Digital Transformation Readiness And Micro-Enterprise Business Sustainability In Academic Environments: Cross-Country Study Of Indonesia And Malaysia

The acceleration of retail payment system digitalization in Southeast Asia has created significant adaptation pressures for the micro-enterprise sector, particularly those operating within academic community ecosystems. This study aims to comprehensively analyze how digital transformation readiness affects the business sustainability of micro-entrepreneurs through a cross-country perspective in Indonesia and Malaysia. Employing a qualitative approach with a multi-case study design, data collection was conducted online through an open-ended questionnaire instrument administered to two clusters of micro-enterprises in higher education zones in Malaysia (Kedah) and Indonesia (Makassar). The acquired data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method of the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña model. The results reveal identical universal patterns across both countries; operational convenience and asset security serve as the primary drivers of digital readiness among entrepreneurs. Conversely, the main systemic inhibitors in both nations center on the instability of public wireless network infrastructures and technical latencies in financial applications. Despite facing these structural constraints, the adoption of digital payments is proven to be a fundamental instrument for micro-enterprises in maintaining turnover stability and operational resilience to respond to the digital consumption behavior of the modern academic community.