BANDUNG, Telkom University – Telkom University (Tel-U) National Mental Revolution Movement (GNRM) team held a Digital-Preneur Success Mandiri (DIGI-SM) Program for 50 micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKMs) in Bandung Regency. This activity is a pentahelix collaboration of academics (Tel-U); government (Disperindag), industry & society (UMKM actors), community (Karsa Mandiri Entrepreneurs Association of Bandung Regency) and media.

Telkom University Rector Prof. Dr. Adiwijaya said, this program is part of the GNRM program that has been launched by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) in collaboration with the Indonesian Rectors Forum. Tel-U’s GNRM program emphasizes the digitization process of UMKMs, where UMKMs are equipped with an understanding of digital people, digital marketing, digital finance and digital business.

“There are 50 UMKMs of course with a variety of products. Bandung Regency has 15,000 UMKMs, however we first capture a pilot project for 50 (UMKM). God willing, this will not stop just for today’s program,” Adiwijaya said at a press conference for the DIGI-SM training which was held for three days (Tuesday-Thursday (13-15/9)) at Telkom University.

According to Adiwijaya, the Digi-SM Program is in line with the big theme of GNRM 2022 “Rise After Pandemic” and the direction of Telkom University’s Community Service activities in forming a digital society and supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a global action plan agreed by world leaders, including Indonesia, to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect the environment.

Adiwijaya said that UMKM players learn the use of social media and are then expected to have a market in cyberspace. “So, for example, access to social media usually already exists like that, but further how to do analytics on social media. For example, those who access UMKMs, who give comments are in which regions,” Adiwijaya added.

According to Adiwijaya, business actors can increase competitiveness, one of which is by learning how to understand customer experience into data. “Like that, the follow-up will also be taught, so that they can continue to develop not only selling products in the local area but more broadly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Bandung Regency Trade and Industry Agency (Disperindag) Dicky Anugrah said that UMKM players need something that must be facilitated. Then the regulation problem is still empowered. “Then there is an increase in regional competitiveness by improving the quality of UMKM production, starting from the aspects of labeling, certification, legality, and also marketing. Of course, in this digital era, entrepreneurial digitalization is needed by UMKM players.

Dicky claims that his party has accommodated the needs of UMKM players. Among them is the digitalization of UMKM management. “So, thank God, it is indeed to increase competitiveness, we all hope to work together, what UMKM players want we will realize gradually, of course,” he said.

Chairman of the Karsa Mandiri Entrepreneurs Association, Danny said the digitalization training could help UMKMs in Bandung Regency. Moreover, some of the facilities are assisted directly by Disperdagin Bandung Regency. “From this digitalization training, we from UMKM players are greatly helped. Especially in terms of various kinds of facilities,” he said.

“Currently there is an ID card for business actors called NIB (business identification number), this is facilitated free of charge. Then HaKI is also facilitated for free by Disperdagin. Halal certification is also the same, then all equipment for us to sell, or upgrading from traders can be facilitated by Disperdagin,” he added. He added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, UMKM players were constrained by offline sales. So according to him, currently they need the digitalization training. “Speaking of digital, especially yesterday we experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, offline sales were very limited. Then we need a complete knowledge of what the digital world is like,” he concluded. (***) Telkom University