Human Resource Management in Language Service Enterprises: Challenges and Strategic Responses in the Era of DX & AI – An Evidence from Vietnam

Human resource management (HRM) has become a critical determinant of organizational competitiveness and sustainable development in knowledge-intensive service industries. This issue is particularly significant for language service enterprises, where organizational performance depends heavily on employees’ linguistic competence, professional expertise, intercultural communication skills, and adaptability to technological change. Despite the rapid expansion of the language service industry in Vietnam, empirical research examining HRM practices within translation, interpreting, and language education enterprises remains relatively limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating human resource management practices at VEDICO Education and Translation Joint Stock Company, a Vietnamese enterprise operating in translation, interpreting, and language training services. Using a qualitative case-study approach supported by company reports, employee surveys, organizational documents, and managerial observations collected during the 2020–2022 period, the study examines key HRM dimensions including workforce planning, recruitment, employee allocation, training and development, compensation systems, organizational culture, and digital transformation. The findings indicate that VEDICO has established a relatively qualified workforce and a professional working environment. However, the company continues to face challenges related to strategic workforce planning, talent retention, competency-based training, and adaptation to emerging AI-assisted language technologies. The study argues that sustainable competitiveness in language service enterprises increasingly depends on the integration of technological capabilities and human expertise. Based on the findings, several managerial implications are proposed, including competency-based recruitment, AI-integrated professional development, digital HRM transformation, performance-oriented compensation systems, and organizational culture enhancement. The study contributes to the limited body of literature on HRM in language service enterprises and offers practical insights for organizations operating in translation, interpreting, localization, and language education sectors in emerging economies.