Aspire and Kadin Join Forces to Accelerate Digital Transformation for Indonesian Businesses

Jakarta, Indonesia – [11 Februari 2023] – In an era where digital connectivity is more vital than ever, recent studies have shown a significant increase in internet usage across Indonesia. With individuals spending an average of seven hours and 42 minutes online daily during the third quarter of 2022, primarily engaging in social media and streaming activities, the digital landscape is ripe for businesses to grow and thrive online.

The ability to reach wider audiences through online platforms presents a tremendous opportunity for growth and expansion. Digital marketing allows businesses to tap into larger markets beyond their immediate geographical location, enabling them to build brand awareness, engage with customers, and drive sales more effectively than traditional marketing methods.

However, as businesses strive to harness the potential of digital channels, they frequently encounter barriers that hinder their access and effective utilization of these platforms. One of the primary challenges lies in the realm of knowledge; many business owners lack the necessary understanding of how to start their digital journey and how to operate within these digital platforms efficiently. This gap in digital literacy significantly impedes their ability to establish a robust online presence. 

Additionally, the payment infrastructure presents another significant hurdle. The digital economy often requires transactions to be completed through card payments, a facility not readily available to all businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This limitation restricts their ability to subscribe to essential digital services and platforms, thereby presenting them with challenges to act timely and tap on momentum, curbing their digital marketing efforts and overall online growth potential.

Recognizing the critical need for digital adoption among businesses, Aspire is at the forefront of facilitating this transformation for Indonesian entrepreneurs. Dedicated to empowering business owners to scale up and harness the power of digital platforms, Aspire is simplifying transactions with its user-friendly debit card payment solutions and accessible cash retail outlet options. These initiatives are designed to minimize transactional friction for merchants, making it easier for them to operate online.

Aligning with this vision, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) is partnering with Aspire to bolster its mission of supporting businesses across the nation. Kadin Indonesia has been instrumental in advocating for the growth and development of Indonesian businesses, with a particular focus on bridging the knowledge and technology gap faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) compared to their larger counterparts.

In an effort to further support merchants in their digital journey, Aspire is introducing incentives for business spend on digital ads and software subscriptions, as well as hosting educational events in collaboration with industry experts. These initiatives are aimed at equipping business owners with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in the digital economy.

Ferdy Nandes, General Manager at Aspire Indonesia, stated, “Our goal is to lift these hurdles, enabling SMEs to maximise their potential, including access to market their business easily. We are committed to simplifying financial processes and helping hardworking SMEs grow in the digital age with an all-in-one business solution tailored to the market.”

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This partnership between Aspire and Kadin marks a significant step towards fostering a more digital-savvy business environment in Indonesia. Through combined efforts in hosting educational events and offering incentives for digitalization, both organizations are committed to ensuring that Indonesian businesses can operate more effectively and sustainably in the digital era.

Vice Chairman of Kadin Indonesia in Entrepreneurship, Aldi Haryopratomo, enthusiastically welcomed the collaboration with Aspire as it aligns with Kadin Indonesia vision to provide more useful benefits  for MSMEs. “There are many MSMEs that still have to go through a third party provider to buy services that requires a credit card, such as buying Instagram or FB ads. The partnership with ASPIRE, which not only gives access to these services, but by being a Kadin Member, they will get a discount that is larger than what they can find elsewhere.,” said Aldi.

As digital transformation continues to be a key driver for economic growth, the partnership between Aspire and Kadin is a testament to the shared commitment towards enabling Indonesian businesses to leverage digital opportunities for their growth and sustainability.

About Aspire

Aspire is the all-in-one finance software for growing businesses. The company serves over 15,000 startups and SMBs in Southeast Asia, helping them save time and money with multi-currency accounts and cards, expense management, payable management, and receivable management solutions - all in one account.

Headquartered in Singapore, Aspire has over 500 employees across four countries and is backed by global top tier VCs, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, and Y-Combinator.

About Kadin Indonesia

Established in 1968, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is the umbrella organization for all chambers of commerce and business associations in Indonesia, including foreign chambers of commerce in Indonesia. Kadin Indonesia serves as the voice of the private sector and maintains intimate relationships with government institutions. Kadin Indonesia has a mission to support the vital, sustainable, and equitable economic growth in Indonesia. Kadin Indonesia networks, which includes 34 Provincial Chambers of Commerce and 544 district branches, represents the voice of all business associations covering all relevant sectors of the Indonesian economy. Partnering with key government institutions, Kadin Indonesia actively participates in business and economic reforms. Kadin Indonesia is the first point of contact for foreign companies and opens doors to the dynamic private sector in Indonesia.

Steven Polhaupesy                                                                                 

Head of Communications Sekretariat Kadin Indonesia                              

E: steven.yohanes@kadin.id