Kudo Attempts to Digitalize Traditional 'Warung'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agung Nugroho and Albert Lucius created the digital platform named Kudo to help the economic middle and lower classes. Their platform was pioneered since their college years in UC Berkeley, United States back in 2014.

“We both constantly thought the ways we can improve people’s livelihood through the medium of technology,” said Agung at the Kudo headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 27.

The pair initially observed traditional convenience stalls (warung) and traditional traders that have yet digitalized their businesses even though it would greatly help conventional traders increase productivity and income.

Agung gave an example of how ride-hailing applications have changed the work pattern of motorcycle taxi drivers (ojek) where drivers are proven to be more productive after adopting the technology. This, he feels, is applicable to traditional convenience stores.

“Traditional since its inception has always been a stark contrast to technology. But [that’s where the challenge lies],” said Agung on the transformation of warung.

Kudo will enable traditional stores to sell daily commodities through e-commerce platform which currently eyes on major Indonesian cities. The app can also help people who are still unfamiliar with the lifestyle of shopping via eCommerce by facilitating these types of customers to shop digitally through traditional grocery stores.

Kudo not only provides the digital platform, but it also conducts field observations to assist and educate traders on how to utilize the platform.

ANTARA