Proactive Digital Transformation: Elevating the Value of OCOP Products
By shifting from manual production to digital management, and from traditional sales to e-commerce, many cooperatives across the province are proactively embracing digital transformation to elevate their OCOP products and expand market reach.
Technology as a Value Multiplier
As consumers increasingly demand consistency, transparency, and traceability, many cooperatives are adopting technology-driven production models.
Dak Ka Cooperative exemplifies this transition. The cooperative has replaced manual coffee sorting with an AI-powered color-sorting system, ensuring precise classification of beans and enhanced product uniformity. Furthermore, a greenhouse drying system has also been implemented to stabilize moisture levels and mitigate weather-related risks.
Biotechnology now plays a central role in processing. Beneficial microorganisms are applied during fermentation to develop distinctive flavor profiles, while roasting control software automatically follows preset formulas, guaranteeing consistency across production batches.
Managing more than 100 hectares of coffee plantations, the cooperative currently markets a 3-star OCOP-certified ground coffee product that is steadily expanding its presence in the province’s western region.
Digital transformation extends beyond production. Approximately 50% of administrative operations have shifted to an online office model, integrating virtual meetings and digital data platforms. This transition has reduced personnel and operational costs by an estimated 20–30%.
In marketing and sales, the cooperative actively utilizes TikTok, Facebook, and Zalo alongside its own website and fanpage. QR-code traceability systems provide transparency for consumers, while AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini support content creation, customer interaction, and digital marketing strategies—strengthening brand professionalism and expanding market reach.
According to Director Tran Van Phu, technology adoption has delivered measurable results: more stable product quality and lower operating costs. “For OCOP products to scale sustainably, technology integration is essential,” he emphasized.
Strengthening the Cooperative Economy
The province currently hosts 1,223 cooperatives, including 970 agricultural cooperatives, accounting for nearly 80% of the total. These organizations operate across diverse sectors—from agricultural inputs and processing to agritourism and aquaculture.
Among them, 109 cooperatives and 20 cooperative groups own OCOP-certified products, totaling 191 recognized items, including 179 three-star and 12 four-star products. Additionally, 235 cooperatives participate in value-chain linkages involving more than 14,000 member households.
As production networks expand, cooperatives are increasingly required to adopt transparent, professional, and market-oriented management models—areas where digital transformation plays a critical role. Many have invested in modern machinery, developed standardized packaging and branding, registered production area codes, and implemented digital traceability systems.
These changes are translating into higher revenues, improved product credibility, and more stable employment opportunities for cooperative members. By leveraging digital, cooperatives achieve tighter production control and cost optimization, ultimately fostering deeper consumer trust in an increasingly competitive market.
Toward Sustainable Growth
Beyond economic efficiency, digital transformation is a cornerstone for sustainable development goals. Biotechnology and environmentally friendly production technologies help reduce ecological impacts while ensuring compliance with increasingly strict domestic and international market standards.
Nguyen Khai, Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Alliance, noted that digital transformation within the cooperative sector has gained strong momentum through practical, results-oriented initiatives. Both agricultural and non-agricultural cooperatives are gradually integrating digital solutions into production management, crop monitoring, and human resource administration.
The result is a steady rise in agricultural product branding, stronger market connectivity, and significant improvements in product quality.
As cooperatives continue their digital transition, OCOP products are evolving from locally recognized goods into competitive market offerings—demonstrating how technology can reshape rural economies and unlock sustainable value growth.