The Role of E-Commerce Platforms as an Export Bridge for Culinary MSMEs

Rollin.MLG Case Study in Malang City

Authors

  • Agoes Windarto Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia
  • Sudarmiatin Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia
  • Heri Pratikno Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59971/meta-journal.v3i4.430

Keywords:

MSME internationalization, e-commerce platform, digital export, culinary, case study, Malang

Abstract

The internationalization of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through e-commerce platforms is an increasingly relevant phenomenon in the digital economy era. This study aims to analyze the role of e-commerce platforms, especially Tokopedia, Shopee, and TikTok Shop, as potential export bridges for culinary MSMEs in Indonesia, by taking a case study on rollin.mlg, a culinary MSME based in Malang City, East Java. Using a qualitative approach with an exploratory case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, digital platform observations, and documentation. The results of the study show that although Rollin.mlg has not exported directly, the three platforms have features that have the potential to support international market penetration. However, there are significant obstacles, including a limited product shelf life, a lack of export certification, limited production capacity, and a lack of digital export literacy. This research contributes to the development of a digital export readiness framework for Indonesian culinary MSMEs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Johanson, J., & Vahlne, J. E. (1977). The internationalization process of the firm: A model of knowledge development and increasing foreign market commitments. Journal of International Business Studies, 8(1), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490676

Oviatt, B. M., & McDougall, P. P. (1994). Toward a theory of international new ventures. Journal of International Business Studies, 25(1), 45–64. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490193

Knight, G. A., & Cavusgil, S. T. (2004). Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), 124–141. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400071

Westhead, P., Wright, M., & Ucbasaran, D. (2004). Internationalization of private firms: Environmental turbulence and organizational strategies and resources. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 16(6), 501–522. https://doi.org/10.1080/0898562042000231929

Paul, J., Parthasarathy, S., & Gupta, P. (2017). Exporting challenges of SMEs: A review and future research agenda. Journal of World Business, 52(3), 327–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2017.01.003

Qi, C., Chan, J. H., Hu, J., & Li, Y. (2020). Motivations for selecting cross-border e-commerce as a foreign market entry mode. Industrial Marketing Management, 89, 50–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2019.12.013

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Rosyidah, U., Sudarmiatin, & Sumarsono, H. (2023). Digitalization and internationalization of SMEs: A systematic literature review. Journal of Enterprise and Development (JED), 5(3), 670–690. https://doi.org/10.20414/jed.v5i3

Tolstoy, D., Hånell, S. M., Özbek, N., & Pehrsson, A. (2023). Effectual market creation in the cross-border e-commerce of small- and medium-sized enterprises. International Small Business Journal, 41(5), 472–497. https://doi.org/10.1177/02662426211072999

Lakshman, D., Kumarasinghe, J., & Weerasinghe, R. (2025). Internationalization of SMEs in a developing economy: A triangulation approach. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 35(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.53703/001c.124045

Badan Pusat Statistik. (2023). Statistik e-commerce 2023. BPS.

Kementerian Koperasi dan UKM. (2023). Perkembangan data UMKM tahun 2023. Kemenkop UKM.

Lembaga Pembiayaan Ekspor Indonesia. (2023). Laporan tahunan 2023. LPEI.

Wen, H., Liu, Y., & Zhou, F. (2023). Promoting the international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises through cross-border e-commerce development. SAGE Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231210119

Pan, L., Fu, X., & Li, Y. (2023). SME participation in cross-border e-commerce as an entry mode to foreign markets: A driver of innovation or not? Electronic Commerce Research, 23, 2327–2356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-022-09539-7

Da Rocha, A., Neves da Fonseca, L., & Kogut, C. S. (2024). Small firm internationalization using digital platforms: An assessment and future research directions. International Marketing Review, 41(5), 981–1015. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-10-2023-0280

Jafari-Sadeghi, V., Amoozad Mahdiraji, H., Alam, G. M., & Mazzoleni, A. (2023). Entrepreneurs as strategic transformation managers: Exploring micro-foundations of digital transformation in small and medium internationalisers. Journal of Business Research, 154, 113287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.08.051

Rahman, M., Hack-Polay, D., Shafique, S., & Igwe, P. (2022). Institutional and organizational capabilities as drivers of internationalisation: Evidence from emerging economy SMEs. International Small Business Journal, 41(5), 449–471. https://doi.org/10.1177/14657503221106181

Aghazadeh, H., Zehir, C., & Dana, L. P. (2024). Digital transformation and SME internationalisation: Unravelling the moderated-mediation role of digital capabilities, digital resilience and digital maturity. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 37(5), 1499–1526. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-02-2023-0092

Poh, S., Hasan, D. G., & Sudiyono, K. A. (2024). The power of social commerce: TikTok’s impact on Gen Z consumer purchasing behavior. Manajemen dan Bisnis, 23(1), 45–58.

Prihandono, D., Wijaya, A. P., Wiratama, B., Prananta, W., & Widia, S. (2024). Digital transformation to enhance Indonesian SME performance: Exploring the impact of market competition and digital strategy. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 22(2), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.22(2).2024.09

Fajarika, D., Trapsilawati, F., & Sopha, B. M. (2024). Influential factors of small and medium-sized enterprises growth across developed and developing countries: A systematic literature review. SAGE Open, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/18479790241258097

Zahoor, N., Khan, Z., Arslan, A., Khan, H., & Tarba, S. Y. (2022). International open innovation and international market success: An empirical study of emerging market SMEs. International Marketing Review, 39(3), 755–782. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-12-2020-0314

Reim, W., Yli-Viitala, P., Arrasvuori, J., & Parida, V. (2022). Tackling business model challenges in SME internationalization through digitalization. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7(3), 100199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2022.100199

Sadeghi, V. J., Garcia-Perez, A., Vrontis, D., & Bedford, D. (2024). Digital resilience, new business models and international entrepreneurship in the era of knowledge-economy. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 37(5), 1401–1417. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-09-2024-636

Downloads

Published

2026-04-24

How to Cite

Windarto, A., Sudarmiatin, & Pratikno, H. (2026). The Role of E-Commerce Platforms as an Export Bridge for Culinary MSMEs: Rollin.MLG Case Study in Malang City. Management, Economics, Trade, and Accounting Journal (META-JOURNAL), 3(4), 701–710. https://doi.org/10.59971/meta-journal.v3i4.430