Website Business Profile: The First Step to Building MSME Trust in the Digital Era

The development of digital technology has changed the way the public obtains information about products and business operators. Before deciding to purchase a product or establish a partnership, people now tend to search for information online first. This condition makes digital identity an important factor that can increase trust in a business. However, many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) still do not have an official information medium such as a website, resulting in their businesses being less known to the wider public. In fact, MSMEs play a very large role in supporting the Indonesian economy. Various high-quality local products are born from the hands of MSME operators. Unfortunately, the quality of these products is often not matched by the ability to utilise digital technology as a medium for information and promotion. As a result, many MSMEs are only known by old customers or through word-of-mouth recommendations, limiting opportunities to reach new potential customers. A website business profile is one of the most suitable forms of digitalisation for MSMEs wanting to introduce their business without changing their existing marketing system. A website does not always have to be used as a direct sales medium; it can function as the company’s official identity containing a business profile, company history, product catalogue, business location, and contact information. With a website, the public can obtain complete and reliable information anytime and from anywhere. The importance of digital identity was one of the reasons behind the implementation of a Community Service Programme (KKN) by Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya at UD. IKBAL VIP, an MSME producing songkok in Bungah District, Gresik Regency. For years, UD. IKBAL VIP has produced quality songkok and established partnerships with various distributors. However, the business did not yet have an official website to serve as a company information medium. Therefore, the KKN students carried out a programme to create a website business profile to help strengthen the MSME’s digital identity. The developed website contains various important information about the company, including its business history, company profile, product catalogue, production gallery, business location, and contact information that can be accessed online. In addition, the business owner was given guidance on how to manage the website so they can update the information independently as the business develops. Such mentoring is important because the success of digitalisation depends not only on the technology used but also on the ability of business operators to utilise it sustainably. The existence of a website business profile is expected to provide long-term benefits for MSMEs. Besides enhancing business professionalism, a website can also serve as a means to build customer trust, expand business partner networks, and introduce local products to a wider audience. With complete and easily accessible information, potential customers and business partners will find it easier to recognise the potential of the MSME. Through KKN activities, students not only implement the knowledge gained in lectures but also contribute to providing solutions to the real needs of the community. MSME digitalisation mentoring is a form of community service that can provide direct benefits while encouraging business operators to be better prepared to face ever-changing technological developments. Ultimately, digital transformation is not only a necessity for large companies but also for MSMEs as the backbone of the national economy. A simple step such as having a website business profile can be the beginning for MSMEs to build a more professional digital identity, increase public trust, and expand business opportunities in the future. Therefore, collaboration between universities, the government, and MSME operators needs to be continuously strengthened so that more local businesses can develop and compete in the digital era.