THE UPS Philippines, a global company known for its package delivery services, encouraged more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Davao City to engage in e-commerce and export activities to improve business performance.

During Exporting 101 for SMEs event at Park Inn Hotel on Friday, April 26, UPS Philippines and Indonesia marketing manager Marianne Mendoza said that while e-commerce provides global reach and location independence, it also reduces costs and automates inventory. It can also be a good medium to help SMEs look for export partners to expand globally.

“Entrepreneurs can take full advantage of the global rise of e-commerce by using digital platforms to sell goods and services abroad. The UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study, commissioned by UPS, found that 90 percent of online shoppers in Asia would buy from a small retailer instead of a larger one, with accessing unique products being the leading reason,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said other opportunities and enabler for SMEs aside from e-commerce are the country’s ease of doing business law; the country’s top export markets such as United States, Hong Kong, and Japan; and free trade agreements (FTA) between the Philippines and other countries.

UPS Philippines’ package delivery company transports products to over 220 countries with 1,800 worldwide operating facilities. Mendoza said they assure their clients of full visibility of their supply chain and notifications on entry, delivery, tracking, and billing details.

“UPS has helped small businesses expand globally for 110 years. Our goal is to make it easy for small businesses, tight on resources, to navigate the unfamiliar seas of global commerce. Our products and services are also designed to improve your business performance and streamline your interface with customers,” she said.

“UPS is excited to be in Davao City. The bustling business environment, agricultural development, and provincial and international accessibility that Davao City offers, are just some of the reasons we see great potential and opportunity for SMEs to be here,” she added.