When your business starts to grow, it is the perfect opportunity to revisit your business plan, adjust, and plan for changes with the proper digital solutions to help you operate and prosper. But how do you select the one that will work for you?
In the fourth episode of the online show, “At Your SerBIZ!” two “en-tech-preneurs” upgraded their businesses and sat down with renowned author and speaker Francis Kong to share their top negosyantips on how the right digital solutions helped them manage and exponentially grow their startup tech businesses.
Ginger Arboleda, co-founder of Taxumo, and Oskie King, co-founder of Cleaning Lady PH, solved the challenges in their tech businesses to prove that “tuloy-tuloy na success” is possible with these top tips.
Ginger believes that you must focus your valuable time and energy on the areas that matter most to you and your business to get the best return on your investment. “Conserve it so that you can recharge,” the Taxumo co-founder added.
When Ginger started Taxumo, she had the realization that she wanted to live the life she wanted. After getting pregnant and watching her kids grow, she knows that she wants to be present at every milestone. She made sure to give herself time to re-energize and keep her priorities in mind.
Instead of wasting time filing for taxes, processing payments, and dealing with penalties, Taxumo assists thousands of freelancers, self-employed professionals, small business owners, and corporations to file and pay their taxes from wherever and whenever. As an accredited online tax compliance tool in the Philippines, it allowed Filipino taxpayers to focus on being their best selves by simply diverting their time and energy to more productive things while her business handled their taxes.
“You must continue to understand your business processes better and, at the same time, maging open ka sa improvements,” Oskie said.
Oskie previously worked in an IT company on a graveyard shift, with no time to pursue his hobbies, passions, or spend time with his family. At that point, he wanted to change this situation not just for himself but for others who have no time to deal with time-consuming cleaning. Oskie co-founded Cleaning Lady, a social enterprise that provides Filipino-quality cleaning services that are professional, caring, and warm to condominium dwellers in Metro Manila. He understood the pain that comes when you don’t have the time for yourself to clean your condo unit. And so, Oskie made their digital solutions smooth and easy to book for their clients.
As business changes and consumer expectations rise, entrepreneurs must also be adaptive with digital tools that both their employees and customers can understand and use. Some of the online tools that Oskie recommends are Zoom and Facebook Messenger for work-from-home collaboration, Meta Business for customer inquiries for different businesses, and GCash for receiving and sending payments.
For someone starting a tech business, it might be overwhelming to discover, explore, and try to use digital tools covering various processes, system management, or a specialized function. But as a learner, you should remember that the experts were once novices in these situations.
“When you want to automate your business, it’s very important to research and look at the things around you that can help support your business,” says Ginger, an advocate of continuous learning.
Technology quickly changes. What was convenient yesterday may not be so useful or relevant to your business operations tomorrow. So, an entechpreneur must stay up-to-date and keep track of the latest trends, events, and tools.
Oskie feels strongly about his business and the people he wants to support.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about earning income or growing the company, but more so, the social impact na tina-try natin to create,” stressed the Cleaning Lady co-founder.
At Cleaning Lady, they empower mothers from underprivileged communities to give their customers time for more productive tasks, all while creating a meaningful difference and positive impact on each other.
“Kailangang mas maraming kababaihan ‘yung ma-upskill pa natin,” Oskie added as he constantly remembers his objectives that will keep him aligned as he grows his business.
Change the way you conduct your business and join the ranks of these successful CEOs and find the best digital solutions that work for you with Globe Business. Catch more episodes of “At Your SerBiz!” here.
Business owners in Cebu City were treated to a day of learning as Globe myBusiness Academy presented “Create. The Future of Local Businesses.” before small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Queen City of the South last August 31, 2018.
Held at SM City Cebu, the event introduced new technologies that can help entrepreneurs improve their operations while serving as a platform for SME owners to get in touch with business experts who can help them succeed.
Some of the biggest names in Cebu’s business scene came to the event, including representatives from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the local government of Cebu.
In his welcome remarks, Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo noted the shared mission of Globe myBusiness and the local government in empowering entrepreneurs, thanking the former for deciding to partner with the city in equipping business owners with the knowledge and skills they need to advance their ventures to the future.
Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo
“The Cebu City Government always looks forward to the development of aspiring entrepreneurs. With new technology and devices coming up, Globe myBusiness is abreast with the times, just like the city government. We would like to thank Globe myBusiness for partnering with us to improve the way entrepreneurs do business in Cebu,” the Councilor said.
Meanwhile, Derrick Heng, Senior Adviser for Globe myBusiness, reiterated Globe myBusiness’ mission to serve entrepreneurs by inspiring them to become better and keeping them up-to-date on the latest business solutions they can apply.
“Globe myBusiness always thinks about what [will] help entrepreneurs succeed. We want to provide them with tools and solutions that would empower and enable them to conveniently manage and grow their businesses. With Globe myBusiness Academy, we provide learning and inspiration to the Filipino entrepreneur,” Derrick said.
If you’ve missed Globe myBusiness Academy, no worries because we’ve got you covered! Check out some of the best business quotes from the event’s line-up of topnotch speakers below:
“The most important thing to have in business is knowledge. This is why Globe myBusiness came up with Globe myBusiness Academy: to provide knowledge so you can understand the business better. Where will you base your “diskarte” without knowledge? You have to ask the experts to better understand a business.” – Francis Kong, motivational business speaker
“We really get the best quality ingredients in making our ice cream. We don’t look at costs and take shortcuts. […] Our whole team really loves ice cream and is very passionate about it. The motto we live by is if you love someone, you don’t compromise, you always give the best. Always make sure you are passionate about what you do.” – Cheng Lopez, Carmen’s Best Marketing & Sales Manager
“The reality is if you have an idea, there’s probably someone else who can help you improve it. Don’t be hesitant in sharing your ideas because chance favors the connected mind. People with bright ideas often don’t know how great their ideas are until they [speak] to other people and synthesize their thoughts about it.” – Ginger Arboleda, CEO of Manila Workshops
“A lot of our attention is on the Internet, which is why it is the best place to advertise your business and reach more people. [Still,] never advertise for the sake of advertising. It’s not just about getting more views. You need to have a clear objective for your brand. Keep things interesting because people don’t go online to watch ads, they go there to be entertained.” – Joey Flores, Adspark’s Associate Director for Corporate Marketing
“There are about 19,000 international and local sellers on Lazada and around 95% of them are small businesses. If you have a business and you’re not online, you’re missing a massive opportunity to grow. Lazada has created a marketplace for buyers and sellers to interact, which makes it easier for entrepreneurs to sell online and reach more customers.” – Hussain Khalid, Lazada’s VP – Head of Marketplace
“A lot of Filipinos are now buying online. […] When people want to buy something, they already have an initial list of brands they consider buying from. This is a person’s initial consideration list. Becoming part of that list by becoming visible online should be one of your goals in having your own website.” – Eugene Arboleda, CEO of Taxumo
Want to catch the next event? Sign up at Globe myBusiness Academy to get exclusive invites to seminars, workshops, conferences and other events, which can help you improve your business and steer it to success.
Globe myBusiness, in partnership with the local government of Quezon City, opened the doors to the future as it introduced Globe myBusiness Academy to the city’s robust community of entrepreneurs last July 31, 2018.
Held at the Trinoma Activity Center, the event was packed with small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, who were ready to hear more about how technology can innovate their operations and improve the way they do business.
Derrick Heng, Senior Adviser for Globe myBusiness, said it is an honor to work with the local government in helping SMEs achieve success. He notes that through the partnership, they can reach out to more business owners and share new technology that can help them grow.
“Our mission is to help entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners become part of the SME group, which comprises 99% of businesses in the Philippines. Today we are here to share with you the latest trends, developments, and tips on how you can be digitally enabled in a very competitive environment,” Derrick said.
Senior Advisor for Globe myBusiness Derrick Heng
Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte was also present during the event, describing it as an opportunity to know more about technology that will help businesses flourish. She said with Globe myBusiness’ help, entrepreneurs in Quezon City will be able to ensure that they are ready for the future.
“I believe that the future means having local businesses that are at par with enterprises in other parts of the world; meaning, they are able to market their products in the global market using technology and digital solutions,” the Vice Mayor said.
Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte
“I think it is important to hold events like [Globe myBusiness Academy] because the world is moving very fast and technology is improving rapidly. Businesses have to keep up with changing times in order to become competitive. Through activities like this, we are giving opportunities for entrepreneurs to take their businesses to a higher level,” Joy added.
Meanwhile, key figures in local business were also invited to share some insights on the future of enterprises in the country. They spoke about a variety of subjects including online selling, leadership, supply chain management, starting up, and digital marketing.
Check out these future-ready tips from the country’s foremost experts in business:
According to Raymond, doing business online enables entrepreneurs to reach more customers and target those who are more likely to buy their products. He says that with platforms like Lazada, sellers can even deliver items anywhere in the Philippines.
“If you have an offline business, you should also consider selling online. This is because doing business online is easy and fast. It is highly adaptive and is low cost. You can sign up on platforms like Lazada in just five minutes and get your business going,” he said.
Chinkee says businesses thrive on change, noting that it is the only way for a business to grow. He says that being adaptive to the changing needs of the market and technological developments is an ace that every business should have.
“The world is rapidly changing. Growing your business means having to adapt to change. In the 21st century, it’s simple: innovate or evaporate. If you change, you’ll be able to grab great opportunities. If you don’t, you become extinct.”
Norman stressed how important it is to use technology in monitoring how a business is doing. He says that with the right technology, entrepreneurs can readily check on their processes, adjust promptly, and manage resources better.
“In supply chain management, you can manage the flow of information and ensure the visibility through technology. You have to see everything that’s happening in your business and ensure you’re getting your investments’ worth,” Norman noted.
According to Jaime, Carmen’s Best first sprung when an international figure in the ice cream industry exited the market years back. When the chance presented itself, they did not hesitate to learn more about the ice cream business and seize the opportunity to build Carmen’s Best to what it is today.
“In the middle of 2012, Häagen-Dazs closed up in the Philippines. My father saw this as an opportunity to take its place as the premium ice cream in the Philippines. With the right education and research, Carmen’s Best rose to the top,” Jaime said.
During his talk, Homer emphasized the importance of establishing a great relationship with customers through technology. He says businesses that focus on providing great customer experience are guaranteed to improve their bottom line figures.
“Technology is there to make things easier not only for you but also for the customer. Remember that being customer-centric is essential. If you put your customer first and make sure they get the best experience, money [will] never be a problem,” he says.
If you missed Globe myBusiness Academy – Quezon City, no worries because we’ve got more in store for you! Be the first to know about seminars, conferences, and workshops organized by Globe myBusiness by simply signing up to Globe myBusiness Academy for free!
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