Enstack Helps SMEs Conquer the Roadblocks of Digitalization, Supporting Government Drive

Tweet

In his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of digitalization as a catalyst for economic growth and closing the digital divide in the Philippines. With the digital economy contributing 9.4% of the GDP, amounting to a 3 trillion pesos in 2022, and 42% of retail payments already done digitally last year, the government is steadfast in achieving the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) 50% digital payment target this year. As part of this vision, the government has introduced the e-commerce roadmap, launched the eGov app, and is actively advocating for National IDs, anticipating their future benefits.

--------------------------------------------------------

SME Store Builder Addresses Digital Payments Challenges Faced by SMEs and Helps Accelerate Digital Sales Strategies through "Build-a-Biz" Competition

--------------------------------------------------------

Despite these significant strides, the journey to digitalize Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines remains challenging. Recognizing the obstacles faced by Filipino small business owners, SME store builder Enstack leverages its extensive knowledge of the difficulties experienced by over 100,000 merchants on its platform to provide an effective solution that businesses can implement today. Their diverse merchant base ranges from fashion, health and beauty, and home and living retail sellers to food business owners and service providers, many of whom previously lacked a proper business management tool to facilitate growth and success.

Super app Enstack paints a realistic picture of why digital payment acceptance remains low among SMEs and how they can facilitate progress:

Premium P2M Payment Fees: Existing high transaction fees averaging 3% for Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payments pose a significant challenge for small businesses, increasing their operational costs and driving them towards less scalable Person-to-Person (P2P) payment methods. Recognizing this roadblock, Enstack removes payment barriers and offers lower and more manageable transaction fees, empowering all businesses to seamlessly receive digital payments to enhance growth and expansion opportunities, while alleviating the financial strain on SMEs.

Cumbersome Merchant Payment Account Setup: According to the World Bank, it requires an average of 33 days[1] to set up a business in the Philippines compared to its Southeast Asia neighbors who range from 1.5 days (Singapore) to 16 days (Vietnam). A large part of this is the time-consuming process of setting up merchant payment accounts due to paperwork and complex requirements, which impedes small businesses from entering the digital payment landscape, expanding their customer base, and increasing revenue. Enstack works closely with its payment partners to simplify the onboarding process, requiring only an ID and Proof of Billing to start accepting debit and card payments, while online bank transfers and wallet payments can be facilitated with just an ID from the merchant.

End-to-End Tools Optimizing Digital Payments: While some businesses have adopted digital payments, many still grapple with manual processes in matching and reconciling orders to payments. Labor-intensive and error-prone, this can result in inaccuracies in both cash and inventory management. Enstack not only provides quick store setup, but also a seamless checkout process, capturing payments for each order made on any of its online or offline sales channels and automatically tagging them to the respective orders for streamlined tracking and management.

"Our mission goes beyond overcoming digitalization roadblocks; we are dedicated to leading Filipinos into a thriving e-commerce ecosystem while helping SMEs turn their business dreams into reality. We share the government's vision of a digitally empowered nation and aim to provide every Filipino business, regardless of size or industry, access to the tools and resources they need to succeed in the digital landscape. By providing practical solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by SMEs, we aim to empower them to embrace the benefits of online commerce and maximize their growth potential," said Macy Castillo, CEO and co-founder at Enstack.

In line with this mission, Enstack is staging its Build-a-Biz competition. Designed to accelerate the adoption of digital sales strategies among SMEs, the competition offers a cash prize of ₱1 million pesos to the SME with the highest grossing sales completed through the Enstack app by the end of the year. For more information, go to www.enstack.com/bab.

------------------------

About Enstack

Enstack is a leading small business store builder that offers comprehensive end-to-end commerce solutions, with a primary focus on simplifying the process of building and launching online stores for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform empowers entrepreneurs to establish a robust online presence and drive business growth through its powerful omnichannel storebuilder. With seamless integration of payment and logistics solutions, Enstack ensures a streamlined experience, enabling users to focus on core business activities while delivering an exceptional customer experience.

For more information, please visit www.enstack.com

[1] https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.REG.DURS?locations=PH-SG-TH-ID-VN-MY

Enstack Empowers Thousands of SMEs Across the Philippines in Ongoing Nationwide Tour; Unleashing the Power of Branded Web Stores

Tweet

Enstack, the pioneering SME superapp, continues to make waves in its ongoing nationwide tour aimed at educating and empowering the 10 million online sellers in the Philippines. Through strategic collaborations with local government units and the Department of Trade and Industry, Enstack has organized a series of on-ground events in key cities and provinces across the country, including Cebu, Albay, Baguio, Davao, Rizal, Bataan, Batangas, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Aurora, and La Union.

With a mission to streamline the digital transformation journey for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Enstack offers a seamless platform for building branded web stores in just a few steps, enabling businesses to start selling faster and without the hassles of paperwork or complex setup processes. The tour aims to empower SMEs to embrace digital transformation through a series of expert-led workshops and personalized mentoring sessions conducted by the Enstack team. These highly informative sessions provide actionable insights on effectively leveraging Enstack's robust platform and unlocking the potential of branded Web Stores that come equipped with cashless payment options and shipping solutions at sign up.

Enstack reach expands to Mindanao with first-ever merchant program in Davao, attracting over 1,000 merchant sign-ups for digital financing program

In Davao, Cebu, and Bicol, the tour garnered an overwhelming response from the business community, with over 2,000 SMEs enthusiastically attending the workshops in just three days. These entrepreneurs eagerly acquired the knowledge and skills to digitize their businesses through the Enstack app, enabling them to navigate the digital landscape with ease and drive significant business growth.

Supported by the DTI Heads of Market Vendors Association and local Pasalubong Center vendors, Enstack held a 3-day seller event for nearly 500 Baguio-based SMEs.

Macy Castillo, Co-founder and CEO of Enstack, expresses her enthusiasm for reaching underserved SMEs in the provinces and providing them with user-friendly digital tools to build and boost their businesses. She says, "Our goal is to bridge the digital divide and empower SMEs across the Philippines. We understand that many entrepreneurs in the provinces face challenges when it comes to digitization. Enstack aims to provide them with easy-to-use, ready-made digital solutions that eliminate the friction costs of setup and sales, so our merchants are able to build their store faster and sell their products faster. We believe that with proper education and access to the right tools, these SMEs have immense potential to thrive in the digital era."

Enstack team with the local officials and participants of the MSME digitalization workshop in Cebu and Bicol. Over 500 entrepreneurs attended the educational caravans to learn about digitizing their businesses through the Enstack superapp.

According to GlobalData, sales from online transactions in the Philippines are projected to reach P969 billion by 2026, driven by evolving consumer preferences. The government's support for increased adoption of digital platform tools among SMEs has further amplified this growth. The ongoing strategic partnerships between Enstack and local government units, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry, continue to play a crucial role in driving this digitization push, providing SMEs with the necessary resources and guidance to embrace digital transformation.

Enstack's ongoing nationwide tour marks a significant step in empowering SMEs across the Philippines, enabling them to leverage the benefits of having an app with a user-friendly interface, integrated payments, shipping solutions, and a free branded Web Store revolutionizing the SME sector and contributing to the growth of the Philippine digital economy.

---------------------------

About Enstack

Enstack is an all-in-one superapp that allows small and medium enterprises (SME) to sell online and offline, earn conveniently, and grow their business through an integrated platform with end-to-end commerce tools. SMEs benefit from Enstack’s platform as it lowers their barriers to digitization and helps them future-proof their operations. Enstack is at the forefront of Southeast Asia’s third commerce wave, which aims to provide flexibility and autonomy for small business owners.

For more information, please visit www.enstack.com

AXA Philippines partners with Bixie to empower women through insurance

Tweet

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, has partnered with online financial literacy platform Bixie to make insurance more accessible to women.

As part of the partnership, AXA Philippines’ micro insurance products will be available via the Bixie app. Those interested to apply will go through a less complicated application process, which is one of the barriers for people to get insurance. The application involves less paperwork, making it easier to purchase insurance and get themselves protected. The partnership is a significant step to make insurance even more accessible to the everyday Filipino, especially women.

“In AXA, we are committed towards reinforcing gender equality and helping drive financial inclusion. We join Bixie in its thrust of empowering women to know their worth as well as grow their worth,” said Rose Musico, Chief of General Insurance & Commercial Business.

Bixie is a platform that connects women who want to invest with the knowledge, network, and tools they need to start investing. The company uses UBX, an open finance platform that provides an extensive network of financial institutions and embedded solutions.

According to Bixie’s founder & CEO, Rosalia Gitau, “Bixie’s entire mission is to empower women to start managing and controlling their money and then to grow it. We want women at all socioeconomic levels to know that this is within their reach. What we love about this partnership with AXA is that they are providing microinsurance products that are so affordable and so accessible that it really is aligned with our mission.”

AXA Philippines will also be providing microinsurance to 500 Filipina small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, who were selected through the Catholic Relief Services (CRS). This partnership is the culmination of a month-long, Philippine-based pilot project that AXA and Bixie did with Catholic Relief Services, a humanitarian agency in the United States, who invested in and insured 500 Filipina SME owners. These women were graduates of CRS’ savings and loan schemes and have already shown initiative in wanting to determine a better future for themselves.

Get your AXA microinsurance via the Bixie app now (https://linktr.ee/mybixie) .

You may also visit the AXA and Bixie website for more information at www.axa.com.ph and www.mybixie.com respectively.

Millions of Small Businesses Get Free Online Store from SME Superapp Enstack

Tweet

Enstack launches Web Store to help SMEs open an online shop and become a fully digital business

SME superapp Enstack is offering a new sales channel to its merchants in a bid to expand their customer reach online. All verified superapp merchants will have a free, ready-to-use Web Store with integrated payment options including COD and shipping.

This rounds off Enstack’s sales channels as merchants can now sell online via Web Store and Chat Store and offline via its Cashier miniapp. Merchants have the ability to fulfill orders on the superapp’s “All Orders'' page while inventory is synced real time.

According to DTI, only 34% of SMEs in the Philippines are online due to lack of knowledge and high costs. One of these SMEs, Wok’s Tapsihan, found setting up an online shop complex and commission fees too costly. Owner Abigail Gondra explored different options, but it was Enstack’s free, no-code Web Store that made it possible to open an online storefront, increase sales, and improve operations. “Opening an online store and reaching more customers used to be just a dream. Now, by just uploading our inventory onto Enstack, we can venture into ecommerce for the first time and are very happy to see new sukis enjoy our tapsilog,” shares Gondra.

Since launching in February, Enstack has helped tens of thousands of underserved MSMEs through its free, easy-to-use superapp that brings together all the tools they need to run their business from their mobile phone. By transforming offline tasks such as managing orders, invoicing, shipping packages, and tracking businesses’ performance, SMEs can keep up with today’s highly digital business landscape.

“At Enstack, finding the right digital tools can be difficult for any business. Frequent and regular dialogues with our SME community allow us to add and improve features to our simple but powerful app that helps solve unique problems faced by small businesses. Our no-code, ready-to-use Web Store fits very well with our overall mission of serving our merchants so they can become fully digital and see their businesses take off,” Macy Castillo, Managing Director of Enstack.

Enstack's free Web Store does not require any coding skills and integrates all Enstack tools and services such as payments and logistics, reducing barriers MSMEs face when starting an ecommerce business. As soon as merchants upload inventory data, their Web Stores are generated and they can share their personalized URL to customers or social media pages to drive traffic and conversion. Merchants can also turn on “Vacation Mode” if they choose to go offline to optimize or take a break. Enstack is available to download free from Google Play and the App Store.

About Enstack

Enstack is a fast, free, and easy-to-use SME superapp that provides entrepreneurs with all operational, logistical, and financial tools they need in a single platform. The superapp allows small and medium businesses to take their first leap towards digitization by letting them manage orders, track inventory, get paid, ship packages, and record daily business transactions on their mobile phones.

For more information, please visit www.enstack.com

Wais negosyo tips: four easy ways to level up your small business

Tweet

Grow your small business by maximizing SME superapp Enstack’s digital tools that help you sell more, get paid faster, and run your business better

Whether you run an SME as a side hustle or full-time, growing a business is not an easy task. In order for your business to thrive, and not just survive, you need a combination of the right strategy and solutions like SME superapp Enstack.

Enstack’s Single Sign Up feature makes it easy to access all the tools and services you need to take your business to the next level. After submitting an ID, a selfie, and Proof of Billing during signup, you can start offering customers important in app services such as digital payments and on-demand shipping while enjoying low rates. Until the end of May you can also enjoy free shipping^[1] and zero transaction fees on orders worth ₱500 and above when you use Enstack integrated couriers and digital payment options.

Maging isang madiskarteng business owner and set yourself up for growth with these four tips from Enstack:

Keep your store open 24/7

Missed out on an order dahil hindi ka nakareply? Ensure you have online sales channels open around the clock that show your products, run promos, and engage and attract new and repeat customers. Take orders via phone or in person with Enstack’s Cashier miniapp or online using Chat Store, which automatically takes orders on Facebook Messenger even while you’re asleep.

Bill your customers right away

Matagal at mabagal ba ang bayaran? Send invoices promptly so can you get paid as soon as possible. Enstack lets you manage, ship, and bill for all orders made on Enstack. Send invoices with links that direct customers to a payment portal, making it easy for your business to get paid. With Enstack, madali na maningil.

Accept that ‘cashless’ will be king

Madami bang nagtatanong kung tumatanggap ka ng GCash? While cash on delivery still rules, cashless payments are now more common post-pandemic. Enstack lets you offer a range of cashless options from mobile wallets like GCash, PayMaya and GrabPay to online transfers via BPI and UnionBank direct debit while helping you keep track of payments.

Say goodbye to pen and paper

Nauubos ba ang oras mo sa manual na paglilista at pagcocompute? Paper records of sales, expenses, and inventory are prone to errors and can easily be lost. Switch to Enstack’s digital Accounting tool to track your sales and expenses and generate reports quickly. Then, shift to the Inventory mini app which automatically updates stock levels real-time based on orders made across all Enstack channels including the Cashier miniapp Chat Store. Now your records are always accessible through your phone.

Download Enstack for free on the App Store and Google Play.

 

About Enstack

Enstack is a fast, free, and easy-to-use SME superapp that provides entrepreneurs with all operational, logistical, and financial tools they need in a single platform. The superapp allows small and medium businesses to take their first leap towards digitization by letting them manage orders, track inventory, get paid, ship packages, and record daily business transactions on their mobile phones.

Behind Enstack is Oriente, founded by former Skype co-founder Geoffrey Prentice and BlackPine Private Equity’s Lawrence Chu. Oriente is backed by leading conglomerates JG Summit in the Philippines and Sinarmas in Indonesia. After providing Filipinos access to credit through its Shop Now, Pay Later services, Oriente expands its focus on Southeast Asian SMEs, empowering local merchants with Enstack.

Enstack is available in the Philippines and Vietnam and is set to launch in other Southeast Asian countries in the next 18 months.

For more information, please visit www.enstack.com

 

---

^[1] T&Cs apply

Ninja Van Philippines kicks off DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series

Tweet

Tech-enabled express logistics company, Ninja Van Philippines, continues to push its customer-first agenda to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the country. With the launch of the DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series, business owners can learn valuable insights and first-hand knowledge from industry experts to help them overcome the challenges of transitioning towards digitalization and maximize opportunities in the digital space.

During the first learning session, speakers from the public and private sectors shared insights on how MSMEs can better build their brand online.

“The Philippines is the fastest-growing market in the region and this has been driven by strict lockdowns caused by the pandemic, which led to businesses having to adapt and shift their transactions online. Here at Ninja Van Philippines, it is our mission to supercharge MSME growth in the digital space. We believe that Filipino businesses can further reach their potential with the help of these advancements and technology,” said Sabina Lopez-Vergara, Chief Commercial Officer of Ninja Van Philippines.

Sabina Lopez-Vergara, Chief Commercial Officer of Ninja Van Philippines.

Through multiple legs, the DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series will follow the digital transformation journey of SMEs and MSMEs—from building and growing their brand online to maintaining brand affinity among customers. Last March 22, the first leg of the series already began with a learning session that centered on developing a customer-centric brand for MSMEs and its importance as well as the available tools and solutions they can utilize to stay competitive in the digital market. It featured Ms. Nelly Nita Dillera, CESO III, Executive Director of the Department of Trade and Industry - Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC); Ms. Kim Sabala, Founder and Managing Owner of Cold Gold; and Mr. Edward Cruz, CEO of ATOZ as the speakers.

Government support

Venturing into e-commerce is more than just presenting and selling products online. DTI-PTTC Executive Director Nelly Dillera ran through the end-to-end e-commerce management services that MSMEs have to know. From marketing management to data analytics and customer service, all of which are important for their businesses to be successful.

“The PTTC-GMEA (Global MSME Academy) has programs that can assist you on the different processes that I’ve mentioned. Our coverage includes business development, accounting and finance, and other business functions that support MSMEs,” Dillera said. “You can also visit PTTC’s website for self help training programs and further assistance on how you can progress more in your business.”

DTI has also compiled a list of TechTools that MSMEs can use to boost their businesses including e-commerce platforms/resources, e-payment channels, digital marketing solutions, and logistics providers like Ninja Van Philippines.

Branding essentials

Once you have all the tools and training to effectively run your business online, the next thing you have to do is focus on your branding. Founder and Owner of Cold Gold, Kim Sabala, shared how she grew her businesses to what they are today by maintaining consistent branding across all channels using three essentials: brand guide, social media strategy, and content calendar.

A brand guide helps you define the essence of what makes you stand out from your competitors. It involves identifying your target audience, mission and vision statements, unique selling proposition, core values and brand stylistics. On the other hand, having a social media strategy is important in knowing what works for your business goals and what doesn’t through social listening and setting key performance indicators (KPIs).

“From there, we can test, refine and evolve our practices to better work for our goals. Not having a strategy is like shooting in the dark. When you aim for nothing, you hit nothing,” she said.

Finally, your content calendar must include the type of content you want to deliver to your consumers, your preferred platform/s, a timeline, and some key events to make your content more relevant. Once you’ve done all these, you can begin implementing your plan and growing your brand.

Customer journey

According to the CEO of ATOZ and long-time Ninja Van shipper Edward Cruz, one of the most neglected processes when it comes to e-commerce is mapping the customer journey. “For us in ATOZ, we make sure that every data that is coming in the platform has an engagement whether it’s pre-purchase or after purchase.”

Customer journey begins with awareness of the product, which is a customer’s first engagement with your brand. From there, you can deepen the customer’s understanding of who you are and what you offer through influencer marketing and more advertisements that will drive consideration and finally, turn customers to buyers.

After purchase comes retention. “After the customer purchases from you, you have to re-engage them because at the end of the day, the first purchase they make on your platform will not really result in big profits. But if you have good retention, it’s very easy to re-engage those customers through email, SMS and social media content,” said Cruz.

The customer journey ends with loyalty where businesses get to deepen their relationship with their customers and really drive home the message, they want to instill to their customer base. Mapping out the customer journey can help MSMEs deliver better customer service and maximize every customer interaction, which can be advantageous for their brand.

Watch out for the next DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series learning session for this leg happening in May! Visit facebook.com/ninjavanph for updates and more information.

LBC Powers SMEs with Innovative Business Solutions

Tweet

Mercato Centrale wins SME of the Year at the 10thAsia CEO Awards

The Philippine entrepreneurial scene is growing, with many business-minded individuals seeking to sell their products and services through online tools or by participating in high touch-point events to reach a wider market. With its bigger portfolio of services, LBC is reaching out to the proprietors of these Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), powered by its innovative business solutions and its legacy of reliability within its nationwide network of services.

LBC has always been a partner for the Filipino enterprise, providing them scalable tools such as COP/COD, Warehousing, and other logistics solutions that are custom-fit for their needs as they grow their business and achieve their dreams. 

Since the company has always been about moving passions and businesses forward, it continuously seeks to promote excellence among the country’s SMEs. LBC Express recently sponsored the SME Company of the Year category of the Asia CEO Awards, which is open to any profit-making independent company employing between 10 to 500 employees that have achieved important success. 

This year, Mercato Centrale was chosen as the Asia CEO Awards SME Company of the Year from among other nominees that included Ask Lex PH Academy, BoteCentral, Go Virtual Assistants, Innoveterra Properties, Sante Barley, and Sprout Solutions. 

RJ Ledesma, Mercato Centrale co-founder says that they are honored with the recognition of their mission to help grow the Philippine food scene and empower more Filipino food entrepreneurs. The company has had to pivot within its nine years, to reach a higher goal, he shares. More than a food market, it has grown to become an incubator for food businesses. They have since started to engineer an ecosystem designed to help small food entrepreneurs grow their business with assistance in the more technical aspects such as microfinance, marketing, or logistics and e-commerce. “We are happy to grow with them through partners such as LBC that have personalized solutions for small vendors, and these are logistics solutions that are ideal for this scale.” 

Mercato Centrale, Ledesma says, is a business model that helps other businesses grow. “We hope that with this award, we can have more vendors come on board, so we can help more people to grow their business ideas and become the next big success story.” Their next big step is to set up food halls in malls and mixed-use properties as their way of offering more food businesses a place to sell their products. 

LBC’s Chief Marketing Officer, Javier C. Mantecon says that being a part of the Asia CEO Awards, through its SME Company of the Year is a way for the company to reach and inspire more Filipino entrepreneurs. The goal is to partner with them through the reliable and scalable services of the logistics company. 

“Our participation for this annual event is one of the many ways to stay in touch with entrepreneurs inside and outside of our country, no matter how big or small they are,” adds LBC’s President, Miguel Angel A. Camahort. “We would like to congratulate all of the winners and the nominees for this event. We believe that everyone who was part of the 10th Asia CEO Awards is moving the Philippine economy forward.”

With a growing network of over 6,400 locations, partners, and agents in over 30 countries, LBC is committed to moving lives, businesses, and communities and delivering smiles around the world, and it has expanded, digitized, and scaled its services to support SMEs, as a partner that is present at every step of the way.

For those who are interested to become food entrepreneurs and be part of Mercato Centrale, send a private message at https://www.facebook.com/mercatocentrale

Globe myBusiness empowers SMEs with the latest digital solutions at DigPH 2016

Tweet

Largest digital and mobile marketing summit for SMEs provides opportunities for learning through innovative topics and learning sessions

DigPH - Executives with Craft Carrot

Recently held for SMEs, the country’s largest digital and mobile marketing summit, DigPH along with Globe myBusiness and Globe Digital Advertising (AdSpark) introduced a more extensive lineup of speakers and forums suited for entrepreneurs to learn and discover the latest trends in digital solutions ideal to expand their online footprint.

Modern entrepreneurs are in continuous search for ways to revolutionize how they do business through use of more efficient tools. Globe myBusiness upgraded and developed their portfolio to empower entrepreneurs with the right tools to adapt and keep up with the digital trend.

Through DigPH 2016, held at Crowne Plaza, Ortigas, participants had a full day of learning and discovering how to expand their reach through a strategy that is cost-efficient and effective.

“Last year’s run saw hundreds of entrepreneurs looking to learn the latest innovations. This is a wonderful turn out for us alongside AdSpark as we saw the potential of these kinds of events to address the needs of SMEs. DIgPH is now a platform for us to get in touch with our customers and at the same time share new tools and insights that will be useful to them,” said Globe myBusiness Vice President Barbie Dapul.

Bela Gupta D'Souza, Director for AdSpark also adds, “We want our modern day entrepreneurs to fully embrace and appreciate digital marketing and how it will benefit their business. Given this, we made this year’s DigPH bigger, packed with insights that business owners will certainly be able to use. We hope to give them a day of exposure, learning, and experience.”

Technology and communications, as envisioned by Globe myBusiness, plays a big role in one’s day-to-day business operations and overall success. DigPH aims to help SMEs start their businesses on the right track with the most effective solutions. With 52% of the Philippine population on mobile and the high rate of social media users, the digital venture is an advisable venue to begin a business.

DigPH 2016 features case studies, digital business tools, and practical tips for becoming digitally ready. Topics include learning how to maximize social media, venturing into e-commerce, being present in digital moments that matter, and optimization of backend processes for your growing business.

Entrepreneurs also learned how to expand their business’ footprint through Globe myBusiness and its partnership with top e-commerce platform, Shopify. Shopify is the go-to solution for starting your business online. Any business regardless of product or location can have its own customized website. It has a simple user interface that include features such as easy-to-understand report generation and in-depth analytics that provide substantial information for our customers when needed. Shopify also allows additional functionalities like loyalty ratings, reviews, social account integration, live chat and embedding of marketing materials such as flyers, videos and photos.

DigPH participants also learned how to effectively bundle Shopify with the DigiAds. DigiAds is a managed digital advertising service which aims to handhold SME’s on the appropriate online content and platforms to maximize returns. Its complementing features, such as targeting the right customers and monitoring the process of day-to-day transactions, eases the constant worry of entrepreneurs.

One of the emerging local enterprises that are now on Shopify is Craft Carrot. Craft Carrot is a specialty store that provides quality art materials and craft supplies for hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts. They specialize in watercolor art, acrylic art, calligraphy and lettering, and block printing / stamp making.

A family-run business of tight-knit sisters and cousins, Craft Carrot was born in 2014 out of their love for stationery and art products. The company is managed full-time by one of the owners Andrea Arancon, a mom to three kids.

Andrea Arancon of Craft Carrot

As Arancon shares, “We were searching for a solid platform that can grow with us as a company. It had to be easy-to-use with great interface options as well as payment gateways that can be adapted to the Philippine setting. Among all our options, we found Shopify to be the best choice. The online side of the business has been growing steadily since we started. More and more Filipinos like the convenience of not having to leave their homes to buy things because of the traffic situation in Manila.”

With Shopify, Craft Carrot found a convenient way to reach more clients who live in different provinces around the country. With their online store, they are able to make their products easily available and accessible.

To learn more about Globe myBusiness and its portfolio of digital solutions for SMEs, visit mybusiness.globe.com.ph/solutions.

For more information on DigPH, visit www.dig.ph.

GOAUTODIAL partners with DIDForSale to provide more SME’s with more choices

Tweet

A Filipino owned company with thousands of users worldwide - GoAutoDial made partnership with DIDForSale which aims to help provide SME’s and companies more accessible and better services for their DID needs in the USA, Canada and United Kingdom.

“Part of a successful inbound marketing campaign if to be able to provide your clients a way to get in touch with you quickly, easily and cheaply. GoAutodial has ever been on the lookout for partners that match our ideology and drive to be able to support our clients needs and we found those with DIDForSale” says Demian Biscocho, CEO and CO founder of GoAutoDial.

Now with the partnership between the 2 companies, GoAutodial can now provide DID’s for the 3 countries easily and quickly, the open source system will now be integrated with DIDForSale’s leading SIP Trunking technology with largest coverage in North America that will provide cost effective solutions to businesses of all scales.

Jai Rangi, CTO at DIDForSale, was particularly excited with this new partnership. Upon asking why it’s important for both firms and their clients, he said:

“This partnership gets to show our ambitions and the direction (in which) we’re headed. GOautodial is a brilliant company that has helped small and medium sized call centers around the world with cloud platforms. DIDForSale, on the other hand, is the leading SIP Trunk provider that has the largest coverage network in USA, UK and Canada. What makes this partnership essential for both our companies is that we’ll now be able to provide complete, flexible, and affordable packages for call centers, a combination that you can’t expect from the software giants in the industry.”

With the Corporate Office based in the Philippines with a North American presence in their Canada Office… GoAutoDial is one of the leading providers for Call Center Solutions both Cloud based and site based equipped with Predictive Dialling, Progressive Dialling and Manual Dialling with a built in DNC database where clients can upload their DNC lists which is automatically scrubbed against calls to be made.

Based in Philippines with a North American office in Canada, GOautodial is widely acknowledged as the leading provider of cloud-managed call center platforms. The company has overseen exceptional growth in the past few years and is currently providing an array of solutions to clients in over 100 countries across the globe. Essentially built for SMEs, the open source system will now be integrated with DIDForSale’s leading SIP Trunking technology with largest coverage in North America that will provide cost effective solutions to businesses of all scales.

About DIDForSale

DIDForSale is based in Southern California, USA and is a subsidiary of Cebod Technologies. With the largest coverage in USA, UK and Canada, the firm is a leading provider of SIP Trunking, Toll free, Local phone numbers and otherVoIP services to businesses across the world.

For more Information contact DIDForSale at contact-info@didforsale.com and visithttp://www.didforsale.com/

About GOautodial

GOautodial is a call center solutions provider based in Philippines, with a North American corporate headquarters in Quebec, Canada. With more than 50,000 customer downloads around the world, GOautodial is the small and medium enterprise (SME) owner’s top choice for a reliable yet inexpensive call center solution. For more information, contact GOautodial or visit www.goautodial.com.

Contact Information

DIDForSale

General Info: contact-info@didforsale.com

Phone: 1 (949)-930-0360

Address: 3200 Bristol St, Suite 615, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

GOautodial Inc.

Sales: sales@goautodial.com

Support: support@goautodial.com

US Phone: +1 8773505288

Philippines Phone: +632 2309039

GOautodial Inc. Address: Unit 3004,Antel Global Corporate Plaza, Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig City 1605, Philippines

GOautodial North America Address: 922 Boulevard Decarie, Montreal, Quebec, H4L3M4, Canada.

Filipino SME's to gain more reach in the digital space with Globe myBusiness - Shopify partnership

Tweet

Martha Sazon, Senior Vice President for Globe myBusiness

Globe myBusiness, the small and medium enterprise (SME) arm of Globe Telecom enters the picture by forging a partnership with internationally-renowned e-commerce platform Shopify.

As the trusted business partner of SMEs, Globe myBusiness now gives business owners an accessible and affordable portfolio of solutions that lets them reach more customers with its partnership with Shopify.

In the advent of the digital revolution, individuals consumption of content and entertainment has changed drastically, affecting how entrepreneurs run their business.

Small and medium enterprises are now forced to expand their presence to be able to gain more reach in the digital space.

With Globe myBusiness and Shopify, every Filipino entrepreneur can now have a platform where they can showcase their own brand. Shopify makes it easy for anyone to build and manage their online store by providing features like the ability to design the storefront, manage inventory, track orders and customer data, view marketing and analytics information, and much more.

“Being with entrepreneurs every step of the way has always been part of our mission at Globe myBusiness. The looming digital age requires us to offer innovative business solutions to SMEs so that we can help them run their operations smoothly and more efficiently. With Shopify, we continue to make our customers’ digital journey easier with an e-commerce platform complete with end-to-end operations support and accessible payment gateway, logistics, advertising and marketing services. We are excited to be partnering with Shopify to shape and redefine the future of retail in the Philippines,”says Martha Sazon, Senior Vice President for Globe myBusiness.

Shopify was founded in 2006 and currently powers over 175,000 businesses in approximately 150 countries. It is a cloud-based, multichannel commerce platform designed for small and medium business. Merchants can use it to design, set-up and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media such as Pinterest and Facebook, brick-and-mortar locations and pop-up shops. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business.

Today, there are a growing number of aspiring young entrepreneurs who maximize various free platforms to showcase their products. Online sellers prefer these free sites because of their limited funds for operations, but it may not be the easiest and most efficient way to manage their operations especially if they have work during weekdays.

Robinsons Supermarket relaunches Island Favorites in line with DTI-led OTOP program

Tweet

Discover Philippines' Finest Delicacies at the Robinsons Supermarket nationwide.

In collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town, One Product Program (OTOP), Robinsons Supermarket relaunches its Island Favorites section in select stores.

In support of the DTI-led program, the grocery chain giant will feature a variety of locally made products in the said section.

OTOP-Philippines is a priority program of the government to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs by promoting patronage of products using indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents. And Robinsons Supermarket is the first retailer to launch the project by reintroducing the Island Favorites section to support the program.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. President and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe

“As a Filipino retailer, we feel it is our responsibility to highlight the best of the Philippines’ products. Through the Island Favorites section, our consumers can be assured of the wide variety of pasalubong choices at competitive prices and of excellent quality – the same standards of DTI’s OTOP program,” said Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. President and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe.

Stacked in the Island Favorites shelves are delicacies such as Ilocos Fish Crackers, Cebu Dried Mango Chips, Memer Durian Candies, Peanut Kisses, El Tesoro de Cebu Turrones de Mani, Pampanga Chicharon, and Bundy Wine, to name a few. Its mission is to highlight products from different regions that have competitive advantages, in the hopes of improving local products’ quality and marketing.

Apart from being a staunch advocate of health and wellness, Robinsons Supermarket also recognizes its role in strengthening the economic base of every community it serves by supporting locally-made products.

Head on to the Island Favorites Section of Robinsons Supermarket and make a difference by supporting Filipino products.

The OTOP Legacy

What started in 1979, in Japan, as a regional development program to help small-scale businesses flourish is now a business model adopted by many countries worldwide. Called “One Village One Product” in Japan and “One Tambon One Product in Thailand, the program is more popularly known worldwide as “One Town One Product “ or OTOP.

OTOP Philippines was established by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). OTOP products are created by local communities, highlighting tradition and culture while emphasising sustainability and generating livelihood. OTOP’s role in nation building is extremely vital. Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the country’s economy and generate jobs nationwide. OTOP Philippines focuses on and develops a particular town’s or province’s or region’s main product or industry with the view of revitalizing each region’s economic activity. In the long-term, OTOP-supported products are envisioned to be very competitive in the world market.

DTI enables these budding enterprises by supporting them through product development, marketing, promotions, business counselling, skills and entrepreneurial training and capital sourcing. Their products are showcased nationwide through regional and national trade fairs. Those whose products have evolved in stature and with better quality standards are, then, introduced in the mainstream market through established retailers thus giving the general public and tourists as well, easier access to the country’s diverse and unique products. OTOP products are also introduced to the world market through international trade fairs and exhibits.

OTOP Philippines stands as a symbol of quality as well. Only products that pass DTI’s stringent standards for quality, market acceptance and competitiveness can carry the OTOP seal. To buyers, it is an assurance that they are getting even better value for their money.

EPSON supports SMEs through DTI's SME Roving Academy

Tweet

In its continuing support for small and medium enterprises in the country, digital imaging leader Epson Philippines is collaborating with the Department of Trade and Industry-Rizal (DTI) for its SME Roving Academy.

DTI’s SME Roving Academy (SMERA) is a learning program designed for the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the goal of helping them become competitive in domestic and international markets. The program’s main strategies are comprised of the integration of business development services for SMEs at the national and local levels, and the establishment of provincial, regional, and national entrepreneurship development networks.

Epson supported the initiative by sharing its expertise in the textile and signage industries and gave advice on how entrepreneurs can maximize their profitability. In particular, the printing leader discussed the basics of dye sublimation and its various applications, efficiency analysis versus silkscreen printing, and business cost analysis. The company also provided live training with Epson equipment to familiarize the entrepreneurs with the best available technology in the market.

“Our goal is to bring eco-friendly, high precision, world-class technologies to the Filipino,” said Pamela Albar, Epson’s Head for Commercial and Industrial printers. “For Filipino entrepreneurs, we give special attention to maximizing the return on their investments. We want to help them by offering them solutions that give the most value,” she added.

Epson’s support for DTI’s SME Roving Academy started last March 2015. The company plans to continue collaborating with DTI and helping entrepreneurs near PEZA areas in Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cebu.

Philippines gears up for ASEAN SME gathering this year

Tweet

To provide industry market intelligence to boost the business of SMEs, MEDIACOM Solution Inc. is staging the 2nd Philippine Small & Medium Enterprise Business Expo 2014 (PhilSME) with the tagline “Boost Your Business”. PhilSME 2014 is the largest trade show dedicated to the ASEAN SME Community in the Philippines with 238 exhibiting businesses from 18 business sectors and 20,000 expected visitors.

This is set to be the focal point in the business community this year as it happens in November 21-23, 2014 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City, Philippines.

For the past years, the Philippines have emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, impressively rivaling the growth rates of fellow Asian countries. From being referred to as the “sick man of Asia” in headlines, it has turned around to being referred to now as the “new breakout nation”.

Integral to the economic development and growth of the Philippines are the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as they largely outnumber large enterprises in both quantity of establishments and share of the labor force they employ. 

“We aim to put together under one roof SME business owners, senior level executives, professionals, government agencies, trade associations from the Philippines and the ASEAN region to synergize their efforts in order to boost their businesses and the Philippine economy at large. The ASEAN economic community will become the 7th largest economy in the world with a combined consumer market of over 600 million people,” said David Abrenilla, Founder and Managing Director of PhilSME 2014 and CEO of MEDIACOM Solutions, Inc.

Philippine Trade Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Zenaida C. Maglaya recognized the pivotal role SMEs play in fuelling the economy as they account for 99.6 percent of total registered enterprises, according to recent trade department data.

In response to this, Abrenilla added, “We would like to provide the gateway for this new market brought about by the ASEAN integration. The PhilSME 2014 will be their one-stop shop for all their business needs from seeking advice from qualified experts to networking with key decision makers to gathering market intelligence.”

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Alfredo M. Yao, in his speech at a recent event listed factors challenging the private sector’s readiness and competitiveness under the economic integration in 2015 and cited the need for initiatives, such as workshops, to prepare SMEs for the upcoming ASEAN integration.

Yao listed the challenges such as: high cost of power and logistics, inadequate transport infrastructure and access of SMEs to financing and technology.

With PhilSME 2014, the agenda is to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be competitive with large corporations, especially with the rising global competition. It shall be the venue for small and medium sized businesses from the Philippines and the ASEAN region to build new relationships, help network with local and international decision makers, business owners, senior level executives and do business amongst SMEs and its supporters.

To BOOST YOUR BUSINESS towards success in an economically integrated world register at www.philsme.com or call +63.509.4792. 

Stay connected to the PhilSME community via Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhilippineSMEBusinessExpo and twitter: www.twitter.com/PhilSMEexpo.

Take Your Step To Success at the Entrepreneur and Franchise Expo and the Entrepreneur Success Summit this June 27-29

Tweet

The ENTREPRENEUR AND FRANCHISE EXPO 2014 with the tagline, “Your Step to Success!”, is set to be held on June 27-29, 2014 at the Megatrade Hall, 5th Floor, Mega B Building, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Empowering over 100 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from various business sectors, the 3-day event features innovate and fast growing businesses, from food, education, retailing, real estate, travel, automobiles, logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, technology and financing that visitors can explore from. The expo will also provide seminars on how to build a successful business, from funding, hiring, to finding the perfect business for you, making it the perfect market place for aspiring entrepreneurs and future franchises. 

“Over 99% percent of registered businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs according to the DTI, but they combined only contribute to 30% of the National GDP. With the ASEAN integration happening in 2015 new competition is coming in, our vision as the expo organizer is to strengthen local businesses and provide a platform for them to showcase their innovative products and services. We also provide assistance for business owners and executives to network amongst other professionals and stakeholders in order to open opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own business and for local businesses to grow regional” says MEDIACOM SOLUTIONS INC. President and Entrepreneur and Franchise Expo Founder and Managing Director, David Abrenilla.

The Entrepreneur and Franchise Expo 2014 is supported by the Young Entrepreneurs Society Philippines and the Filipino International Franchise Association (FIFA), lead by multi-awarded franchise developer Mr. Rudolf Kotik, who will share his insights on how to build and grow a successful franchise business on Sunday, June 29 from 3pm-5pm.

Highlight of the event is the ENTREPRENEUR SUCCESS SUMMIT 2014, held on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at the Megatrade Function Room, 5th floor, Building B, from 1pm-7pm, a comprehensive series of talks by 20 entrepreneurs and business innovators that will share their time and secrets to success to empower business owners professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs in starting and growing their businesses and their ideas.

The summit will feature 5 talking topics, Building a successful Start Up Business, Money Mind 101, Passion4Fashion Entrepreneurship, Building a Food Empire and New Media Marketing. Among the rooster of speakers will be Globally Award Winning Brand Architect, Risk/Crises/Reputation Strategist, Marketing and Communications Innovator and Founding Director of GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, Amor Maclang; MultiMedia Entrepreneur, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Flippish.com, Chris Tan, Managing Director of MetroDeal, Ralph Manalo Wunsch; SME Advocate, Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Finalist and Chairman & CEO of Esquire Financing, Rajan Uttamchandani; Educational Entrepreneur, ANC’s On The Money Host and President of The Masters Academy Homeschool, Edric Mendoza; Tech-Entrepreneur and CEO of TwitMusic.com, Stefan Fazzini; E-Commerce Advocate and DigitalFilipino.com Founder, Janette Toral; Tech-Entrepreneur and Regional Director of Freelancer.com, Jojy Azurin; Intl. Networking Entrepreneur and Co-founder of the Freight Summit, Nils Walle; Design Strategist, Branding Expert and Co-Founder of KKK Coffee, Brian Tenorio; Fashion Blogger and Stylist Patricia Prieto; Radio Personality, Popular Model & Fashion Entrepreneur, Co-founder of SisiterSecrets.com, Karen Bordador; Food Entrepreneur and Merkato Market Co-founder, RJ Ledesma; Mercato Market Co-Founder and founder of OurAwsomePlant.com, Anton Diaz, Draft GastroPub co-founder Mitch Malli; Mandaluyong City Counselor and Co-founder of SisiterSecrets.com, Charisse Abalos and many more.

Exhibiting companies include Injoy by Doxo, Globe Business, 2Go Express, Benchmark Email Marketing, Gleent Innovations, Uber Technologies, IdentiyHub, Persia Grill, SisterSecrets, Manang’s Chicken, BK Whitening, UniOil, Esquire Financing and many more.

Register at www.efe.ph to get a FREE Priority Access Pass and to attend the summit 

Connect via https://www.facebook.com/EFEph

Media Launch Video I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFCvsLOkfgc