Giải bài toán “nhu cầu ảo” trong tiêu dùng nhanh, sinh viên DNU giành vé vào cuộc thi cấp quốc gia

The goal of the "Vietnam Young Logistics Talent Search 2026" competition at Dai Nam University is to immerse students in real-world business problems, applying their knowledge, technology, and AI to find solutions. From six projects in the final round, the Next Route team won first prize with LinkSupply – a multi-tiered data connectivity platform aimed at reducing "artificial demand" in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain. This victory earned them the DNU representative to advance to the National Semifinals.

The competing teams incorporated real-world logistics problems into their projects, ranging from transportation and warehousing to last-mile delivery and urban logistics.

From a small fluctuation to "artificial demand" across the entire supply chain.

Instead of viewing logistics simply as a story of transportation or warehousing, a group of third-year students from the Department of Logistics and International Business chose to address a deeper issue within the supply chain: how data on actual market demand can be distorted as it passes through multiple layers.

In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, a small change in consumer demand can be amplified through retailers, distributors, and then manufacturers. If information between these parties is not connected in a timely manner, businesses may misjudge demand, leading to overordering or underordering, increased inventory, and higher operating costs. This is the Bullwhip effect – the problem that Next Route has chosen to solve.

From there, the team built LinkSupply - a multi-tiered data connectivity platform that helps transmit information about real-world demand from retailers to distributors and manufacturers more quickly and accurately.

DNU students presented LinkSupply, a multi-tiered data connectivity platform aimed at reducing "artificial demand" in the FMCG supply chain.

Nguyen Huu Thang, a student in Logistics class 18-01 and a member of the Next Route team, said that LinkSupply aims to help distributors and manufacturers keep up with market fluctuations; and support all three parties in forecasting demand and managing inventory.

In return, retailers can access logistics services from distributors and manufacturers, forming a system with shared data instead of each link operating based on individual information.

“Becoming the representative of Dai Nam University to participate in the National Semifinals is a great honor for us, but also brings a lot of pressure. The road ahead is not only about perfecting the competition entry but also about verifying our ability to put our ideas into practice, especially as AI and technology are increasingly involved in logistics operations,” Thang shared.

6 teams competing - 6 real-world logistics problems

The final round is an opportunity for students to take their ideas beyond the classroom and address requirements and situations closer to those in the business environment.

Students directly answer critical questions and handle real-world situations in the debate section of the competition.

LinkSupply isn't the only project that started from ongoing business problems. Six finalist teams chose six different approaches: optimizing road transport, warehouse management, container freight forecasting, last-mile delivery, and reducing costs and emissions in urban logistics.

LogiVerse applies AI to optimize return journeys for road transport between Hanoi and Hai Phong; Infinity Supply develops LogiSmart AI for warehouse management; Victory researches AI to forecast freight rates and assist in selecting optimal times for container shipping on the Cat Lai - Shanghai route.

Synergy seeks optimal last-mile delivery solutions in Hanoi, linking customer satisfaction to a smart last-mile model; Elite Stars researches AI to reduce costs and emissions in urban delivery.

Dr. Le Thi My Ngoc, Head of the Department of Logistics and International Business, highly appreciated the students' ability to apply knowledge and technology to solve real-world problems.

According to Dr. Le Thi My Ngoc, Head of the Department of Logistics and International Business, the topics show that students have begun to identify industry problems, use AI, exploit data, and apply their professional knowledge to find solutions.

More importantly, after the competition, students must continue to delve into the practical operations of businesses to verify and refine their projects, aiming to transform their ideas into valuable, usable products.

Don't just compete to win prizes.

The final round on September 26th attracted over 300 students along with representatives from logistics associations and businesses. Six teams competed in two parts: project presentation and debate.

The judging panel comprises representatives from the Vietnam Logistics Human Resources Development Association (VALOMA), the Hanoi Logistics Association, and businesses in the fields of freight forwarding, data, and logistics.

Six competing teams presented their projects to a judging panel comprised of representatives from logistics associations and businesses.

Students not only have to present an idea, but also demonstrate whether the problem is real, whether the solution is well-founded, and whether it is feasible to implement in practice; they must also directly answer expert criticisms and handle situations within a limited time.

That is also the greater value of this platform: taking knowledge out of lectures and allowing students to practice solving a problem that closely resembles a real-world professional environment.

The Next Route team won first prize in the final round with their LinkSupply project, becoming the representative of Dai Nam University to participate in the National Semifinals.

For Next Route, first place and a ticket to the National Semifinals is just one milestone.

A more challenging task lies ahead: testing LinkSupply in real-world business environments, demonstrating how data connectivity can help reduce demand mismatches, optimize inventory, production, and distribution.

The final round of the "Vietnam Young Logistics Talent Search 2026" competition at Dai Nam University took place on September 26th, attracting over 300 students.

From an academic assignment to a solution that can enter the business world – that's the competency journey that DNU students need to take.