DTI, Enstack Join Forces to Boost Metro Manila Businesses' Digital Shift

POSTED BY: Lionell Go Macahilig
2024-10-01 12:36:34 PHT

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) tapped the expertise of Enstack, an 'all-in-one' business management app, to fast-track the digital shift of businesses in Metro Manila.

The DTI's National Capital Region Office (DTI-NCRO) and the e-commerce platform signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Makati City on Tuesday to hold 'digitization' learning sessions for small businesses starting in the third week of October.

These sessions will empower entrepreneurs by providing them free online stores with Enstack, which do not require any additional setup to accept Cash on Delivery, process cashless payments, and manage shipping—all in one app.

Through hands-on guidance, business owners will learn how to set up their online stores within minutes, leverage cash-on-delivery and cashless payments, and streamline deliveries—all through Enstack’s no-code platform.

Enstack will also train business owners on running productivity tools like inventory management, accounting and expense, and analytics like sales reports.

"The app is already complete in itself, and they don't need to go to one provider for one aspect of their business or to another for another aspect. We understand that if you are onboard to the Enstack app, all the aspects of the business are already there. So, we find their technology really appropriate and very accessible for our businesses," DTI-NCRO's officer-in-charge regional director Winston Singun said.

The no-code eCommerce store builder will conduct consultation sessions to assess and develop businesses' digital transformation roadmaps.

The consultation sessions will focus on how enterprises can prioritize digitization programs, allocate resources effectively, and foster innovation within their organizations.

"Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs by providing smart, simple digital tools. We want to ensure that anyone with an idea can transform it into a thriving business, even the aspiring entrepreneurs who might just be starting or are still small. Through these digital learning sessions, we aim to help small business owners leverage Enstack's comprehensive tools to manage their operations more efficiently and grow their customer base," Enstack co-founder and CEO Macy Castillo said.

Since its launch in October 2022, the integrated platform has quickly grown its user base to almost 200,000 entrepreneurs.

Enstack offers an all-in-one mobile app designed to streamline the setup and management of online businesses, focusing on empowering entrepreneurs, particularly women, to overcome traditional barriers in digital commerce.

More than half of NCR businesses yet to go digital

Singun said the digitization of businesses remains a significant challenge even in Metro Manila, with "more than 50%" of enterprises in the region having yet to go digital.

He added the NCR hosts about one in five of the country's small and medium enterprises, which is why their digitization is crucial for the economy.

"Napakalaking number ang nag-onboard during COVID because they were forced to," Singun added. "The challenge for us in the DTI-NCRO now is to reach all these enterprises and onboard them to go e-commerce."

For her part, Castillo said entrepreneurs need to digitize fully to reach more customers and have greater efficiency in daily operations.

"I've been here since the beginning of e-commerce in the Philippines. It's been more than a decade, and we still have a long way to go in educating entrepreneurs about the 'whys' and 'hows' of doing business online," Castillo, who was also the first country manager of e-commerce platform Shopee, said.

Castillo emphasized the importance of continuing to educate business owners on the benefits of digital tools.

She pointed out that challenges such as reliance on cash payments and the prevalence of cash-on-delivery indicate a need for greater awareness of the advantages of eCommerce solutions like cashless payments and integrated delivery systems.

"Digitization isn’t just about selling locally—it’s about helping small businesses scale beyond their immediate communities and access customers nationwide," the Enstack chief added.

Business owners who want to participate in the face-to-face and virtual digitization learning sessions can inquire at the nearest DTI Negosyo Center or via DTI-NCRO’s Facebook page at facebook.com/DTI.NCRO.