For decades, data has been viewed as an auxiliary element for business operations. Spreadsheets, sales reports, customer information or document storage often only serve administrative purposes or primary analysis. However, entering the digital age and especially the digital transformation wave, data is no longer a passive element. On the contrary, it is becoming a strategic asset - the starting point of competitive advantage, value creation and shaping new business models.
This shift is not happening suddenly, but is the result of the accumulation of technology, computing power and businesses’ awareness of exploiting data as a profitable resource. From global technology companies to manufacturing, logistics, finance, retail – all are witnessing the shift from “data management” to “data-driven action”.
This is most evident in the way businesses design products, shape customer behavior, optimize supply chains, and even predict markets. A retailer no longer relies on gut feelings to display merchandise, but instead uses data analytics from millions of transactions to identify product groups with the highest cross-buying potential. A bank no longer manages credit risk by traditional standards, but uses behavioral data and machine learning models to detect fraud or assess creditworthiness in real time.
In a highly competitive environment, data has emerged as a key factor in differentiating market leaders from the rest. Unlike capital or labor, which can be purchased in the market, data, when handled properly, can create a monopoly advantage. Businesses that collect unique data, analyze it effectively, and implement data-driven strategies will create a gap that is difficult to catch up with, both in terms of growth and adaptability.
However, simply owning data does not create value. Value only arises when businesses have the ability to organize, store, process and exploit data systematically. That is why the wave of investment in data infrastructure – from data centers, cloud platforms, data management systems (DMP) to analytics capabilities – is increasing rapidly. Data, like oil, needs to be “refined” to become useful energy. And to do that, businesses need a modern “refinery” that is flexible enough, secure enough, and scalable enough.
At the macro level, data capabilities are also inseparable from the issue of sovereignty and storage location. The storage of Vietnamese customer data abroad – where laws are inconsistent and there is a risk of unauthorized access – is one of the major concerns. From a strategic perspective, data is no longer an internal factor of enterprises, but part of national capabilities. Data sovereignty, therefore, is gradually becoming a key policy topic, not only in the framework of security, but also in terms of control over the domestic digital economy.
In response to this demand, in Vietnam, a number of investors are promoting the development of modern data centers that meet international standards but ensure domestic storage. One of the notable projects is the Data Center - Digital Hub of DCH in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, expected to be operational by the end of 2026. This is not only a place to provide simple data storage services, but also an infrastructure platform to help Vietnamese businesses exploit AI, analyze big data and build data-based business models in a flexible, safe and legally compliant manner.
DCH’s project shows a clear path forward: there can be no data business without data infrastructure. And there can be no true digital economy if data – the most valuable asset of our time – is stored and controlled by third parties overseas.
In a world where every decision is accelerated by algorithms, businesses that have quality data streams, fast processing capabilities, and efficient mining ecosystems will have a distinct competitive advantage. Businesses that view data as an investment platform – not just a supporting tool – will have the opportunity to become leaders in their industries.
The future will not belong to those with the most data, but to those who understand data most deeply and turn data into action.