3 Flagship Programs By Productivity Nexus For Retail And F&B To Increase Labour Productivity

Productivity Way Up Malaysia

Web : Productivity Way Up Malaysia

*****

Are you facing problem of human capital productivity especially in the Retail and Food & Beverage (F&B) industry?

I recently went to Sunway Putra Hotel Kuala Lumpur for the official launch of Flagship Programmes by Productivity Nexus, which was officiated by YBhg Dato’ Dr Mohd Ghazali Bin Abas, Secretary General of Human Resources representing YB Dato’ Sri (Dr) Richard Riot Anak Jaem, Minister of Human Resources.

The Retail and F&B sector currently employs no less than 2.7 million people which marks a value-added of RM89 billion – recording an 8.3% contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the productivity in this sector remains as one of the lowest. This spurred the implementation of the Productivity Nexus which rides on the premise of sharing the economy’s best practices and being inspired by industry experts to further inspire the rest of the industry. The initiative is slated to involve 80 to 100 selected flagship companies.

Supported by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Productivity Nexus is led by highly skilled and specialized individual who is committed in administering the implementation of productivity efforts as governed by the National Productivity Council (NPC). It is a one-stop centre that caters to enterprises to boost productivity while increasing innovation and capturing growth opportunities. The initiatives emphasizes the development of a holistic ecosystem in order to increase technology adoption and further strengthen key industry enablers.

Aims to empower industry associations to become key change agents in the nation, Productivity Nexus’s flagship programs are divided into 3 areas – Retail Digitalisation Program, O2O Growth Venture Program, and Top Transformers. It targets a 7.2% growth in labor productivity in the industry to meet the 2020 national level productivity target of RM92,300 per worker.

Led by the Malaysian E-Commerce Chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah, the Retail Digitalisation Program centres on guiding and equipping selected brick and mortar retail business owners to understand, adapt and master the online revolution. This program aims to attain sustainable growth as well as increase sales by taking their businesses online.

Helmed by Fave Founder Joel Neoh, the O2O Growth Venture Program emphasizes on venturing into new online sales channel and business model to increase sales of businesses. It also educates on the adoption of digital tools and consumer insights.

The Top Transformers program is designed for leaders in Retailing and F&B who are tasked to manage people and deliver results regardless of ranking to produce a well-tuned working environment. The program, championed by PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd Group Chief Executive & Managing Director Dato’ Michael Tio, has kicked off in January and will commence until March.

“The Productivity initiatives for Retail and F&B have included support for digitalisation of business operation and honing e-commerce capabilities. By strengthening the Retail and F&B players’ competencies as well as providing necessary assistance throughout this transformative journey, this sector will have the opportunity, backed up by the right skills, to expand internationally,” said Dato’ Bruce Lim, Retail and F&B Productivity Nexus Champion.

YB Dato’ Sri (Dr) Richard Riot also expressed, “The time has come for our labour capital productivity to be further enhanced by embracing of the digital economy ecosystem. These flagship programmes are all game-changers for the Retail and F&B industry as well as the people of Malaysia. I am truly pleased to see our nation on its way towards fully grasping the possibilities the economy of the future holds for us.”

*****

Productivity Nexus is proudly supported by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC); Economic Planning Unit (EPU); Prime Minister’s Department; Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK); Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE); and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). This initiative is also slated to receive the support of Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF).

Being a privately driven initiative, Productivity Nexus is also in collaboration with Bumiputera Retailers Organization (BRO); Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA); Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA); and Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA). Concurrently, K-Pintar has been appointed as the Project Manager and they will be tasked to measure the productivity levels of the participating companies while simultaneously overseeing the entire project.