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SMEs need to go digital to remain in business

SMEs need to go digital to remain in business

Thursday, 06/05/2021

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As another Ramadan is being observed, the COVID-19 pandemic is still widespread everywhere. First
occurring in 2020, the pandemic has greatly affected business owners, especially those of small and
medium enterprises (SMEs). Some will be further affected with the recent reintroduction of the
movement control order (MCO) in six districts in Selangor.
 
 
However, some have been able to survive the pandemic and in fact made more income. What kind
of strategy have they adopted? e-commerce.
Businesses are taking advantage of the current trend across the globe—people turning to e-
commerce.
 
 
A study titled “COVID-19 and e-Commerce” by United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) and its partners examined the effect of the pandemic on consumers’
participation in e-commerce in several countries including Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Republic of
Korea, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Turkey.
 
 
The study found that there was an increase in online buying in those countries at varying degree.
The highest increase occurred in China and Turkey, while the lowest Switzerland and Germany. The
low increase in the last two countries was due to the fact that online buying was already practiced
before the pandemic. The study highlighted a positive progress on online business in developing
countries during the pandemic.
 
 
In Malaysia, people were initially sceptical towards online buying and hesitant to complete their
purchases on the Internet. However, the pandemic left them with no choice but to buy what they
need from online stores.
As a result, online buying increased 28.9 percent in April 2020, one month after the government’s
MCO enforcement.
 
 
Per SME Corporation Malaysia’s report, the percentage of SMEs participating in e-commerce in 2019
was 32 percent (290,260), which is still on the lower side.
The government has been taking various initiatives to increase SMEs’ competencies in e-commerce.
It has set up a company, Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), under the Ministry of
Communication and Multimedia to oversee the country’s digital economic development and ensure
its advancement is at par with the rest of the world.
 
 
By the end of 2020, MDEC has helped more than 489,000 SMEs and micro businesses set up their e-
commerce platforms. It has also trained another 378,000 on e-commerce venturing.
Participating in e-commerce is the surest way for the SMEs to survive going forward. More should
take the opportunity and make use of the initiatives and platforms offered by the government and
other responsible bodies to set up their e-commerce platform.
 
 
The pandemic has given rise to the setup of online businesses by many, including those laid off and
those just started to make a living. The time is ripe for more SMEs to follow the same path.
 
Original Malay version by:
Nurhazliyana Binti Hanafi
Lecturer
Department of Fundamental Knowledge and Entrepreneurship
Centre for Fundamental and Continuing Education
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Email: nurhazliyana@umt.edu.my
English translation by:
Corporate Communication Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu