E-Commerce Training for SMEs in Sukawati Art Market to improve competitiveness

The development of the business world is getting faster with increasingly fierce competition requiring business actors to take advantage of all the potential and opportunities they have, overcome the weaknesses and threats they face, have competitive advantages, and establish and improve relationships with customers. The current global era makes challenges and competition sharper in seizing market share so companies are required to empower their resources effectively and efficiently.

The high level of competition is not only felt by large companies but also experienced by small and medium companies in Indonesia. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia contribute 60 percent of GDP and accommodate 97 percent of the workforce. With a large number, SMEs are the backbone of the national economy, providing employment while absorbing unemployment. Nevertheless, the great potential possessed by SMEs is not matched by the ability to compete.

One of the activities that can be done to improve the competitiveness of SMEs is to provide e-commerce training and how to sell online. This training was given to SMEs in the Gianyar Sukawati Art Market. Sukawati Art Market is located on Jalan Raya Sukawati Adat Sukawati Village, Gianyar Regency consisting of 23 stalls and 700 stalls owned by 200 SMEs from residents of Sukawati Village and surrounding areas. The products sold by UKM are painting, carving, silver crafts, sculpture, Balinese shirts, beach cloth and traditional Balinese cloth.

            The training was held on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Sukawati Art Market with SME participants in Sukawati Art Market. The training was carried out by explaining the main topics related to the use of the internet for business, creating an online store, managing an online store, and processing online transactions. The training target is for UKM to be able to create an online store, UKM to be able to manage an online store, as well as a skilled UKM to use the internet to make online sales. The training was accompanied by assistance so that SMEs in the Sukawati Art Market were able to use e-commerce applications and sell online so they could expand market reach from the local market to the global market.