Grab, Emtek and Bukalapak Started the MSME Digitalization Acceleration Program in Small Towns with Vaccination

As one of the driving wheels of the nation's economy, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector should be encouraged towards more significant growth. The government's target is no joke. In 2024, it is expected that around 30 million MSMEs will carry out digital transformation in order to seize unlimited market opportunities and access. In realizing this target, of course, the role of multi-stakeholders is needed, one of which is from a technological entity. Is the synergy between Grab, Emtek, and Bukalapak who recently launched an initiative titled “City of the Future”. Like what?

In the release we obtained, the "City of the Future" initiative is an extensive accelerator program for MSME business people - especially those coming from tier 2 and 3 areas, aka small cities in Indonesia. It is said, this initiative focuses on three things namely; Vaccination, Digital Platform Adoption (onboarding to app Grab and Bukalapak), and MSME Empowerment through training and assistance for business development through digital technology. This program will also start from the city of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, followed gradually in Solo, Gowa, Malang, to Pekanbaru which will end in December 2020 targeting more than 10.000 MSMEs.

"Grab together with Emtek and Bukalapak, they want to embrace MSMEs, especially those in small cities. Especially so that they can not only use technology and benefit from the digital economy but they can run their business on a safe and trusted platform. We believe a big future is also in a small town. We hope that the #KotaMasaDepan program can open up pintu to a wider market for MSMEs in small towns without having to move locations, and in the end will have an overall impact on the regional economy," explained Neneng Goenadi, Country Managing Director, Grab.

Amid hopes of economic recovery due to the pandemic, vaccination is an essential step. In the #KotaMasaDepan accelerator program, vaccination opens a series of activities by targeting 1500 MSMEs in five destination cities.

Apart from vaccinations, Grab, Emtek, together with Bukalapak will focus on training and guidance for MSME actors related to preparing businesses to enter the digital realm. One of the implementations offered is of course the use of the platform Grab and Bukalapak, as a digital platform that can be adapted to various types of businesses, ranging from culinary, non-culinary (batik craftsmen, leather craftsmen, silver craftsmen, and others), traditional retail (basketball stalls, grocery stores, market traders), to agent business which includes credit and groceries kiosks.

It is hoped that the above utilization will certainly help MSMEs, to obtain new income opportunities through digital shops in order to maintain business stability during a pandemic, and can become merchant partners. Grab (GrabFood and GrabMart) with various benefits to be obtained, among others; service subsidy for three months, access to other services of the platform Grab, so businesses can take advantage of free shipping promotions from Bukalapak.

MSMEs that join the City of the Future program have the opportunity to get a variety of benefits, including obtaining new income opportunities by owning digital shops so as to maintain the stability of their business even during a pandemic. In addition, MSMEs can also get subsidies for 3 months according to the terms and conditions that apply. , as well as the opportunity to access for other services on the platform Grab to improve business performance more rapidly. Meanwhile, Bukalapak merchant partners can take advantage of the No Ongkir promo with a minimum transaction of IDR 25.000 as much as they want to attract as many customers as possible.