Expanding Market Reach: State Polytechnic of Bangka Belitung Helps Syahwa Craft’s Tudung Saji (Food Cover) Business Enter the Digital Ecosystem
The Community Service (PkM) team from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic handed over an online store account to the Syahwa Craft *Tudung Saji* (food cover) handicraft center to expand the marketing of local handicrafts via digital platforms.
To boost local craftsmanship, lecturers from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel), together with students from the Digital Business Study Program, conducted a Community Service (PkM) activity with the "Syahwa Craft" *Tudung Saji* (traditional food cover) craft center group in Baturusa Village, Bangka Regency, on Friday (September 25, 2026).
The Polman Babel PkM team—comprising Hendrik Ali, S.T., M.M., Septiana Shombing, S.E., M.Si., and Ni Luh Eta Yuspita, S.Kel., M.Si.—along with Digital Business students, handed over an online shop account to the *Tudung Saji* craft center group. This initiative serves as a form of support for strengthening the digital economy of the Baturusa Village community.
Speaking on Monday (September 28, 2026), Hendrik Ali, M.M., a lecturer at Polman Babel, stated, "This activity represents a contribution by the higher education institution toward community empowerment through the use of digital technology—specifically by strengthening marketing and developing craft businesses based on local potential."
He added, "The 'Syahwa Craft' *Tudung Saji* craft center group in Baturusa Village, Bangka Regency, is a community group that develops various craft products rooted in creativity and local potential; their output includes *tudung saji*, palm-leaf rib crafts, *pandan* (screwpine) weaving, and other craft products."
Meanwhile, the involvement of Digital Business students in practice-based learning allows them to gain experience in identifying the digital needs of business owners, managing marketing platforms, developing content, and designing marketing strategies tailored to specific product characteristics and target consumers.
"This initiative provides Digital Business students with practical experience in applying the knowledge gained during their studies through the handover of the Syahwa Craft online store account," he concluded.
He added that the artisan group could expand their product marketing reach by utilizing digital platforms; Syahwa Craft’s handicraft products need not be limited to local sales but have the potential to reach consumers across various regions.
At the conclusion of the activity, the Polman Babel Community Service (PkM) team provided guidance on the digital transformation process—covering everything from online store management, product uploading, and product information compilation to social media utilization, promotional content creation, and digital marketing strategy formulation. This support aims to help the Syahwa Craft artisan group manage their marketing more independently while opening up broader market opportunities for their local handicraft products," Hendrik emphasized.
