AiFu Gourmet: Going Digital Is No Longer A Choice But A Necessity
Welcome back to an all-new Head’s Up. It’s been a busy week for us as Budget 2022 session nears. We are also back with another collaboration with Satu Creative to highlight food trucks, their journey and what helped them get through one challenge after another.
This week, we are bringing you the founder of AiFu Gourmet, Ng Eileen who shares on the power of social media and why going digital will help SMEs make the big strides more effectively.
Till our next issue, stay safe and stay healthy!
News & Announcements
MDEC Announces AI and Data Week 2021
The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has announced the coming of the AI and Data Week 2021 (AIDW 2021), a week-long curation of virtual events focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT), data, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Highlights of AIDW 2021 include:
Anchor Event: AI in Malaysia – Racing Towards the Future. Jointly organised by Kearney and MDEC, this Anchor Event features two executive roundtables that seek to discuss what Malaysia should do to realise the full potential of AI (26 October, 9.00am – 12.30pm); and
Future Disruption: Adopt, Adapt or Fail Harder. IoT, Data and AI are advancing industries into the future and disrupting traditional processes. To survive, it is important for industries from all sectors to learn and understand the application of data technology for businesses and consumers (25 October, 10.00am – 5.00pm).
Empowering the Agriculture Sector with Digital Technologies. Being fertilised with the infusion of digital agriculture technologies (AgTech), this insightful panel session will see digital farmers sharing their journey on sustaining and scaling the application of AgTech to improve the livelihoods of the many (27 October, 2:30pm – 4:00pm).
To participate in AIDW 2021, visit here.
In conjunction with AIDW 2021, MDEC has introduced DataKITA.Hub, a platform designed to assist businesses in embarking and enriching their data journeys, MDEC said.
For more information on DataKITA.Hub, visit here.
How would you describe 2021 as an enterprise and what were some of your highlights?
2021 is definitely a challenging year for everyone including AiFu Gourmet but we are very much grateful for some of the events that took place. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters from near and far, for not forgetting to share Aifu Gourmet’s offerings with their friends and family.
One of the highlights that were memorable was to be able to feature AiFu Gourmet on the very first day of 2021 on MHI TV3. Thanks to the power of social media, and digital platforms, we managed to connect with new customers who helped to promote AiFu Gourmet and that really helped us get through the pandemic.
How did you pivot in the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic?
I offer affordable food delivered right to your doorstep. In the face of the pandemic, AiFu expanded its food range from ready-cooked food to sambal paste, pastries and cakes. We also serve festive or seasonal food/gift packs that customers can send to their loved ones when they are unable to travel.
We learned that we had to change to survive and we are truly relieved as it turned out to be a positive outcome!
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs facing similar challenges?
To never give up! Follow your desired plan; just do it as you will never know until you actually try it in the market. You definitely have nothing to lose if you try but you will lose out if you don’t try!
Be open minded to negative comments or reactions as that is where you can learn and and make the necessary changes. Continue to strive and you will definitely thrive.
On the digital front, how have you adapted? And what was the outcome like?
In this era, going digital is something that we cannot afford to ignore. It is also the most affordable stream that helps you to spread your company products with just one click. In our case, it helped us to get orders and interest in less than a minute!
In the upcoming Budget 2022, what sort of initiatives/policies should the government undertake to better help Malaysian enterprises?
I would suggest the government to set up more grants, incentives, loans and development programmes especially for Malaysian startups and SMEs. Of course, the government should also have initiatives to help existing enterprises like subsidies, tax incentives, bridging loans to encourage business growth.
I would like to urge the Government to subsidise learning programmes (e.g. INSKEN), to educate entrepreneurs to upgrade and get themselves ready to face the economic challenges. And most importantly, to get the local licensing department to give license to food truckers in more effective way.
How has Satu Creative aided you as an entrepreneur to get through these hard times and what was the outcome like?
Amazing coaches! Non-stop guidance, very truthful and not limited in sharing their knowledge or experiences to help me in every way! Their guidance served well and paved the way to what AiFu has achieved today.
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