Maybank has announced that it has integrated its online Sama-Sama Lokal marketplace into its MAE banking app to further assist Small and Medium-sized F&B Enterprises (F&B SMEs) in Malaysia, such as local hawkers and home-based businesses, to market their food offerings to its retail customers.
Sama-Sama Lokal, Maybank’s zero commission online marketplace, was developed during the first movement control order in April 2020 to assist neighbourhood businesses which were suffering from a decline in sales owing to reduced footfall.
Today, the platform has close to 14,000 merchants connected to the Bank’s 12 million customer base. At the same time, the Bank’s retail customers can order food through a bank-backed secure platform.
Maybank’s Group CEO of Community Financial Services, Dato’ John Chong said, “From the start, our purpose of setting up Sama-Sama Lokal was to help our neighbourhood businesses recover and grow. While the economy has reopened, our intent has not changed, and that is why we will continue to ensure Sama-Sama Lokal remains a zero commission platform, with no set up, transaction or administration fees.
“By allowing the businesses to keep 100% of their profits, we hope to help them maximise their earnings and recover rapidly from the pandemic.”
Dato’ John added that the growing demand for food delivery services via Sama-Sama Lokal proves that digital platforms will continue to play an important role in serving the needs of the average consumer.
“In 2021, we saw a surge in merchant adoption and usage of Sama-Sama Lokal, with a 12-fold year-on-year increase in orders. Even with the reopening of the economy now, we continue to see strong sales in November and December 2021 – which grew by over 18-fold compared with the same period last year.
“By buying from their favourite Sama-Sama Lokal merchants, customers now have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to these small businesses, who will keep full earnings from their sales.”
According to the Google-commissioned Kantar SEA e-Conomy Research 2021, online services such as food delivery grew by 47% last year and contributed significantly to the internet economy in Malaysia.
“To stay agile in the post-pandemic landscape, brick-and-mortar businesses need to digitalise to remain visible to customers and future-proof their businesses. This omni-channel approach will also help SMEs buffer against any unforeseen shock in the future. Sama-Sama Lokal is an easy and a commitment-free platform for SMEs who are taking the first step to digitalise their business,” Dato’ John said.
