Economic Recovery Study Task Force (KPE) has been formed by ITB to do research and studies on economic recovery. KPE identified a shift in the economy sector into an era with low level with direct interaction economy, also known as Low Touch Economy.

On one side, Low Touch Economy is seemingly forcing business people to change. On the other hand, the Low Touch Economy actually opens up new opportunities. That being said, business activities digitalization is one of the encouraged strategies in this economic recovery plan. The ITB KPE Task force chose micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) and the transportation sector to be on the top list for economic recovery.

“ITB organized 35 community service programs to help restore the economy that reaches to 3T areas. These programs are funded by LPPM ITB with a total cost of 3 billion rupiahs. Lecturers and 56 students are involved in these programs,” the Head of LPPM ITB, Ir. R. Sugeng Joko Sarwono, Ph.D explained.

Deny Willy Juniadi, Ph.D., Secretary for Community Service at LPPM ITB, further explained that this community service program is divided into five zones for the division of program activities, including Circle 1 for the ITB campus environment itself, Bandung and its surroundings; Circle 2 for West Java region; Circle 3 for other Java region; Circle 4 for outer Java; and Circle 5 for the border zone or 3T area.

There are seven activities on Circle 1; integrated organic waste treatment system at the community level digitalization; digital network collaboration for coffee marketing; digital UMKMs empowering; smart market implementation for easier safety in the pandemic situation; UMKM application making based on block chain technology; designing of big data system and business identity for the development of UMKM; and a monitoring system designing as monitor on IoT based commercial hydroponics.

In Circle 2, there are Sukabumi UMKM marketing competency development towards Sukabumi Go Digital; digital transportation system for rural UMKM distributing application; natural hand sanitizer product marketing training; agricultural automation systems in Jatinangor and Cimahi training; the development of sharia (Islamic law based) online market modules, and many more.

Lots of activities are done in Circle 3, such as the designing of digital platform for productive waqf development in Klaten and Bogor; UMKM performance improvement through digital-based products booking and selling; tour packages and digital promotion media for tourism actors training in Banten; economic recovery through rural economy digitalization and BUMDes in Kudus, and the manufacturing of air sterilization device.

In Circle 4, Antar2 Pisang, a digital marketing application is developed; IoT is utilized to increase production of floating net cage fishermen; data science and digital marketing are applied for fish farmers in Lampung, and a design packaging for promotion and marketing needs of UMKMs adapting in new era is being applied.

Lastly, in Circle 5, more interesting programs are being performed, such as making of digital catalogs for marketing tamarin processed products in Kupang; efficiency and digital adaptation to improve UMKM production in Papua; application of digital based information system for market towards healthy people’s market; digital literation for UMKM people in Labuan Bajo; and electronic catalog-based digital marketing education in UMKM development in West Lombok. Further information on these community service programs can be viewed through this site.

Reporter: Ghina Aulia (Mikrobiologi, 2019)
Translator: Tamara Maharani Alamsyah (Seni Rupa, 2020)