Data, Users, APIs: The 3 Pillars of Effective Digital Transformation
Last updated: November 12, 2025 Read in fullscreen view
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“Near the Data, Close to the User, Connected by API”
A modern reflection on the ancient wisdom of “Nhất cận giang, nhì cận thị, tam cận lộ”
🧾The Old Wisdom, Reimagined
In traditional Vietnamese and Chinese culture, people used to say:
“Nhất cận giang, nhì cận thị, tam cận lộ”
(First, live near the river. Second, near the market. Third, near the road.)
It was ancient real-estate wisdom — a way to choose prosperous land. Living near a river meant life and abundance.
Near a market meant trade and opportunity. Near a road meant connection and growth.
Now, in the digital age, this timeless truth still applies — but not to land, rather to software.
1. First, Near the Data — the River of Digital Life
In the digital world, data is water. Without data, software is a dry field — no growth, no harvest.
The first rule of building software for digital transformation is simple:
“Where does the data flow from, and where does it flow to?”
A successful system must connect directly to real data sources — from customer behavior, operations, transactions, or sensors. The closer your software is to the stream of data, the more alive it becomes.
Without data, it’s just a stagnant pond — clean on the surface, empty underneath.
2. Second, Close to the User — the Digital Marketplace
Just as ancient merchants thrived by setting up shop near busy markets, modern software thrives by staying close to its users.
You can’t build software in isolation and expect people to adapt. You must go to the “market” — where real users click, complain, and comment. Only then can you see what truly matters to them.
The best digital products are born from constant feedback loops. They evolve with users, just like merchants refine their goods to keep loyal customers coming back.
3. Third, Connected by API — the Digital Highway
In the past, being near a road meant easier trade and travel. Today, being “near the API” means your software
can integrate, expand, and connect within the digital ecosystem.
Without APIs, your app becomes an isolated house in the forest — no path in, no path out.
In digital transformation, success doesn’t come from standalone apps but from networks of systems that talk to each other. APIs are the highways of the digital economy — they connect you to partners, platforms, and possibilities.
Conclusion
Digital transformation isn’t about building another piece of software. It’s about choosing the right digital location — where data flows, users interact, and systems connect.
So remember the modern version of our ancestors’ wisdom:
- Near the Data — to stay alive.
- Close to the User — to stay relevant.
- Connected by API — to stay scalable.
Companies that master all three will thrive in the digital age — just like the prosperous riverside towns of old, where every stream, road, and market came together to create lasting prosperity.
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