VTI on Vietnam Today: How AI Is Transforming Retail Operations

On 23rd May, VTI Group had the opportunity to be featured on Vietnam Today, VTV’s international broadcast channel, to discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming retail and supply chain management.

While much of the conversation around AI in retail focuses on customer-facing applications such as personalization, recommendations, and dynamic pricing, some of the most impactful innovations are taking place behind the scenes – in demand forecasting, inventory planning, and operational decision-making.

During the interview, VTI experts shared how AI is helping businesses move beyond manual planning processes and make faster, more informed decisions powered by data.

From Historical Data to Smarter Inventory Planning

One of the solutions highlighted during the segment was VTI’s AI-powered demand forecasting model.

Through an interactive dashboard, users can select a product SKU and instantly receive recommended inventory levels, including minimum and maximum stock thresholds. These recommendations are generated using historical sales data, demand patterns, and consumer behavior insights.

Unlike traditional forecasting methods that rely heavily on manual calculations and spreadsheet-based analysis, the model continuously learns from operational data collected in real-world business environments, improving its accuracy over time.

At its core, the solution combines historical operational data with the expertise of experienced planners. This enables businesses to reduce dependence on individual judgment while establishing a more consistent and scalable forecasting process across the organization.

Turning Weeks of Planning into Hours

The operational impact of AI-driven forecasting can be significant.

According to Pham Thanh Ha, CTO of VTI Group:

“Previously, planning teams could spend one to two weeks forecasting inventory levels or calculating reorder points for a future period. But with AI, forecasts covering the next three to six months can now be generated in just two to three hours.”

Reducing forecasting cycles from weeks to hours allows businesses to respond more quickly to changing market conditions, demand fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions.

The benefits extend beyond speed. By automating labor-intensive forecasting tasks, organizations can make more effective use of their resources.

“As a result, businesses can optimize at least 50 percent of the resources previously allocated to these tasks.”

Rather than spending valuable time collecting data, consolidating spreadsheets, and manually generating forecasts, planning teams can focus on scenario analysis, exception management, and strategic decision-making.

The Next Step: Empowering Better Decisions

While automation is often the initial objective of AI adoption, we believe the greater opportunity lies in decision intelligence.

Forecasts alone do not create business value. Their true impact comes from enabling decision-makers to act with greater confidence based on reliable, data-driven insights.

As Nguyen Sy Tung Anh, Lead Data Scientist at VTI, explained:

“Our aim is to empower human decision-making with data-driven results. After receiving predicted sales and inventory demand, businesses can then instruct manufacturers to begin production in time to meet retailer demand.”

This approach enables organizations to move from reactive planning to proactive operations.

Instead of responding after shortages occur or excess inventory accumulates, businesses can anticipate future demand and take action earlier. The result is a more resilient supply chain, improved inventory performance, and stronger operational efficiency.

Looking Ahead

As retail and supply chain environments become increasingly complex, demand forecasting is evolving from a planning function into a strategic business capability.

AI is helping organizations shorten planning cycles, improve forecasting consistency, and accelerate decision-making across their operations.

For VTI, the future is not simply about automating existing processes – it is about building intelligent systems that help businesses make better decisions faster and with greater confidence.

We are grateful to Vietnam Today for the opportunity to share our perspective on this important transformation and look forward to continuing our work in advancing AI-driven decision-making across retail and supply chain operations.

To learn more about VTI’s AI solutions and how we help organizations turn data into measurable business outcomes, visit our AI Services page!