DIGITALISATION: THE WAY FORWARD FOR DAILY CONVENIENCES

Credit Photo by Headway on Unsplash

Like it or not, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to re-look at what it could do better to manage this virulent situation. Be it working-from-home, a concept that most businesses still balk at just a month ago; to moving all shopping needs onto online platforms; conducting school and lectures via digital classrooms; or digital services experiencing a huge spike in engagement and consumption – everything is now anchored wholly onto the digital economy.

All these digitally powered activities are now front and centre, with some declaring it the new norm.

How can the unprepared make the best of this challenging scenario that the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) brought about to combat the infectious COVID-19 virus?

While access to skill development and business transformation services may vary for all organisations, there is no doubt that this is the most opportune time for companies, and the general public, to learn and discover new ways to keep their businesses and livelihood going. That is where service and solutions providers like Getme Trading – a Facebook Live Management +1 (Hotsnet) system training platform – helps small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) to use Facebook Live as a marketing tool.

Immediate Switch

“One of the biggest challenges that we faced in the first few years, and even now, is how we must travel to our client sites as some prefer to meet up face-to-face for system demonstrations and discussions. With the MCO, this has become a non-issue as most of them are ‘forced’ to adapt and use technology to ‘meet’ and watch the system demo. As for our existing clientele, they can only request for ‘live troubleshoots’ via TeamViewer. This, in many ways, created the opportunity for us to showcase the wonders of virtual conferencing and prove the effectiveness and efficiency of these digital platforms,” said Gary Yeo, Founder of GetMe Trading.

Yeo (fourth from left) in his introductory course with the eUsahwan trainers from MDEC around late last year. The course title: “When, Why and How to sell on Facebook Live?”

While the changes that Getme Trading did was nearly seamless, it isn’t the same for many of Yeo’s clients. Before MCO came into force, the team had around Malaysia to meet clients and carry out demonstrations at these offsite meetings.

Even so, Getme Trading was already on the path of digitalisation for some time now and had already moved 90% of its processes onto digital platforms.

“We have already gone paperless, from signing up our clients to issuing invoices. Even our training modules, like showing our clients how to get online, what they can do to attract a following, and keeping them engaged so they can be positively perceptive to future product marketing and services – all of that are now done online,” he revealed.

Literally and figuratively, Getme Trading is now walking the talk. The next step: to help businesses make the same transition easily and quickly prove to its clients how going digital can positively change not just workflows, but also enhance all day-to-day activities.

Yeo at an off-site business meetings and demonstration with David Teo, Founder, Lakumall (https://www.facebook.com/lakumallofficial/), one of the upcoming Facebook Live channels that focus on marketing various products like kitchen appliances, fashion, and health and beauty.

Encouraging Changes

In a time when business process optimisation is now an imperative, Getme Trading had already implemented flexibility for working hours and office attendance policies. “Before MCO, all our employees can work anywhere and at any time, as long as they get their work done. To ensure we’re always connected, we have adopted technologies that help digitalise our work processes, like Google G Suite, Alibaba DingTalk, and Microsoft Skype,” Yeo shared.

The changes that Getme Trading put in place have helped encouraged its staff and clients to be more digitally savvy and consider the various advantages that come with it. Yeo revealed one of the key benefits is how his team no longer travels all day to meet our customers. “Beyond the cost-savings for these long distance commutes, our staff also experienced increased productivity and have become more efficient. This can be seen in how we are now able to reach out to clients quickly and engage them with shorter turnaround times,” he added.

A virtual demonstration, featuring video/voice conferencing with a client, Xian Jia Lin (https://www.facebook.com/xianjialinseafood/).

With this transformation, cross border engagement is not an issue for Yeo’s team. In fact, it directly works with partners and ecosystem affiliates that have joined its system. This includes regional users who operate across Asia, like Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong.

Even if these changes were beneficial for Yeo and his team, how can businesses make that move now? There are so many variables to consider – will it be worth the risk to change? For Yeo, it’s a matter of time before all of them must digitalise.

“Personally, that moment is now. We’re in an era where technology is so advanced that there is really no reason not to digitalise. In fact, going digital doesn’t only tear down the borders between countries, it also makes daily life activities easier and more convenient. As innovation is now, literally, at your fingertips, everything – from work to play and even family time – has gone digital,” Yeo said.

In setting up GetMe to be more digitally driven, Yeo believes businesses can do the same and get their digitally-powered operations running in short order. “Our operations alone saw a 200% increase in positive productivity. This was measured based on our KPIs and our growing revenue stream. It’s not really hard to accept and believe that work processes and running a business is easier when everything is digitalised,” he concluded.

USAHAWAN LANGKAWI LANCAR LAMAN WEB KHAS PROMOSI SEBAGAI PERSEDIAAN PASCA COVID-19 DAN PKP

Mega Water Sport yang menawarkan aktiviti rekreasi laut kepada pelancong di Pulau Langkawi kini membangunkan platform digital untuk mempromosikan pulau berkenaan.

Setiap kali bulan Mac menjelang, Pulau Langkawi, di Kedah disapa kemeriahan yang cukup luar biasa.

Apa tidaknya, pulau yang terkenal dengan lagenda Mahsuri itu menjadi lokasi pilihan untuk bersantai sempena musim cuti persekolahan di negara ini.

Keindahan pasir yang memutih di Pantai Tanjung Rhu, debaran mencuba kereta kabel yang mempunyai laluan terpanjang di dunia, kemeriahan pasar malam Pantai Chenang atau rambang mata saat mahu membeli pelbagai jenis coklat yang murah kerana pulau ini berstatus kawasan bebas cukai, Langkawi tetap mempunyai tempat istimewa di kalangan pelancong tempatan dan asing.

Menurut statistik oleh Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA), pada tahun lepas seramai 3.9 juta pelancong berkunjung ke sana dengan seramai 350 000 dicatatkan pada bulan Mac.

Bagaimanapun, tahun ini, bulan Mac di Langkawi yang baru berlalu boleh disimpulkan sebagai musim cuti sekolah yang paling sepi gara-gara pandemik Covid-19 dan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) yang dikuatkuasa kerajaan.

Benar, ia merupakan fenomena global kerana virus ini sedang berleluasa mencari perumah di lebih 180 negara sehingga memberi implikasi besar kepada sektor ekonomi.

Antara yang paling terjejas sudah pasti sektor pelancongan yang turut terkait dengan syarikat penerbangan, perhotelan, inap desa, taman tema, riadah dan sebagainya.

Tidak mahu terus larut dalam keresahan menunggu situasi pulih, sekumpulan pemilik produk pelancongan berkaitan aktiviti riadah di Langkawi, bangkit dengan semangat baharu dengan merencanakan strategi digital bagi menyelamatkan perniagaan.

Biarpun mereka tidak pasti, bila PKP akan berakhir serta waktu kerajaan akan kembali ‘membuka pintu masuk negara’ kepada warga asing , kumpulan ini terus menggunakan kemudahan teknologi digital untuk membangunkan platform baharu.

Penyelarasnya, Hussein Mohd Said yang juga peserta 100 Go Digital anjuran Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) berkata,  platform berkenaan iaitu http://www.pulaulangkawi.my/ diwujudkan kerana mahu ‘menjual’ Pulau Langkawi.

Langkawi yang merupakan lokasi percutian pilihan di Malaysia turut terjejas akibat pandemik Covid -19

Katanya, pada peringkat awal, laman web ini akan memfokuskan kepada pengusaha produk pelancongan yang menawarkan aktiviti riadah kepada orang ramai sebelum diperluaskan kepada sektor lain.

“ Platform ini dibuat oleh pemilik -pemilik pusat tarikan pelancongan akan menawarkan harga pakej yang sangat murah selain turut memberi pilihan kepada bakal pembeli berdasarkan konsep buy now and use later (beli sekarang, guna kemudian),” katanya kepada Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) baru – baru ini.

Hussein yang juga pemilik Mega Water Sports berkata, dia yakin platform digital yang dibangunkan untuk tujuan promosi itu mempunyai potensi besar untuk dikembangkan.

“ Setakat ini antara yang terlibat ialah Crocodile Adventure Land, Skytrex, Umgawa, Underwater World, WildLife Park, Panorama Langkawi, Morac, Junglewalla, Avante dan Splash Out,” katanya.

Terdapat juga di kalangan peserta yang menyertai platform promosi ini merupakan alumni 100 Go Digital anjuran MDEC iaitu Morac Adventure Park Langkawi yang menawarkan kemudahan litar lumba go kart.

Morac Adventure Park Langkawi sebelum ini mengakui syarikat telah meluaskan penggunaan media sosial untuk mempromosikan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan selaras dengan apa yang dipelajari dalam kursus 100 Go Digital yang dilaksanakan pada Oktober tahun lepas.

Mengulas lanjut, Hussein berkata, dia dan rakan -rakan berharap agar laman web berkenaan akan menjadi ‘pusat maklumat’ utama dalam mempromosikan Langkawi menerusi pemasaran digital.

“ Laman web ini dijangka akan beroperasi dalam tempoh terdekat. Selepas ini kami mungkin akan bekerjasama dengan lebih ramai pemain industri pelancongan termasuk perhotelan dalam menyalurkan maklumat di laman web ini,” katanya.

MDEC sebelum ini melancarkan 100 Go Digital dengan Langkawi , Kedah menjadi kawasan pertama dipilih untuk melaksanakan program itu.

Program itu antara lain bertujuan memupuk usahawan tradisional bergerak ke arah pendigitalan perniagaan bagi meneroka potensi pelanggan baharu dan memudahkan operasi.

Usahawan yang ingin mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang program 100 Go Digital boleh melayari laman web https://mdec.my atau menerusi Facebook 100 Go Digital.

Kredit Gambar: Facebook Mega Water Sport

oleh Mohd Firdaus Ismail

COVID-19: CIO of the Year?

Source: BSP, MDEC Files

There has certainly not been a shortage of anecdotes on how COVID-19 should be declared the CIO of the year. I have been in many conversations that have variously blamed or credited the pandemic as being the single most significant event that has got organisations scrambling to rethink business models and accelerate their digital transformation – something that had previously been at the back of the mind, now pushed to the forefront of every business decision.

The old adage – necessity is the mother of invention – seems more apt than ever, as the world starts to reconfigure its approach to work, education, entertainment and, more fundamentally, well-being. Businesses have begun experimenting with previously untested methods and mechanisms – and this in turn opened the floodgates to accessing digital tools for solutions. Beyond business operations and Work-From-Home initiatives, it has expanded to on-demand food and services, telemedicine and online financial services.

As the dust settles after COVID-19, questions will arise as to how businesses and the workforce will bounce back into the new normal. In fact, the first question to arise will be what the new normal looks like.

For organisations that have boxed themselves in with operations-as-usual at the expense of digitalising their business and long-term resilience, the current pandemic is a bolt from the future. Businesses that have shifted to digital platforms will better mitigate the effect of the outbreak and will more likely ensure smooth operations immediately after the MCO and over the long term.

Remote Working

A remote workforce is no longer a novelty. In May 2018, Zug, Switzerland service office provider, IWG, found that 70% of professionals worldwide are already working remotely.

While working from home is seen as advantageous by many employees, on the contrary, companies may lack the technological infrastructure to run without disrupting operations. Continued success not only rests on the ability to pivot processes but also company cultures. In China, when the government encouraged millions to remain at home, Chinese companies could immediately adapt due to technological capabilities. Even so, company cultures were simply not ready, resulting in other unexpected social and mental health issues.

In Malaysia, as the gig economy continues to gain momentum, employers will have to reassess rigid work policies that would have been crafted in times when work was centralised. In the interest of long-term effectiveness, even organisations that revert to pre-COVID-19 work practices must transform so they are prepared for a whole new environment.

Innovations in Telehealth, Telemedicine

One of the first instance of innovation I noticed during the early stages of the pandemic was the CoronaTracker app, created by a team of researchers in Malaysia.

Telehealth and telemedicine are now getting attention as well. The government’s move to quickly adopt technology and transform by developing virtual health advisories and using live chats and webinars is in line with this.  Malaysia’s telemedicine blueprint, crafted in the late 90s, envisioned a time when patients could receive remote healthcare. In the wake of the pandemic, a Malaysian tech startup, DoctorOnCall, has offered a virtual health advisory platform for people to consult doctors amid the coronavirus outbreak. Innovation, being cited as one of the areas of emphasis of Malaysia’s future health care system in the blueprint, is now in full effect.

Moving forward, solutions in telehealth and telemedicine will require the promise of better data management and security. The public also expects platforms for these purposes are designed to protect the safety of all personal data. Internationally, organisations involved in contact tracing apps or devices have ensured all data collected will be stored privately and anonymised on their platforms. Their approach also includes the data being held in trust until requested by relevant local authorities who will, with their respective contact tracing protocols, choose to contact users.

E-Learning

90% of future jobs will require digital literacy. However, the world has fast-forwarded to the future in a matter of weeks. The call for schools, institutions and universities worldwide to instantly begin offering virtual learning options is gaining momentum. Malaysian institutions offering online courses in areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, coding, artificial intelligence and other digital skills, have received very good response.

Meanwhile, many varsities have shifted to online classes to minimise the spread of infection, said Universiti Malaya’s Academic Enhancement and Leadership Development Centre (ADeC) e-learning Head, Dr Zahiruddin Fitri Abu Hassan.

To ensure effective learning continues, institutions in Malaysia offering online courses include MDEC’s Premier Digital Tech Institutions (PDTIs).

Fundamental challenges prevail in elearning, all of which need to be addressed if Malaysia wishes to accelerate the digital economy. In a recent report by a local newspaper, Professor Dr Abdul Karim Alias, Director of the Centre for Development of Academic Excellence (CDAE), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) states that there is a dire need for an efficient system to be developed. He stresses on the challenges like the experience and skill of those imparting education online, the readiness of connectivity and devices, as well as resistant mindsets towards adopting technology. This will be the next barrier to break.

Digital Banking Services and Fintech

The population of the unbanked in Malaysia stood at 8% or two million of the country’s 24 million adults, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)’s Financial Stability and Payment Systems Report 2017. Essentially, they are unserved or underserved.

There has been a rise in fintech activity of late, rightly canvassing to be inclusive. After all, the marketplace will adjust to new realities and fintech is already adapting to these changes since the start of the pandemic. Perhaps, ultimately, the fintech companies who are able to tweak their solutions to solve today’s problems will emerge strong after the crisis, according to Dato’ Ng Wan Peng, COO of MDEC.

Concurrently, the present observation is that digital payment players that service e-commerce platforms have a strong position in this MCO scenario. This is due to the surge of online purchase brought about by millions of Malaysians who are staying at home.

As businesses and consumers turn to digital banking services, traditional financial institutions will be compelled to hasten their digital innovation efforts. Consequently, many traditional banks may seek fintech to bring more inclusive digital banking solutions to the economy. This will, possibly, make the visit to a bank an increasingly rare occurrence.

Recovery with the Digital Economy

We may be bent by COVID-19, but we will not be broken. At a dialogue session organised by Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) recently , discussions focused on engaging our local tech startups and tech funding agencies.  Such efforts from the government and its agencies show strong commitment to continue to work and find ways how it can help mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on various communities.

Over the past weeks, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has collaborated with various industries and ministries to bring tech assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs whose source of income have been affected by the pandemic and MCO.

In line with the government’s announcement of the People-Centric Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) and the subsequent enhancements, MDEC launched the #DigitalVsCovid movement to support businesses and consumers by providing a list of e-services, e-learning and e-businesses for their convenience, and to obtain information and benefit from our digital ecosystem

Malaysia may be in the thick of battle, but as a nation, we are prepared to emerge victorious as various efforts are made to accelerate the development of digital tools and solutions and thus, hasten Malaysia’s healing.

#DigitalVsCovid

# LetsBuildTogether

Digital Vs. Covid-19: Easing Into eWallets!

Remember the time you used to walk into a bank, take a number and then wait to be served? Yes, I know that was just last month and thus hard to feel nostalgic about. Nonetheless, the switch has been flipped with social distancing during Covid-19 – and will probably stay flipped for the foreseeable future, forcing a reconsideration of any resistance to digital tech. With physical notes being the last choice in these ‘go-contactless’ times, it is inevitable people will go for cashless transactions and online banking.  ‘Wait, there is a difference?’, you ask?

Source: MDEC files

As the MCO is extended to May 12th, concerns about making certain payments on time or availing certain services are crucial. Paying your phone bill, withdrawing your EPF, buying insurance or the mundane duty of buying your weekly groceries, especially considering the expected change in shopping priorities and habits during the fasting month – all fall back on online payments.  These payments may need your eWallet to be linked to your bank account or credit card.

What’s The eWallet For Me?

There is no silver bullet, but here are some options you could start exploring online, in no particular order. The point is, the more sophisticated in services, the easier to use and the wider the array of services, the more likely that an eWallet is appealing.

GRABPAY

This is for you if you say, “I want food, groceries, to hail a ride, to buy insurance, to clean and fix.”

Besides the delivery and payment options, this eWallet had announced that, GrabMart is available in Penang, Johor Baru, Melaka, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Ipoh. To boost businesses during the MCO period, Grab is also offering free delivery, 30 per cent off GrabFood Signatures, and 50 per cent off GrabMart’s health essentials. They also shared that they will charge 0% commissions on all digital payments made via Whatsapp, Facebook, and phone orders and launched a waitless, cashless (just pay with GrabPay via the app), besides a contactless ‘self-pickup’ option. The move saves customers’ time while helping them avoid crowds.

On the business side, Grab’s Small-Biz Relief program provides financial relief up to RM 3,000 to each GrabFood small businesses in the form of rebate for every order. Brands like Grab now cut across eWallet and mobile wallet service categories, combining both into a single app. Their services include package delivery services, e-hailing, and food delivery.

SHOPEEPAY

This is for you if you say, “I want to feel secure and informed above all else”.

This e-wallet released a list of guidelines for users to guard against scammers as well as sellers who take advantage of product shortages by increasing prices, especially with sanitisers and face masks.

Guidelines listed include:

• Reading the product description and reviews from other buyers carefully;

• Using the in-app Shopee Live Chat to verify information;

• Ensuring all transactions take place within its platform to ensure protection under Shopee Guarantee Policy.

BOOST

This is for you if you say, “I want cashbacks, gaming credits, pay bills and to give e-gifts”.

Why Boost made on this list is because it offers free life insurance with special Covid-19 coverage for all users. An RM1000 payout to families which have lost a member to Covid-19 and a special RM5,000 coverage upon diagnosis of Covid-19. In addition, Boost has set up a Tabung Covid-19 which collects funds for those directly and indirectly affected by the current situation.

~~

Many more eWallets exist in the market and each is as worthy of further exploration as the ones named above. Check out Lazada Wallet, WeChat Pay, Touch N Go, Fave and Big Pay and many more. The time is ripe to begin using eWallet options, especially over the next few weeks.

Current times are testimony to the fact that the digital economy is here to stay – made more so by #socialdistancing and #StayAtHome. Regionally too, the financial industry has expressed a belief that the pandemic will catalyse mobile-first banking, reducing people walking into local bank branches.

And who knows? We could possibly be the last generation to see the inside of a bank!

#LetsBuildTogether

#DigitalProductivity

PENANGAN 100% DIGITAL, BAJU T DARI CHANGLUN, KEDAH TERBANG KE SABAH SEWAKTU PKP

Mohamad Syamim menggunakan siaran langsung Facebook untuk menarik perhatian pembeli mengenai kepelbagaian baju T dan aksesori yang dijualnya.

Satu persatu helaian baju T terpakai atau ‘bundle’ yang tergantung diangkat dan ditunjukkan kepada ‘penonton’.

Sambil tersenyum, Mohamad Syamim  Ab Malek, 29, tekun menjawab pelbagai soalan yang diajukan menerusi siaran langsung Facebook.

Sejak perlaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) oleh kerajaan untuk membendung pandemik Covid-19, begitulah rutin harian pemuda berkenaan yang menetap di Changlun, sebuah pekan kecil yang terletak tidak jauh dari sempadan Malaysia – Thailand.

Dia memanfaatkan kemudahan teknologi digital untuk menjana pendapatan ketika ramai yang mengeluh kerana hilang punca akibat Covid-19.

“ Setiap hari saya membuat beberapa kali sidang video di Facebook untuk berceloteh dengan kawan – kawan sambil mempromosikan baju T dan pelbagai barangan lain yang dijual.

“ Ada yang berkongsi video langsung saya di beberapa laman Facebook sehingga mendapat tontonan ramai, jadi lebih mudah untuk mendapat pembeli berpotensi,”katanya kepada Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) baru – baru ini.

Menurut bekas pekerja teknikal itu, setiap hari dia berjaya ‘mendapat’ pelanggan terutamanya yang berminat dengan baju T  edisi terhad yang sangat diburu oleh peminat barangan bundle.

“ Setiap hari,  sebanyak 15 barangan seperti baju T, topi, jam, seluar, beg dan kasut yang masih dalam keadaan elok berjaya dijual. Selepas pelanggan sahkan pembelian dan membuat pembayaran secara dalam talian, saya akan poskan pada hari berikutnya, “ katanya.

Menurutnya, selain mengepos kepada pelanggan di kawasan sekitar hingga ke Kuala Lumpur, terdapat juga pembeli dari Sabah dan Sarawak yang berminat dengan produknya.

“Antara baju T yang dijual ialah mengenai kumpulan muzik tertentu dengan corak yang esklusif. Selepas dipromosikan, pasti ada pembeli namun perlu rajin membuat pemasaran digital,” katanya.

Baju T mengenai kumpulan muzik antara yang mendapat permintaan tinggi sehingga ke Sabah dan Sarawak.

Selain menggunakan sesi siaran langsung Facebook sebagai platform , dia turut menjual menerusi Instagram dan aplikasi Whatsapp.

Pada masa depan, Mohamad Syamim merancang untuk menyusul perniagaan dengan teratur termasuk mewujudkan laman web khas.

“ Selepas ini saya bercadang untuk mengikut kelas atau pembelajaran e-Dagang bagi mengembangkan rangkaian perniagaan atau menjual di platform-platform sedia ada seperti Shopee dan Lazada,” katanya.

Sementara itu, orang ramai yang berminat untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang inisiatif MDEC membantu peniaga dalam talian serta sektor e-Dagang di di negara ini, anda boleh melayari portal https://www.go-ecommerce.my/my yang memberikan pelbagai maklumat terkini yang mungkin boleh membantu perniagaan anda.

oleh Mohd Firdaus Ismail

MEMANFAATKAN TEKNOLOGI DIGITAL UNTUK TERUSKAN KEHIDUPAN SEWAKTU PKP

Antara pelanggan yang mencuba kek dihasilkan Shazlin sewaktu PKP dan dijual menerusi dalam talian

Perlaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) oleh kerajaan sejak 18 March lalu untuk membendung pandemik Covid-19 turut memberi kesan kepada beberapa sektor yang dikategorikan sebagai kurang penting yang terpaksa menghentikan operasi.

Antara yang terkesan termasuklah pengusaha kantin di sebuah kilang di Gombak, Selangor, Shazlin Anwar.

Shazlin, 40, berkata, dia pada mulanya buntu apabila hilang punca pendapatan sekelip mata.

Bagaimanapun, wanita itu tidak mudah patah semangat apabila menggunakan kemahiran membuat pelbagai jenis kek sebagai sumber rezeki baharu buat sementara waktu.

“ Saya mula membuat promosi menggunakan media sosial terutamanya Facebook untuk memberitahu rakan -rakan tentang perniagaan menjual kek butter marble.

“ Mereka memberi sokongan apabila membuat tempahan malahan pada hari ketiga, jumlah pesanan mencecah 30 biji sehari dan konsisten setiap hari,” katanya.

Antara yang ditawarkan ialah kek butter marble pelbagai perisa seperti  red velvet, pandan dan coklat dengan setiap satu dijual pada harga RM35.

Bagi menarik perhatian pembeli, Shazlin turut membuat penghantaran percuma.

“ Memandangkan hanya saya seorang yang terlibat dalam proses penyediaan sehingga penghantaran, setiap hari saya hanya mampu mengambil 30 pesanan sahaja di sekitar ibu kota,” katanya yang tinggal di Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.

Sementara itu,  seorang pengusaha taska di Alor Setar, Kedah, Mohd Asyraf Ariff Mohd Naaim, 25, pada mulanya juga buntu apabila terpaksa menghentikan operasinya.

Katanya, ini kerana dia masih perlu menyelesaikan pelbagai bayaran termasuk sewa premis dan gaji pekerja.

“ Oleh itu, saya mengambil keputusan untuk menjual ikan dan hasil laut . Seperti peniaga lain, saya turut menggunakan media sosial sebagai platform promosi,” katanya.

Katanya, pada mulanya penjualan agak perlahan namun selepas menawarkan khidmat penghantaran, berlaku peningkatan pembelian.

Selain menjual hasil laut, Asraf turut menawarkan penghantaran barangan ke rumah pelanggan yang diiklankan secara dalam talian.

Sikap memanfaatkan peluang digital yang wujud ketika ini bertepatan dengan seruan menggalakkan usahawan mikro dan kecil oleh Malaysia Digital Economy Digital (MDEC) untuk terus mempromosikan produk dan perkhidmatan mereka sepanjang tempoh PKP.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Surina Shukri berkata, sokongan kepada komuniti usahawan mikro dan kecil daripada MDEC bukan hanya membabitkan kumpulan yang terlibat dalam program kelolaan agensi tersebut.

“Setiap lapisan masyarakat juga boleh memanfaatkan portal yang disediakan untuk mendapatkan maklumat yang boleh membantu perniagaan.

Misalnya, portal https://www.go-ecommerce.my/ telah membantu seramai 183,290 usahawan digital untuk mempelajari kemahiran e-dagang yang sentiasa dikemas kini dengan maklumat semasa,” katanya.

oleh Mohd Firdaus Ismail

BILA MANGGA HARUM MANIS MASUK ‘PASAR DIGITAL’

Mangga Harum Manis dari Perlis kini turut dijual di media sosial sewaktu Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP).

Ketika Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dikuatkuasa, pelbagai produk memasuki pasaran e-dagang sekaligus merancakkan sektor ekonomi digital.

Terbaharu, tular di laman sosial mengenai ‘kehadiran’ hasil pertanian tersohor berasal dari Perlis iaitu Mangga Harum Manis yang kini menjadi pilihan peniaga dalam talian.

Sebelum ini, kemasyuran mangga berkenaan yang dianggap ‘produk pertanian emas’ Perlis terbukti apabila telah dieksport ke Singapura dan Jepun sekaligus memberi pulangan cukup lumayan kepada pengusaha tempatan.

Mengambil peluang daripada populariti buah tempatan itu, seorang tukang urut sukan yang ‘berehat’ daripada rutin mengurut turut mengambil peluang menjual buah berkenaan menerusi pelbagai platform digital ketika ini.

Muhammad Hamka Ruslan, 26, berkata, sejak mula mempromosikan buah berkenaan menerusi laman sosial pada minggu kedua PKP, dia mendapat pesanan yang memberangsangkan.

Tekstur isi yang lembut dan manis menjadi punca Mangga Harum Manis kini menerima sambutan hangat apabila didagangkan di media sosial.

“ Sebenarnya saya mula menjual Mangga Harum Manis pada 2017 namun berhenti apabila bekerja tetap dengan sebuah syarikat selain mula menawarkan perkhidmatan urutan sukan.

“ Bagaimanapun, selepas kerajaan melaksanakan PKP, syarikat tempat saya bekerja tidak beroperasi manakala sesi urutan juga terpaksa ditangguhkan menyebabkan saya mencari alternatif lain untuk menambah pendapatan,” katanya.

Biarpun tinggal di Kuala Lumpur, Muhammad Hamka berkata, tidak sukar untuk menguruskan perniagaan itu kerana semua urusan dijalankan secara dalam talian.

“Saya menjual dengan harga yang mampu dibeli iaitu RM25 sekilogram (kg) dan apabila pesanan melebihi 100 kg, saya terpaksa berhenti menerima pesanan baharu untuk sementara waktu,” katanya kepada Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) baru-baru ini.

Buah yang telah dimasukkan ke dalam kotak sedia dipos ke seluruh negara menerusi jualan digital.

Menurutnya, dengan memanfaatkan teknologi digital, semua pesanan dapat diuruskan dengan baik walaupun produk yang dijualnya terletak jauh di Perlis manakala penghantaran dilakukan ke seluruh negara.

Ditanya mengenai cabaran menjual produk secara dalam talian, bekas pelajar Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) itu berkata, setiap perniagaan mempunyai masalah yang harus diselesaikan demi memastikan kelangsungan perniagaan.

“ Saya bergantung kepada kecekapan syarikat kurier yang mengendalikan proses penghantaran kepada pelanggan kerana jika dibiarkan tersadai lama, buah mangga ini berpotensi untuk rosak,” katanya.

Menurutnya, dia juga membuat jadual dengan keutamaan penghantaran diberikan kepada pelanggan yang telah membuat pesanan lebih awal.

“ Selain itu, sebagai peniaga dalam talian, kita perlu rajin membuat promosi menggunakan media sosial bagi memastikan kewujudan perniagaan disedari,” katanya.

Sikap memanfaatkan peluang digital yang wujud ketika ini bertepatan dengan seruan menggalakkan usahawan mikro dan kecil di Malaysia oleh MDEC untuk terus mempromosikan produk dan perkhidmatan mereka sepanjang tempoh PKP.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Surina Shukri berkata, sokongan kepada komuniti usahawan mikro dan kecil daripada MDEC bukan hanya membabitkan kumpulan yang terlibat dalam program kelolaan agensi tersebut.

“Setiap lapisan masyarakat juga boleh memanfaatkan portal yang disediakan untuk mendapatkan maklumat yang boleh membantu perniagaan.

Misalnya, portal https://www.go-ecommerce.my/ telah membantu seramai 183,290 usahawan digital untuk mempelajari kemahiran e-dagang yang sentiasa dikemas kini dengan maklumat semasa,” katanya.

Katanya portal itu juga sesuai untuk mereka yang baru berjinak-jinak dalam perniagaan digital.

oleh Mohd Firdaus Ismail

#mydigitalworkforce Initiative to Support Digital Upskilling for the Workforce

At a time of unprecedented change and intense concern caused by recent events, perhaps the most useful job skill is the ability to learn and relearn.

We are 4 weeks into the MCO and people working from home have started wondering about realigning themselves to the requirements of a new normal. Reskilling and upskilling have become considerations among employers at the highest levels in organisations – and employees are reading the signs. So at home, as Malaysians put their feet up at the end of a WFH week, many are online, seeking information on job roles and skills demanded by an increasingly digital-dependent economy.

As part of efforts under the #DigitalVsCovid movement during the running MCO period, MDEC’s Digital Talent Development team is ramping up its recently-minted initiative called #mydigitalworkforce,” shares Surina Shukri, CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

This initiative will encompass a series of activities that kicked off early this year and is being expanded in view the current MCO.

Post-graduate Scholarships in Artificial Intelligence

MDEC is partnering with 4 universities and 7 corporates to offer 35 scholarships to qualified Malaysians to pursue their Masters (by research) in Artificial Intelligence. Partnering universities include University Teknologi Malaysia, University Malaya, Multimedia University and Monash University Malaysia. With MCO and COVID-19, this may be good time to head back to school to level-up qualifications. More information about this scholarship can be found here.

MDEC file photo: In the middle – Surina Shukri, CEO (L) & Dr. Sumitra Nair, VP of Digital Talent Development (R)

Opportunity to be Industry-Ready, Open to All

MDEC is partnering with a wide range of partners to offer online learning courses that are being offered free or at a much discounted prices. This initiative offers both those with technical as well as non-technical backgrounds, an opportunity to upskill on online platforms, so that they can meet the demands of job roles in data, cybersecurity, creative content and software development. For example, training in cybersecurity is offered by CompTIA IT Fundamentals, ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor® (CISA®) and EC-Council, while Unity Learn, Epic Games, Khan Academy and School of Motion are offering training online in creative content. Courses offered in software development are by General Assembly, Forward School and Next Academy.

Guidance on Industry-validated Digital Training Programmes

In addition to courses currently offered in cybersecurity, content creation and software development, courses in data are also available. To help Malaysians select training programmes that best suit their needs and interests, MDEC is setting up the NDSR (National Digital Skills Register). The NDSR will work with a Digital Expert Panel comprised of industry practitioners to review and validate training programmes on the areas mentioned above, and these will be catalogued on MDEC’s website by middle of the year. MDEC will be announcing this and other #mydigitalworkforce initiatives as they become available.

Based on the global demand for digital content, the Linkedin Emerging Jobs in Malaysia Report 2020, as well as the spike in the demand for a digital-ready workforce in the COVID-19 era, the NDSR will provide much-needed guidance to the Malaysian current and emerging workforce.

Digital World

With the workforce requiring to continue their learning despite Work-From-Home (WFH) arrangements, MDEC sees the need for those seeking to upskill, to leverage e learning opportunities and make the best of their time in preparation for the new normal. Essentially, the #mydigitalworkforce initiative serves to equip the workforce through and beyond the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, skilling the workforce in tandem with MDEC’s role to lead the digital economy forward through digitally upskilling Malaysians. 

COVID-19 has in a way, upended the world’s view on how imminent the dependence on the digital economy is. With e-learning becoming the new norm in our quest to self-learn, we have to consistently upskill ourselves to transition step by step, into a post-COVID-19 digital world.

All e-learning content MDEC has compiled for the benefit of all in Malaysia as part of its #DigitalVsCovid movement, can be accessed at https://mdec.my/digitalvscovid/.

#LetsBuildTogether

GURU TERBAIK DUNIA KONGSI PENGALAMAN DIGITALKAN PELAJAR LUAR BANDAR SEWAKTU PKP

Cikgu Hailmi menjadi guru pertama negara dijemput menyertai kursus guru antarabangsa di Geneva, Switzerland.

Melihat kepada senarai pencapaian guru ini, bukan biasa ‘resume’ yang telah dibina sepanjang menjadi pendidik lebih 13 tahun lalu.

Apa tidaknya, Cikgu Norhailmi Abdul Mutalib ,39, pernah disenaraikan sebagai 50 Guru Terbaik Dunia anjuran Varkey Foundation.

Selain itu,  guru subjek Sains di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Jerlun, Kedah  juga mencipta sejarah apabila menjadi guru pertama di negara ini yang dipilih menyertai kursus guru antarabangsa di Pusat Nuklear Eropah di Geneva, Switzerland.

Bagaimanapun, tanpa disangka, Norhailmi juga ‘diuji’ seperti majoriti penduduk dunia ketika ini apabila terpaksa ‘berehat’ daripada melaksanakan tugas di sebuah sekolah yang dikategori luar bandar gara – gara pandemik Covid-19.

Namun demikian, selaras dengan kemajuan teknologi komunikasi dan galakan yang diberikan kerajaan untuk mengaplikasi sistem pembelajaran dalam talian, beliau yang mesra dipanggil Cikgu Hailmi turut ‘mendigitalkan’ para pelajarnya sepanjang tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dikuatkuasakan.

Berkongsi pengalaman dengan Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) baru – baru ini, penerima hadiah Guru Adiwira Kebangsaan 2019 itu berkata, pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam talian ketika ini membuka peluang kepada guru dan pelajar menggunakan sistem itu yang telah lama dipraktikkan di negara – negara maju.

“ Guru perlu menjadi lebih kreatif untuk memastikan para pelajar dapat mengikut kelas secara maya dan menjadi cabaran juga untuk memastikan mereka memahami kaedah ini,” katanya.

Katanya, pada awal perlaksanaan sistem e-pembelajaran, maklum balas yang diterima cukup memberangsangkan.

“ Selepas beberapa hari, saya mendapati keterujaan di kalangan pelajar semakin menurun dan pada peringkat ini sangat penting untuk guru memahami situasi,”katanya.

Hasil ‘kajian’ yang dilakukan, beliau mendapati  faktor persekitaran turun memainkan peranan dalam memastikan kelancaran proses pengajaran secara digital.

“ Saya perlu menangani kesejahteraan mental dan emosi para pelajar kerana mereka turut terkesan dengan PKP. Sebagai contoh, terdapat pelajar yang berlatar belakang keluarga susah yang mana ibu bapa mereka kehilangan punca pendapatan kerana tidak dapat bekerja dan semua ini faktor ini perlu diambil kira,” katanya.

Oleh itu katanya, ada di kalangan pelajar yang ‘terputus’ kredit dan tidak dapat melanggan pakej internet untuk mengikuti sesi pembelajaran secara dalam talian.

Pada masa sama, beliau yang pernah menjadi ahli panel untuk program #MYDIGITALMAKER anjuran MDEC  berkata , masalah lain yang timbul termasuklah liputan rangkaian internet yang perlahan di kawasan kampung turut mengganggu rentak pembelajaran.

Guru cemerlang Sains ini turut menjadi ahli panel program #MYDIGITALMAKER anjuran MDEC

“ Antara medium yang digunakan termasuklah WhatsApp, Telegram, Kahoot, Quizizz, Zoom dan Microsoft Team,” katanya.

Sementara itu, seorang lagi guru, Mohd Shahrir Mohamed,37, yang mengajar mata pelajaran Bahasa Melayu di SMK Kampung Dato Seri Kamaruddin, Manjung, Perak turut berkongsi pengalaman mengajar secara digital sewaktu PKP.

Katanya, disebabkan oleh sambungan internet yang kadang kala tidak stabil, dia memilih menggunakan aplikasi Telegram untuk berhubung dengan pelajar – pelajarnya.

“ Saya memberi kerja rumah kepada mereka menerusi Telegram manakala penghantaran dan semakan dibuat secara emel. Walaupun tidak bertemu di sekolah, sekurang -kurangnya sesi pengajaran dan pembelajaran yang dapat dilaksanakan ketika PKP menggunakan aplikasi komunikasi berkenaan, “ katanya.

Sebelum ini, MDEC  menyeru masyarakat untuk beralih kepada platform e-pembelajaran dan alternatif digital sebagai cara untuk mengatasi cabaran semasa dalam tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP).

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Surina Shukri berkata, rakyat Malaysia, terutama ibu bapa yang perlu bekerja dari rumah, boleh mengambil peluang itu untuk memastikan anak mereka terbabit dalam aktiviti positif dan kandungan yang memberi manfaat untuk memperoleh pengetahuan melalui cara baharu.

Ibu bapa yang mempunyai anak di peringkat pendidikan rendah, menengah dan pendidikan tinggi boleh meneroka platform ini melalui kursus ditawarkan di https://mdec.my dan senarai akan dikemas kini dari semasa ke semasa.

oleh Mohd Firdaus Ismail

USAHAWAN NASI AMBENG DIGITAL TAWAR PELUANG PEKERJAAN SEWAKTU PKP

Seorang bekas chef yang menceburi perniagaan digital sejak Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dikuatkuasakan membuktikan tiada yang mustahil sekiranya memanfaatkan kemahiran digital pada waktu ini.

Ahmad Fazree Zakaria, 34 , bukan sahaja mampu menjana pendapatan untuk dirinya namun pada masa membantu masyarakat dengan menawarkan peluang pekerjaan kepada penduduk setempat.

Katanya, pada permulaan, dia hanya mempromosikan makanan seperti nasi ayam, nasi Ambeng dan ayam penyet menerusi Facebook dan aplikasi Whatapps untuk memenuhi permintaan bekas pelanggannya.

Beberapa hari selepas itu katanya, permintaan mula meningkat sehingga terpaksa ‘menggaji’ empat pekerja yang bertugas sebagai penghantar makanan.

Katanya, memandangkan PKP turut menghadkan pergerakan dalam lingkungan 10 kilometer (km), penghantar makanan yang dipilih terdiri daripada mereka yang tinggal di empat zon berbeza di Sungai Petani, Kedah.

“ Saya pecahkan mengikut zon Sungai Petani Utara, Sungai Petani Selatan, Sungai Petani Tengah dan seorang lagi menguruskan pesanan khas. Oleh itu kawasan penghantaran kami dapat diperluaskan sekaligus berpeluang mendapat lebih banyak tempahan,” katanya ketika dihubungi baru -baru ini.

Menggunakan pengalaman luas lebih 10 tahun dalam bidang masakan, Ahmad Fazree berkata, dia menawarkan pilihan makanan yang berbeza dan tidak dijual oleh peniaga dalam talian di kawasan itu.

“ Saya mempunyai kemahiran menyediakan Nasi Ambeng yang sukar didapati di sini kerana hidangan ini lebih popular di Johor dan berdasarkan kajian, saya mendapati tiada penjual yang menjualnya.

“ Boleh dikatakan, nasi Ambeng yang saya jual adalah yang pertama di sini, jadi ia mendapat sambutan hangat,” katanya yang memberitahu mewarisi resipi itu daripada keluarganya yang mempunyai darah Jawa.

Terbaharu, disebabkan tambahan jenis makanan yang ditawarkan, Ahmad Fazree kini sedang mencari empat lagi pekerja untuk membantunya menyediakan nasi lemak, murtabak selain sebagai pekerja am dan penghantar makanan.

“ Saya kini mula menjual nasi kambing, nasi lemak dan nasi Arab yang semakin mendapat sambutan. Kapasiti pengeluaran nasi lemak kami kini mencecah 500 bungkus sehari,” katanya.

Menurutnya, setiap hari mereka mendapat sekitar 30 hingga 50 pesanan yang dihantar kepada peanggan.

Dia yang juga pernah menjadi chef jemputan untuk beberapa program anjuran Kementerian Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya dalam dan luar negara berkata, ketika ini operasi menyediakan kesemua makanan yang dipesan dilakukan di restoran.

Ditanya mengenai rancangan masa depan, dia berkata ingin membangunkan sebuah aplikasi khas untuk memudahkan pesanan dan pembayaran dilakukan oleh pelanggannya namun tidak mempunyai keupayaan dan sangat menghargai sekiranya ada yang ingin tampil menawarkan kepakaran.

Usaha yang dilakukan oleh Ahmad Fazree ini bertepatan dengan saranan Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) yang sebelum ini menyeru supaya usahawa mikro dan kecil di negara ini mempromosikan perniagaan masing – masing secara dalam talian.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Surina Shukri berkata, sokongan kepada komuniti usahawan mikro dan kecil  bukan hanya membabitkan kumpulan yang terlibat dalam program kelolaan MDEC sahaja.

“Setiap lapisan masyarakat boleh memanfaatkan portal yang disediakan untuk mendapatkan maklumat.

“Misalnya, portal https://www.go-ecommerce.my/ telah membantu seramai 183,290 usahawan digital untuk mempelajari kemahiran e-dagang yang sentiasa dikemas kini dengan maklumat semasa,” katanya.

Katanya portal itu juga sesuai untuk mereka yang baru berjinak-jinak dalam perniagaan digital.

oleh Mohd Firdaus Ismail

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