In an attempt to cushion the impact of the Movement Control Order (MCO) on small businesses, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has launched the #DigitalvsCovid campaign, compelling local technology companies to offer digital solutions and services to affected local businesses and consumers.
Tech entrepreneurs who are a part of MDEC’s Global Acceleration and Innovation Network (GAIN), and also those who are not part of the network, have got on board the initiative to help small businesses weather the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, says MDEC CEO Surina Shukri.
“While large corporations have contingency plans to minimise the impact of Covid-19, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises may not be able to get through this global pandemic.
“One way forward is through automation and digitalisation. We are proud to announce that 80 tech companies are waiting to render their services and MDEC urges entrepreneurs from all industries to leverage these offerings.”
According to MDEC, the tech companies that are part of GAIN are prolific tech start-ups and scale-ups with unique innovations and sizeable business footprints, locally and abroad. Some of the companies offering digital solutions are DiGi Telecommunications, Masala On Wheels, Storehub, HelloWorld Robotics, EasyParcel, LWE, Naluri and Innov8tif.
Surina says these companies are willing to offer their services on a pro bono basis, provide attractive discounts or form strategic collaborations. “Many SMEs are experiencing interrupted supply-chain movement, delays in business processes that require paperwork, limited tools to engage their stakeholders, constraints in conducting non-cash transactions, as well as challenges in managing a high-volume workforce. Nonetheless, we are confident that our GAIN companies can offer relief by resolving some of these difficulties.”
Small businesses are also encumbered with worry about the well-being of their employees, says Surina. “Companies are trying to raise awareness of the Covid-19 pandemic and advocating preventive health and safety measures. Additionally, employers are actively seeking the provision of workforce compensation protection and other benefits for their employees.”
Surina says MDEC’s Global Growth Acceleration division will continue to explore more industry-relevant business continuity solutions via digital technologies and drive participation and growth in the digital economy.
The comprehensive list of tech solutions and services for SMEs are accessible at https://mdec.my/home/c19techrelief/, which will be updated as more tech companies come forward to render their assistance, says Surina.