STRATEGI DIGITALISASI DAN OTOMATISASI PROSES BISNIS SEBAGAI RESPONS TERHADAP KETIDAKPASTIAN EKONOMI GLOBAL

Abstract

Global economic uncertainty driven by tariff volatility, geopolitical conflict, and energy price fluctuations increasingly affects small-scale enterprises through rising energy and input costs, including community-based businesses such as laundry units operated by Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). This study aims to describe the current business process and level of digitalization and automation adoption at the Laundry unit of Yayasan Ulumul Qur'an Stabat, and to analyze the strategies and challenges of digitalization as a response to rising operational cost pressures and to strengthening the pesantren's economic independence. A qualitative descriptive approach with a single case study design was applied in Kwala Bingai Village, Stabat Subdistrict, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province, as part of a community partnership engagement grounded in a formal cooperation agreement with the foundation. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews with the business manager, santri (students), and foundation administrators, and documentation, then analyzed descriptively. Findings show that the business unit remains at an early digitalization stage, characterized by manual bookkeeping, word-of-mouth promotion, cash-only payment, and conventional operations, shaped by limited santri working hours, limited capital, and low digital literacy among administrators. Low-cost digitalization strategies such as QRIS, WhatsApp Business, and Google Maps were identified as relevant first steps prior to considering more complex automation, while also serving as an entrepreneurship learning vehicle for santri, in line with national policy on strengthening pesantren economic independence.