Bat Trang pottery village sees the application of technologies in the era of Industry 4.0 as a favorable opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of its products.
Catching up with Industry 4.0
Bat Trang, just southeast to the capital of Hanoi, has developed a solid reputation for its ceramics, drawing domestic and foreign visitors and buyers. One of its major tourist draws is the opportunity for wannabe craft makers to make ceramic products by themselves in classes and workshops offered by local artisans.
However, the village’s main business is in producing ceramic products for sale domestically and abroad.
The village preserves its 700-year history, and builds on it. In face of the strong impacts from the Industry 4.0 and e-commerce, artisans in the Bat Trang pottery village are aware that they need a change in approach to keep up with the changing market trends.
Artisan Phung Van Hoan (Gia Lam District, Hanoi) who has 20 years of experience making pottery acknowledged that Industry 4.0 and e-commerce are inevitable trends, and “if we cannot grasp the opportunity to develop business based on new technologies, then we’ll be left behind”. He suggested that new technology and applications is an opportunity for craft villages “to remove old thinking” and adopt fresh approaches to design, production, branding and marketing.
Over the years, Bat Trang made breakthroughs in pottery production by shifting from coal to liquidized gas fueled kilns, which helped reduce environmental pollution and also increase productivity and the quality of their products.
Thanks to applications of the Industry 4.0 technologies, ceramic producers in Bat Trang craft village have accessed smart technologies and modern equipment to improve their product’s designs and quality, and better meet market demand.
The application of new technologies in business management also helped production facilities and enterprises in the craft village expand online sales channels, raising their revenues and profits. This is also a chance for them to learn and acquire advanced production and management models.
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Keeping up with Industry 4.0: Advancements in Bat Trang Pottery Village
Nestled just southeast of Hanoi, Bat Trang has earned a well-deserved reputation for its exquisite ceramics, attracting both local and international visitors and buyers. Offering immersive classes and workshops conducted by local artisans, the village has become a magnet for aspiring craft makers.
However, the heart of Bat Trang’s business lies in producing and selling ceramics both domestically and abroad. With a proud 700-year history, the village honors its heritage while embracing progress. As Industry 4.0 and e-commerce make their mark, Bat Trang’s artisans understand the need to adapt to changing market trends.
Phung Van Hoan, an experienced pottery artisan from Gia Lam District, Hanoi, acknowledges the inevitability of Industry 4.0 and e-commerce trends. He emphasizes that seizing opportunities offered by new technologies is crucial to stay relevant. Embracing these technological advancements can help craft villages shed old mindsets and adopt fresh approaches to design, production, branding, and marketing.
Over the years, Bat Trang has already made strides in pottery production, transitioning from coal to liquidized gas-fueled kilns. This shift not only reduced environmental pollution but also boosted productivity and product quality.
Through the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, ceramic producers in Bat Trang have gained access to smart tools and modern equipment, allowing them to enhance their product designs and quality, thus meeting market demands more effectively.
Additionally, the adoption of new technologies in business management has enabled production facilities and enterprises in the craft village to expand their online sales channels, leading to increased revenues and profits. This presents an opportunity for them to learn and embrace advanced production and management models.
As Bat Trang evolves with the times, it embraces the best of its past while incorporating cutting-edge innovations. The village is determined to remain a leading force in the ceramics industry, capturing the essence of Industry 4.0 to shape its promising future.
Online marketing and sales
Online marketing and sales have emerged as crucial avenues for the development of Bat Trang pottery, and Tran Duong Quy, the director of the online ceramics provider at BATO Online Business and Technology Co., Ltd (Gia Lam District, Hanoi), has been at the forefront of this transformation. While local manufacturers are increasingly turning their focus to online sales, particularly through platforms like Facebook, there remains a need for more systematic investment in online marketing.
The expansion of online sales for ceramic and porcelain products has significantly impacted businesses like artisan Phung Van Hoan’s Hoan Trang Ceramic facility, where sales have risen by approximately 30% annually. With the e-commerce network, producers can effectively showcase the quality, pricing, and manufacturing process of their products, reaching a wider audience than traditional methods would allow.
The rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 has empowered ceramic makers in Bat Trang Village to adopt innovative production techniques and leverage technology to promote the Bat Trang brand internationally, with markets in Japan, Taiwan, and other countries taking notice. While the traditional designs of Bat Trang ceramic and porcelain products remain essential, diversification has taken place to meet the diverse demands for household and decorative items, as well as ceramic materials used in construction.
Truong Quang Ninh, from Kim Khanh Export and Trade Co., Ltd, has also recognized the importance of constant innovation in product design. He has assembled a team of young designers to create and introduce new products, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to product quality. This dedication has earned him the loyalty of many Japanese customers for nearly a decade.
As the Bat Trang pottery industry embraces the opportunities offered by online marketing and sales, it continues to thrive and expand its reach to both domestic and international markets, securing a promising future for this centuries-old craft.
Opportunities provided by Industry 4.0 will help production facilities and businesses in craft villages expand their online marketing channels, increasing their revenues and profits.
Examples of online marketing and sales for Bat Trang pottery
Examples of online marketing and sales for Bat Trang pottery can be as follows:
E-commerce Website: A Bat Trang pottery workshop or store can create its own e-commerce website to display and sell their ceramic products. On this website, they can share information about the history of Bat Trang pottery village, the production process of their products, and introduce the artisans working there. Customers can easily view and select the ceramic products they are interested in, add them to their cart, and proceed with online payments.
Social Media Platforms: Bat Trang pottery can utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to share images and videos of their ceramic products. They can create posts introducing new products, showcasing creative projects, or promoting special events like pottery exhibitions. The fast and widespread sharing capabilities of social media can attract the attention of many potential customers.
Online through E-commerce Platforms: In addition to having their own website, Bat Trang pottery can collaborate with prominent e-commerce platforms like Lazada, Shopee, Tiki, etc., to reach a large number of online shoppers. Through these platforms, Bat Trang ceramic products will appear in relevant categories and attract the interest of online buyers both domestically and internationally.
Online Advertising: Bat Trang pottery can invest in online advertising to target specific customer segments. They can run ads on search engines like Google or on social media to deliver information about their ceramic products to users interested in pottery and handmade crafts.
Implementing these online marketing and sales strategies will enable Bat Trang pottery to reach a large number of potential customers, expand its market reach, increase sales volume, and, at the same time, preserve and develop the traditional art of pottery in this thousand-year-old village
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