​Vietnam’s small businesses lead Asia-Pacific in AI investment: survey

​Vietnam’s small businesses lead Asia-Pacific in AI investment: survey

Vietnam’s small businesses led the Asia-Pacific region in artificial intelligence (AI) investment and technology adoption in 2024, according to CPA Australia’s latest survey released at an event held in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Employees pack coffee products for export at a business in Long An Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Ngoc Hien / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam’s small business landscape is surging ahead in digital transformation, with the CPA Australia 2024-25 Small Business Survey ranking the country first among 11 Asia-Pacific economies in several key technology uptake metrics.

“They top Asia-Pacific in areas such as e-commerce, social media use, digital payments, and seeking IT expertise,” Chris Freeland, CEO of CPA Australia, one of the world's largest accounting bodies, said at the event.

The report highlights that 44 percent of small Vietnamese firms identified AI as their main technology investment in 2024, a significant rise from 22 percent in the previous year.

Additionally, more than 47 percent used AI tools for business guidance, again the highest in the region.

E-commerce, social media, and mobile payments are equally dominant in Vietnam’s small business ecosystem.

Over 91 percent of firms earned more than 10 percent of revenue from online sales, while 84 percent received significant payments via digital payment platforms like MoMo, Moca, and ZaloPay.

Small firms in the country are also strong users of social media, as only four percent did not use it for business purposes in 2024.

These digital efforts are translating into real gains.

A remarkable 88 percent of the businesses surveyed reported improved profitability thanks to technology investment, with Vietnam topping the region on this measure.

However, as digital technologies become more integrated into business operations, cybersecurity risks have increased.

Vietnam’s small businesses ranked second in experiencing lost time or money to cyberattacks in 2024, with 60 percent reporting such losses, well above the survey average of 40 percent.

To mitigate these risks, 62 percent of small Vietnamese businesses reviewed their cybersecurity measures in the second half of last year. Despite this, 68 percent anticipated being cyber-attacked in 2025, both the highest among the surveyed markets.

“With widespread tech adoption in Vietnam, cybersecurity must be a top priority. Proactively enhancing security is essential for sustained growth and customer trust,” Freeland emphasized.

Despite such challenges, optimism runs high among small Vietnamese firms.

An overwhelming 92 percent of them expected growth in 2025, the highest projection among the 11 markets surveyed.

This confidence was also reflected in expectations for Vietnam’s economy, with 93 percent of small businesses expecting their economy to grow in 2025, well above the survey average of 67 percent, and the highest result of the surveyed markets.

The report also notes a strong international focus among small Vietnamese firms .

Their overseas sales revenue is expected to nearly double to 28 percent in 2025 from 15 percent in 2024, signaling rising global competitiveness despite global economic uncertainties.

Freeland attributed this outlook to Vietnam’s young, tech-savvy, and entrepreneurial business community, which has shown remarkable adaptability and enthusiasm for digital transformation.

CPA Australia conducted the survey in November and December last year, receiving responses from 4,236 small businesses across 11 markets, including Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Tuoi Tre News