Technology Creates Village Jobs

Kompas/Megandika Wicaksono

Young women work as customer service officers for an online store at Kampung Marketer in Tunjungmuli village, Karangmoncol district, Purbalingga, Central Java, on Wednesday (7/3). Around 200 participants were trained on using technology for businesses that have the potential of earning Rp 1 million (US$70) to Rp 4.5 million per month. The community founded by Nofi Bayu Darmawan, 26, aims to reduce unemployment.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, hundreds of young adults are busy at the Kampung Marketer in Karangmoncol, Purbalingga, Central Java. There, they are developing digital businesses. The outcome is significant enough that it keeps urbanization in check.

Located 27 kilometers northeast of Purbalingga’s central square, local residents are trained to become familiar with technology and to become customer service officers of the online store. Doing business now does not require leaving the small town for a big city.

Dozen of motorcycles were parked on Wednesday (7/3) in front of a house next to the MI Muhammadiyah Tunjungmuli elementary school. On its facade was a red banner reading “Kampung Marketer 3: Job openings, please stop by, fill out a form…”

Inside the modest house, dozen of youths and a woman sat on plastic chairs around several tables. On the tables were smartphones, laptops, bound notebooks and an electricity socket. They talked casually on the WhatsApp messaging application. They were responding to queries from customers who were asking about the products sold online.

Dayah, 19, for example, was tasked with respond to customers’ questions on the anti-acne facial cream sold by her online retail partner.

“I have worked here just two days. Previously, I worked in Jakarta as a restaurant receptionist. I was told by my mother to come home,” said Dayah from Bungkanel village in Karanganyar district, Purbalingga.

Making incomes

Aside from Dayah is Nining, 26. The mother of one has been working at Kampung Marketer for two months. Before that, Nining was a housewife. Her husband works as a trader selling blankets and bed sheets. “It’s nice to work here. The work is easy, relaxed and not tiring. Before, I did not have an income,” she said.

Nining’s job was to respond to inquiries from customers regarding car covers. “My [business] partner is in Aceh. The buyers are mostly in the regions. Usually, they ask for testimonies from other product users and about the invoice, as many potential customers do not fully trust online stores,” said Nining from Tamansari village, Karangmoncol district.

In the first month, Nining made Rp 2.8 million and in the second month, she earned Rp 4.5 million. Each online attendant is paid Rp 600,000 per month from the owner of the online retailer. They are paid more in commission product sales.

“The prices vary. There is a product priced Rp 675,000 and another product priced Rp 1.7 million. Each month, I sell around 300 items,” said Nining.

Each time she sells one car cover, she receives Rp 25,000 as a bonus. “Some potential customers, however, give PHP [empty hope]. They ask many questions but don’t make the transaction. There are also people who ask for discounts,” said Nining, who was happy that she could bring her child to work.

Negina Galuh Saputri, 18, who just graduated from high school, chose to work at Kampung Marketer because she wanted to save money for her university tuition. “I want to work and save money. Once, I worked at a cigarette factory for a month. But I could not stand the strong smell,” said Galuh, who has also been working there for just two months.

Galuh, who is in charge of hijab sales, said in the first month she earned Rp 1.2 million and Rp 2.2 million in the second month. “Last month, I sold 263 hijab at prices from Rp 65,000 to Rp 145,000 each,” she said.

Sri Utami, 28, shared a similar story. The mother of one had worked before at a bank and an insurance company in Bobotsari and in Purwokerto. She chose to work at Kampung Marketer because it was more relaxed and comfortable. “We learned that smartphones are not only for playing with social media, but also to do business,” said Utami, who works as a customer service officer for hijab sales.

Sebastian, 24, a resident of Tamansari village, was also interested in working for the business. “I work as a website content writer for 58 partners,” he said.

Sebastian, who graduated from a vocational school in 2012, once worked in Jakarta and also worked at a warehouse belonging to a Purbalingga poultry company.

“I worked at the warehouse for 1.5 years and in Jakarta for one year. It was harder compared to my work here,” he said, smiling.

Kampung Marketer coordinator Nofi Bayu Darmawan, 26, said around 200 youths and young mothers from 17 to 30 years old worked for the business. Since opening five months ago, Kampung Marketer has established six offices in the villages of Tunjungmuli and Tamansari in Karangmoncol district.

“Of the 200 people that took part in the training, around 25 were men and the rest were women. We select youths who are friendly and not shy,” Nofi said.

So far, 64 business partners rely on the staff at Kampung Marketer. Normally, the owners of online stores have no time to respond to or answer inquiries from potential buyers, so they need a “store attendant”.

“The partners are based in various places like Bangkabelitung, Yogyakarta, Tangerang, Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya,” said Nofi.

Free training is offered to everyone who wants to learn and work at Kampung Marketer. The training material consists of managing basic online transactions, basic customer service and how to respond to customer inquiries. “If anyone wants to run an online business, they have to focus completely, implement a strategy, and not get into it half-hearted,” he said.

Tunjungmuli village head Joko Pranoto was happy with Kampung Marketer. At least 13,000 people living in the village, mostly farmers and coconut traders.

“The impact has been positive, as it provides jobs for youths. It also prevents them from leaving for the city to work after they graduate high school,” Joko said.