THIS pandemic has seen the rise of home-based entrepreneurs who have realized the Internet is where they can make a living since people aren’t going out.
From sellers of sourdough bread to those offering loungewear, these small enterprises rely heavily on the Internet for most aspects of their businesses.
To support the small-business ecosystem, PLDT Home Biz has introduced solutions, including value-for-money plans called Asenso Fiber Plans starting at P1599. “The core goal of PLDT Home Biz is to build successful businesses, one entrepreneur at a time. With our Asenso Fiber Plans, we aim to help entrepreneurs establish a strong foundation to help them succeed,” said Patrick Tang, vice president and head of PLDT Home Biz, during the recent online launch of the Asenso Fiber Plans.
Asenso Fiber Plan 1599 has speeds of up to 35Mbps, while Plan 2099 has speeds of up to 60Mbps.
Business owners with existing PLDT Home and Home Biz subscription that would need more speeds for their business may also opt to upgrade starting with Asenso Fiber Plan 1999 with speeds of up to 55Mbps. Other plans are available.
PLDT Home Biz also offers micro-entrepreneurs e-commerce solutions in partnership with industry leaders PayMaya, UnionBank GlobalLinker, LBC Express through SoShop! By LBC, Grab Madiskarteng Boss Club, Sqanly, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In partnership with DTI, PLDT Home Biz gives home-based entrepreneurs direct access to the latest business trends, learning opportunities and events organized by the department.
“One of the major challenges of the pandemic is that a lot of our entrepreneurs have closed their physical stores. Together with DTI, PLDT Home Biz is focused on how we can help them to get back into the game by enabling them to shift their businesses to their homes and, in turn, contribute to economic recovery and growth,” said Tang.
PLDT Home Biz partnered with digital financial services provider PayMaya to enable subscribers to set up digital transactions for their businesses. PayMaya allows users to enjoy the convenience of digital payments through QR codes, bank transfer, e-wallets, as well as credit and debit cards. Aside from the security and hassle-free cashless payment system, this also eliminates the need for subscribers to make frequent bank visits which allows them to do business safely from home.
“For many Filipinos, cashless is their default payment preference, and businesses need to be where their customers are,” said Raymund Villanueva, PayMaya head of business for QR ecosystems.
Small businesses can also boost their growth potential by creating their own online storefronts through the UnionBank GlobalLinker. This connects them to over 300,000 MSMEs through GlobalLinker’s network, where they may find other business owners who could be their potential supplier, partner or customer.
“Aside from network expansion, our platform can enable more efficient business management. It comes with inventory management and data analysis tools, and offers access to various webinars which can help businesses gain more knowledge about the local landscape and potential customers,” said Jaypee Soliman, UnionBank GlobalLinker vice president for SME segment.
With trusted logistics partners such as Grab Madiskarteng Boss Club and LBC, PLDT Home Biz subscribers are assured of quality, safe and fast shipment of their goods.
“We want to empower every Filipino to become bosses of their own enterprises. Through Grab Madiskarteng Boss Club [MBC], we are providing a safe and reliable platform to help entrepreneurs better reach and serve their consumers, while helping them better unlock the unique benefits of digitalization—enabling them to resiliently grow and thrive amid our current market condition. Apart from providing meaningful support to our local entrepreneurs, our MBC program also enables them to create a positive impact on the lives of many Filipinos who rely on on-demand delivery platforms such as GrabExpress for their everyday needs and livelihoods,” said Jacq Lim, head of GrabExpress Philippines.
“From your courier needs to money remittance services, we got you covered with a roster of digital services to help your business thrive. Among them is the Rider Pickup option, which you can use to plan ahead and schedule the time that your products need to be picked up from your home,” said Juan Manuel Liwag, brand head for the Philippines for LBC Express.
In partnership with DTI, PLDT Home Biz has virtual trade expos and public forums that connect entrepreneurs to business opportunities by building networks, learning from the business experts, finding new trends they can adopt, and linking them with potential clients and customers.
“Our strength as a nation has always been our ability to continually stand our ground and stand together through adversities. This same steadfast community spirit holds us fast in these uncertain days, with us and the private sector working together to help regain our economic losses due to the pandemic,” said Trade Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga.
More information about PLDT Home Biz can be found at www.pldthome.com.
Here are some of the small businesses we support and we order from over and over:
My Thai Mama (@mythaimama on Instagram. A real Thai mama cooks the delicious Thai food (everything is good) while her daughter handles the operations of the business. The customer service is excellent.
Wizard of Paws (@wizofpawspetsalon on Instagram). This mobile pet grooming salon goes to your home and grooms your pets in a van. They only require a connection to power (they have a really long cord). Service is good and the cost is affordable at just a couple of hundreds on top of usual grooming costs.
Red Kitchen (@redkitchenph on Instagram). They have good Filipino breads, like monay and pan de sal, and tasty processed meats, like bacon and tocino. Get the monay and bacon.
Butterboy Bakehouse (@butterboyph on Instagram). This small home-owned business makes delicious flaky croissants that are huge and affordable. The owner is also on Twitter (@hjoldr) so if you weren’t able to preorder your box of breads, you can see what they have on hand for the day.
Image courtesy of @butterboyph on instagram