Hello there, have you been to Melaka lately?
Well, I have. In fact, I am working from Melaka at the moment.
The traffic used to be terrible on weekend, all you see is red on your GPS navigation software app. The line to get RM5 worth of kuih keria, would take hours. Good luck getting a strategically located and pocket-friendly accommodation if you don’t make your reservations months ahead.
But with the new normal, situations are different now, driving in Melaka is relatively calming, getting my favourite Kuih Keria on a weekend took minutes. I can take my time slurping on Cendol Gula Melaka without feeling anxious about other people that are standing in line for their turn.
As a consumer, these soothing situations are delightful, until last week, when I went to service my car, a small talk with the mechanic that runs the workshop made me realize that I am their 2nd customer of the day, and its already 3.30 pm. He’s been struggling.
After that, I dropped by a sidewalk food stall to get some Pisang Goreng at about 6 pm, I realized there was still about 3 quarter tray of the Kuih Seri Muka left unsold, half Tupperware of the Kuih Ketayap, among others. Since it was already 6 pm, the stall operator probably have about less than an hour left to make her selling.
BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE THESE DAYS
Limitation of economic activity in response to COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on businesses, particularly micro and small enterprises.
Not just limited cash reserves, the businesses are also experiencing;-
- Drop in demand
- Obstacles in operating with the time and pax limitation
- Getting their usual supply
A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION GUIDE (DiTG)
To ensure business continuity, the micro and small businesses need to quickly shift to digital platforms. Everyone dabble on going digital but do you have the right tools to go on a positive digital journey.
The Digital Transformation Guide is an initiative that aims to help transform your traditional business to go digital. This survival kit is introduced by Digital Productivity Nexus (DPN), a subsector initiative under the Malaysia Productivity Blueprint.
With DiTG, micro, small and medium-size business owners are given a step-by-step must-do-list to transform, survive, and thrive in the new age
The initiative is built around 5 main aspects of doing business:
Financing
– To decide the best way to raise funds, i.e. via equity financing, loans or grants
Digital
– To assess which cloud-based and other digital tools are applicable and suitable for the business
Talent
– To assess talent requirements based on the nature of business as well as training requirements
Processes
– To assess which tasks are easiest to migrate online, then consider subscribing to cloud-based tools.
Business Model
– To explore the option for gradual migration. This would include an online presence, followed by digital marketing know-how that includes an online marketplace with an e-commerce site with payment gateway.
These aspects serve to address the issues and challenges facing micro-businesses and SMEs in transitioning into the digital economy.
TRANSFORMING YOUR BUSINESS DIGITALLY
An average Malaysian spends 8 hours and 5 minutes a day using the internet. That is a lot of screen-time, so why don’t you take advantage of that. Parade your business and find your potential customer. Make their life easier and let them access learn about you with a click of a button.
Prioritizing digital should be key, not just in the new normal, but also in keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of consumer habit.
We might not be able to predict when COVID-19 will end, but we can be sure that the Malaysian public will not be throwing away their internet access anytime soon.
Shifting the focus to you now, what is your business and are you ready to go digital? (It’s about time, don’t you think?)
If you are ready to transform, get your hand moving and send an email to any of the address below:
shaifu@pikom.org.my / halimahton@mpc.gov.my / izzati@mpc.gov.my