Telco: Digital Affection or Rejection?

      Despite the hundreds of analysis reports and experts opinions about the successful implementation of Digital Transformation and Disruption for Telcos rest in the hands of their Leadership, why are the “Old Order” still at the helm?

      This is my reaction after opening my LinkedIN and other job sites that advertises Telco recruitment for that special individuals that will be at the middle of their respective Digital journey, and guess what the job positions being offered are for the rank and file level (please, no offense intended). The young candidates (in their 20s’) do not need to be educated about Digital Transformation, they are living every minute of it. The millennial were even suspicious when you tell them that a tablet is actually a pill before the iPad came. 

      Most of these Senior Telco Executives doesn’t even have a LinkedIn account. Even if they do, its most likely being managed by their secondary secretaries when the primary one is in dispose. Again, no offense intended to the innovative, visionary senior leaders that chart their Telco companies to new heights and are not afraid to break new grounds to do so. 

      So why are they not posting these Senior positions out in the open? Please don’t tell me that this is due to confidentiality or competitor intelligence reason as this is so 80s’. During that decade, we all say "the walls have ears". Today, there are no walls and ears are replaced by AI drone with sophisticated listening devices. Protecting their senior jobs while the company loses everyday? That reasoning is not easy to swallow coming from the company that provides for everyone. 

      So for now, i keep my question open. “I still don’t get it?”...

Facing Trials and Triumps with Joaquin Maria “Chino” Gutierrez

      Young Filipino classical violinist JOAQUIN MARIA "CHINO" GUTIERREZ to talk about his 20-year career in violin music and play "Bayan Ko" and "Sa Kabukiran" tomorrow, Sunday, 6pm. on Radyo Balintataw at dzRH.

"Poeme" This Sept. 23, 2017, 6:30 pm. at the "Francisco Santiago Concert Hall,"
BDO Tower, H. V. de la Costa cor. Makati Ave., Makati City

      My co-host at "Radyo Balintataw" over dzRH (660 on the AM band), Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Theater Cecile Guidote Alvarez and I invited young Europe-trained Filipino classical violinist Joaquin Maria "Chino" Gutierrez to our weekly show, to be aired tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 10, at 6pm over station dzRH. We asked this young Pinoy violinist to talk about his career, its rigors, trials and tribulations, as well as his triumphs over a 20-year period of continuous violin-playing that began when he was a 7 year-old child prodigy.

      Cecile and I thought that since many of our young people are on the carpet these days for drugs and related incidents, and many youths are part of the drop-out statistics, we wanted to focus on this young Munich-trained musician who has triumphed over obstacles and difficulties---and now is on to a most promising career as he is about to enter the renowned Mozarteum music academy in Salzburg, Austria this October, under the tutelage of a professor with the reputation of being a "star-maker," Prof. Pierre Amoyal. We thought Chino should be a model for the Filipino youth of today---brilliant and determined, persistent in pursuing his career in music despite many odds such as shortage of funds.

      I hope parents with aspiring young music-students as well as teachers in the various conservatories of music would tune in to our Radyo Balintataw program tomorrow, Sunday, 6pm. and listen to Chino's inspiring story of persistence as he hones his fine God-given talent. The bonus is that he will play in our program two great Filipino pieces for you, our radio audience: "Sa Kabukiran" and the immortal "Bayan Ko," as arranged by a renowned Filipino violinist of another era, the late Redentor Romero. "Bayan Ko" was our "anthem| during the EDSA People Power Revolution over 31 years ago, and Chino's rendition of this soul-stirring song would doubtless awaken a lot of memories in you, our audience. Your date: tomorrow, Sunday, 6pm. over dzRH.

      Then too, Chino Gutierrez will plug for his special violin concert this coming Sept. 23, 2017, 6:30 pm. at the "Francisco Santiago Concert Hall," BDO Tower, H. V. de la Costa cor. Makati Ave., Makati City. This concert is billed as his 20th Anniversary of continuous violin-playing and he has prepared a very special repertoire, including a piece never before played here---"Poeme," by French-composer Ernest Chausson---which was also his piece during his successful audition at the Mozarteum. His collaborating artist for this concert is pianist Mary Anne Espina. For tickets, reservations and other particulars, call 218 1864, 0915-189-2998 or 0999 581 8142.

      BigBenta is continuously improving and evolving. Its services and application is a manifestation of how the company is growing and addressing the everyday needs of the mass market using the power of Internet and mobile. With BigBenta Service Bookings we are able to provide an avenue built with trust for skilled workers, advertising their services, and for customers, with selecting credible service providers for their needs. Our Filipino Skilled workers would have more opportunities making profit from their services here.

By: Belinda Olivarez-Cunanan

We're Hiring

WE'RE HIRING! BigBenta.com is looking for a Customer Support & a Field Sales Executive. Please send your CV to support@bigbenta.com. A promising career opportunity awaits!

Contact us 869-3001-02 Globe No. 09150724785, Smart No. 09989885600. 

You can also visit our office at 3/F Prime Tower Bldg., Monserrat cor., Avelino St., BF Commercial, BF Homes, Paranaque City.

#BigBenta #Jobsph #Hiringph

Rethinking my E-commerce Strategy

Micro/Small or Medium-sized companies? Which is a better target market?

 We Filipinos in particular, have a natural knack for rooting for the underdogs.  I am also guilty of this.  In the area of E-commerce, there is a common perception that big companies are slow (because of their size and inherent bureaucracy) while SMEs or the small businesses are both agile and faster in making decisions and implementing changes.

CEO Charlie Fong likens a big company to a giant who is slow in movement and decision-making

 Like everything I have learned about E-commerce in the Philippine context, the reality is not what it appears to be and the exemptions to the rule happens far too often. Where I purposely positioned my E-commerce site (www.bigbenta.com) to help the small or even the micro enterprises go online and expand their limited customer reach and visibility, I am now rethinking that belief. This rethinking came about after experiencing firsthand, how the  close to two hundred (200) micro and small business in bigbenta.com failed to realize the market benefits of pushing their businesses online.

Like the fictional character, Scrooge, micro and small companies  are not willing to spend a single penny to set up an online shop. They are satisfied selling on social media particularly Facebook. This is a frustration expressed by BigBenta.com founder, Charlie Fong.

 My experiences in dealing with the micro and small enterprises, with some exceptions of course, are a combination of frustration and hope. They (micro and small enterprises) are generally a big fan of Facebook and until recently, online classified ads. Hence, online selling is nothing new to them. They know the cost of doing business and yet, they are reluctant to spend even a peso to set up their online store.  The second hurdle that we faced is their lack of willingness to update their products and submit the information that are needed to properly display their products. For most, they would not update any of their products information nor put a web-worthy product to begin with. To solve this issue, I set up a customer support team in bigbenta.com whose sole responsibility is to set up online stores. Regularly, we check for product relevancy and availability.

 

Most often, merchants from micro and small cannot be reached, resulting to un-served orders. It seems everything looks fine until the first sale transaction comes for that particular Store and there comes another dilemma. 

The Store owner is on vacation or out of town and no one in his/her staff is briefed to handle the order processing or it could also be that the Store owner does not have the inventory pertaining to that order. This then results to us canceling the order and in some cases, reimburse the payment already made by a customer. The variety of issues in dealing with micro and small enterprises is far and wide. Some require quick decision to address while some are not anymore within the confines of our competency as an e-commerce business.

 As BigBenta.com grows, the medium-sized companies begin to take notice and I have the fortunate opportunity to sit down with some of the founders and owners of the larger companies. Upon sharing their views about the future of internet and their business and exchanging notes on what I encounter as I do my business, they politely encourage me to “stop dealing with the small players and instead focus on companies such as them”. The large players as they explained, have the resources to deliver professional product information (images and descriptions), wholesale pricing, healthy inventory, customer and warranty support, product marketing and promotions. I know from my experience and to a certain extent that this claim is actually true.
The above companies belong to the medium size segment, which founder Charlie Fong feel are more ready and capable to get into e-commerce.

So will I go for the medium and large enterprises and leave the small and micro players to sort their fortunes online or I stick to my own original concept and somewhat bleed in terms of operational profitability? After giving it much thought, I decided to pursue both but in varying degree. The large players by their sheer size and capability presents the existing opportunity, the now for BigBenta.com. This is a straightforward business agreement, which will benefit both our company as soon as we launch. The micro and small enterprises presents the future of Philippine online business and by supporting them at this early stage of their business life, their loyalty and growth opportunity (as they grow their businesses) will be part of BigBenta.com's story; taking advantage of the business at present while leveraging for the future.

Pic Credits: Freepik, Channel EYE, Nolan Art, Dazed Reflections of A Diva, Muscle Giant Walking Animation art YT, vecteezy.com, BigBenta does not own any of these pictures. Credit goes to respective owners.

The Filipino Online Store Challenge: David vs. Giant David

Micro/Small or Medium-sized companies? Which is a better target market?

 We Filipinos in particular, have a natural knack for rooting for the underdogs.  I am also guilty of this.  In the area of E-commerce, there is a common perception that big companies are slow (because of their size and inherent bureaucracy) while SMEs or the small businesses are both agile and faster in making decisions and implementing changes.

CEO Charlie Fong likens a big company to a giant who is slow in movement and decision-making

 Like everything I have learned about E-commerce in the Philippine context, the reality is not what it appears to be and the exemptions to the rule happens far too often. Where I purposely positioned my E-commerce site (www.bigbenta.com) to help the small or even the micro enterprises go online and expand their limited customer reach and visibility, I am now rethinking that belief. This rethinking came about after experiencing firsthand, how the  close to two hundred (200) micro and small business in bigbenta.com failed to realize the market benefits of pushing their businesses online.

Like the fictional character, Scrooge, micro and small companies  are not willing to spend a single penny to set up an online shop. They are satisfied selling on social media particularly Facebook. This is a frustration expressed by BigBenta.com founder, Charlie Fong.

 My experiences in dealing with the micro and small enterprises, with some exceptions of course, are a combination of frustration and hope. They (micro and small enterprises) are generally a big fan of Facebook and until recently, online classified ads. Hence, online selling is nothing new to them. They know the cost of doing business and yet, they are reluctant to spend even a peso to set up their online store.  The second hurdle that we faced is their lack of willingness to update their products and submit the information that are needed to properly display their products. For most, they would not update any of their products information nor put a web-worthy product to begin with. To solve this issue, I set up a customer support team in bigbenta.com whose sole responsibility is to set up online stores. Regularly, we check for product relevancy and availability.

 

Most often, merchants from micro and small cannot be reached, resulting to un-served orders. It seems everything looks fine until the first sale transaction comes for that particular Store and there comes another dilemma. 

The Store owner is on vacation or out of town and no one in his/her staff is briefed to handle the order processing or it could also be that the Store owner does not have the inventory pertaining to that order. This then results to us canceling the order and in some cases, reimburse the payment already made by a customer. The variety of issues in dealing with micro and small enterprises is far and wide. Some require quick decision to address while some are not anymore within the confines of our competency as an e-commerce business.

 As BigBenta.com grows, the medium-sized companies begin to take notice and I have the fortunate opportunity to sit down with some of the founders and owners of the larger companies. Upon sharing their views about the future of internet and their business and exchanging notes on what I encounter as I do my business, they politely encourage me to “stop dealing with the small players and instead focus on companies such as them”. The large players as they explained, have the resources to deliver professional product information (images and descriptions), wholesale pricing, healthy inventory, customer and warranty support, product marketing and promotions. I know from my experience and to a certain extent that this claim is actually true.
The above companies belong to the medium size segment, which founder Charlie Fong feel are more ready and capable to get into e-commerce.

So will I go for the medium and large enterprises and leave the small and micro players to sort their fortunes online or I stick to my own original concept and somewhat bleed in terms of operational profitability? After giving it much thought, I decided to pursue both but in varying degree. The large players by their sheer size and capability presents the existing opportunity, the now for BigBenta.com. This is a straightforward business agreement, which will benefit both our company as soon as we launch. The micro and small enterprises presents the future of Philippine online business and by supporting them at this early stage of their business life, their loyalty and growth opportunity (as they grow their businesses) will be part of BigBenta.com's story; taking advantage of the business at present while leveraging for the future.

Pic Credits: Freepik, Channel EYE, Nolan Art, Dazed Reflections of A Diva, Muscle Giant Walking Animation art YT, vecteezy.com, BigBenta does not own any of these pictures. Credit goes to respective owners.

フィリピンのオンラインストアチャレンジ：David vs. Giant David

小規模または中規模の企業ですか？より良いターゲット市場はどれですか？

 特にフィリピン人は、弱者のために根付くための自然な技を持っています。私もこのことを犯しています。電子商取引の分野では、中小企業や中小企業が迅速かつ迅速に意思決定や変更を行うことができる一方で、大企業は規模が小さく、固有の官僚主義が遅いという共通の認識があります。

CEOのチャーリー・フォン（Charlie Fong）は、大企業を動きや意思決定が遅い巨人に似ている

フィリピンの文脈で私が電子商取引について学んだことのすべてと同じように、現実はそれが現れるものではなく、ルールに対する免除はあまりにも頻繁に起こります。私が電子商取引サイト（www.bigbenta.com）を意図的に配置して小規模企業やマイクロ企業がオンラインになり、限られた顧客の範囲と可視性を拡大するのを助けるために、私は今この考えを再考しています。この考え方は、bigbenta.comの200人近くのマイクロ・中小企業が、ビジネスをオンラインにすることによる市場のメリットをいかに実感できなかったかを直接体験した後に起こりました。

架空のキャラクターScroogeのように、中小企業はオンラインショップを開設するために1ペンスを費やす意思がない。彼らは特にFacebookのソーシャルメディアでの販売に満足しています。これは、BigBenta.comの創設者であるCharlie Fongによって表現された欲求不満です。


もちろん、いくつかの例外を除いて、小規模企業を扱った私の経験は、不満と希望の組み合わせです。彼ら（マイクロおよび小企業）は、一般にFacebookのファンであり、最近まではオンラインで分類された広告です。したがって、オンライン販売は何も新しいことではありません。彼らはビジネスのコストを知っていますが、オンラインストアを開設するためにペソを費やすことには消極的です。私たちが直面した第2のハードルは、自社の製品をアップデートし、製品を適切に表示するために必要な情報を提出する意欲の欠如です。ほとんどの場合、彼らは彼らの製品情報を更新したり、Webにふさわしい製品を始めることはしません。この問題を解決するため、私はbigbenta.comのカスタマーサポートチームを立ち上げました。その責任者はオンラインストアを設定することです。定期的に、製品の関連性と可用性をチェックします。

 

ほとんどの場合、小規模から小規模の商人には届きません。最初のセールス取引がその特定の店舗に来るまで、すべてのことはうまく見えますが、もう一つのジレンマがあります。


店主は休暇中または外出中であり、店員は注文処理を処理するための説明を受けていないか、店主がその注文に関連する在庫を持っていない可能性があります。これにより、注文が取り消され、場合によっては、顧客が既に行った支払いが払い戻されます。小規模企業や中小企業を扱う際のさまざまな問題がはるかに広い。電子商取引ビジネスとしての当社の能力の範囲内にあるものはありませんが、迅速な対応が求められる企業もあります

 

BigBenta.comが成長するにつれて、中規模企業が注目し始め、私は大企業の創業者や所有者の一部と座る幸運な機会があります。インターネットとビジネスの将来についての見解を共有し、私が自分のビジネスをする際に遭遇したことに関するメモを交換する際に、彼らは私に「小さな選手に対処するのを止め、そのような企業に集中する」よう丁寧に勧めます。彼らが説明した大規模なプレイヤーは、プロの製品情報（イメージと説明）、卸売価格、健康在庫、顧客と保証のサポート、製品マーケティングとプロモーションを提供するためのリソースを持っています。私は自分の経験から、そしてある程度、この主張が実際に真であることを知っています。

 

上記の企業は、中小企業に属し、創業者のCharlie Fongは、より電子商取引を開始する機会があると感じています。[/ caption]したがって、私は中小企業に行く予定です。自分の運命をオンラインで並べ替えるか、私自身の独創的なコンセプトに固執し、運用上の収益性の面で多少の出血を招くでしょうか？それをたくさん考えた後、私は両方を追求することに決めましたが、程度は異なります。大規模なプレイヤーは、その大きさと能力によって、既存の機会、今はBigBenta.comを提示します。これは簡単なビジネス契約であり、私たちが立ち上げるとすぐに両社に利益をもたらします。小規模企業はフィリピンのオンラインビジネスの未来を提示し、ビジネスライフの初期段階で彼らをサポートすることにより、彼らのビジネスを成長させる忠誠心と成長の機会はBigBenta.comのストーリーの一部になります。将来のために活用しながら現在のビジネスを活用しています。

Pic Credits: Freepik, Channel EYE, Nolan Art, Dazed Reflections of A Diva, Muscle Giant Walking Animation art YT, vecteezy.com, BigBenta does not own any of these pictures. Credit goes to respective owners.

Grassroots Digital Entrepreneurship: Neighborhood Rice & Cooking Gas – Online!

We obviously have seen branded products and high-end items being sold online by large e-commerce providers in almost every part of the world that can support acceptable Internet speed. Here in the Philippines, we suffer from the two outstanding issues that hamper the otherwise explosive growth of e-commerce namely, acceptance of payment from both the buyer and the seller and the expensive cost of shipping. The thing is, online products can be lower compared to Mall or Store prices only if the delivery or shipping cost is kept to a minimum. By buying a product with a higher price value, translating to a bigger savings but having the weight or volume literally light or preferably less than 2 kilos, is the sweetest spot in e-commerce purchase for any buyer. An obvious example of this would be electronic gadgets, which can give a buyer as much as several thousands of pesos in savings while incurring only less than two hundred pesos in delivery cost.

Fabcorp is a new palengke partner of BigBenta.com. The company supplies Solane and Mgas LPG in Muntinlupa City. With this,  consumers no longer have to go their nearest LPG dealer but purchase this essential product online.

To give some context, these dealers are your ordinary merchants found in various wet markets in Metro Manila. We have encountered such entrepreneur in Pasig, the other in Paranaque and the most recent one was from Las Pinas wet market. All of them wanted to increase their sales and expand their market, but with the current product that they have, geographical presence and reach is quite limited.Cooking gas dealers decided to go digital and offer their product online? The catch is the dealer’s price doesn’t have huge savings for the customers, are very heavy such that if delivered by standard courier provider will be more expensive than the cost of the product itself and the customers are used to paying via cash-on-delivery (COD). An interesting discussion and problem solving exercise then comes to play.

 

BigBenta.com CEO and Founder Charlie Fong. His vision is to help Filipino entrepreneus get online to grow their business.

To say the least, a customized approach was developed so that our dealers of rice and cooking gas could open their own online store through www.bigbenta.com, get confirmed transaction orders in selected areas, have their products delivered and collect their payment via COD. At the time of writing, I suspect that they could probably be the first online store of rice and cooking gas in the history of the e-commerce in the Philippines. Talk about taking digital entrepreneurship on the grass root level! BigBenta Marketplace is the only e-commerce platform in the Philippines that features free classified ads (buy and sell), online stores, and service bookings. Through these platforms, it aims to help the Filipino entrepreneur and MSMEs use the internet to grow their busines