Exabytes launches Sama-Sama Digital to spur Bumiputera SMEs to digitalise

• Partnering 9 organizations to reach Bumiputera SMEs to engage in digitalisation
• All-in-One Digital Solutions package provided at up to US$2,390 in subsidies

Malaysian cloud and digital solutions provider Exabytes has announced Sama-Sama Digital, an initiative aimed to helping Bumiputera small and medium enterprises (SMEs) digitalise their businesses post-movement control order (MCO).

Sama-Sama Digital is Exabyte’s initiative with Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) through its corporate social responsibility unit, ILTIZAM. The move is supported by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), MYNIC and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).

“With only 20% of Bumiputera SMEs being part of the digital economy, we must maximise our efforts to enable these businesses to upgrade their existing systems and strategies,” says Chan Kee Siak (pic), Exabytes’ founder and chief executive officer.

“We are seeing companies struggle to cope with the new realities as consumers shift in terms of the way they shop and consume. As such, we launched Dana Ihsan Covid-19 ILTIZAM to assist the affected communities and one other way identified is to help support the digitalisation of Bumiputera SMEs to ensure they are able to sustain and survive throughout this difficult period,” adds Ekuinas CEO Syed Yasir Arafat.

“We hope the initiative acts as a stepping stone for more Bumiputera SMEs to embrace the digital space.”

Of the 4,094 companies surveyed by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) between April 10 and May 1 2020, only 25.4% responded that they could last for three to six months amidst the MCO. On top of that, only 4.7% responded that they can last more than six months.

In the same survey, 42.5% responded that they would require more than 6 months to recover, 3.5% said that they would need less than 1 month and 1.9% responded that they will never recover and are expected to close their businesses down.

Making digitalisation accessible

To that end, Sama-Sama Digital offers two types of all-in-one business e-solutions to SMEs at a subsidised rate, namely All-in-One E-Commerce Solutions and All-in-One Digital Solutions. The former is targeted towards Bumiputera SMEs without a digital presence, and it comes bundled with an e-commerce store, payment gateway, shipping, domain, email, and basic design and setup.

The plan is affordable and subsidised by Exabytes, ILTIZAM and MYNIC. Upon successful registration, companies are required to pay US$48 (RM199) for the first year and subsequently US$215 (RM899) per year as renewal fees.

The All-in-One Digital Solutions package, on the other hand, is for SMEs with existing online presence that are looking to expand their reach. They get a choice of solutions offered such as Google & Facebook Ads, Microsoft 365, search engine optimisation (SEO), email marketing, SMS marketing and the likes at up to RM10,000 subsidy from ILTIZAM and MDEC.

[RM1 = US$0.239]

Sama-Sama Digital is also partnering with nine (9) outreach partners: TERAJU, Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia, Precession Capital Bhd, SME Corp Malaysia, Mara Excellent Ventures Sdn Bhd, Perbadanan Nasional Bhd, Bumiputera Retailers Organisation, Association of Selangor Tubers and Technology Park Malaysia (TPM). These organisations or bodies will provide help in reaching Bumiputera SMEs to engage in digitalisation.

Chan adds that businesses make take up to six to 12 months to recover following the MCO period, which makes the digitalisation process more vital for companies to be effective and efficient.

“This means a comprehensive system is needed. Some businesses have hesitated or avoided digitalising because of the cost to be invested upfront. To alleviate this concern, Sama-Sama Digital provides subsidies to ease the burden of cost and we are able to do so thanks to the support of ILTIZAM by Ekuinas,” says Chan.

The deadline to register for Sama-Sama Digital’s All-In-One Business e-Solutions – that is, the All-in-One E-Commerce Solutions and All-in-One Digital Solutions – is by 31 December 2020.  For more information on the eligibility of this initiative and its requirements, please visit https://www.exabytes.my/sama-sama-digital/