Starting next month, enterprise customers of PLDT, Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. can view their statements of account through online channels, as the PLDT group migrates to paperless billing as part of its eco-friendly initiatives..
According to PLDT, the shift to digital monthly statements saves a thousand trees, or 12 hectares of forest each month.
It also conserves some 117,000 kwH of energy and 1,400 liters of water used in paper production.
Overall, the eco-friendly initiative cuts monthly carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 30 tons from the use of fossil fuels in delivering bills.
The move complements the paperless billing scheme which the PLDT group implemented earlier for individual and home broadband customers.
"This shift is part of our unrelenting focus on improving our Enterprise customer’s experience that ensures easier access, a more timely delivery of their statements of account, as well as safeguarding data privacy," announced Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and Smart.
"This is also aligned with our group-wide sustainability efforts at PLDT, as a steward of this planet for the next generation,” he added.
Paperless billing allows customers to immediately access their monthly statement as soon as they become available, giving them more time to settle their bill before due date.
Sending statements directly to customers’ inbox also avoids accidental misdelivery and prevents customer data from falling into the wrong hands.
In addition, storing them is more convenient and space-saving as they can be viewed readily online.
With PLDT and Smart’s robust cybersecurity infrastructure, customers are assured that their personal information are well-protected.
Hand in hand with paperless billing, PLDT and Smart are also expanding digital payment channels, enabling customers to save time and money as they can settle their bill in the comfort of their homes.
As the world continues to adapt to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital bill deliveries are also safer as they eliminate personal interaction.
“Paperless or digital billing provides a more secure and efficient bill access to our enterprise customers," noted Joseph Ian Gendrano, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International of PLDT and Smart.
Migrating to paperless billing is part of the PLDT group’s sustainability initiative to employ more environment-friendly processes.
"It's doing our collective part in saving the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change," says Melissa Vergel De Dios, First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at PLDT.
"Aside from cutting less trees, this initiative will help reduce carbon emissions by eliminating the need for vehicles to deliver bills,” she concluded.