A store builder software provider sees the huge potential for small enterprises registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to go online.
At the Kapihan Sa Manila on Wednesday, Macy Castillo, Enstack chief executive officer and co-founder, said studies showed there are 70 million small businesses in Southeast Asia, of which 10 million are in the Philippines.
However, only 16 percent of businesses in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia are online.
Citing another study, Castillo said in 2023, one million businesses were registered with the DTI.
“There a lot of businesses that are very localized and which can go global (by going digital), said Castillo.
She said Enstack is also pushing cashless payments but cash on delivery (COD) remains an option.
In the Philippines, 60 percent of purchases done online are paid on COD.
Enstack builds digital presence of small businesses, help them grow and reach more customers both local and global.
One can start selling online or in-person and manage his business entirely on a mobile phone with no coding or design skills required.
Castillo said Enstack is working with the DTI and the Tatak Pinoy program to make sure local businesses are supported across all digital platforms.
The platform helps businesses manage orders, ship packages, accept payments, track inventory, control finances, among others.
“But more than that, Enstack makes sure these businesses have their own standalone showcase in their online stores and highlight their own products separate from the marketplaces,” Castillo said.
Enstack also works with local government units to help small businesses in their areas access digital tools. In June, the company signed a memorandum of agreement with the Quezon City government to digitize over 100,000 small businesses. Since its launch in October 2022, Enstack has quickly grown its user base to almost 200,000 entrepreneurs.
