Web Bytes and E3Hubs Sign MOU to Accelerate Digital Transformation for E3Hubs’ F&B Members

• Web Bytes and E3Hubs sign MOU to accelerate the digital transformation for E3Hubs’ F&B entrepreneur members, who are mainly F&B startups and micro SMEs by providing them with scalable, cloud-based technology with lower cost of investment.
• With inflation, higher SST, rising labor costs and changing customers buying behavior, digital transformation is now more critical than ever to help F&B retailers increase operational efficiency, control costs, and elevate customer experience.
• As part of the collaboration, E3Hubs Effectuator F&B members will enjoy a one-year complimentary subscription to Web Bytes’ Xilnex point-of-sale (POS) solution on iPad and Android Mobile, and a 30% discount for the second year

From L-R: Datuk Ken Phua, Deputy President of MRCA; Ooi Boon Sheng, CEO of Web Bytes Sdn Bhd; Calvin Quah, COO of E3 Capital Sdn Bhd and Andrew Wong, CEO of E3 Capital Sdn Bhd at the signing ceremony between Web Bytes Sdn Bhd and E3 Capital Sdn Bhd for the technology enablement of E3Hubs F&B entrepreneur members with Xilnex point-of-sale (POS) solutions.

Web Bytes Sdn Bhd (Web Bytes), a leading retail management software company, today announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with E3 Capital Sdn Bhd, which operates E3Hubs, a thriving entrepreneur community in Malaysia. This collaboration aims to accelerate the digital transformation of E3Hubs’ food and beverage (F&B) entrepreneur members by empowering them with scalable, cloud-based technology, to help them optimize their business processes, increase operational efficiency, and adapt to the dynamic demands of the industry, with lower cost of investment.

E3Hubs boasts a robust community of 3,000 registered entrepreneur members, with almost half of them from the F&B sector. Recognizing the unique needs of these businesses which are mainly startups or single-store establishments, Web Bytes will fully subsidized its Xilnex Cloud POS on iPad and Xilnex F&B Go mobile POS to E3Hubs’ Effectuator F&B members for the first year, and up to 30 percent subsidized price for the second year. Among the features included in the Xilnex solutions are seamless online-to-offline (O2O) loyalty integration, contactless QR ordering and DuitNow payment, and sales integration with third-party apps such as GrabFood, foodpanda and ShopeeFood. E3Hubs Effectuators are entrepreneurs with paid memberships within the E3Hubs community. In addition, assistance will also be provided to all E3Hubs’ registered F&B retailer members to apply for the Madani MSME Digital Grant if they subscribe to Xilnex POS solutions.

Ooi Boon Sheng, CEO of Web Bytes Sdn Bhd said, “The F&B market is undeniably one of the most volatile and challenging sectors, especially for startups and entrepreneurs entering this dynamic space. To successfully navigate these challenges and remain competitive in today’s economic landscape, having the right technology is paramount. Beyond operational efficiency, insights from data are essential for crafting the right pricing, product, and marketing strategies. Our collaboration with E3Hubs is a tangible manifestation of our commitment to bolster the growth and resilience of F&B startups and micro SMEs. With our tailored Xilnex POS solutions, we aim to not only streamline operations but also enhance overall efficiency, providing a solid foundation for these businesses to thrive”.

Andrew Wong, CEO of E3 Capital Sdn Bhd added, “Our mission in E3Hubs has always been about fostering innovation within our entrepreneur community. E3Hubs has identified the F&B segment as an area to strengthen competencies and capacity building by providing business support, market access and access to funding. As one third of our membership is from the F&B industry, we intend to help them grow their businesses and be shielded from the complexities and vulnerabilities of the industry.”

While business for the F&B sector in Malaysia has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, inflation, the onset of higher sales and service tax (SST), rising labor costs and customers’ multi-channel ordering preferences continue to pose significant hurdles to F&B retailers. According to a recent report by MIDF Research, food inflation will continue to remain high at 5.5%yoy as Malaysia is highly exposed to external factors and currency movements. To overcome these challenges, digital transformation is no longer an option but a must to help F&B retailers increase operational efficiency, control costs, and elevate customer experience.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Datuk Ken Phua, Deputy President of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), acknowledged the common challenges encountered by F&B startups and micro SMEs when embracing new and advanced technologies, encompassing both knowledge gaps and financial constraints. With the valuable contributions of Web Bytes in providing technological expertise and financial aid for the onboarding process as well as the robust support from the E3Hubs ecosystem, he is optimistic the collaboration between the two parties will significantly expedite the digital transformation of E3Hubs’ F&B members, ultimately granting them a competitive advantage in the market.