The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM launched the online shopping platform, namely pasarsambilegi.id. This platform is a Community Service Unit program from the faculty to help Sambilegi Market merchants expand their segmentation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the soft launching of pasarsambilegi.id, there was an online discussion entitled Readiness of People’s Market Traders to Face the Digital Era, on Tuesday (14/7). Supported by the Center for Economic Democracy Studies UGM and the Industry and Trade Service of Sleman Regency, the discussion presented the Head of the Industry and Trade Service of Sleman Regency, Dra. Rr. Mae Rusmi Suryaningsih, MT, Chairman of the DPW Association of Indonesian Market Traders (APPSI) Yogyakarta Region, GKR Mangkubumi, representatives of the Sambilegi Market Association, Naimatul Wardiah, S.Ag and Dr. Hempri Suyatna, S.Sos., M.Si as the representative of the UGM Community Service Team.
Prof. Dr. Erwan Agus Purwanto, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, welcomed the platform and discussion of pasarsambilegi.id regarding the readiness of traditional market traders face the digital era. According to him, traditional markets are one of the places affected by Covid-19.
“The market, the players are small traders, and most of them are mothers, and we know that they have limited literacy in the digital field. Therefore, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences community service team chose the right approach after conducting the assessment, then came out with an idea of how to help small traders in the Sambilegi market get out of the impact of Covid-19 as quickly as possible,” he said.
Erwan said the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences carried out the community service together with the Center for Economic Democracy Studies was triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still ongoing. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many lives, especially related to health, and calls for a new way of life to avoid transmission.
“Especially when we enter the era called the New Normal and people start doing their activities. The idea of pasarsambilegi.id is excellent, the technology is straightforward, easy to use by all levels of society. Hopefully, with the launch of a digital platform for the people’s market, especially the Sambilegi market, it can help the community at the same time can be replicated in other markets, not only in Sleman,” he said.
GKR Mangkubumi, as Chairman of the DPW Association of Indonesian Market Traders (APPSI) for the Yogyakarta Region, said there was a lot of homework related to how to organize the market jointly. The image of traditional markets so far is that the more crowded the market means the better, the more people who crowd, the better the market.
“In the pandemic era, suddenly we have to be quiet, we have to follow health protocols. It seems like we are being forced to rethink our health problems,” he said.
GKR Mangkubumi is grateful that many markets have been renovated in a better arrangement. However, there are many markets with an image of slums, dirty, stuffy, and so on.
Therefore, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many parties together need to restructure how the ideal market is. Primarily, the market issue is related to hygiene.
“Back in 2007, we formed this APPSI starting from personal hygiene. If I go to the market and ask the merchant, have you taken a bath yet? Use lipstick, smile so that the buyers will be happy too. The packaging is also important. Things like that also need attention. You also have to wear gloves, you have to so that the food or items you take are clean,” he said.
GKR Mangkubumi also welcomes an online shopping platform in the markets, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, online shopping is still very much needed in the markets for the next two years. Online shopping platforms in these markets to assist or support traders to keep their trading running.
GKR Mangkubumi hopes that UGM and related agencies are fighting for Yogyakarta markets to get the title of Indonesian National Standard (SNI) certified market. This certification is related to arrangement, cleanliness, and facilities for visitors with special needs and others.
“In Yogyakarta, Imogiri market has been approved by SNI. Imogiri Market has struggled for 3-4 years, and the result of 100 percent SNI can be an example for structuring. There are 11 markets in Indonesia, but the SNI with a value of 100 percent is only the Imogiri market,” he said.
Dra. Rr. Mae Rusmi Suryaningsih, M.T, Head of the Sleman Industry and Trade Service, said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sleman Industry and Trade Service tried to move the economy, especially trade, by taking advantage of all the opportunities and capabilities available from conventional to innovative. Not only in modern and retail markets but also in traditional markets.
One of the efforts to maintain existence in the people’s market is to initiate online sales via WhatsApp, which administrators form in 24 markets. It was actually done before March 2020, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was increasingly being carried out.
“We introduce information technology, one of which is online sales, and the simplest is through WhatsApp. Until now, data that has been entered from 24 markets, sales have exceeded 700 million rupiahs. So, you can imagine that there are benefits to selling online,” he said.
Therefore, the Sleman Industry and Trade Office feels fortunate to receive additional ammunition in the form of pasarsambilegi.id platform facility. This new platform is expected further to increase online sales in the markets of Sleman Regency.
He said many things must be prepared for online sales in traditional markets. According to him, traders in the market must still receive attention and assistance.
“Because if you go online, you do not want to see sold out, slow delivery, bad goods sent and so on. This is what we will jointly support so that the online community can be proud of all parties and will be an innovation for the revival of the economy, especially in the people’s market in Sleman Regency,” he said.
Representatives of the Sambilegi Market Association, Naimatul Wardiah, S.Ag., said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sambilegi market traders faced many obstacles. Among them are the low number of visitors to the market, more and more stalls and restaurants are closed, school and office activities have been temporarily suspended.
Not to mention the traders have to compete with the proliferation of modern shops. For this reason, the Sambilegi Market Association has welcomed the pasarsambilegi.id site.
“This is, of course, very helpful in maintaining sales and adapting to current conditions,” he said.
Community Service Team, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, Dr. Hempri Suyatna, S.Sos., M.Sc., said that the market as a source of the economy continues to exist during the pandemic. Even though it has decreased, the market can still support society to face the pandemic.
Indonesian Statistics data for 2019 show that traditional markets play a vital economic role. The data states that 88.52 percent are traditional markets, then 7.06 percents are modern shops and shopping centers, only 4.42 percent.
He said it is essential to push a more pro policy direction for market interests because the number of traders reaches more than 12 million. It shows tremendous potential and can become a socio-economic forum for community livelihoods.
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the market is indeed a crowd place and is very vulnerable to transmission. Even though only 10 percent of Covid-19 cases are from the market, it still has to be watched out.
IKAPPI data for July 6, 2020 show that there were 833 cases in traditional markets, 35 people died, and the highest was in Jakarta with 217 positive cases in 37 markets. It is what then makes people afraid to shop at the market.
In Yogyakarta, the Covid-19 cases originating from transmission in the market are still small. The last 2 cases were recorded at Sungapan Sedayu Market, Bantul, and one from Sorobayan, Sanden, Bantul markets, and the case of fish suppliers from Semarang to Kranggan market.
“It means for the future, we do not know when Covid-19 pandemic will end; thus, it will encourage market digitalization ideas as an essential part for the markets. The concept of pasarsambilegi.id does not replace buying and selling transactions in the market because it becomes a bargaining power and attractive point of the markets. At least with the existence of pasarsambilegi.id, it can expand segmentation, especially for millennials,” said Hempri.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/19737-pasarsambilegi-id-platform-belanja-online-di-saat-pandemi
