ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE ECONOMY OF THE POPULATION OF SUMEDANG USING DESCRIPTIVE QUALITATIVE METHODS

Abstract

The influence of technology on regional economic development is an important topic to research, especially in Sumedang Regency, West Java. This research aims to explore the positive and negative impacts of technology on the local economy, using descriptive qualitative methods. Data collection was carried out through literature review, empirical analysis, and in-depth interviews. The research results show that technology adoption has a positive impact on the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sumedang. Around 65% of SMEs have used digital platforms, which increase distribution and sales efficiency by up to 50%. The technology sector's contribution to Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) will also increase by 7% in 2023. In addition, the application of technology creates more than 1,200 new jobs and provides digital skills training to more than 3,200 individuals. However, this research also found that there is a digital divide between urban and rural areas. In urban areas, technology integration reaches 78%, while in rural areas it is only 42%. This gap causes income disparities and difficulties for SMEs in rural areas to utilize technology optimally. The main obstacle in the form of poor internet connectivity in rural areas also exacerbates this inequality. This research concludes that technology plays an important role in improving the regional economy, but strategic steps are needed to ensure equitable access, especially for SMEs in rural areas, to support inclusive economic growth