Filipino tech startup Packworks has partnered with Help.NGO to bring connectivity to sari-sari stores through Starlink Internet and boost local entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
In a statement, Packworks said its partnership with Help, an international NGO, has resulted in the launched of SariLink, which will provide fast and reliable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Connectivity through Starlink.
Packworks offers a business-to-business (B2B) FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) marketplace for sari-sari stores while Help.NGO is registered in the European Union (EU) with operations globally, specializing in emergency response, preparedness, risk mitigation, and prevention.
The partnership, currently in its pilot run, has installed LEO communication terminals in select micro-retail stores in Catanduanes. This strategic move empowers small entrepreneurs in the far-flung areas of the island to be digitally connected by leveraging innovative solutions provided by the Packworks platform.
“Bridging the digital divide, especially in isolated communities, can bring outsized impact on resiliency by giving people the ability to communicate and connect to the internet, they are able to build their own resilience. We are excited to work with local partners, including Packworks, to push resilience through connectivity,” said Matthew Cua, Innovation Director of Help.NGO.
Packworks Co-founder and Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with Help.NGO, a collaboration that advances our vision of bringing digitization to the forefront of Philippine economic development. This partnership is not just about providing technology but about crafting a future where every small business owner has the tools to succeed in the digital age. Through this strategic collaboration, we are excited about the potential to expand this initiative, ensuring that the benefits of digital connectivity reach every corner of the Philippines and setting a precedent for grassroots-level economic resilience and sustainability.”
The SariLink program will be in its one-year pilot run and calls for partners and funders to help push it further to expand to other rural areas in the country.
The SariLink program is designed to bridge the digital gap that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) often face due to unreliable internet access. The “Better Internet for All Filipinos” 2024 report by the World Bank indicates that despite recent advancements, the Philippines is still lagging behind neighboring countries in Southeast Asia (SEA) in terms of internet connectivity. The report highlights that issues of affordability, speed, and access create a disparate digital landscape.
Moreover, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that Internet access and speed are significantly lower in rural regions, underscoring the challenge of reaching geographically isolated and rural areas.
With the newly installed LEO connection through Starlink, which can achieve speeds up to 220 Mbps download and 80 Mbps upload, stores in Catanduanes now have access to tools to digitize their operations, including pricing tools, inventory management, and sales and revenue tracking. They are also able to process digital payments and access vital inventory financing services to help them grow their businesses.
Store beneficiaries enrolled in the SariLink program will be monitored for sales growth using Amazon Web Services (AWS) data analytics to ensure they receive the right support to optimize their operations and grow their businesses effectively.
One of the beneficiary sari-sari store owners, Cynthia Icaonapo, 49, from Pandan, Catanduanes, has shared that the LEO connection through Starlink provided by the partnership between Packworks and Help.NGO has significantly improved her business management.
Before, we manually wrote down each customer's purchases, and we only used mobile data, which was slow in our area. So, we are very grateful to have been connected to Starlink Internet because it has greatly simplified our daily transactions," said Icaonapo in Tagalog.
After being installed with the LEO Internet terminal, in the full month of February 2024, Icaonapo’s store, Nisos Variety Store, increased its transactions by about 53 percent compared to the previous month.
The initiative is aligned with Help.NGO's Technology Advocacy and Resilience Program, in collaboration with AWS, aiming to enhance the readiness and resilience of vulnerable communities worldwide through strategic technology use.