Easier access to digital business solutions for hawkers, micropreneurs

 

Trader Norhaslina Mohd Fisul (centre) says Kad Prihatin Penjaja In2Niaga can help her business grow as she will have a customer database to leverage on. 

KUALA LUMPUR: Hawkers and micropreneurs have welcomed the introduction of Kad Prihatin Penjaja In2Niaga, an initiative that will help them digitise their business transactions for better convenience.

This digitisation platform will provide hawkers and micropreneurs with a cashless payment system in the form of DuitNow QR, just like business premises in malls.

“All transaction notices go directly to your phone, so you don’t need to ask customers to show proof of payment,” said Abdul Razak Nordin of Datasonic Group Bhd, one of the partners behind the initiative.

At the sidelines of the Mega Micropreneurs and Hawkers Fiesta at Dataran Merdeka, Razak told FMT that the card would help form a cashless community for hawkers and micropreneurs and boost productivity.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, federal territories minister Shahidan Kassim and entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister Noh Omar at the Mega Micropreneurs and Hawkers Fiesta. (Bernama pic)

The pilot programme for Kad Prihatin Penjaja will be held in Kuala Lumpur for three months, while Putrajaya is aiming to expand this to hawkers and micropreneurs nationwide next year.

“Our target is to onboard one million users,” Razak added.

Rosli Mat Piah, a petty trader that sells bags at night markets, was elated by this platform as micropreneurs like him could now serve customers that did not carry cash.

“Customers sometimes have no cash in hand and they might not buy anything if they can’t find an ATM machine. This technology would make things convenient for customers and us, too,” he said.

Norhaslina Mohd Fisul, who sells health and beauty products, said Kad Prihatin Penjaja will help her expand her business further as it gave her a customer database to leverage on for marketing and sales.

“I will certainly apply for (the programme). It is something new, and I don’t see why we shouldn’t learn to utilise it,” she said.

In a speech at the event, caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he, too, was once a hawker and that he understood their struggles in doing business.

He told the crowd of entrepreneurs that he used to sell limes and fish on sidewalks and at the Pekan Sehari Temerloh morning markets.

“I understand your plight because I went through it too,” Ismail said, adding that he would do his best to fulfil their demands if he was given the mandate to lead the government again.

More than 500 traders shared their wares at Dataran Merdeka at the fiesta, which attracted about 30,000 people. The two-day programme ends tomorrow. - FMT