Lee showing the process of drying cocoa beans. He plans to have tours of the farm and factory in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor in the future. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG and AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
IN an effort to help family-run traditional businesses stay competitive, Selangor government has given some of them a chance to learn about incorporating digital tools.
Although these businesses, passed down through the years, may have thrived without online tools in the past, the current generation must adapt if they intend to survive and grow.
With that in mind, Selangor Desa Digital (SDD) was launched last year to provide a platform for village-based and suburban entrepreneurs to learn about digitally enhancing their business.
Lee supervising the melting of chocolate. He has the idea of producing confections with tailor-made fillings.
This project is a collaboration between Selangor government and Sidec Sdn Bhd.
Sidec refers to Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation, a government agency mandated to lead the digital transformation of the state.
The inaugural SDD, which ended last December, aimed at revolutionising village-based entrepreneurship in the state by leveraging Taiwan’s advanced tech ecosystem, while preserving Selangor’s traditional industries in the modern era.
Digital and AI tools are used to design packaging and refine the logo for Lee’s Cocoa chocolate products.
The programme, which culminated with a week-long trip to Taiwan conducted primarily in Mandarin, saw 10 participants representing diverse local businesses, from traditional enterprises undergoing transformation to new startups in sectors such as sound therapy, traditional pastries, coffee, fruit products and batik, undergo training and industrial visits to grow their business.
Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han said through SDD training in digital transformation, brand revitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) integration, participants refined their business strategies and management approaches.
Lim, showing a unique batik print, is considering live-streaming batik demonstrations to build engagement.
“During their visit to Taiwan, which concluded in December last year, they engaged with leading industry players in networking and knowledge-sharing sessions, fostering potential cross-border collaborations.
“After the trip, one of the participants was invited to speak at an international online event, introducing their brand to a wider audience.
“Other participants were also given a chance to explore co-branding, joint product development and industry partnerships,” Ng said.
“After the industrial visit, participants are now applying the insights gained to drive innovation and growth within their businesses.”
He added that the people behind the project were actively working on enhancements and planned to host another edition of the programme this year.
StarMetro spoke to three of the participating businesses, namely Root Plus, Lee’s Cocoa and Chantek Batik, to find out how the training has helped them.
Other businesses selected for the programme were Kokorone Mandala Sdn Bhd, Swee Len Food Industries, Test Ha Homemade Kitchen, Chop Guan Kee Sdn Bhd, Babale Love Enterprise, Tat Lian Enterprise and Booku Books PLT.
Another programme organised by Sidec, Selangor E-Commerce Xcellerator ECX24, took 10 finalists to an innovation trip in Shanghai, China.
The group comprised Malaysian startups Wellness Cosmetology Alliance Lab Sdn Bhd, Nasi Lemak Nale Sdn Bhd, Ominent Sdn Bhd, Eartheories Sdn Bhd, Gelatomio Production Sdn Bhd, Saudagaar Asia Sdn Bhd, Kimyra International Sdn Bhd, Natugee Sdn Bhd, MCCKT Ventures Sdn Bhd and Naza Beyond Ventures.
The programme aimed to empower Malaysian startups through global exposure and engagement with world-class innovation ecosystems, industry leaders and emerging business trends.
From cocoa to chocolate
Lee’s Cocoa founder Lee Soon Cheong said he benefitted greatly from the SDD programme.
He said the company has an existing e-commerce platform.
“However, the programme has broadened my perspective on what else I can do for the business.
Wong, seen here at the Root Plus farm in Slim River, Perak, is learning how to film videos.
“During the workshop in Taiwan, we were introduced to additional digital and AI tools to support our operations.
“For example, we are now using some of these technologies to design our packaging and refine our logo.
“Moving forward, we are looking into customising chocolates with tailor-made fillings.”
Lee’s Cocoa Farm in Kampung Batu Lapan, Tanjong Sepat, was previously run by Lee’s father, who planted cocoa back in the 1970s.
The farm was converted into an oil palm plantation when palm oil prices soared in the 1980s.
When Lee inherited the farm from his father in 2012, he spent seven years replanting cocoa trees.
“During the workshop in Taiwan, I learned that cocoa farmers in Kaohsiung had to battle typhoons while planting cocoa trees.”
Currently, the 3.24ha farm has over 1,000 cocoa trees, along with coconut trees that provide shade, as cocoa plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight.
Lee cultivates only single-origin cocoa, which is harvested twice a year for chocolate production.
He said he was considering setting up a marketing team to strengthen the business’ digital presence.
“For instance, we are not yet on Xiao Hong Shu, the Chinese social networking and e-commerce platform.
“We are also looking into expanding our farm and factory tours so that visitors can learn about the process of turning cocoa into chocolate,” he said.
Lim at Chantek Batik in Kota Kemuning. She is continuing her mother’s legacy and taking her business to the next level with AI.
Batik and digital tools
Chantek Batik founder Lim Lian Cy described the SDD experience as an eye-opener.
“We were introduced to three major concepts: environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and B Corp certification, something we had not learned about before.
“As a result, my perception of business has changed, as there is so much more to establishing a sustainable enterprise,” she said, adding that she was thankful for the opportunity to participate.
Chantek Batik is very much a homegrown brand as Lim continues her mother’s legacy.
Her mother ran a convenience store in Pulau Kapas, Marang in Terengganu, and learned how to sew outfits using batik fabric in the 1990s.
Recognising the potential, Lim’s mother established Eng Hong Long Batik Centre, using part of the convenience store for her new venture.
However, that area where the store stood was later cleared for development.
Fast forward to 2020, when Lim returned to Terengganu to purchase batik fabric from a well-known tourist spot only to find that the quality was vastly different from what she remembered.
She realised there was a stark contrast in the materials used, as the batik in the market was mostly digitally printed textiles.
She discovered that these fabrics did not undergo the traditional wax-resist dyeing method, yet they were still marketed as handmade.
For Lim, genuine batik apparel should be made using traditional wax-resist dyeing methods.
Hence she founded Chantek Batik, which partners with artisans from Terengganu and Kelantan to produce handmade batik.
Lim said while the business, based in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, had embraced digital platforms including e-commerce, there was still more that could be done to integrate digital tools.
“During the workshops, we were introduced to various platforms to expand our customer reach, as well as the use of AI in different aspects of business.
“For instance, we are considering live-streaming batik demonstrations as a way to engage with a wider audience.”
When asked about incorporating AI, Lim said she would utilise it primarily for content creation and infographic designs.
“At present, I use online platforms to design certain elements of our packaging and marketing materials.
“It helps address the challenge of hiring someone specifically for this role.
“However, AI cannot assist with batik designs, as we prefer to keep them authentic, using metal blocks crafted by local artisans for our batik motifs.
“During the workshop in Taiwan, we were also shown 3D renderings of people wearing different apparel to show how Taiwanese shops incorporated digital technology into their business.
“But I feel it is not something that I could adopt now, maybe in the future,” she said.
Workers harvesting lotus roots. Wong is hoping to use AI to explain the harvesting process to others.
Lotus roots and AI
Root Plus founder Yuki Wong said SDD had encouraged her to utilise more AI tools to generate content as part of her marketing strategy.
“As we rely heavily on skilled workers to identify and harvest lotus roots by hand, AI might not be suitable to incorporate in our business operations.
“However, I have found it useful in helping us create clearer and more engaging content to explain the harvesting process and highlight the benefits of lotus roots.
“Previously, it was very challenging to produce such content, especially in multiple languages,” she said.
Root Plus, registered in Selangor, was started in 2012 by Wong and her husband.
The duo previously managed a restaurant in England but Wong’s husband returned to Malaysia in 2010 and embarked on a project to cultivate lotus roots.
He began by restoring a lake and its surroundings in Slim River, Perak – clearing overgrowth in and around the water body.
In 2012 as Wong came back to Malaysia, the couple established Root Plus, partnering with a noodle processing factory to turn lotus roots into noodles.
Wong plans to use video storytelling to showcase the lotus root harvesting process and its benefits.
“I am currently learning how to film videos of our products and plan to incorporate them into our marketing materials.
“We want it to appeal to younger consumers and leverage digital tools to break away from the traditional model,” said Wong, adding that they also plan to expand the product line.
“People associate lotus roots with soup, but there are many other ways to use the ingredient.
“We are exploring the possibility of producing lotus root drinks and chips to tap into a larger market,” she said.
