Students from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), conducted an industrial visit to the GoTo Group headquarters at Pasaraya Blok M, Jakarta (July 22). The visit, part of the GoLearn program, aimed to provide in-depth insight into the operations of Indonesia’s largest digital ecosystem and how technology plays a role in driving national economic growth.
During the visit, Gojek’s Head of Regions, Gede Manggala, shared his seven years of experience managing regional operations in Indonesia. He emphasized that the Indonesian market is unique and heterogeneous.
“Not just Greater Jakarta and Bandung; even in South Jakarta, the market is diverse. Blok M, Senopati, and SCBD have different user characteristics,” Gede explained.
He cited Bali as the area with the highest average GoFood order (affluent market), while the Soekarno-Hatta Airport area is dominated by GoCar services.
Gede highlighted two essential questions that guide all strategic discussions at GoTo: “What problem are you trying to solve?” “Is this conclusion based on data or merely an assumption?”
Gede emphasized that when designing business plans or problem solutions, they should not get caught up in abstract ideas, but rather adhere to solid facts and data.
The students then asked about GoTo’s steps in the international market. Gede explained that GoTo has currently chosen to consolidate its business by focusing on Indonesia as its primary “home ground,” while maintaining operations in Singapore (specifically for GoCar services) due to its lucrative market potential.
“We are a homegrown company, and our priority is to strengthen our position in Indonesia before expanding further,” he added. Regarding penetration into regencies or smaller cities in Indonesia, GoTo’s strategy is based on density calculations and ROI (Return on Investment) to ensure business sustainability.
The session concluded by encouraging the students to continue exploring data processing and market research. The event concluded with a group photo session and a tour of GoTo’s dynamic workspace. Through this GoLearn visit, it is hoped that future business leaders from SBM ITB can adopt a solution-oriented and data-driven mindset in facing the challenges of the digital economy in the future.
