Warung Pintar Encourages Wholesalers and Stalls to Adapt Technology

The high number of MSMEs that have started to switch to online services also marks the increasing awareness of the public about the urgency of digital platforms to adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic. This phenomenon is even felt directly by Warung Pintar, which has grown by almost 45 percent every month throughout 2020.

Public understanding of the importance of technology tends to increase. The e-Conomy SEA report compiled by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company found that there is 37 percent of new digital service users in Indonesia.

In response to the existing conditions, Warung Pintar launched Grosir Pintar, a technology-based service that aims to provide wholesale entrepreneurs with access to inventory management, reach a wider market, and obtain logistical convenience.

Harya Putra, COO and Co-Founder of Warung Pintar, said that this new platform comes from the company’s direct findings on wholesalers in the field. According to him, during the pandemic, there are physical limitations that lead to difficulties in reaching shop customers, the fulfillment of goods, and soaring logistics costs.

“For this reason, we embrace more than 60 of the best wholesalers in 14 cities who are increasingly aware of the importance of digital platforms for business development. Starting in Surabaya, until now, Grosir Pintar can be accessed in Jakarta, Bandung, Depok, Kediri, Mojokerto, Jember, and several other cities on the island of Java,” said Harya through his statement, Friday (27/11/2020).

Not only for wholesalers, the presence of Grosir Pintar is also a solution for shop owners, where at least 30 percent of stalls located in the alley area can join and be served by Grosir Pintar.

Turn on the Whole Economy

Stall owners registered on the Warung Pintar Application can also get a wider selection of goods, including local flagship products, at more competitive prices.

“Through Grosir Pintar, we are pleased to be able to participate in revitalizing the economy in the region as a whole by providing equal benefits, starting from the wholesalers themselves, stalls, to providing new jobs for couriers for the wholesale business area,” said Harya.

He added that the company hopes that all actors in the stall ecosystem can continue to actively adapt technology to jointly develop their business,” added Harya. Integrated with the Warung Pintar application, wholesalers registered in Grosir Pintar can reach up to 600 stalls as new customers, of which there are 8 times the profit recorded.

Going forward, Warung Pintar is committed to expanding access again for all parties involved in the stall ecosystem, both access to the fulfillment of shop needs and logistics, by targeting 300-350 wholesalers registered with Grosir Pintar in 15 cities in Indonesia by the end of 2020.

Previously, Warung Pintar has Collaborated with Warung Pintar

The two local Indonesian startups will work together to develop digital solutions that accommodate the specific needs of domestic MSMEs or small shops, starting with digital bookkeeping and stock fulfillment facilities. Both claim that this collaboration will increase end-to-end access for 60 million Indonesian MSMEs who want to start digital adoption amid the development of Indonesia’s digital economy.

“The first step to boost productivity is to increase merchant financial literacy by completing their credit and cash management with suppliers and customers,” said Abhinay Peddisetty, Co-Founder of BukuWarung.

Driven by the need to empower the MSME sector, the Indonesian government is targeting to help 10 million MSMEs carry out digital transformation by the end of 2020.

To further support the government’s efforts in increasing the productivity and competitiveness of Indonesian MSMEs, especially with the condition of the country which is currently in the phase of economic recovery, the two of them said that they were working together to help fill the unfulfilled digitalization gap and are still facing Indonesian MSMEs.