PLDT Smart SME Nation holds biggest tech summit for MSMEs
TechIsland 3.0 to equip businesses for holistic digital transformation
PLDT Smart SME Nation’s annual business convention for micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) is back, this time to help Filipino MSMEs discover
uncharted terrains in the ever changing digital landscape..
Now on its third year, TechIsland aims to educate, enable and empower
MSMEs to solve real life business challenges through technology. In the past
years, the forum focused on introducing MSMEs to ICT solutions for business.
According to VP and PLDT Smart SME Nation Head Mitch Locsin, TechIsland 3.0 is
about “conquering new territories and markets in today’s dynamic business by
harnessing digital tools and platforms.”
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| VP and PLDT Smart SME Nation Head Mitch Locsin |
Challenge, change, conquer
This year’s theme for TechIsland is a story of overcoming challenges,
embracing change and conquering opportunities.
PLDT EVP, Head of EICB and ePLDT CEO Eric R. Alberto led the highly
esteemed group of speakers as he shared insights based on his experience in
guiding the PLDT Group’s Enterprise and International activities, both fixed
and wireless businesses, to an annual revenue turnover accountability of over
65 billion pesos. Formally opening the event, Alberto welcomed game changers in
the field of IT as well as innovators in the fields of marketing, finance and
operations, among others.
DENTSU Jayme Syfu’s ‘chairmom’ and chief executive, and one of Philippine
advertising industry’s most renowned practitioners, Merlee Jayme, discussed
digital marketing trends and how successful companies have adapted to the
modern digital landscape. Meanwhile, PLDT Chief Strategy Officer Winston
Damarillo shared strategies on how businesses can go digital through
specifically-designed business solutions for MSMEs.
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| Ms. Merlee Jayme |
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| PLDT Chief Strategy Officer Winston Damarillo |
For his part, Laurence Cua, general manager of Uber Manila, enlightened
the audience on real-life application of digital technology.
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| Laurence Cua, general manager of Uber Manila |
Completing the roster is special guest speaker Alfredo Tan, who is
Facebook Canada Group Director of Global Marketing Solutions and Facebook
Philippines Interim Country Director. He tackled digital exploration and how
Facebook has evolved to serve the business community. He also talked about
digital trends that can help businesses jumpstart their digital journey.
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| Alfredo Tan, Facebook Canada Group Director of Global Marketing Solutions and Facebook Philippines Interim Country Director |
The breakout sessions in the afternoon were divided into four categories
designed to target specific segments of an organization—the CEOs and owners (The Captain); sales and marketing (The Navigator); finance and procurement
(The Trader); and operation and IT (The Engineer).
The Captain focused on global expansion
through digital while The Navigator highlighted
digital trends and market activations. Delegates attending The Trader learned about streamlining systems, while those in The Engineer were in for an afternoon of
learning about software security.
All sessions were powered by innovative digital business solutions from
PLDT Smart SME Nation which delegates learned more about as they go along.
Pioneering
digital for MSMEs
Held at the Harbour Tent of Sofitel Philippine
Plaza Manila, the highly anticipated business-to-business ICT forum drew in
over a thousand participants including industry leaders, multinational
organizations, start-ups and MSMEs from various industries. Unlike in previous
years where participation was limited to IT practitioners, this year’s
TechIsland 3.0 was open to more people including professionals in the fields of
marketing, sales, engineering, finance and procurement.
This year is also historic in TechIsland history because, for the first
time, slots were opened to the general public on a first-come-first-served
basis.
Locsin added, “We’ve already established that digital is here and it’s
here to stay. Now that everyone is on it, it’s time to challenge the standard
business mindset and give our MSMEs a new perspective in managing their
businesses, capturing and expanding their markets and handling competition.
Online is where the action is, and we’re giving MSMEs the tools to thrive and
survive in the digital arena.”
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