DIGITAL INCLUSION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: TECHNOLOGY AS A MEDIUM TO CULTIVATE INNOVATION IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT by Siti Nurfazera Izzati Abdul Saibeh https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development en-us 2019-12-28 09:53:15 UTC 2019-12-28 11:09:14 UTC hello@padlet.com Abstract purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937156 Digital inclusion is ability of individuals and groups of people to access and use the information and communication technology (ICT) in various aspects in line with the development of the latest technological revolution. The paper explains the practice of digital inclusion in the entrepreneurial sector of technology as a medium to cultivate innovation in product development.  There are three approach that entrepreneurs used technology in business for marketing their product which are social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, website and online business. Furthermore, four technologies used in product development namely 3D printing, Artificial Intelligence, advances robotics and Internet of Things (IoT).]]> 2019-12-28 10:49:32 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937156 Introduction purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937175 The growing use of technology is seen to be able to have a significant impact on business. Digital inclusion can be defined as having access to information and communication technologies (ICT), and e-services. In fact, digital inclusion is not just about computers, the Internet or even technology. It is about using online and mobile technologies as channels to improve skills, to enhance quality of life, to drive education and to promote economic wellbeing across all elements of society. In addition, digital inclusion allows groups of organizations, enterprises and institutions to have access to technology and content that enables them to have up-to-date information. Thus, technology use aims to strengthen social contact, education and job opportunity, access to health, welfare, civic involvement, innovation and make government service more efficient [3].

This paper discusses the pattern of digital inclusion of technology among entrepreneurs as a medium for product development innovation. The entrepreneurship perceive digital communication technology as a tool that assists in running their businesses but not as a necessity in and of itself [9]. The engagement of business with more mature digital communications technology solutions such as websites and financial management software was wider than newer innovative technologies such as cloud based storage applications. 
]]> 2019-12-28 10:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937175 TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937204 The Internet plays an important role in today’s daily activities of world society. The use of internet that facilitates various affairs makes it easy to be accepted by the users. Consumers have also begun to accept and practice the involvement of digital technology such as the use of the internet in business activities over the years. Introduction to e-commerce services for instance, has made it easier for business transactions to be done. The services offered by e-commerce are also much cheaper to implement, more flexible and very convenient for small companies or industries [6]. Furthermore, with the presence of the internet, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have started to grow very well.]]> 2019-12-28 10:51:12 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937204 i. Social Networking purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937312 The emergence of social networking sites which are increasingly being used nowadays has contributed to digital engagement in the enterprise. At one time, social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were used to communicate and share information, but now it has become more than that. Today’s social media applications have become one of the most effective advertising and marketing platforms among entrepreneurs around the world. The social media is the best internet application to be used by entrepreneurs to carry out marketing activities [2]. In addition, with the greater access, a marketable product can penetrate the international market.
The interactive features that are available on the social media app have made it easier for internet users to use the app. The testimonials sharing or feedback posted by users on social media apps can indirectly attract other users to get the similar product. In addition, many consumers now rely on the effectiveness of a product used by others before deciding to use it. In the meantime, the internet engagement in entrepreneurship has expanded the employment field to anyone who wants to venture into business. There are various alternatives that can be used by entrepreneurs in promoting their products or services on the internet. For example, the dissemination of information via Instagram using the hashtags, captions or tags on the uploaded links are very useful for those who are doing promotions and advertising for newly launched products.
]]> 2019-12-28 10:55:16 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937312 ii. Website purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937406 The internet itself also plays an important role in delivering the latest information about a product or service offered. This is because the efficient method of information content management is very important to ensure that the company’s website is constantly updated with the information regarding products and services offered to the internet users [5]. In fact, this approach is far more effective than traditional advertising methods through printed media as it can reach users more broadly and quickly. 

]]> 2019-12-28 10:58:33 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937406 iii. Online Business purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937421 Online businesses began to be practiced primarily since the emergence of social media applications. However, the selection of social media applications or platform used by the entrepreneurs should be matched with the type of product or service offered. If the selection of social media apps is inappropriate, it can cause entrepreneurs to be less prominent among internet users. Therefore, the selection of social networking sites as one of the marketing methods is very important because the lack of marketing skills may bring a negative impact on the success of small businesses [8]. From a business organization perspective, the use of social media enables activities such as delivering information, promotions and the processes to get a feedback from customers can be implemented better [7]. Besides that, the creation of communities that are found in website allows the users to get any product or service easily and quickly. Furthermore, by using a hashtag, anyone can obtain anything they are looking for within a few seconds. With the existing facilities, it is also indirectly helping the entrepreneurs to build a vast business network around the world.

]]> 2019-12-28 10:59:16 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937421 TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937460 There is no doubt that there are many people in all parts of the world that have had some amazing ideas for the development of products. Usually, the first product made is referred to as the prototype. The product developer was utilize technology for the designing and building of the product. It most cases depending on the product it take different types of technology. The developer has to identify what areas of technology are needed so they can seek out the right professionals. There are four technologies was transforming product development and unleashing a new wave of competition among entrepreneurship and countries.  Technology is revolutionizing this aspect of new product development marketing through the application of exciting advances in the 3D printing, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and internet of things.

]]> 2019-12-28 11:00:46 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937460 i. 3D Printing purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937506 3D printing is a process of making solid, three-dimensional objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object uses successive layers of material built up to create the entire object. The process starts with making a virtual design in a computer-aided design (CAD) file using a 3D program (for the creation of a totally new object) or with the use of a 3D scanner (to copy an existing object). Microsoft and Google enabled their hardware to perform 3D scanning, which means soon be using our phones to digitize real objects into 3D models, much as now use our phones to take pictures. In new product development, the most exciting application of 3D printing is rapid and inexpensive prototyping. Consumer reactions to concepts or descriptions is not always as reliable as using a prototype. But creating and transporting prototypes is prohibitively expensive and challenging. Now, instead of developing a few expensive prototypes that are then physically transported, the developers have their own 3D printers, and they will produce the stimuli. The 3D printed prototype will cost much less, and shipping will be eliminated, dramatically lowering the cost.]]> 2019-12-28 11:02:18 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937506 ii. Artificial Intelligence purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937516 Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables producers to make sense of the overwhelming data that their factories, operations and consumers generate, and to transform that data into meaningful decisions. Today, 70% of captured production data goes unused. Applying AI to the connectivity of IoT, producers are able to orchestrate and streamline business processes from desktops to machines, across department walls and tiers of suppliers [4]. The most promising immediate opportunities for applying AI in production systems are in quality management, predictive maintenance and supply chain optimization. AI-enabled products will be a game changer for value propositions addressed to customers, and entrepreneurships must be ready to orchestrate the value networks required to deliver these. 

]]> 2019-12-28 11:03:17 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937516 iii. Advances Robotics purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937523 Advanced robotics have currently automates 10% of production tasks. Robots were often separated from people for safety reasons, but now, a new generation technology has working alongside human counterparts. Increasing returns on investment, insatiable Chinese demand and advances in human–robot collaboration increase their adoption to 25-45% of production tasks by 2030, beyond their use in the automotive and electronics industries [4].]]> 2019-12-28 11:03:40 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937523 iv. Internet of Things (IoT) purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937535 The internet of things (IoT) is actually an evolution of technologies developed more than 15 years ago. Operations and automation technologies are now blending with sensors, the cloud and connectivity devices of the information technology (IT) and the number of those devices to grow to almost 80 billion by 2025, up from 17 billion today [4]. The immediate opportunities for producers are in smart enterprise control, asset performance management in real time and smart and connected products and services.]]> 2019-12-28 11:03:59 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937535 CONCLUSION purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937554 In conclusion, entrepreneurs today can run their businesses more efficiently when it comes to technology. In addition, the level of frequency in digital inclusion also plays an important role in the development of their business in a more global direction. In this paper, the entrepreneurs used technology mainly for their business. The entrepreneurs advertised their products or services on the Internet, web, or social networking sites for e-marketing activities. They used the Internet to advertising and marketing their products to customers. Entrepreneurs also use technology regularly in dealing with customers and business suppliers. In addition, entrepreneurship used technologies for transforming product development. The entrepreneurs used technology through the application of exciting advances in the 3D printing, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and internet of things.

]]> 2019-12-28 11:04:35 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937554 REFERENCES purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937563 [1]     Faradillah Iqmar Omar, Ali Salman & Samsudin A. Rahim. (2015). The relationship between internet usage and digital inclusion of women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 2, 77-83.

[2]     Faradillah Iqmar Omar, Husna A. D., Ahmad N. & Sheikh Muhamad Hizam. S. K. (2018). Digital Inclusion among Entrepreneurs of Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs): A Preliminary Survey. Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 6 (2), 2289-9855.

[3]     ICMA. (2011, April 29). Connecting through social media. Retrieved from http://icma.org/en/icma/newsroom/highlights/Article/101165/Connecting_Through_Social_Media

[4]     Kearney, A. T. (2017). Technology and Innovation for the Future of Production: Accelerating Value Creation. World Economic Forum.
]]> 2019-12-28 11:04:58 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937563 purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937597 [5]     Mohd Hafizie Suhaimi & Norshuhada Shiratuddin. (2013). Penggunaan Media Sosial: Elemen Kebolehlihatan Usahawan Industri Kecil Sederhana (IKS). Prosiding Persidangan Kebangsaan Ekonomi Malaysia Ke VIII, Jil. 3: 1511 – 1520.

[6]     Ruslan Romli, Norazuwa Mat & Franky Naul. (2013). Faktor kebergunaan dan kemudahgunaan terhadap niat penggunaan e-dagang di kalangan industri kecil dan sederhana di Sabah.

[7]     Sin, S. S., Khalil, M. D., & Al-Agaga, A. (2012). Factors affecting Malaysian young consumers’ online purchase intention in social media websites. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 40, 326-333.

[8]        Van Scheers, L. (2011). SMEs’ marketing skills challenges in South Africa. African Journal of Business Management, 5 (13), 5048-5056. Retrieved from http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBM 
]]> 2019-12-28 11:05:46 UTC https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937597 purple180894 https://padlet.com/purple180894/Tech_as_medium_innovation_in_product_development/wish/426937605 [9]     Yamine, M., Ellis, N., Fadil Pedic & Benita Tan. (2014). SMEs and Digital Technologies. Australia: Australian Communication and Media Authority.

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