chapter 6 - Malaysia Productivity Corporation ( MPC)

and sub-sectors involving 3,182 companies and
retailers. The data on credit card transactions
showed a total of RM7.5 billion spending occurred
during the unified sales.
• Developing Big Box Boulevards (BBB)
Until the end of 2011, three locations for the
first BBB has been identified and the first BBB in
Nusajaya, Johor was operationalised in December
2011 and is the first premium outlet in Southeast
Asia.
Strategies and Outlook
There are several opportunities with great potential
to contribute to the growth of this services. This
includes adopting community-based affordable
retail shop to cater to the local community. Nonstore
marketing is yet to be fully explored by local
retailers. Retailers in developed countries have
benefited from e-tailing which recorded a strong
order growth. The Government has outlined the
support needed to develop non-store marketing
sector through improvement in information
and communication technology facilities. Some
small retailers have benefited from internet social
networking in expanding their business but a
consolidated platform is needed to overcome
consumer sceptical towards non-store marketing.
Inventory management system is another
important strategy that should be developed
by local retailers. Grocery industry in Taiwan and
many developed countries has benefited from the
use of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) in terms
of reduced costs, improved service levels and
create business opportunities for suppliers and
retailers in the supply chain. VMI involves strategic
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alliances between retailers and suppliers through
information sharing to better serve the customers
and reduce the costs of unnecessary stocks of
inventory and thus reduce the pipeline inventories.
Inventory management system offers increase
real-time visibility of inventory which will facilitates
stocks holding. The use of VMI allows the products
to response to actual demand rather than ‘pushing’
the products into inventories. It allows the retailers
to track the demand requirements in order to
maximise their service level to the customers. The
implementation of inventory management system
requires investment in ICT facilities. Integrated
sales and inventories tracking system across stores
help to maintain the stocks at the appropriate level.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Overview
The business and professional services
encompasses a large number of industries and
professions including accountants, building
draughtsman, lawyers, surveyors and tax experts
who facilitate and support the growth of an
economy. It also includes the architects, engineers
and designers that spearhead the expansion of
industries as diverse as construction, aerospace
and automotive. It consists of sizeable industries
in their own rights including IT services and
outsourcing and future growth areas such as green
technology services.
The rapid growth of the economy has resulted in the
establishment of large and diverse range of business
and professional services. There are opportunities
for this services to leverage the linkages that exist
in the financial services particularly, in areas such as
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