BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Digital technology plays an important role in promoting products to the community. There are many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME, Usaha Mikro, Kecil dan Menengah, UMKM) in Indonesia who have not used digital market service because of lacking of skills and knowledges.
Teacher of Business Administration, FISIP Universitas Pasundan Dr. Dindin Abdurohim BS., M.M., M.Si reviewed that digital marketing becomes the best alternative for MSMEs to keep running and growing in the midst of difficult times.
As a form of support to MSMEs, he and his team will carry out the applied research by using the topic of student’s creative industry which is based on maklon system to create new business.
This research is carried out though fund assistance from the decentralization program by Kemendikbudristek. He collaborates with other teachers in the Department of Economics Education and Informatics Engineering.
“I see that MSMEs are getting weaker during Covid-19 pandemic. They are mostly constrained by internal, organizational, management and external problems. I am moved to provide solutions and innovations for those who are running MSMEs,” he explained.
By collaborating with the Department of Economics Education, inventorying and identifying the needs for MSMEs development can be more optimal.
Meanwhile, through the capabilities of the Informatics Engineering study program in the field of data and technology, MSMEs are expected to be able to reach their target market more effectively through mobile devices.
He added that the core of this research is to create collaboration between students, teachers and MSMEs. Students are directed to contribute to solving MSME problems, as well as gaining learning as entrepreneurs.
“There are many students who have entrepreneurial skills but inexperienced on it; or have the experience but it is not collaborated. After being identified, there are few of them who actually understands the way of work of digitalization, negotiation and market research. By doing collaboration, it can ideally give birth to the new entrepreneurs,” he said.
From the research proposal submitted, maklon system will be applied between the student entrepreneur with MSMEs. There are 15 universities which are going to be studies in West Java, including Majalengka, Garut, Tasikmalaya, Bandung (city) and many more.
“The deadline is not later than 3 years, so we report it each year. There are few steps to do during those three years,” he continued.
In the first year, as he stated, the need of research plan will be analysed first before developing the product and initial trial.
In the second year will include the test result revision, main product field-trials, product revision and large-scale field trials. The third year will include final product revision, dissemination and research implementation.
“We hope it could run smoothly and the research result could be useful for students and MSMEs businessmen,” he hoped. (Reta)*