IN line with the state government’s commitment to digitalisation and going cashless, a famous bakery chain in Penang is now heading towards that direction.
Yin’s Sourdough Bakery, which was established almost a decade ago, is embracing the initiative by introducing its own app.
Known as Yin’s Wholefood app developed by Trilobyte Sdn Bhd’s software company, it was made applicable to all its four bakery outlets two weeks ago.
Three of its outlets are in Penang island, namely at Pesara Claimant, Bayan Baru and Tanjung Bungah, while another outlet is located in Damansara Uptown in Selangor.
The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the reintroduction of the conditional movement control order (CMCO), have largely affected every business and the bakery business is not spared as well.
Although its usually brisk business has now taken a dip, the spirit of Yin’s Sourdough Bakery is not dampened.
Owner Ong Seng Keat told Buletin Mutiara that they launched the mobile app to allow consumers to simply place their orders on the app before collecting them at their respective outlets.
“This cashless method, coupled with its own app initiative, is timely now, especially with the current ongoing pandemic.
“This helps to reduce human interaction and ensure time-saving when the customers can just drop by to grab their orders anytime.
“This can help to stop the spread of the virus with lesser contact between both sides.
“With this, it can slowly reduce the use of traditional menu and its ordering methods,” he said during an interview session at his outlet in Pesara Claimant, George Town.
In addition, Ong emphasised that the digitalisation efforts must start from the ground up.
He said everyone must play their role for a cashless society to be achieved.
“When Penang is fully digitalised, it helps to attract foreign investors in an effective manner and promote local economic development.
“Foreign investors will have more confidence to invest in Penang when they see that cashless transactions are used widely. That’s why each of us must start to promote digitalisation,” he stressed.
For instance, Ong pointed out that Chinese nationals residing in Penang under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme could easily adapt to the launched app.
“They have no problem using our own app as they find it convenient,” he added.
Ong’s wife Chan Su Yin, who is passionate about baking, told Buletin Mutiara that people familiar with the technological era could accept it but older customers need time to adapt.
“When an initiative is carried out, the new trend requires time for the public to adapt. For example, when Penang started to introduce a ‘No Plastic Bag’ campaign years ago, many people were opposed to it.
“However, many people have already started to accept the idea, which brings benefit to the people. It takes time.
“There is no doubt that cashless transactions have become a norm in our society and we need to adapt to this new culture,” she said.
Trilobyte Sdn Bhd’s founder Tan Yin See said in order to develop a similar mobile app, it would cost about RM50,000 at least, excluding the operating expenses.
“Hence, this app developed by our company does not require the owner to invest a lump sum of money. They only need to pay about RM200 to RM300 per month.
“For Yin’s Wholefood app, it currently has more than 1,000 registered users. We hope more locals will get to know this app and start to use it,” said Tan.
Those who use Yin’s Wholefood app to top up RM50 would get an additional RM10 while those who top up RM100 would get RM20.
This can be used to purchase food from the outlets and accumulate points as well.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alvie Cheng