TM & LELONG.MY COLLABORATE TO BRING EVEN MORE VALUE TO MALAYSIAN SME BUSINESSES

TM’s MARKETINGTools enable SMEs to expand their online presence and venture into 
e-commerce with Lelong.my’s inclusion …

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today inked a collaborative agreement with Interbase Resources Sdn. Bhd.; or famously known as Lelong.my to encourage and promote the adoption of ICT by Malaysian SMEs in their business operations, to start and manage their e-commerce business conveniently and cost effectively with the latest bundle of Lelong.my’s Web Store feature in TM’s MARKETINGTools app.

Azizi A Hadi, Executive Vice President, SME, TM signed the agreement on behalf of TM while Lelong.my was represented by its Managing Director, Richard Tan. The signing was witnessed by Mohamad Yusman Ammeran, General Manager, SME, TM and Wei Kwok Seing, Director, Lelong.my.

Richard Tan, Managing Director, Lelong.my (second from left) and Azizi A Hadi, Executive Vice President, SME, TM (second from right) exchanging documents at the signing ceremony for the enhancement of TM’s MARKETINGTools app while Wei Kwok Seing, Director, Lelong.my (first from left), and Mohamad Yusman Ammeran, General Manager, SME, TM (first from right) look on.

Through this collaboration, Web Store will be offered as part of the various complimentary services available in TM’s MARKETINGTools app; a bundled value added services comprising engagement tools and listing services which was launched earlier this year. This latest offering from TM has been specifically engineered to offer SMEs a cost efficient one-stop-solution through short messaging service (SMS) and also to leverage on online listings for better visibility in the marketplace.

MARKETINGTools has two (2) main features which include an engagement tool where customers can send SMS via online platform through TM’s InfoBlast service; and also allows customers to leverage on online listing via its Internet Yellow Pages. MARKETINGTools also offers subscribers two (2) complimentary services that include Lelong.my Web Store and complimentary business card printing for SMEs as part of the subscription premium. By subscribing to this product, subscribers not only are capable to outstand competitors, a business also able to run promotion fast, cost effective, and time saving.

Commenting on the collaboration, Azizi said, “TM is very much optimistic about the potential benefits that this strategic partnership will bring to the SME segment. This is of course in line with TM’s aspiration to become the preferred communications and solutions partner to SMEs in Malaysia. Through this partnership TM is also able to fulfill one of its commitments in nurturing the Malaysian SME market through seeding of ICT based solutions through e-commerce knowledge and skills in conducting business.”

Both TM and Lelong.my will be educating the SMEs on the importance of e-commerce through upcoming seminars which will be conducted at selected locations nationwide. These scheduled practical classes will be held to ensure business owners are equipped with e-commerce know how to and also to get them running Web Store and MARKETINGTools immediately. Now, Lelong.my web store merchants can utilize MarketingTools from TM to reach customers and market their products effectively.

Lelong.my’s Web Store provides a powerful e-commerce solution of international standard that pushes businesses to the next level without any hardware investment or technical knowledge.  SMEs can set up their Web Store in minutes, with features to manage their online inventory, sales, invoicing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), shopping cart, online payment gateway, integration to Facebook, you-tube videos, coupons and many more, all ready to use immediately.

According to Richard, “Adoption of e-commerce has been growing rapidly in the last two years.  A recent survey by Paypal put the value of 2011 e-commerce of RM1.9 billion growing to RM3.5 billion by 2015 for Malaysia. It is no more an option of ‘to have’ or ‘not to have’ an online presence, but rather a must have for all businesses, big or small.”

Richard further stressed that the most compelling reason for SMEs to sign on to Web Store is not the features and functions, but the fact that all the products listed in your own web store are immediately available to more than 4 million potential buyers a month in the Lelong.my marketplace.

“Due to Lelong.my’s dominant position in Malaysia’s Internet environment and strong Search Engine Optimisation, Lelong.my’s listings are highly placed on Internet search engines like Google and Yahoo.  No other online marketplace in Malaysia can offer this,” added Richard.

 “The best thing about our MARKETINGTools app is, SMEs can forget about spending an arm and a leg on other solutions as MARKETINGTools is fully accessible online. Plus, it also incorporates engagement and online listing tools to further boost SMEs online presence. When they subscribe to MARKETINGTools, they are immediately provided with a variety of services including Infoblast, SME Priority Listing by Internet Yellow Pages, Lelong.my Web Store and also, get a complimentary business card printing service.”

Malaysian SMEs play a vital role in Malaysia’s economic aspirations, where the Government aspires for the SME sector to grow its contribution to the country’s GDP to 40%, from its current 32%, by the year 2020. With this in mind, TM is always looking for ways to further enhance Malaysian SMEs in ultimately reaching their goal.