Malaysian B2B wholesale marketplace Dropee has partnered with the country’s Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the availability and efficient distribution of fresh food staples like rice, meat, fish, and vegetables, which has been disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With this partnership, Dropee will allow suppliers across Malaysia to sell their products in bulk to wholesalers, retailers, and consumers on its online platform. Sellers can also access logistics, financing, and insurance support from Dropee’s key partners. Moreover, the startup will also provide hands-on guidance for suppliers that are setting up an online B2B store for the first time.
“We worked with many traditional businesses and helped them go from offline to online,” said Dropee co-founder and managing director Aizat Rahim in a statement. “From our years of experience, we understand that many of these producers and suppliers need our help and guidance on the technical know-how to bring their businesses online. That’s why we’ve crafted out a very detailed and easy-to-follow guide for them.”
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Founded in 2017, Dropee is the second Malaysian startup to be admitted to Y Combinator’s program. It connects brands with local retailers and suppliers, and the platform uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to forecast which products will sell well, so retailers can source and manage inventory as efficiently as possible.
This “go digital” initiative aims to help suppliers maintain stable distribution of food supplies and access to safe and affordable produce for all communities in Malaysia. Dropee hopes to reach all of the country’s 90,000 farmers and fishermen to leverage its marketplace platform, manage buyer demand from customers, and understand purchasing trends to develop products that are relevant to the consumer market.