Table 4 Digital imperatives in SMEs

• I use Facebook, Instagram and e-commerce platform, Nowadays, I also use tik tok and the combination of all of them increase my income significantly—P11

• Social media along with gofood and grabfood help my business a lot during this pandemic—P7

Digital usage

Digital exploitation

• I’m not too used to technology but most businesses use it so, I have to learn in order to stay in business—P6

• Apart from crisis, there are a lot of competitors in beverage business already. I need to do what they do (in social media) to keep my daily operational running—P8

Digital adaptation

• I use simple website, at least it can help me to show my professionalism in virtual world I think digital presence is a must nowadays—P1

• Apart of daily social media posting, I sometimes use google ads or instagram ads to boost my sales—P13

Digital maximation

Digital imperatives

• Competitor in Food business is countless. I need to promote my business more. Using digital marketing is a must I think and I’m willing to learn more—P5

• I used to rely to direct selling since the first time this business established back in 2015 even though they (other businesses) used digital already. But this current situation force me to do the same and I’m learning now—P9

Eagerness to learn