Image credit: RinggitPlus
KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) plans to have more than 10,000 merchants on-board and deliver 1,000 orders daily through its online platform known as Sama-Sama Lokal by year-end.
Group chief executive officer of community financial services Datuk John Chong said Sama-Sama Lokal which was launched in mid-April last year has received tremendous response from local business such as hawkers, market and sundry shops, as well as home appliance providers since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced in mid-March 2020.
"Since its inception, we have processed close to 50,000 orders, and have more than 4,400 merchants on our platform.
"We hope to have more merchants online that can provide a larger variety of products and services to our customers,” he told Bernama.
Chong said Sama-Sama Lokal was started with the intention of helping small businesses go online when they were not able to operate from their physical outlets due to the COVID-19 pandemic and MCO.
"We do not charge a commission or any setup fees, allowing the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or micro-business to fully profit from their sales.
"Maybank also takes care of the delivery mechanism, reducing the need for them to worry about delivery integration,” he said.
He said the Sama-Sama Lokal merchants are also able to benefit from selected Maybank marketing campaigns, which will be extended to them at no cost.
Maybank also provides guidance for the local businesses to sell their products, get them on-board the platform as well as help them to advertise.
"Hence, we hope the public will show their support in their own little way to help our local businesses and keep them afloat during these challenging times,” Chong added.
He said based on the favourable feedback from the business community and the bank's customers, Maybank planned to keep the platform up for the foreseeable future.
"We are currently monitoring and analysing the interactions between business owners and customers to help identify their strengths and how we can help to widen their customer reach. We also are working on delivery automation, making the experience even better for our customers."
Homi Chicken Curry Puff Sdn Bhd is among the SMEs benefiting from this platform as it has received a lot of orders from customers since the MCO.
Homi head of business development Edward Kee Keh Kui said the company’s sales after joining the platform increased tremendously given the robust Maybank clientele.
"Since the MCO hit, we are forced to pivot from the traditional brick-and-mortar model to avenues like door-step delivery and digital space. That was how we came across Sama-Sama Lokal.
"Since joining the platform, we have sold almost 11,000 curry puffs during the MCO period from Maybank clients, corporate sectors and family gatherings,” he said.
Meanwhile, fruit wholesaler Ezydurian Solution founder Khairul Anuar Mohamadiah said his customers had benefitted from Maybank’s campaigns as the bank gave discounts for the products as well as a delivery fee promotion which are all fully borne by Maybank.
"Via the Sama-Sama Lokal platform, customers are starting to recognise us and it helps boost our sales during the MCO period,” he said, adding that his company sold up to two tonnes of durians daily during Maybank campaigns last year compared to one tonne normally.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2021/01/14/maybank-eyes-10000-merchants-1000-delivery-orders-via-sama-sama-lokal-platform