MANILA -- Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte is urging more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the city to go digital to attain higher profits and improve customer experience.
Speaking at the Globe myBusiness Day held Tuesday evening at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City, Belmonte addressed an audience of entrepreneurs and cited the importance of digital solutions for thousands of MSMEs contributing to the economic growth of the city.
"We have over 75,000 MSMEs here in Quezon City, at marami pang hindi nagrerehistro, kaya sa tingin ko aabot sila ng isang daang libo (and still many more have yet to register. I think they're around 100,000)," she said.
"Kailangan na kailangan talaga natin matutunan itong mga bagong teknolohiya sapagkat, ayon sa aking (We really need to learn these new technology because, according to my) research, digitally-mature companies are businesses that are more profitable, have higher revenues, and have higher market valuations," Belmonte added.
She particularly discussed the importance of customer service through social media for MSMEs.
"One of the tips na pinakamahalaga sa inyong mga small and medium enterprise owners, is kapag may komento sa website ninyo, kailangan agad-agad ninyong sinasagot (which is very important to you small and medium enterprise owners, is when there’s a comment on your website, you should immediately respond) because 1/3, I believe, of customers will post an experience," Belmonte said.
She cited insights from her own experience as a partner in Linea Etnika, a social enterprise for comfortable Filipiniana clothing that sells merchandise online.
"If you don’t listen to your customers and you neglect them, they will never go back to your website and purchase your products again," Belmonte said.
"It’s the importance that you give them. That is one thing that you should bear in mind as a user now of digital technology," she added.
In her speech, Belmonte thanked Globe myBusiness for partnering with the Quezon City local government.
She said it is the city's mandate to work with private organizations to ensure that "business enterprises in Quezon City continue to evolve and continue to improve so that they can better serve our nation and our country."
As presiding officer of the City Council, Belmonte led the passing of Ordinance SP-2364, which created the Small Business Development and Promotion Office; and Ordinance SP-2360, which sought the adoption of a Magna Carta for Micro and Small Business Enterprises in Quezon City, to support the operation of small businesses in the city. (PNA)
