DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING. Chay Mondejar-Saputil, client partner of Facebook (FB) Philippines, talks about FB's fast-paced digital marketing and technology-driven customer service during Facebook's Accelerator Workshop for SMBs at Quest Hotel and Convention Center in Cebu City on Friday (May 31, 2019). More than 100 Cebu-based small and medium-sized entrepreneurs attended the workshop. (Photo by Luel Galarpe)
CEBU CITY -- Digital transformation is the trend right now for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the country, a client-partner of Facebook Philippines said here on Friday.
Chay Mondejar-Saputil, Facebook PH client partner, said it is important for businesses of all sizes to be able to adapt to trends shaping up "our digital marketplace", the reason why Facebook PH is conducting digital skills training programs for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) nationwide.
"We are committed to supporting businesses in their digital transformation journey to unlock growth opportunities and connect them to today's mobile-first Filipinos," said Saputil during Facebook's Accelerator Workshop for SMBs at Quest Hotel and Convention Center in Cebu City on Friday.
"The shortest path to the market is through digitalization and we want to give the SMBs the power to achieve their potential growth the fastest way," Saputil said.
She said more than 50 million Filipinos are connected to an SMB Page on FB and approximately 130 million people overseas are also connected to a Philippine-based SMB on the platform.
Facebook data also showed that 91 percent of SMBs said the platform helps them attract customers, 86 percent said it helped them sell their products, and 82 percent said their sales have increased because of the platform.
Noteworthy in the Facebook report was the success of SMBs that translated into more job opportunities for Filipinos. Some 73 percent of SMBs reported they have hired more people since joining FB. Sixty percent of SMBs also said they have built their businesses on Facebook.
Because of this data, Saputil said Facebook PH will continue to conduct workshops and provide SMBs with the right tools and resources to kick-start and drive their digital enterprise.
More than 100 Cebu-based SMB entrepreneurs attended the workshop and joined in-depth sessions and discussions on online marketing, branding, and media planning best practices.
Facebook started its digital skills training programs for SMBs in 2017 and has trained more than 5,000 SMBs in over 80 workshops conducted in 21 cities across the country.
In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bayan Academy, Facebook has earlier launched #BoostYourBusiness for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Last year, Facebook also partnered with DTI, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and non-profit organization Connected Women to launch #SheMeansBusiness for Filipinas using social media for their business ventures. (PNA)
