06/03/2026
Vietnam 4.0: why this country stopped being a "factory" and became an industrial platform
For years the country was viewed mainly as a lower-cost alternative to China. Today that formula is rapidly becoming obsolete.
Manufacturers are facing a new reality: the model of “cheap labor plus volume” no longer works. Rising wages, growing product complexity and pressure from global supply chains require a different level of production transparency and control.
That is why digital transformation in Vietnam is not about a race for fashionable technologies. It is about building a controllable, data-driven industrial environment.
The market is evolving at different speeds:
• global manufacturers are building digital factories from the start, setting a high technological bar
• thousands of local companies are just beginning their digitalization journey and need clear, phased solutions
• the government is actively shaping the ecosystem through strategies, training programs and incentives
At the same time, the main challenge is not technology or funding.
The biggest barrier is people and change management.
In his new column, Alexander Rozhkov, Director of International Business Development at Softline Group, explains what makes Vietnam one of the most interesting markets for Industry 4.0 in Southeast Asia.
Read the full article: https://globalcio.com/articles/main/vietnam-4-0-why-this-country-stopped-being-a-factory-and-became-an-industrial-platform/