Digital Infrastructure as a Strategy for Strengthening the Rattan SME Industry

The rattan industry in Cirebon faces a paradox between substantial economic potential and low digital technology adoption, with only 18% of SMEs active on e-commerce platforms. This study aims to analyze the role of digital infrastructure as a strategy for economic empowerment of rattan SMEs in Cirebon, identify factors influencing digital adoption, and develop contextually appropriate implementation models. Employing a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, the research involved 218 SME respondents through stratified random sampling surveys and 15 key informants through in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (descriptive statistics, t-tests, multiple regression), while qualitative data were analyzed with thematic analysis. Results reveal that digital adopter SMEs demonstrate 77.7% higher revenue, 583% wider market reach, and 47.4% greater profit margins compared to non-adopters (p