Were you one of those who stayed up late at night to be the first in line for great deals offered by Lazada and Shopee during 6.6, 7.7, or 11.11 sale festivals? How much have you saved from online shopping instead of going to physical stores? If you are a Filipino with access to the internet, you are probably one of those the questions above are pertaining to. To you, it has become a tradition to sit in front of your laptop or go through your phone to scour the e-commerce sites for the best deals there are. If you are a businessman who has unlocked the potential of social media for your brand, congratulations are in order. Just like Geraldine Villaver-Salvane who started her venture at the age of 14 and now, even Pinoy celebrities are wearing her creations from the Lady N clothing line . She started with a P2000 capital when she was still in high school but through perseverance and the use of social media platforms, her clothing brand is now seen worn by some celebrities like Alex Gonzaga, Kim Chiu, and Sarah Geronimo. Stay at home but it is still shopping galore in Pinoy homes The Covid19 pandemic may have halted much of the movements all over the world but online, the traffic got only thicker as a consequence. Work-from-home setup, online school, movies, Tiktok, and online games are just some of the few that kept people occupied until things return to normal. The limitation in movement turned out to be a blessing for businesses online, especially in the Philippines. With the malls and usual physical stores unavailable, businesses found solace in e-commerce. And looks like it is not leaving anytime soon. GlobalData’s E-Commerce Analytics in December 2021 revealed that the number of Pinoy who engaged in online shopping or e-commerce increased dramatically from 2019. The data from 2019 grew by 11.8 percent in 2020 with P229.8 billion estimated value. It increased again by 15.1 percent in 2021 to reach P264.5 billion. Online shopping behavior of Filipinos Shopee blazes its competitors in the Philippines as the top e-commerce site according to the 2022 first quarter data released by Statista . The Singaporean multinational firm recorded 76.6 million visitors each month. It is followed by Lazada with 39 million monthly visitors, and Zalora with almost 2 million. Shopee has taken over Lazada in 2018 with its own version of buying spree of endorsers such as Asian household names like action star Jackie Chan, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, and a few A-list Pinoy showbiz royalties. It also got the endorsement of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Lazada’s 11.11 sale was the most talked about eCommerce site on Philippine social media in 2018 with 61.2 percent of mentions compared to Shopee’s 35.4 percent share. This has changed now. While Shopee seems to be the undisputed go-to online store in the Southeast Asian country, Filipinos are still meticulous with their online shopping as if they are strolling and scanning through every store in SM Malls. A Facebook Inc. and Bain & Co. report published last year revealed that Filipinos go through eight websites on average before they finalize their online purchase. The number of sites they visit almost doubled from 2020’s 4.3 websites. John Rubio, country director of Facebook in the Philippines, said in a statement that this should be a clue for brands to reimagine their products and marketing strategies for them to “stand out and be discovered” with Pinoy consumers becoming increasingly meticulous with their purchase. Around 45 percent of the Filipino respondents from the same 2021 report said they are willing to try stores that they never heard of before, a nine percent increase from last year. Among the factors they consider in expanding their options during online shopping are Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. More than 80 percent of the Pinoy who were asked said they are willing to pay 10 percent more than the original price for something that is sustainable and socially conscious. What do Filipinos mostly buy online? Statista listed electronics as items that Filipinos buy the most online as of 2021. It covered $7.13 billion of the total expenditures among Pinoy internet users. It is followed by furniture at $2.68 billion, personal and household care at $2.56 billion, fashion at $1.64 billion and food at $1.04 billion. Why do Filipinos prefer online shopping? The Philippines is a hotbed for e-commerce with its young and tech-savvy population and people whose eyes are always on the lookout for great deals due to the economy. Many people in the country prefer online shopping because of convenience, something augmented by the Covid-19 pandemic that started in March 2020 when the government imposed lockdowns and restricted public transportation. A Visa survey found that convenience is among the top reasons for Filipino online shoppers why they shop online. They said they prefer sites like Shopee, Lazada, and even Facebook Marketplace rather than brick-and-mortar stores that will require them to drive or commute and then fall in line to get their items. Pricing is another reason for 47 percent of the respondents as they find items in online stores cheaper than their physical store counterparts. There are also exclusive/better deals (46 percent) that pull them to e-commerce sites. The information above is paramount for any e-commerce site to achieve successful e-commerce marketing and management. Customization of e-commerce sites for Pinoy buyers The e-commerce architecture in the Philippines is composed of online sellers, payment systems, online customers, and logistics. The platform ecosystem covers service seekers (online sellers, online buyers, service seekers), Access or digital platforms (market places, social media, service platforms, payment platforms, logistic platforms, and delivery platforms). There are also the service providers composed of motorists/riders, jobbers, staff/employees, and professional freelancers. An e-commerce business must also undergo government regulations to comply with the policies, security, taxation, and IT infrastructure. These platforms are strategic actors to keep your site’s activities running smoothly. Then, you must employ e-commerce management and marketing strategies to make your website standout from the rest. This includes social media marketing which could be one of the most integral parts of your business success. An average Filipino spends the most time online compared to other nationalities according to a survey. An average Filipino spends 10 hours and 56 minutes a day and four hours and 15 minutes of those are spent on social media. The most used platforms are Youtube, Facebook, and Tiktok. Social media users also engage more in interesting content. Therefore, content marketing is another key strategy to get your products to reach more users. A single post can drive up a brand’s online visibility. Many users now prefer short videos or reels. A post about the benefits of the product may go viral when done neatly. Government agencies for different products in e-commerce For internet retail , agencies you need to make a stop at for your products are the Department of Agriculture and its other sub-agencies. Depending on your products, you may discuss your business with the Bureau of Animal Industry, Forest Management Bureau, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, National Dairy Authority, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Other agencies are the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Telecommunications Commission. For travel-related products, it is the Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the Civil Aeronautics Board. Digital Media: Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, Optical Media Board, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Design Center of the Philippines, and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Ride hailing: Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Information and Communications, Department of Labor and Employment, Land Transportation Office. Digital Financial Services: Securities and Exchange Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Finance. Trend to continue through to 2025 These numbers will have a snowball effect on other industries, according to an official of the research firm Global Data. “Rising consumers’ preferences for online shopping, an increasing number of online merchants, proliferation of alternative payment solutions, and government support will support e-commerce sales in the Philippines. It is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 17.0 percent over the next five years to reach P495.0bn (US$10.3bn) by 2025,” Shivani Gupta, Banking and Payments Senior Analyst at GlobalData, said . Local delivery companies J&T Express and LBC saw themselves experiencing between 35 to 68 percent growth from 2019 to 2021 while Foodpanda increased by about 56 percent. Grab, one of the earliest players in the online business world in the country said its deliveries bested its 2019 performance by 32 and 56 percent in 2020 and 2021. Some individuals also found a new source of livelihood through online selling. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that the number of online sellers increased massively - from 1,700 in March 2020 to 93,318 in January 2021. All this could set up more active and busier e-commerce transactions in the years to come. Gupta said he sees a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent over the next five years to reach PHP495 billion by 2025 . PH throws support for E-commerce Department of Trade Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty announced during the recently held the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference that the moratorium on customs duties imposed on media goods ordered via electronic commerce will be extended . “The Philippines has a robust e-commerce industry and to boost the same, the government has released the e-commerce roadmap 2022 to create an integrated ecosystem that would become the foundation of all industries’ developments, long-term employment, and inclusive growth throughout the country,” the DTI said. The e-commerce roadmap is not the only area where businesses can see themselves flourish as the government has also taken steps to boost connectivity in the country. Business World Online’s tech writer Jon Canto wrote last year that the four rapidly emerging technology growth engines for the massive digital growth are: 1) in the future of connectivity (5G and the Internet of Things or IoT), 2) applied artificial intelligence (AI), 3) distributed infrastructure (cloud computing), and 4) automation. The realization of these growth engines could prove beneficial to many e-commerce sites and online-based ventures. Right now, the big brands continue to beef up their platforms through different innovations. Lazada Philippines Deputy CEO Carlos Barrera during the “Lazada Talks” in celebration of its 10th anniversary said they are now focusing on improvements in logistics and payments system . He also expects to integrate artificial intelligence or make more virtual reality adjustments to provide better service. Shopee for its part has started reaching out to more customers in the provinces by establishing Shopee Xpress hubs in Cebu City, Bogo, Moalboal, and other areas in Visayas. “We have always believed in the transformative power of technology to connect buyers and sellers within the community, no matter where they are. By expanding our serviceable areas within the Visayas region, we aim to give our Visayan shoppers a seamless online shopping experience at Shopee, as we go through every step of this exciting e-commerce journey together,” said Shopee Philippines Director Martin Yu .
There’s no real accountability when you work from home, it’s too easy to get distracted by your bed, your TV, and lose valuable time. Family-related chores will always present themselves especially if you’re young and still live with your parents’ home. Not to mention if you have a family of your own and your kids are all over the place. The separation of work from home is important for many of us and also allows you to breathe some fresh air and feel alive instead of spending most of your day at home. Research shows that people who use coworking spaces are more efficient due to the energy and mindset adjustment that is generated by the interaction and accountability a coworking environment creates. That means coworking spaces are more cost-efficient because of the the financial benefits it creates. Working alone alone is isolating and affects your productivity levels. Having coworkers and interaction is a social need and the idea at a coworking space is that although you are working by yourself, you are surrounded by people that can help you out especially in forming networks. Coworking spaces will boost your network and in turn connect you with the most relevant people for your business, help you hoard potential clients, suppliers or even help you meet potential business partners. In coworking spaces you are guaranteed to meet high quality, talented, and like minded people to add to your network that might help you advance your career. This will be a huge opportunity for you to improve your social life as well since it allows you to fill in the gaps and make new friends with interesting people in new places. One of the highlights of choosing coworking spaces is it tends to reduce the customer’s uncertainty on where to work or if a coffee shop is not too crowded to work on backlogs. Coworking spaces usually have isolated Skype booths and conference rooms for you to use with fast connection. Some other reliable advantages of coworking spaces over coffee shops include access 24 hours a day in case you are on a deadline. In general, uncertainty takes time and energy that could have been put toward working for your clients, and it makes you feel less happy in general. Coworking space in Makati s provides a great platform in conducting important meetings with your clients and associates since they offer conference rooms which are usually free for members. It makes a much better impression to invite people to a coworking room than to your home or a coffee shop and will show how serious and dedicated you are to your trade. In case you have decided that it is time to get an office, a coworking space makes a lot more financial sense than renting your own office. Renting an office includes taking care of installing infrastructure and taking care of utility bills that drain cash and time. The staff in the coworking space will take care of that for everyone. Also, regular office rental requires signing long term contracts, usually for a minimum period of one year. On the other hand, private offices Makati are especially great for those professionals whose work demands discretion. An office space that is partitioned by walls or some other material can ensure that conversations between clients are kept private. Professionals who work with sensitive information also need to work in space that shields them from unwanted intrusions from others. More than that, private offices also help maintain an easy flexible way to scale company without worrying about overhead or other admin.
This is a deck I used when I was presenting for the first time in Product PH. In this deck, I went through several things through my journey into landing into Product and how I eventually become better doing what I do.
