Photographer Builds Digital Platform For Creative Industry Entrepreneurs

By Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- In 2020, amid the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, photographer Muhamed Helmy Samsudeen relied on little more than his camera and sheer determination to keep going.

From taking on small-scale assignments, he went on to create a digital platform with the potential to reshape the local creative economy. Called One Click Hub, the platform is designed to bring together Penang’s creative sector entrepreneurs into a single, interactive and user-friendly digital application, making it easier for them to promote their services, showcase portfolios and connect directly with customers online.

Muhamed Helmy, 31, said his journey in photography began in 2020 after completing a Diploma in Business at a private college in Kuala Lumpur, where he was born and raised. After graduating, he decided to move to Penang in search of fresh opportunities and a broader creative space. 

He told Bernama the idea to develop One Click Hub was sparked following in-depth discussions with former Penang executive councillor Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Hussain on the direction and challenges faced by local entrepreneurs, particularly those in the creative sector.

Muhamed Helmy admitted that he himself faced difficulties in growing his business due to the absence of a dedicated platform that focuses on the unique needs of the creative industry.

He said many entrepreneurs have had to rely on general platforms such as Facebook and Google, which are not specifically designed to cater to the creative economy, particularly in Penang.

“Out of that need, One Click Hub was born... an application that serves as a one-stop digital hub connecting the public with creative industry players,” he said.

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He added that One Click Hub not only supports small entrepreneurs and digital businesses, but also opens up wider marketing opportunities for content creators, graphic designers, makeup artists, caterers and others in the creative industry.

Muhamed Helmy said the application allows users to search for, compare and book the services of creative industry professionals, such as photographers, videographers and media artists, through a single platform – a concept likened to existing booking apps, but one that is fully focused on the creative economy.

One of the key requirements for joining the platform is that all merchants must be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to protect users from potential scams.

“For the general public, registration is simple and free, using only a phone number and OTP verification, with no password required,” he said.

It cost him over RM20,000 to develop One Click Hub, he said, adding that he used his own savings without any external funding.

He said One Click Hub is also equipped with artificial intelligence features to help manage bookings and delivery timelines automatically, as well as a live chat function that records all conversations for reference.

“For example, if a photographer commits to delivering work within seven days, the AI system will record that agreement and send automatic reminders to both the merchant and the customer until the task is completed,” he said.

Muhamed Helmy said a soft launch of One Click Hub was carried out in 2024 to introduce the idea and concept of the application to the public and the entrepreneurial community, receiving a very encouraging response, although he took additional time to further refine and improve the system.

-- BERNAMA