At the onset of the pandemic, many businesses experienced a decline in income and some were even forced to close. This was due to social restrictions that prevented people from freely going out to meet their daily needs in person. Additionally, fears and concerns about the spread of COVID-19 led people to limit their interactions and transactions with others. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were particularly affected by these sudden changes, resulting in many unable to survive and ultimately shutting down.
As time passed, people began to adapt to the new conditions. The need to fulfill daily necessities pushed them to engage in transactions, whether goods or services. However, social restrictions still applied according to the regulations in each region. Online business emerged as a highly promising venture in these circumstances. Online transactions provided an ideal solution for individuals to meet their needs without leaving their homes.
In response to this situation, the Mathematics Study Program at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, initiated an online business training program for SME owners. This initiative was realized through a community service program titled “Enhancing SME Capacity through Online Marketing Training in Jatirejo District, Mojokerto Regency.” The community service program began with a training session led by two speakers: M. Fairuzzuddin Zuhair, an alumni of the Mathematics Study Program at UNAIR, and Drs. Edi Winarko, M.Cs., a lecturer in the Mathematics Study Program at UNAIR.
The event, attended by 20 SME owners from Mojogeneng Village, started with the first session titled “Seven Formulas for Immediate Success.” Fairuzzuddin, the CEO of PT Lentera Alam Nusantara, shared practical tips that business owners could directly apply to make their businesses thrive. Complementing the first session, participants were then introduced to the world of online business through the creation of online stores. Mr. Edi meticulously demonstrated to the participants the steps to create and launch online stores to boost their sales. During this training, participants also actively set up their online stores.
The next phase of this community service program involves mentoring and monitoring to ensure the sustainability of the online stores created by the participants. To maximize the outcomes of this initiative, the community service team from the Mathematics Study Program at UNAIR also collaborated with the Majapahit Training Centre (MTC). Through this activity, it is hoped that it will help revive SMEs that were adversely affected by the pandemic, thereby improving the economic conditions of the people in Mojokerto and Indonesia in general.
