Digitalization is still the government’s priority in supporting national economic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including for traditional market traders.
The Zilingo business platform also helps Indonesian MSME players through socialization initiatives in two main markets in the city of Medan, Pasar Pusat Pasar and Pasar Petisah Medan on March 17-19, 2021.
Patrick Vaz, Country Manager, Zilingo Indonesia explained in an official broadcast, “After years of working with businesses across scales, we have studied what challenges are often faced and are trying to come up with the right solutions. With the pandemic still ongoing, we really understand how difficult it is for business actors, especially traditional market traders, to get access to staples, financial assistance to digital marketing to drive demand. ”
He said, Zilingo is committed to providing digitalization education to traditional market traders which is carried out in stages in Indonesian markets, starting from the city of Medan.
Patrick shares five key tips for traditional market traders who want to go digital to grow their business in the midst of a pandemic:
Follow market movements and be aware of the ongoing trends
Digitalization can be a significant transformation for some traders, especially those who have so far only relied on manual and conventional systems.
Patrick added, “It is important for traditional market traders to follow market movements during the pandemic, how consumer behavior patterns move to the digital world. Traders also need to know the ongoing trend as a reference in making decisions. ”
Manage the stock of goods available and take notes
Stock of goods is crucial in running a business, especially when the business has started to grow and has many branches or distributors. Before starting the digital transformation, merchants can start tracking the entire stock of goods, starting from the amount of stock, the stock that will run out soon, and the stock that has run out.
Patrick advises merchants to make a stock book and record an inventory of goods. After recording, merchants can also identify the best-selling and most profitable products in the business, so they can make product offerings more precisely to consumers.
Manage business financial books
Similar to stock management, managing finances through recording is important, especially for those who do business even though they are still on a small scale. Traders need to understand how to make small business financial books that MSMEs are required to know for the smooth running of their business.
Traders can start by recording expenses and income; create a main cash book; create an income book. “Neglecting financial books can lead to delays in business activities, fraud in business, and even bankruptcy because traders are unable to make the right policies regarding income and expenses,” Patrick said.
Join an e-commerce platform to start a digital footprint of your business
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the behavior pattern of Indonesian consumers who usually shop directly at shopping centers to switch to online platforms. Currently the presence of a business online is a must for business actors, including traditional market traders. E-commerce can be an effective way to reach a larger audience.
Plus, more and more people are now using computers and smartphones to shop online. Patrick explains, “Over time, we will continue to see consumers migrate to online purchases for convenience, competitive pricing and the ability to research products in real-time before deciding to buy.”
Build a business profile on social media
Interacting with consumers on social media is an important marketing strategy for small and medium sized businesses. Using social media can help merchants build brand awareness, expand their customer database, and connect with current customers.
Some of the common social media sites include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. WeAreSocial and GlobalWebIndex also report that 34 percent of Internet users aged 16-64 in Indonesia say they can be exposed to brands from advertising on social media, while another 32 percent claim that recommendations or comments on social media also drive their desire to know more about the brand. or a specific product.
