Positive Impacts and Challenges of Online Shops for SMEs in Bengkulu: Need for Appropriate Regulations
Electronic commerce (e-commerce) or online shops (olshops) have had a significant impact on the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Indonesia, including in Bengkulu Province. With the rapid growth of internet users and the increasingly widespread penetration of digital technology, SMEs in Bengkulu now have the opportunity to expand their market without geographical limitations. However, like other great opportunities, the development of olshops also brings a number of challenges that must be faced by SME players, both in terms of competition, legal protection, and tax issues.
Positive Impacts of Olshops for SMEs in Bengkulu
1. Market Expansion and Increased Sales
 One of the most obvious positive impacts is the ability of SMEs in Bengkulu to reach a wider market. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Bengkulu, in 2023, around 60% of SMEs in Bengkulu will have utilized e-commerce platforms such as Tokopedia, Bukalapak, and Shopee to market their products. This platform not only opens access to the domestic market, but also to the international market.
 A real example of this success can be seen in regional specialty products such as potato chips from Bengkulu or handicrafts which are increasingly selling well on e-commerce platforms. SMEs that initially only relied on the local market are now starting to receive orders from outside the region and even abroad, which were previously difficult to reach using traditional methods.
2. Lower Operating Costs
 E-commerce provides an opportunity for SMEs to start a business with lower capital compared to conventional trading methods. Without the need to open a physical store or rent a business premises, SME actors can utilize existing platforms to market their products. Data from the Indonesian E-Commerce Association (ASESI) shows that more than 70% of SMEs involved in e-commerce in Indonesia reported that they were able to reduce operational costs, such as rental costs and labor, which have been a major burden for them.
Challenges Faced by SMEs in Bengkulu in Online Shops
1. Tight Competition
However, behind the benefits gained, SMEs in Bengkulu also face increasingly tight competition in cyberspace. Not only local SMEs are competitors, but also products from outside the region and even abroad that are more easily accessible to consumers. Uncontrolled price competition and the existence of counterfeit or fake products also add to the burden for SMEs that sell original and quality goods.
