An industrial robot made by Robot3T Group in HCM City. In recent years there has been a wave of tech start-ups in the city, especially in the use of technology platforms to modernise the traditional business landscape. (Photo courtesy of Robot3T)HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Robot3T Group of Ho Chi Minh City designs andbuilds cost-effective robotics and automation products and solutions to meetsmall and medium-sized enterprises’ emerging needs for smart manufacturingsystems.
Truong Trong Toai, a graduate of the HCM City University of Technology, startedRobot3T at the end of 2014 to turn the dream of a “Made in Vietnam robot” intoreality.
He said many SMEs want to use robotic technologies in manufacturing but findthe prices of imported robots unaffordable.
“Besides, many imported technologies with their multi-purpose tasks are notcompatible with certain production processes.
“Many local SMEs are still at the level of Industry 2.0 in terms ofmanufacturing technologies. Therefore, they encounter difficulties whenleapfrogging to Industry 4.0 technologies and smart factories.”
To resolve the problems faced by SMEs, the Robot3T team has focused on buildingspecific robots with simple structures, high efficiency and low costs that areeasy to operate for SMEs.
For instance, a Robot3T part-feeding robot for pressing machines is priced at 3,000-5,000USD compared to 15,000-30,000 USD for imported ones.
The company has put in place a comprehensive robotic eco-system not only formanufacturing facilities but also for the services sector and military use. Ithas completed more than 500 commercial projects in industrial automation androbotics.
Expanding rapidly in both domestic and global markets, Robot3T is now servingover 500 customers from 60 countries and territories, with exports accountingfor half its revenues, Toai said.
Nguyen Minh Vu, technology director of Live Group, one of Australia's leadingpayment service providers, last year hired Robot3T to test his company’s newpoint of sale integrated EFTPOS terminal. With the terminal inspection systemneeding to be fully automated and operating 24/7, manually testing a highnumber of terminals was not a possibility.
Using Robot3T’s expertise, Live Group utilised robots to test various aspectsof the terminal’s functionality. Robot3T’s testing makes use of the latestIndustry 4.0 manufacturing technologies incorporating data analysis, evaluationand cyber-physical systems.
Live Group plans to utilise 10-20 robots to continue the work that has beenimplemented, he said.
Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang, deputy director of the Business Start-up Support Centre,said: “We have provided consulting and support for a few start-ups developingautomation technology, especially robotics, to replace people in dangerous jobsand for sectors requiring a high degree of sophistication.
“I believe in their capabilities. I don’t think their level is inferior to thatof their counterparts in other countries.”
Vu Anh Tuan, director of the Quang Trung Software Business Incubator (QTSCIncubator), said understanding that digital transformation would change eachindustry, the HCM City start-up community has come up with digitaltransformation solutions that are appropriate for each segment – large, medium,small or micro -- which are expected to help businesses compete with foreigncounterparts not only at home but also globally.
In addition to manufacturing sector, start-up companies have also developedinnovative solutions to other sectors.
Tuan said: “Start-up projects have contributed or will contribute increasinglyto HCM City, especially to its master plan for developing into a smart city,through applications serving administrative reform, solutions used in traffic(to reduce traffic congestion, intelligent traffic supervision/co-ordinationsystems), education (with education 4.0), health (reducing overload athospitals), environmental monitoring and processing, and hi-tech agriculture toimprove productivity and quality.”
Winsoft Vietnam Co., Ltd in District 12’s Quang Trung Software City hasdeveloped Emedi Clinic (eMedical), general management software for generalclinics, which helps patients reduce the time needed for medical examinationand treatment, easily look up the history of the examination and supportrecurrent visits.
It also helps doctors eliminate almost all paperwork and clinics with managingthe overall process, monitoring staff productivity, managing financialresources, minimising errors related to health insurance payouts, and bettermanaging patients’ medical records.
Explaining why he developed eMedical, Pham Van Dong, the company’s director,said: “With economic growth, people of all ages and classes tend to pay moreattention to healthcare services.
“However, not all can access quality healthcare services. Winsoft made itsdebut because of our desire to develop an interactive app for patients anddoctors to talk directly to each other about the symptoms of a disease beforevisiting a clinic or hospital.”
The software is used by clinics in many cities and provinces like HCM City, Hanoi,Binh Duong, Kien Giang, Long An, An Giang, Dong Thap, Dong Nai, Lam Dong, DakNong, and Binh Phuoc.
Talking about future plans, Dong said: “Winsoft would this year complete itseMedi app and connect with teledoctors delivering health checks and treatment.”
Another startup in QTSC, Development Software JSC (Incomsoft), has researchedand developed management and customer care solutions for SMEs, shops, kiosks,and organisations.
Pham Thanh Hau, Incomsoft director, said the company’s goal is to bringworld-class incomSoft solutions to Vietnamese enterprises at costs that areaffordable to Vietnamese businesses.
“Our sales are very good. We plan to expand its presence to all provinces andcities across the country by 2030 and enter foreign markets by 2035.”
HCM City is known as a hub of technology start-ups and software programmerswith more than 800 in operation, accounting for 42 percent of the country’stotal number.
The city has launched many programmes over the years to support start-upactivities.
Tuan said: “In order to help the start-up community develop rapidly, theGovernment needs to have more specific policies.
“Besides, it is necessary to enhance communications about the results achievedby start-ups in the past, the city’s guidelines and policies for supportinginnovative start-ups and the eco-system in place to support start-ups.”
Hang said: “To succeed, start-ups need to carefully study the market to developproducts in line with market demand and at reasonable prices.
“Large domestic enterprises should be more supportive of and willing to use thetechnologies of Vietnamese start-ups to give them wings to become largeenterprises in future.” - VNS/VNA
Truong Trong Toai, a graduate of the HCM City University of Technology, startedRobot3T at the end of 2014 to turn the dream of a “Made in Vietnam robot” intoreality.
He said many SMEs want to use robotic technologies in manufacturing but findthe prices of imported robots unaffordable.
“Besides, many imported technologies with their multi-purpose tasks are notcompatible with certain production processes.
“Many local SMEs are still at the level of Industry 2.0 in terms ofmanufacturing technologies. Therefore, they encounter difficulties whenleapfrogging to Industry 4.0 technologies and smart factories.”
To resolve the problems faced by SMEs, the Robot3T team has focused on buildingspecific robots with simple structures, high efficiency and low costs that areeasy to operate for SMEs.
For instance, a Robot3T part-feeding robot for pressing machines is priced at 3,000-5,000USD compared to 15,000-30,000 USD for imported ones.
The company has put in place a comprehensive robotic eco-system not only formanufacturing facilities but also for the services sector and military use. Ithas completed more than 500 commercial projects in industrial automation androbotics.
Expanding rapidly in both domestic and global markets, Robot3T is now servingover 500 customers from 60 countries and territories, with exports accountingfor half its revenues, Toai said.
Nguyen Minh Vu, technology director of Live Group, one of Australia's leadingpayment service providers, last year hired Robot3T to test his company’s newpoint of sale integrated EFTPOS terminal. With the terminal inspection systemneeding to be fully automated and operating 24/7, manually testing a highnumber of terminals was not a possibility.
Using Robot3T’s expertise, Live Group utilised robots to test various aspectsof the terminal’s functionality. Robot3T’s testing makes use of the latestIndustry 4.0 manufacturing technologies incorporating data analysis, evaluationand cyber-physical systems.
Live Group plans to utilise 10-20 robots to continue the work that has beenimplemented, he said.
Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang, deputy director of the Business Start-up Support Centre,said: “We have provided consulting and support for a few start-ups developingautomation technology, especially robotics, to replace people in dangerous jobsand for sectors requiring a high degree of sophistication.
“I believe in their capabilities. I don’t think their level is inferior to thatof their counterparts in other countries.”
Vu Anh Tuan, director of the Quang Trung Software Business Incubator (QTSCIncubator), said understanding that digital transformation would change eachindustry, the HCM City start-up community has come up with digitaltransformation solutions that are appropriate for each segment – large, medium,small or micro -- which are expected to help businesses compete with foreigncounterparts not only at home but also globally.
In addition to manufacturing sector, start-up companies have also developedinnovative solutions to other sectors.
Tuan said: “Start-up projects have contributed or will contribute increasinglyto HCM City, especially to its master plan for developing into a smart city,through applications serving administrative reform, solutions used in traffic(to reduce traffic congestion, intelligent traffic supervision/co-ordinationsystems), education (with education 4.0), health (reducing overload athospitals), environmental monitoring and processing, and hi-tech agriculture toimprove productivity and quality.”
Winsoft Vietnam Co., Ltd in District 12’s Quang Trung Software City hasdeveloped Emedi Clinic (eMedical), general management software for generalclinics, which helps patients reduce the time needed for medical examinationand treatment, easily look up the history of the examination and supportrecurrent visits.
It also helps doctors eliminate almost all paperwork and clinics with managingthe overall process, monitoring staff productivity, managing financialresources, minimising errors related to health insurance payouts, and bettermanaging patients’ medical records.
Explaining why he developed eMedical, Pham Van Dong, the company’s director,said: “With economic growth, people of all ages and classes tend to pay moreattention to healthcare services.
“However, not all can access quality healthcare services. Winsoft made itsdebut because of our desire to develop an interactive app for patients anddoctors to talk directly to each other about the symptoms of a disease beforevisiting a clinic or hospital.”
The software is used by clinics in many cities and provinces like HCM City, Hanoi,Binh Duong, Kien Giang, Long An, An Giang, Dong Thap, Dong Nai, Lam Dong, DakNong, and Binh Phuoc.
Talking about future plans, Dong said: “Winsoft would this year complete itseMedi app and connect with teledoctors delivering health checks and treatment.”
Another startup in QTSC, Development Software JSC (Incomsoft), has researchedand developed management and customer care solutions for SMEs, shops, kiosks,and organisations.
Pham Thanh Hau, Incomsoft director, said the company’s goal is to bringworld-class incomSoft solutions to Vietnamese enterprises at costs that areaffordable to Vietnamese businesses.
“Our sales are very good. We plan to expand its presence to all provinces andcities across the country by 2030 and enter foreign markets by 2035.”
HCM City is known as a hub of technology start-ups and software programmerswith more than 800 in operation, accounting for 42 percent of the country’stotal number.
The city has launched many programmes over the years to support start-upactivities.
Tuan said: “In order to help the start-up community develop rapidly, theGovernment needs to have more specific policies.
“Besides, it is necessary to enhance communications about the results achievedby start-ups in the past, the city’s guidelines and policies for supportinginnovative start-ups and the eco-system in place to support start-ups.”
Hang said: “To succeed, start-ups need to carefully study the market to developproducts in line with market demand and at reasonable prices.
“Large domestic enterprises should be more supportive of and willing to use thetechnologies of Vietnamese start-ups to give them wings to become largeenterprises in future.” - VNS/VNA
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