Talk

How COVID-19 shows that technology is critical to getting SMEs back on track

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the critical role that technology plays both as an operations player and for business continuity purposes. SAP Philippines Managing Director Edler Panlilio said the global health crisis changed how businesses operate as employees, customers, and organizations adjust to a new way of working such as working from home, transacting via online or virtual channels, as well as being able to manage business operations remotely. “These quarantine guidelines demonstrated how technology continues to play an important role in supporting business continuity. Organizations now rely more on digital tools and platforms to move labor-oriented practices into more automated and technology-oriented processes," said Panlilio. Technological advancements, on the other hand, will, most likely, continue to grow in significance even after the government eventually lifts quarantine guidelines, Panlilio noted. He also encourages local Small and Medium-sized Enter

READ MORE...

Sustainability Advantages Among Top Business Ink Benefits

With sustainability becoming an ever-increasing objective of today’s companies, it is no wonder that business inkjet products are garnering growing interest. In fact, Keypoint Intelligence forecasts a 3.2% compound annual growth rate for these products in Asia Pacific through 2021, driven by “green” features as well as their simpler design and lower cost per page compared to laser technology. What is a business inkjet printer? Business inkjet printers are inkjet-based devices targeted to home office, SMB, and in some cases enterprise business environments. Compared to consumer-based inkjets, they offer higher speeds, higher paper capacities, higher cartridge yields, and a lower cost per page. Keypoint Intelligence’s inkjet segmentation Business inkjets may also integrate features like a standard automatic document feeder (ADF), standard automatic duplexing, finishing capabilities, and support for more than six users. These devices have been growing in popularity in recent years as

READ MORE...

PLDT Enterprise partners with AIM for local hackathon to fight COVID-19

PLDT Enterprise, through its innovation arm PLDT Innolab, recently supported the local hackathon launched by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) which aimed to crowdsource digital solutions and ideas that would help in the battle against COVID-19.   The Bayanihan@AIM hackathon was held to generate innovative ideas and practical solutions from participants across the country which could help the nation cope with the prevailing economic and long-term impacts of the global pandemic.  As an industry partner for the hackathon, PLDT Innolab provided mentorship to over 70 participating teams and gave away a number of mobile phones in addition to the cash prize. PLDT Innolab supports the development of emerging technologies with the group's infrastructure, service capabilities, expertise, and facilities especially in improving today's situation amid COVID-19. “We need to use technology as part of disaster response and in support, we at PLDT Enterprise collaborated with AIM and ADB for t

READ MORE...

Approaching business resiliency amid supply chain disruptions

Supply Chain managers have long been familiar with managing the fluctuations in supply and demand to minimize risks. The arrival of COVID-19, however, has created unprecedented challenges not only on supply chains’ key performance indicators but also on people’s lives and the foundation of global and national economies. All companies, regardless of industry and region, are experiencing extreme fluctuations in demand across the product, SKU, and channel level. When instability in the supply of input materials is added into the equation, supply chains may be disrupted. Consequently, the Philippines’ supply chains were not spared from the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ever since community quarantines were implemented in the country last March, restrictions on mobility and transportation, as well as strict implementation of stay-at-home orders and curfews were enforced to prevent the virus from spreading.  With the slowdown of the country’s sea and airports, a great number of

READ MORE...

PLDT Enterprise, Century Pacific join hands for COVID-19 response operations

Amid the ongoing modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, PLDT Enterprise pledges connectivity support to the Century Pacific Food, Inc. to ensure its continuous flow of operations. PLDT Enterprise provided Smart Pocket Wi-Fi units for the Filipino food manufacturer to help them in shipping tuna and sardines from Mindanao to Luzon as part of their ongoing COVID-19 operations.  The Smart Pocket Wi-Fi units will be used by Century Pacific’s personnel and teams deployed in Laguna, Taguig, and Manila. The devices are currently utilized to access the company’s internal systems, to enable employees monitor the pace of their product delivery which include dispatch of canned goods, frozen goods, and dairy products. Moreover, the pocket Wi-Fi units also help Century Pacific’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) team to speed up their communications in terms of distributing food packs and charity donations to different local government units and communiti

READ MORE...

Grundfos Foundation supports more than 1,000 orphaned children and childcare frontline workers in the Philippines

The Covid-19 quarantine regulations and social distancing has put a lot of pressure and stress on numerous child-caring organizations about the food and basic supplies they require to operate. Amidst this pandemic, the Grundfos Foundation responded to the needs of eight SOS Children’s Villages around the Philippines by donating food, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment that will last these orphaned children and childcare frontline workers for a month. SOS Children’s Villages is home to 957 children and 145 childcare frontline workers, who are located across Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila; Calbayog City, Samar; Cebu City, Cebu; Davao City, Davao del Sur; Lipa City, Batangas; Tacloban City, Leyte; Zarraga, Iloilo and Mariveles, Bataan. Commenting on the grant, Kim Nøhr Skibsted, Executive Director, Grundfos Foundation, said “The Covid-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the most vulnerable communities. With our grant, we hope to ease the pressure that SOS Children’s Village

READ MORE...

Suspected Online Fraud Originating from the Philippines Doubled During Pandemic —TransUnion

TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) recently released its analysis of digital fraud trends in the Philippines. Its assessment found that the percentage of suspected online fraud originating from the Philippines more than doubled when comparing the periods Jan. 1-March 10 and March 11-April 28, increasing 119%. This makes the Philippines the country with the 76th highest percentage of digital suspected fraud originating from it from March 11 to April 28, 2020. In comparison, TransUnion found the rate of suspected fraudulent online transactions rose 5% globally during the pandemic. In its assessment, TransUnion analyzed fraud trends to reflect the changing economic environment with COVID-19. It used March 11, 2020 – the date the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic – as a base date for analysis. TransUnion analyzed the billions of online transactions its flagship fraud and identity solution, IDVision with iovation, assessed for fraud indicators on mor

READ MORE...

PLDT Enterprise lays the groundwork for business resilience under the ‘new normal’

The world has felt the negative effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the economy and society at large, pushing organizations and businesses to adapt to new ways of operating in order to survive.  The difficulties brought about by the global pandemic challenged the business climate: some businesses faced bankruptcy risks while most businesses halted operations completely. Other businesses, however, were able to persist as they shifted towards online and digital.  Technology has become a critical tool for businesses wishing to thrive during and after the pandemic. PLDT Enterprise—the b2b arm of the Philippines’ leading ICT and digital services provider—aims to support businesses in this endeavor with its latest strategic thrust.  "We at PLDT Enterprise stand with all the organizations in the private and public sector. As an ICT provider, we place it upon ourselves to help businesses rediscover and reinvent themselves using technology,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT Presid

READ MORE...

Holcim recommends building solutions for safer, faster construction amid COVID-19

Holcim Philippines’ SFCrete is among several building solutions that can help contractors finish projects safely and on time despite manpower restrictions as it allows road pavements to be ready for use in one day compared with 14 days with regular concrete. Photo above shows SFCrete team when it was used in EDSA repairs four years ago. Leading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. said innovative building solutions can help contractors keep workers safe and catch up to deadlines as construction activity picks up with the easing of restricted activities in COVID-19 quarantine areas. Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Marketing and Innovation Ram Maganti said local builders should consider wider use of building solutions already available locally, and look at how other markets are deploying innovative materials and techniques to meet deadlines while having limited workers at sites in compliance with social distancing regulations. “Construction does not have to take b

READ MORE...

Approaching business resiliency amid supply chain disruptions

Supply Chain managers have long been familiar with managing the fluctuations in supply and demand to minimize risks. The arrival of COVID-19, however, has created unprecedented challenges not only on supply chains’ key performance indicators but also on people’s lives and the foundation of global and national economies. All companies, regardless of industry and region, are experiencing extreme fluctuations in demand across the product, SKU, and channel level. When instability in the supply of input materials is added into the equation, supply chains may be disrupted. Consequently, the Philippines’ supply chains were not spared from the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ever since community quarantines were implemented in the country last March, restrictions on mobility and transportation, as well as strict implementation of stay-at-home orders and curfews were enforced to prevent the virus from spreading.  With the slowdown of the country’s sea and airports, a great number of

READ MORE...