KUALA LUMPUR: 60,000 local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are set to receive up to RM3,000 in Shopee benefits each from the e-commerce platform's Go-eCommerce Onboarding programme.
The initiative under Belanjawan 2021 aims to encourage the adoption of e-commerce as a trade channel amongst local MSMEs and Malaysian citizens who wish to venture into entrepreneurship. Shopee is also co-funding this initiative Ringgit-to-Ringgit in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
There are two packages that sellers stand to benefit for both the existing (Shopee sellers that register before July 1, 2021), and new Shopee sellers.
For existing sellers, benefits include RM2,500 in Shopee store coins cashback vouchers and up to RM500 in service fee rebates, while the new sellers will receive RM1,500 in Shopee store coins cashback vouchers and up to RM1,500 in service fee rebates. Both benefits will help encourage Malaysians to buy from new sellers, thus driving their sales especially in the initial stage of their presence on the platform to further encourage growth.
The Go-eCommerce Onboarding programme is open to all registered Shopee sellers who are Malaysian citizens or belong in the MSME category as defined by SME Corporation Malaysia with more than 50 per cent of its shares held by local person or entity, and total monthly store sales not exceeding RM4mil in order to qualify.
The programme is the same as last year's PENJANA e-commerce initiatives known as Micro and SMEs E-commerce campaign but has been rebranded to Go-eCommerce Onboarding this year.
Over 40,000 MSMEs were digitised through the campaign last year which saw participating MSMEs recording a 158 per cent increase in daily sales after receiving the benefits.
The success of the PENJANA Micro and SMEs E-commerce campaign can be further seen via an impact study that was conducted amongst its recipients where over 74 per cent of the participating sellers are new entrepreneurs that only conduct their business online with 46 per cent said Shopee income was their sole source of income, showing e-commerce provided a lifeline to the unemployed during the pandemic. Meanwhile, 45 per cent of participants said they turned to online entrepreneurship to supplement their income and make ends meet.
Within the three-month period, over 20 per cent of the participants also went on to hire full-time and part-time help, proving how the programme has also resulted in job creation.
The study also found more than 60 per cent of the participating sellers are female, showing how the programme drove digital inclusivity.
Shopee encourages sellers to apply as soon as possible and once the application has been submitted, it will be reviewed and qualified sellers will be notified. Interested sellers can start applying from now until November 30, 2021 at shopee.com.my/goecommerce.