Free beginner to advance e-commerce training at iPay88 Academy

• Begins Sept 19 for 25 participants per course with EasyParcel, SiteParcel and other trainers
• US$73,000 CSR investment with “no intention to make big profits”

THERE is no denying that digital economy is not a passing wave – it is here to stay. It is only apt that Malaysian companies hop on the e-commerce ship to stay afloat.

On Aug 27, iPay88 Holding Sdn Bhd launched iPay88 Academy to enable the Malaysian public to gain e-commerce knowledge and skills for free. The Malaysian-based online payment solutions provider has invested RM300,000 (US$73,077) into the academy as its corporate social responsibility initiative.

Since e-commerce is no longer considered “new” and is fast becoming the expected norm, the founder and executive director of iPay88, Chan Kok Long said that the iPay88 Academy aims to support the main objective of the National e-Commerce Strategic Roadmap, which is to accelerate adoption of e-commerce by sellers.

Being a provider of e-payment services to digital companies, iPay88 has developed solid understanding about the nature of e-commerce. “We see the importance of sharing knowledge. There is a space where iPay88 can complement the educational needs of the current local ecosystem,” Chan says.

The Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) are strategic partners of the iPay88 Academy.

The director of e-commerce at MDEC, Song Hock Koon said, “iPay88 has grown beyond Southeast Asia. Now that they are big, they have a new responsibility to build the Malaysian market through education.”

The iPay88 Academy free courses comprise of Beginner, Intermediate and Advance levels. The company is opening its e-commerce learning series to the public with classes commencing Sept 19. In the pipeline for next year is its e-payment, digital marketing, cross border e-commerce and train the trainer series.

The iPay88 Academy manager, Sharifah Juriah, said, “Of course, we are not the experts of everything. So we work with our various partners who are e-commerce experts.” Among the training partners on board include shopping cart brands such as SiteGiant, EasyStore, Webshaper; logistics providers such as EasyParcel, TresGo and Aramex; and dropshipping provider Kumoten.

The courses are two hours long each and accommodates up to 25 participants at iPay88’s office in Kuala Lumpur.

Nonetheless, Chan shared, “Education should not be confined to physical locations. We could offer courses at co-working spaces and other partner offices.”

When asked whether the courses will always be free, Chan said the company “has no intention of making big profits”.

He explained that, “Charging fees is the last thing we will do. Unless there are specific courses requested by the public, there might be some slight charges.”

iPay88 also intends to insert its iPay88 Academy syllabus into the coursework of local academic institutions. This is aimed at addressing the issue of graduates who lack practical know-how related to online businesses.

As of now, iPay88 is still in early-stage discussions with local universities but hope to confirm partnerships with three universities by mid-2019.

Related stories:

iPay88’s ‘Payment Dream’ that rides on IoT

iPay88 seals partnership with @CAT

Inmagine Group aims to accelerate blockchain talent pool with subsidized training

For more technology news and the latest updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn