A business incubation and digital financial literacy program implemented in Sampulungan Village, Galesong Utara District, Takalar Regency, has successfully improved the business capacity and economic independence of local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The community service initiative was led by Nisma Iriani, Abdul Rahman, Arjang, Lina Marlina, Andi Amrullah Djaya, Wahyudi Putera, and Tapril from the University of Eastern Indonesia and STIE Pelita Buana, and was published in 2026 in the Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB). The program highlighted the importance of strengthening business management skills and digital technology adoption among SMEs in the growing digital economy.
The study explained that MSMEs make a major contribution to Indonesia’s national economy but still face challenges such as limited access to capital, weak business management skills, and low levels of financial and digital literacy. Although technological development and the digital economy have created new opportunities for business expansion and efficiency, many SME owners have not yet been able to fully utilize these opportunities.
The program used the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, an empowerment method focused on developing the existing assets and potential within the community. A total of 20 food-processing SME owners in Sampulungan Village participated in the program. Most participants had operated their businesses for more than one year but had never used digital financial recording systems or joined formal business incubation programs.
The program was divided into several key stages:
- Observation and business problem identification
- Entrepreneurship incubation and business strategy development
- Digital financial literacy training
- Continuous mentoring and evaluation
During the entrepreneurship incubation phase, participants received mentoring on improving product visual identity, packaging redesign, development of a Business Model Canvas (BMC), and digital marketing strategies using social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Before the mentoring began, approximately 85 percent of participants operated their businesses without clear target markets and relied mainly on sales within their local neighborhoods.
The mentoring process produced significant improvements in product presentation and marketing strategies. Enhanced logos and packaging made the products more attractive and hygienic, enabling participants to begin selling through souvenir centers and digital marketplaces. According to the researchers, these visual identity improvements contributed to an average turnover increase of around 25 percent within the first few months after the program.
The program also focused heavily on strengthening digital financial literacy. Before the training, all participants still relied on handwritten financial records or had no bookkeeping system at all, making it difficult for them to calculate profits and monitor cash flow accurately.
Through training on digital financial applications such as BukuWarung and SI APIK, participants learned how to:
- Separate personal and business finances
- Record daily transactions digitally
- Manage customer receivables using automatic reminder features
- Generate monthly profit and loss reports through mobile applications
Program evaluations showed a substantial increase in participants’ knowledge and financial management skills. The average post-test score increased from 42.0 before training to 88.5 afterward. Around 80 percent of participants began using digital bookkeeping applications and QRIS-based cashless payment systems in their business operations.
The study also found that digital payment systems helped SMEs create transaction records that could support future applications for People’s Business Credit (KUR). In addition, business owners became more confident in making financial decisions because they now had more transparent and organized financial data.
According to Wahyudi Putera and the research team, one of the main success factors of the program was the use of personalized one-on-one mentoring. This approach helped participants who experienced difficulties adapting to technology, particularly older business owners. In several cases, younger family members were involved in assisting with digital bookkeeping to ensure long-term business continuity.
Economically, the program directly contributed to increased business income. Researchers recorded an average turnover increase of 20–30 percent within the first three months after the incubation process. These findings demonstrate that combining entrepreneurial mindset development with digital technology adoption can help SMEs become more independent and competitive in the digital economy.
Documentation on page 8 of the study shows training and mentoring activities conducted at the Sampulungan Village Hall involving the University of Eastern Indonesia community service team and local government officials. The photographs illustrate active participation and collaboration throughout the program implementation.
The researchers concluded that integrating entrepreneurship incubation with digital financial literacy can become an effective strategy for strengthening SME economic independence in the digital era. They also recommended stronger involvement from local governments and SME communities to ensure the sustainability of digital application usage and to provide further training on halal certification, BPOM permits, and business legal licensing.
Author Profiles
- Nisma Iriani – Program Magister Studi Profesional Manajemen, Universitas Indonesia Timur; bidang keahlian pemberdayaan UMKM dan literasi keuangan digital.
- Abdul Rahman – Universitas Indonesia Timur.
- Arjang – Universitas Indonesia Timur.
- Lina Marlina – Universitas Indonesia Timur.
- Andi Amrullah Djaya – Universitas Indonesia Timur.
- Wahyudi Putera – Program Akuntansi, STIE Pelita Buana dan Politeknik Negeri Ujung Pandang.
- Tapril – Universitas Indonesia Timur.
Research Source
Iriani, N., Rahman, A., Arjang, Marlina, L., Djaya, A. A., Putera, W., & Tapril. (2026). Empowering SMEs Through Entrepreneurship Incubation and Digital Financial Literacy to Enhance Economic Self-Reliance. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5 No. 4, April 2026, pp. 289–298.
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