Roslan (second right) speaks during the e-Synergise Talk. Zaiwin is seen at right.
KUCHING: Budding entrepreneurs in the state are urged to turn to e-commerce to start and expand their businesses.
President of Integrated Digital Entrepreneur Association of Sarawak (Ideas) Roslan Razali said e-commerce could easily help entrepreneurs reach out to their customers while those not into the e-commerce bandwagon would be left behind.
“In the e-commerce world, entrepreneurs must have a roadmap and plan for themselves if they want to start their businesses online. They must first equip themselves with e-commerce knowledge and prepare themselves before embarking on developing their online store and how to design it,” he said at the e-Synergise Talk entitled ‘Adapt the Change: Joining the e-Commerce’ held at MaGIC Sarawak @ Borneo 744 here yesterday.
He said one of Ideas’ missions this year was to assist Sarawak entrepreneurs to set up their online business using two different e-commerce platforms.
“There are those who are currently using social media such as Facebook and Instagram to sell their products but in my opinion, social media is a place for people to socialise.
“It would be better to use your own platform to sell your products, such as ‘Woocommerce’ and ‘e-store platform’ where entrepreneurs can set up two stores using two different domains,” he said.
He said by establishing two online stores, an entrepreneur would be able to sell their products in both Malaysia and other countries.
“In one store, you can sell your products targetted at Malaysians while at the other store, your products can be sold to other countries, and you generate income inUS dollars.
“Overseas customers who purchase the products pay for the products in US dollars and the entrepreneurs will earn triple the amount.”
Roslan said there were many ‘killer products’ in Sarawak that entrepreneurs could tap into to sell to overseas markets, such as handicrafts.
“However, you must first understand the whole process on how to run an online store in addition to knowing the products you are selling and the kind of payment gateway your customers can use to purchase the products.
“After payment, the next step is to ensure that the products are delivered to customers. These are things entrepreneurs must know, which we at Ideas can provide guidelines to the budding entrepreneurs.”
Roslan was among speakers at the e-Synergise Talk organised by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Sarawak, Koperasi Belia Inovatif Sarawak Berhad (Kobis) and Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC).
Kobis Sarawak chairman Zaiwin Kassim was the moderator.