoEx Forum, business leaders agreed that companies perceive data in very different ways: while the banking sector has long treated it as a strategic asset, many SMEs only recognize its true importance when a crisis occurs

Covid-19 was one such turning point. Companies suddenly faced existential questions about suppliers, production capacity, and inventory, only to discover they lacked the data infrastructure that should have been in place all along.

Even industry leaders have missed breakthroughs by underestimating data. "We all want to turn assets into profit. Yet short-term gains often prevent long-term returns. Many established players weren't ready to change their models or treat data as a strategic asset, and as a result, they lost their chance to disrupt," said PNJ CEO Le Tri Thong.

In the AI era, robust data systems are no longer luxuries but prerequisites for survival.

PNJ CEO Le Tri Thong speaking at the forum. Photo courtesy of InnoEx

Data-driven companies generate 4.2x higher profits

"Data is the key to growth," said Il-Dong Kwon, Managing Director of BCG Vietnam. "Firms that leverage data effectively not only boost revenue by 1.7 times but also deliver shareholder returns 4.2 times higher."

This advantage stems from the ability to harness data at scale through modeling, advanced analytics, and commercialization.

In e-commerce, where data and technology are lifelines, Giao Hang Nhanh (GHN) shared how it identified underserved market segments.

Founder Luong Duy Hoai explained: "Every order passes through 15 touchpoints, 15 data points. The challenge is capturing them at the lowest cost. Our mobile-first approach digitized every process, enabling automated data collection."

Luong Duy Hoai, co-founder and CEO of GHN. Photo courtesy of InnoEx

GHN's team developed GHN Deep Insight, trained on more than one billion orders, each containing over 100 raw data fields. Previously, extracting insights required teams of analysts and months of effort. Today, leaders can pose a strategic question and receive a full actionable report in just 30 minutes.

AI as a catalyst for traditional industries

Innovation is no longer confined to tech companies. FMCG, logistics, and energy firms are reshaping their operations with AI and data.

"Thien Long's growth strategy lies in combining continuous product innovation, ESG commitment, and AI-driven insights to strengthen both domestic leadership and international expansion," said Tran Phuong Nga, CEO of Thien Long.

KIDO CEO Tran Le Nguyen shared that Kido has embraced digital transformation for several years to inform business strategies, by leveraging AI for special effects in media production (films, short films, TVCs, and cinema films), which significantly reduces costs and accelerates project timelines by approximately 75%.

Nutifood, meanwhile, places ethics and health at the core of its strategy, prioritizing disciplined market choices and social responsibility, while AI and digitalization are merely "enablers," serving to facilitate business operations rather than being the ultimate goal.

In logistics, Transimex CEO Le Duy Hiep stressed: "Transimex sees innovation and green logistics as essential for the future, aggressively applying AI and digital transformation while balancing ROI with environmental and social impact—yet always preserving its immutable core values of reliability, responsibility, and customer trust."

As Hiep emphasizes, while innovation drives progress, a company's core business and culture must remain unchanged. For Transimex, as a "golden brand" in a traditional industry, this means an unwavering commitment to safe, seamless, and best-in-class logistics services.

Start small, scale fast

As Vietnam's first unicorn, VNG faces its own innovation pressures. Founder and Chairman Le Hong Minh admitted that innovation often requires investments that may not yield immediate profits but can create long-term competitive advantages. "We also made mistakes in the past by investing with a ‘fear of missing out' (FOMO) mindset. The key lesson learned is to invest in areas we truly understand, start small, but execute quickly. Yet in the technology race, if you move too slowly, you will be left behind," he added.

Founder and Chairman of VNG, Le Hong Minh (R) and Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Chair of InnoEx 2025 (L). Photo courtesy of InnoEx

On AI strategy, he revealed VNG's partnership with NVIDIA. "When VNG partnered with Nvidia, we didn't pursue a massive upfront investment. Our strategy was to experiment with low cost, execute at high speed, and build capabilities step by step, so that we're ready to make bigger moves once the market becomes more clearly defined."

Across industries and borders, InnoEx 2025 delivered a powerful message: in the age of data and AI, only companies that master their data, innovate continuously, and act swiftly will stay competitive, and potentially lead the market.

"Innovation cannot be a solitary effort. We need an ecosystem where traditional corporations and tech startups can find synergy. InnoEx 2025 was designed to be that catalyst, so every step forward for a business also becomes a step forward for the economy," said Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Chair of InnoEx 2025.

In today's fast-changing landscape, external shifts outpace internal ones. Innovation and foresight are the ultimate competitive advantages. Vietnamese businesses are entering a new growth cycle, charting the roadmap for a united innovation alliance in Vietnam.