MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In collaboration with the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce, Globe myBusiness co-sponsored Bicol Business Month last August with Naga’s local government. Metro Naga’s activities kicked off last August 20, with Globe myBusiness hosting a series of webinars on August 29 and September 5. With the goal of empowering e-commerce and tourism, seminars & events were tailored to uplifting business owners in the Philippines.
Globe myBusiness’ mission is to enable business owners to be future-ready through digitization and partnership. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have added another goal to their mission: to help businesses adapt to the new normal by adding technology to their operations. They do this by providing digital tools and solutions; sharing tips for entrepreneurs across all stages of their business journey; hosting events where SME owners can meet, discuss and learn more about the industries they operate in.
This webinar was one such example. Entitled Rebound, Reboot and Reinvent Beyond Covid-19, the two-day seminar discussed emerging trends in e-commerce and tourism, as well as potential ways for businesses to make the most of them.
Era of Digital Marketing 1.0 was held on August 29 and featured prominent e-commerce experts like Janette Toral, Abel Quintos, and Cris Roque, who discussed Philippine e-commerce, the basics of data privacy, and digital tools for businesses respectively.
Janette Toral, e-commerce advocate and founder of DigitalFilipino.com, covered common issues that SME’s face: product development and marketing, strategies to implement, and variables that determine e-commerce growth. She focused on questions like “Is my strategy still viable?”, “What areas do I need to focus on?”, and “Where do we get our customers?”
Globe Telecom Data Privacy Manager Abel Quintos talked about the privacy rights of customers and tips for business owners’ on how to remain compliant. This includes registering a data protection officer, developing privacy policies, and coming up with consent statements or disclaimers.
Finally, Globe myBusiness’ Business Development Head Cris Roque enumerated the many digital tools made available by Globe myBusiness for SMEs. She emphasized how the Covid crisis has changed the shopping behavior of Filipinos, now that most things are bought online. In a step-by-step procedure, she taught business owners how to establish their online presence; build communication channels; set up contactless payment and efficient backend systems; and finally create loyalty programs and promos.
Era of Digital Marketing 2.0, the second day of the seminar, featured experts like Globe myBusiness Tourism Industry Manager Frances Caluya and GCash Territory Sales Head Ann Alcoreza. The two-hour period tackled an industry that has suffered some big losses due to the pandemic: tourism.
Frances Caluya was quick to reassure business owners that all is not lost in the tourism industry. Virtual tourism is a rising trend where businesses can start creating awareness and allow clients to book future trips for when Covid is no longer a threat. She went through every step of the process, from arrival and checking in, to rewarding return customers, incorporating a number of digital trends and ways to take advantage of this new rise in virtual tourism.
On the other hand, Ann Alcoreza talked about the number one e-wallet provider in the Philippines, GCash. She focused specifically on how business owners can leverage GCash to provide safe, secure and most especially contactless payment methods to their customers. Tourism business owners and those in any industry can gain a thing or two by allowing contactless payment, to give their customers a sense of relief that cash doesn’t have to be transferred hand-to-hand in this pandemic any longer.
All in all, the event was an integral part of Metro Naga’s celebration of Bicol Business Month. Not only did it boost the spirits of struggling business owners, it also gave them options on how to move further and reach greater heights. More than a partner in this great stride, this initiative supported by Globe myBusiness was a beacon of hope for business owners looking to move forward, and achieve bigger things in the new normal.
