While the Philippines gained 12 million new digital users during the pandemic, the country still registered the lowest internet users transacting online in the region, at only 68 percent, according to the latest e-Conomy Southeast Asia (SEA) Report.

Digitalization is vital, especially because the country is expected to have a 93 percent year-on-year surge in gross merchandise volume (GMV), despite the pandemic's challenges, the report stated.

The majority of surveyed digital consumers use digital services because of convenience, the report revealed.

Hence, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) need to adopt an ecosystem that enhances the convenience of transacting with them by partnering with companies that respond to business needs.

“With the majority of the businesses under the SME category, we are on a mission to supercharge SME growth by building hyper-awareness to customer trends and needs,” Ninja Van Philippines Chief Commercial Officer Sabina Lopez-Vergara advocated during the express logistics firm's recent digital summit, DIGeCONOMY 2022.

For their part, GoNegosyo focuses on capacity building efforts to educate the SME network and enable them to embrace digital practices.

“The pandemic gave us a picture of the level of readiness in the Philippines. There is no other time to transition but now,” stressed GoNegosyo Executive Director Thermina Akram.

“A healthy and vibrant ICT ecosystem creates a level-playing field for businesses and gives consumers choices and quality service,” noted Advocacy group Democracy.net.ph Co-Founder and Co-Convenor Engineer Pierre Tito Galla.

For this reason, the group pushes for legislative solutions such as the Open Access in Data Transmission Act, which opens the country’s digital market and grows its ICT ecosystem; the Rural Wired Connectivity Development Act, which augments wired services, particularly in the rural last mile; and the Spectrum Management Act, which encourages growth of wireless services.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Assistant Secretary Alvin Navarro pointed out that talent development, digital infrastructure, and information security risks are the agency’s top priorities to push for digital transformation.

But ultimately, “Customer-centricity needs to be front and center now as we grow the digital economy," says Ninja Van Philippines Chief Commercial Officer Sabina Lopez-Vergara.

"In order to build trust, we have to be able to resolve the concerns of our consumers. Making them happy and trusting is a big part of how we can drive forward this digital ecosystem,” the COO concluded.