Digital transformation in supply chain to help Unilever better serve consumers and develop talent

The digitalisation journey of Unilever Vietnam started in 2019 with the vision of becoming a leading consumer goods company with digital transformation in Vietnam. In particular, the business sets out a range of specific and committed goals, roadmaps and action plans for the process of digitally transforming the production and distribution chain.

First, the business has realised the goal of digitising the entire production and supply chain. The Internet of Things (IoT) system, artificial intelligence (AI) and super applications help connect all activities on the same platform, thereby facilitating a 10-fold rise in the speed of operations of the whole supply chain, and accurately and efficiently processing a significantly increasing volume of data and work.

As an important bridge between the business plan and the final product delivered to end consumers, Unilever’s factories are driving not only automation for production lines but also Smart Factory and Robotics model.

Automation in production at Unilever

Additionally, the company is also moving towards a Real-time Operation model to be able to immediately respond to the needs of consumers and the market. This is considered an important destination of the supply chain that consumer goods companies around the world are aiming for.

To achieve those ambitious goals, Unilever Vietnam has actively invested in talent development, providing intensive training, and implementing key projects. Vietnam is one of Unilever’s first markets to set up a dedicated digital transformation team, internally train more than 300 data analysts, and create a digital transformation movement across all departments.

Super applications help connect all activities on the same platform

At Unilever, it is not just to work digital, but think digital as well. Digitisation has become Unilever’s competitive advantage to drive superior performance and develop and equip people with future-fit skills and knowledge, and the readiness for opportunities and trends of the future.

Besides digitising the factory and supply chain, Unilever Vietnam also drive digital transformation for their distribution channels through a digital, omnichannel and data-connected sales model; and data-driven marketing with new technologies such as machine learning, AI or extended reality (XR).

With all those efforts, Unilever Vietnam is recognized as an Industry 4.0 Enterprise at the Appreciation Program “Industrie 4.0 Awards” organised by Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Information and Communications.

“Being recognised at the Industrie 4.0 Awards is a great privilege for Unilever and our supply chain. This also motivates us to continue to thrive stronger in the journey of digitisation, reach the goal of smart factories and supply chain, and contribute to the National Digital Transformation Program by the Prime Minister”, said Pham Manh Tri, Supply Chain Vice President at Unilever Vietnam.

Unilever to be recognized for leading the future of digital manufacturing

Industrie 4.0 Awards is organised to contribute to the implementation of the policy of proactively participating in the 4th Industrial Revolution; and the National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with orientation to 2030 of the Prime Minister. The program is implemented nationwide, with a final judge panel of many prestigious experts and scientists, including 4 categories:

- Top Industry 4.0 Enterprises;

- Top Science and Technology and Innovation Organizations/Enterprises;

- Top Enterprises with smart digital products and Industry 4.0 Technology solutions;

- Top Organisations/Locals actively implementing Industry 4.0 and Digital Transformation.