Send Aja and Plugo Collaborate to Advance Indonesian MSMEs

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have a big role in the Indonesian economy. In fact, 60,3% of Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from MSMEs. Not only that, MSMEs can also absorb labor. The role of MSMEs is so important that Indonesia sets August 12 as National MSMEs Day.

In order to celebrate National UMKM Month, SendinAja and Plugo announced their partnership. The aim of the collaboration between SendinAja and Plugo is not only to encourage local business growth in the country, but also to bring about innovation in the MSME sector.

SendinAja, Indonesia's #1 package delivery application platform has become a support system for many Indonesian online businesses over the past 3 years. SendinAja's commitment can be seen in the many leading Indonesian expedition services that are available and accessible to business people.

Meanwhile, Plugo is a platform that aims to help ordinary people create their own online store. At affordable prices, they provide a variety of services, including features for customizing customers' online stores. Some of the customization features that Plugo provides include Search Engine Optimization (SEO), omnichannel, site templates, and integration for various payment methods and couriers.

"We are very excited to work with Plugo, in order to celebrate the National MSME Month," said Fariz GTJ, Founder and CEO of SendinAja. "MSMEs are the backbone of the Indonesian economy. We feel we must provide adequate tools and support for them to develop."

MSMEs do contribute more than half of Indonesia's GDP. However, MSME actors also face their own challenges, such as limited access to capital and limited digital capabilities. The good news is that digitization has been proven to increase the productivity of MSMEs. The collaboration between SendinAja and Plugo can provide various benefits for MSMEs, ranging from increasing business visibility, facilitating the integration of innovative technologies, to providing more effective delivery solutions.

Solutions from Plugo enable MSMEs to carry out their operational activities optimally and manage resources efficiently. In addition, Plugo will also help MSMEs to adapt to market conditions that can change quickly. Meanwhile, SendinAja has an extensive logistics network. With timely and efficient delivery services, MSMEs will be able to reach customers better.

"By combining our technological sophistication with the logistics advantages of SendinAja, we are confident that we can make a real impact on the MSME landscape," said Izki Aldrin Iswarna, Director of PT. Plugo Technology Indonesia. "We are very excited to be part of this transformation journey that will improve Indonesia's digital economy and empower MSMEs to seize the vast opportunities that await ahead."

Collaboration for MSMEs 

Throughout 2022, the total value of e-commerce transactions in Indonesia reached IDR 476,3 trillion, with e-commerce transaction volume reaching 3,48 million transactions. Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga said, as of 2022, the number of MSMEs that have been digitized has almost reached 21 million units, up 17% from the previous year. Seeing the rapidly growing digital economy, the Ministry of Trade hopes that stakeholders will continue to work together to build an e-commerce ecosystem.

In the end, it is hoped that the collaboration between SendinAja and Plugo will give rise to online businesses that dare to grow. For example, Jilbrave, a Muslim fashion brand. Founded in 2017, Jilbrave has shown consistent growth year after year. Now, the online store from Jilbrave contributes 40-50% of total sales. With Jilbrave as an example, SendinAja and Plugo hope that their collaboration will help MSME players achieve success.