Kuala lumpur: The use of digital platforms in business activities can be a key driver for student cooperatives to attract greater participation from Generation Z while ensuring the cooperative movement keeps pace with current developments. Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (ANGKASA) president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah emphasized the potential of e-commerce, e-wallets, and QR code payments in adapting the operations of student cooperatives to align with the digital lifestyle of university students.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abdul Fattah highlighted the shifting purchasing patterns among young people, who increasingly rely on online platforms. This trend necessitates that student cooperatives evolve beyond physical premises and traditional sales methods. He remarked, 'Young people are more comfortable buying online compared to physical purchases. Therefore, student cooperatives must change according to the ways and needs of their generation,' following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between ANGKASA and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).
He noted that the predominantly young membership base of student cooperatives provides a strategic advantage in introducing technology-driven business approaches at the campus level. Students, already familiar with technology in their daily routines, are likely to embrace these changes, potentially positioning student cooperatives as pioneers of digital transformation within the cooperative movement.
Abdul Fattah pointed out the challenges in transforming long-standing cooperatives that are accustomed to traditional methods. 'That is why student cooperatives are the most suitable platform to pioneer the digital transformation of the cooperative movement,' he added.
He also mentioned that adopting digital technology could enable students to expand their business activities beyond the campus market, allowing them to develop online businesses based on current trends. 'Students can develop online businesses based on current trends. They are not only technology users but can also create business opportunities through cooperatives,' he stated.
Furthermore, Abdul Fattah discussed the strategic collaboration between ANGKASA and UUM, focusing on strengthening student cooperatives through rebranding efforts to make them more appealing to university students. 'We want student cooperatives to become a platform for students to learn entrepreneurship, cooperative knowledge and build a cooperative identity. Upon graduation, they can become leaders or drivers of a new generation of cooperatives,' he concluded.