MSMEs Adopt Smart Packaging to Expand Sales

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia are increasingly embracing digitalization, extending beyond social media and e-commerce platforms to product packaging. The integration of QR codes into packaging is creating a bridge between physical products and digital business information, as well as online sales channels.

This innovative approach is being implemented through a community service program involving YARSI University and Krisnadwipayana University, with funding support from the BIMA program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. The eight-month program targets POKLAHSAR NaminaSang Farm in Mandalamekar Village, Bandung Regency, and involves faculty and students from various study programs.

The initiative focuses on integrating information technology, product packaging, and digital marketing to help MSMEs broaden their sales reach. Rini Hidayati, Head of the Community Service Team at YARSI University, explained that QR codes transform packaging from a mere product protector into an informational medium and a gateway to digital channels. "Through smart packaging integrated with QR Codes, packaging not only becomes a product identity but also a portal to digital information and marketing channels owned by the partner," she stated.

The program's initial phase involved training partners on the concept of digital packaging and how to link QR codes to product information. Subsequent stages included workshops on creating QR codes and managing digital content, such as product and business profiles. The final stage connects the QR codes on packaging to the partners' e-commerce websites, allowing consumers to seamlessly transition from product information to the sales platform by scanning the code.

This cross-disciplinary student involvement is part of applying academic knowledge to real-world business needs. For MSMEs, smart packaging offers a direct communication channel with consumers without solely relying on the physical product for promotion. The information linked via QR codes can also be easily updated through digital channels. The program will undergo monitoring and evaluation until the end of December 2026 to assess the technology's adoption and sustainability.

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Through smart packaging integrated with QR Codes, packaging not only becomes a product identity but also a portal to digital information and marketing channels owned by the partner.