Continue to Create Social Impacts, Bukalapak Partners Collaborate with Kowantara to Help Warteg Business Resilience through Digital Literacy

Mitra Bukalapak, under the auspices of Buka Mitra Indonesia, collaborates with the Warteg Nusantara Community (Kowantara) to support the business resilience of warteg owners affected by the pandemic situation through the use of the Bukalapak digital platform. Through this collaboration, thousands of warteg owners who are members of Kowantara have the opportunity to participate in empowerment programs related to online businesses and become part of 7 million Bukalapak Partners consisting of traditional stalls and individual agents throughout Indonesia.

By becoming a Bukalapak Partner, these business actors can sell various types of products, including daily necessities, fresh products, electronics, motor vehicle spare parts, up to 42 types of virtual products ranging from pulses, electricity tokens, tax payments, tickets. travel, to Software as a Service (SAAS) products such as Bookkeeping, Accounts Payable, Poster Spread, in addition to many other products. In addition, warteg owners can purchase basic goods for business and daily needs through the Mitra Bukalapak application safely and comfortably.

The General Chairman of Kowantara, Mukroni, welcomed the collaboration between Bukalapak and Kowantara Partners because it can help Indonesian MSMEs in the food sector to respond to economic challenges in the midst of a pandemic situation. “According to a survey conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2020, more than 20.000 warteg or nearly 50% of the total 50.000 warteg in Indonesia were forced to close their businesses as a result of the pandemic. Collaboration with Bukalapak Partners is certainly a breath of fresh air for us because warteg owners can gain knowledge about the opportunities presented through digital platforms to earn main or additional income,” he said.

CEO of Buka Mitra Indonesia, Howard Gani said, "Since its inception, Mitra Bukalapak has been committed to continuously empowering MSME players in Indonesia through access to technology, capital, and infrastructure which is one of the keys to continuing to develop their business to a higher level. By increasing digital literacy among small and medium-sized businesses, including warteg owners, who are the backbone of the nation's economy, we hope to help their businesses survive, while also contributing to social impact and building economic inclusion in Indonesia."

The social impact that Mitra Bukalapak is trying to bring is also reflected in the increase in transactions achieved by the shop owners of Mitra Bukalapak, even in the midst of a pandemic. This year, it was noted that various wholesale, digital, and finance products sold through Mitra Bukalapak succeeded in increasing the income of shop owners and individual agents.

Eko, one of the SMEs in Padang, West Sumatra who sells virtual products through Mitra Bukalapak, said that he experienced an increase in transactions of up to 50% during the month of Ramadan this year. “Before joining as a Bukalapak Partner, I only sold the same products, such as credit and electricity tokens. Now I can sell various other virtual products at competitive prices and get benefits like Cashback. As a result, I was able to fulfill various needs, such as paying off a motorcycle loan, buying a new TV, and getting a new cellphone from participating in exciting activities held by Bukalapak Partners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rudy, a Bukalapak Partner from Bandung, West Java, experienced an increase in monthly income from virtual product transactions through the Bukalapak Partner application. “In the past, my income was minimal, around Rp 50 thousand per month. After becoming a Bukalapak Partner, my income started to skyrocket. My monthly turnover can reach around Rp. 8 million from selling pulses alone, because I always think of initiatives that I can make to increase my profits, one of which is working with my sister to collect security guards in a housing estate as customers. My sister also benefits from this initiative. Thank God I can continue to provide for the needs of my family.”