Maybank is integrating its online Sama-Sama Lokal marketplace into its MAE app to allow Small and Medium-sized F&B Enterprises such as local hawkers and home-based businesses to market their food offerings to its retail customers.
Sama-Sama Lokal, is a zero-commission online marketplace that was developed during the first movement control order to assist neighbourhood businesses suffering is low sales due to reduced footfall. The platform now has close to 14,000 merchants, which can benefit from the Bank’s 12 million customer base.
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.”
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.
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 further drive sales for the F&B SMEs in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festive season as well as celebrate the introduction of Sama-Sama Lokal on the MAE app, Maybank is launching two promotions in the next two months for the benefit of its customers.
