In an era where e-commerce is reshaping the agricultural landscape, a groundbreaking initiative from Telkom University Surabaya is taking center stage. The university has developed TUS MART, an innovative e-commerce platform tailored specifically for the sale and management of aquaponic and hydroponic products. But as with any ambitious project, challenges have cropped up, particularly in areas like data management and user experience.
Perdana Suteja Putra, the lead author of the study and a member of Universitas Telkom, outlines the hurdles faced by TUS MART: “We realized that without a robust system in place, our ability to track sales and manage customer relationships was severely hampered.” This realization sparked a comprehensive research effort aimed at enhancing the platform’s operational efficiency.
Using the Innovation Canvas Method, the research team embarked on a multi-phase journey that included exploring user needs, ideating solutions, and ultimately designing a dashboard that aligns with both business goals and user expectations. The phases—Explore, Ideate, Market, Design, and Value Proposition—ensured that the final product would not only be functional but also intuitive for users.
The proposed dashboard is a game-changer. It promises real-time inventory tracking and sophisticated sales analytics, which are critical for any business looking to thrive in today’s fast-paced market. “This dashboard isn’t just about numbers; it’s about creating a seamless experience for our users, allowing them to focus on what really matters—growing their businesses,” Putra emphasized.
With enhanced customer management features, TUS MART is poised to elevate the way aquaponic and hydroponic products are marketed and sold. This could have far-reaching implications for the agriculture sector, particularly as more farmers and entrepreneurs look to sustainable practices to meet consumer demand.
By bridging the gap between technology and agriculture, this research not only addresses the immediate needs of TUS MART but also sets a precedent for future developments in the field. As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, initiatives like these could very well become the norm, paving the way for smarter, more efficient farming practices.
The findings of this pivotal research were published in ‘Sistemasi: Jurnal Sistem Informasi’, or ‘Systematic: Journal of Information Systems’, underscoring the significance of integrating innovative design frameworks in e-commerce solutions for agriculture.