Alibaba exec urges Negrense enterprises to go digital

AN OFFICIAL of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, one of the world's largest e-commerce, retail and technology conglomerates, urged enterprises in Negros Occidental to go digital to capture more potential global clients.

Alibaba's Country Manager to the Philippines Michael Lee, who spoke at the Ripples Plus Capacity Building Seminar for IT-BMP Services at Business Inn Hotel in Bacolod City on Tuesday, December 12, said the very principle of business is earning more by reducing cost.

Lee said the best way to attain this is using e-commerce platform as internet would help local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) find potential clients at cheaper cost.

He pointed out that going the traditional way, such as attending trade exhibitions which normally run for only for four days, would cost them a lot especially in terms of transportation and accommodation.

"How many potential clients can they get from that short time? The cost of developing clients is very high which they need to calculate by themselves," Lee said, stressing that "whereas in using internet, which they can use anytime and anywhere, more clients can be found."

Alibaba provides consumer-to-consumer, business-to-consumer, and business-to-business sales services via web portals. It also owns and operates a diverse array of businesses around the world in numerous sectors.

Lee also emphasized that part of utilizing the e-commerce platform is having first the information on the buyers around the world.

By knowing first the important details about the market, including their location as well as the products and services they need, opportunities for potential business deals are created, he said.

In terms of internet connectivity, the Alibaba official recognized the need for the Philippines to have faster and reliable connections.

Lee, however, said that "slow" internet connectivity should not prevent local SMEs from growing, using e-commerce as a business platform.

"In China, SMEs before also experienced these challenges but we really tried our best," Lee said, adding that "this is a process, and development can be achieved step by step thus, Filipinos should have patience."

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