Is a low touch economy the solution in a post-pandemic world?

Tiếng Việt

Is a low touch economy the solution in a post-pandemic world?

Academics from RMIT University have proposed a ‘low touch economy’ for Vietnam as a strategic response to COVID-19.

While the race for a vaccine is accelerating across the world, a recent Imperial College London report forecasted that the current crisis may last up to two years before a vaccine or herd immunity can be achieved, making strict social measures likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

A ‘low touch economy’ would encourage and require limited close-contact interactions and social gatherings during this time, and into the future.

Senior Lecturers from RMIT’s School of Business & Management Dr Pham Cong Hiep and Dr Nguyen Hoang Thuan said that while the virus has been relatively well controlled in Vietnam, recent new in-community cases have again raised the need for preventive social distancing measures.

Academics from RMIT University have proposed a ‘low touch economy’ for Vietnam as a strategic response to COVID-19.

RMIT Senior Lecturers Dr Pham Cong Hiep (pictured left) and Dr Nguyen Hoang Thuan (pictured right) propose a low touch economy for Vietnam as a strategic response to COVID-19.

Continued social distancing measures may have a significant impact on Vietnam’s current economic structure, and people’s social and purchasing behaviours in the years to come, according to Dr Hiep.

“The pandemic is changing how we work, eat, shop, exercise, and spend our free time in ways that we have never expected before,” Dr Hiep said. “Individuals and organisations should prepare for a low touch economy now, as new ways of life and new business practices emerge.”

Dr Thuan added that converting to a low touch economy would ensure Vietnam would be following the global trend, which the country cannot afford to stay out of: “We need to get ready for any future outbreaks and a low touch economy is the way forward.

“One of the key preparations is to understand the types of economic activities that would be most affected and what business processes have the potential to become more low touch.”

Low touch economy framework

The team at RMIT proposes a low touch classification framework to categorise business activities in terms of how many people need to gather at one time, and what level of close-contact interaction needs to take place (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Low touch economy classification framework

Low touch businesses require no mass gatherings or many close-contact interactions with customers. This type of business has been doing well during the COVID-19 pandemic, with online shopping, education and entertainment, and cashless payments experiencing unprecedented growth both overseas and in Vietnam.

“Low touch businesses can employ new digital technologies to deliver innovative care to customers while keeping everyone as safe as possible,” Dr Hiep said.

In contrast, high touch businesses can require mass gatherings and high close-contact interactions, like the tourism and hospitality industry, conferences, and traditional office structures.

“Strict social distancing policies and travel restrictions may lead to severe consequences for high touch businesses if they do not introduce more low touch activities,” Dr Thuan said.

Dr Hiep added that digital transformation across multiple industries “has never been more pressing to ensure a smooth transition from high touch to low touch, or even touch-less business models”.

“Touchless business models provide highly digital interactions and personalised services without the need to rely on close contact with customers.”

Vietnam’s moves towards a low touch economy

In response to COVID-19, Vietnamese businesses and government agencies have initiated many activities that aim to reduce high touch points in the economy this year.

Dr Thuan applauded the nation’s ‘Cashless Day’ on 16 June as one such initiative, a joint project delivered by the State Bank of Vietnam, the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), and the Vietnam E-commerce Association.

The pandemic also accelerated the government’s plans to provide selected online public services on multiple platforms (including phones) and online processing for most government documents by 2030.

A recent Mobile Marketing Association survey found that digital services have also experienced growth as many customers utilised online services for the first time during the pandemic.

“Consumer changes towards online interactions would spur businesses to invest more in digitising their core processes,” Dr Thuan said. “Many local organisations now view digitisation as a key to sustained growth.”

A recent survey by the Mobile Marketing Association found that digital services have experienced new growth during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Dr Hiep emphasised the need for local sourcing and diversification of supply chain sources to ensure fewer disruptions in critical supply chains and less reliance on overseas suppliers.

“In terms of office workers, local organisations should adopt flexible working arrangements including working from home structures that provide guidelines, suitable equipment and training to ensure effective blending between office-based and home-based alternatives,” he said.

Story: Ngoc Hoang

About the experts

Dr Pham Cong Hiep is Senior Lecturer from RMIT University’s School of Business & Management. He has over 10 years of research and teaching experience in the fields of business technology, logistics management systems, and IT application in education.

Dr Nguyen Hoang Thuan is Senior Lecturer and Digital Business Program Manager at RMIT University’s School of Business & Management. His research interests are crowdsourcing, design science research, digital business, information modelling, and information systems.

Media Release

04 August 2020