Digital transformation is an inevitable trend for publishing units in Vietnam.

On February 23, at the VNA External Information Center at 79 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, the News Agency Publishing House coordinated with the Publishing Faculty - Academy of Journalism and Communication to organize the Workshop "Digital transformation experience of some publishing units in Vietnam".

Attending the workshop were representatives of publishers with strengths in electronic publications such as the Truth National Political Publishing House, Information and Communication Publishing House, Vietnam Education Publishing House, Alpha Books Joint Stock Company, scientific researchers from the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, the Institute of Public Security Strategy, the Party History Magazine - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and officers and staff of the News Publishing House.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ms. Phung Thi My, Director of the News Publishing House, said that this workshop will help clarify theoretical and practical issues on digital transformation, especially digital transformation in publishing activities; provide political and legal bases for digital transformation, digital transformation in publishing activities; analyze the conditions for successful digital transformation in publishing, factors affecting the digital transformation process in publishing activities; point out the contents of digital transformation in publishing, criteria for evaluating digital transformation in publishing; at the same time, share the digital transformation experiences of publishing units that are promoting effectiveness, propose solutions to promote digital transformation in publishing activities.

Opinions expressed at the conference stated that publishing activities in Vietnam in recent years have developed strongly, increasingly affirming its position and role in the ideological-cultural field, the content of publications increasingly better meets the spiritual life of society, actively contributing to improving people's knowledge, training human resources, and nurturing talents for the country.

The team of people working in publishing, printing, and distributing publications is growing in both quantity and quality, politically steadfast, and professionally specialized.

The number of books published each year is increasing, meeting the increasingly diverse needs of all readers and gradually being exported abroad.

The publishing sector has also seen many technological innovations, rich content and diverse forms, including electronic publishing, especially promoting the development of reading culture in the community, including electronic publications (Decision No. 329/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated June 3, 2020 approving the "Project on developing reading culture in the community until 2020, with a vision to 2030").

Like most other fields, entering the 4th Industrial Revolution, publishing will be a field that is affected by many factors, and if we know how to take advantage of it, it will bring many positive results.

With a population of about 100 million people and the rate of internet users in Vietnam as of January 2023 reaching more than 79% of the population, the internet and smart devices are becoming the main means for readers to access information in general and books in particular when Vietnam has about 130 million mobile subscribers generating traffic, of which about 30 million people use smartphones every day.

That rapid development, at the time of the 4th Industrial Revolution with digital transformation, has a strong impact on publishing activities.

In fact, digital transformation in the publishing sector has gradually taken place in all stages of publishing activities, most clearly seen in marketing and sales activities on e-commerce and e-publishing sites.

Most publishers and book companies have promoted the application of technology in publishing and distribution activities.

Distribution channels will also be expanded, beyond the framework of traditional distribution channels with online distribution systems built on multi-platform, multi-interface technology.

However, digital transformation is still a new concept. The process of implementing digital transformation may face many challenges from changing habits and working methods of individuals, from leaders to officers and employees; corporate culture is afraid of change; digital transformation human resources are lacking, officers and employees do not have enough necessary digital skills.

Personnel need to be retrained and upgraded in a timely manner to keep up with the requirements of; new skills; safety, network security, data, personal data, personal privacy in cyberspace can be threatened if network security measures are not ensured.

Conference delegates agreed that digital transformation is an inevitable trend in the coming time and this workshop is an opportunity for publishing units to exchange, discuss, and share experiences and solutions to create tangible and practical results in digital transformation of publishing.