AS DIGITAL innovations continue to press on traditional supply chain models, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) now need technology to thrive in their businesses.
Grace Anduiza, Globe myBusiness senior director for business development and service delivery, said there is still a small percentage of brick and mortar stores in the country that use digital solutions.
MSMEs in the Philippines compose 99.5 percent of registered businesses.
“We can say right now that only a small percentage have actually been using different digital solutions, mainly because people are not aware that it’s simple enough to use. People think it’s expensive. People are afraid to take that first step,” she said.
Globe myBusiness is the small and medium enterprise arm of Globe Telecom that is focused on manufacturing, logistics, wholesale and retail business. It hosted the Globe myBusiness Academy on Tuesday, April 30, a learning session to support the Department of Trade and Industry’s Go Lokal! campaign.
“The supply chain needs to evolve in the face of rapid innovation. They need to employ more sophisticated resource planning to enable better forecasting and management, perform cross-functional collaboration, support complex networks, among others,” Anne David, Globe myBusiness supply marketing head, said in a statement.
Anduiza said MSMEs are afraid to make a mistake and need awareness in terms of the solutions available to them in the market for them to grow their business.
“Business owners are very cautious but once you get them started, it will sustain. There’s a multitude of talents in Cebu,” Anduiza said.
Citing inclusion as their goal in enabling the industry to integrate their processes with technology, she said it’s a start for businesses to go digital.
“We want to be inclusive. We want people to realize that they should not be scared, even if they have small businesses. We want to create a community where entrepreneurs, may they be small or big, support each other by making them feel welcomed,” she said.
She said solutions like cloud technology are available for entrepreneurs in prices that suit their financial capabilities in monthly payments.
On Tuesdays, Globe myBusiness offers free business consultations at their stores to budding entrepreneurs who are open to the idea of leveraging their business through digital innovations.
There are 13 Globe stores in Cebu and 200 nationwide. (JOB)