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| (Image Source: Business Diary Philippines/GCash) |
With the digital economy accelerating, GCash, the Philippines' leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, has established itself as a trusted partner for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses by developing meaningful and responsive solutions that make digital financial tools more accessible. GCash's impact on MSMEs demonstrates the company's steadfast commitment to providing Finance For All. According to GCash's B2B General Manager Jong Layug, "MSMEs make up more than 99% of businesses in the Philippines and contribute 35% to 40% to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). GCash's commitment is to create a dynamic and responsive financial ecosystem that enables these businesses to thrive. When small businesses grow, they also spur growth in their communities.”
Davao Premium Food Venture Co., which franchises several popular food brands in the Philippines, attests to GCash's value to their business after three years of partnership. Owners Kay Anjella Alcober and Jarre Cubio have seen GCash contribute a significant 5% of their company's revenue, giving them the confidence to plan further expansion. This demonstrates how GCash is an important component of businesses' growth strategies. GCash also has an impact on small businesses in the community such as DKM Pharmacy. Since becoming a GCash Pera Outlet Partner a year ago, DKM Pharmacy owner Madelyn Leonin has received an additional monthly income of Php12,000, demonstrating the power of digital finance in increasing revenue streams. Meanwhile, Ailyn Javier's internet cafe and sari-sari store, Icy Cyberia Internet Cafe, is well-known in her neighborhood thanks to the use of GCash which attracts residents, workers, and delivery drivers. These success stories demonstrate GCash's commitment to bringing financial inclusion to MSMEs, a sector that is frequently overlooked by traditional banking services. GCash enables MSMEs to remain competitive in a digitally changing landscape by providing tools such as cashless payment services (Scan to Pay, QR payments, Send Money, API Integration, Funds Disbursement for payroll streamlining, wallet limit upgrade) and access to fair lending through GLoans For Business.
GCash For Business To Unveil More Innovations
MSMEs can now use GCash for Business to make cashless payments. This is especially important for retail and food and beverage businesses that rely on high-volume transactions and value a faster and more efficient customer experience. GCash is constantly innovating to meet a broader range of needs and challenges as well as improve services that have proven critical to MSMEs. Retail and food and beverage businesses will soon be able to accept GCash payments with a single tap, reducing long lines and the need for smaller businesses to hire additional employees. Another GCash innovation in the works is a more affordable terminal that uses audio QR codes to instantly confirm payment via an audio notification. Customers will save time and effort by presenting the e-receipt of their GCash payment as proof. MSMEs who handle long lines will benefit from the audio confirmation feature. The feature also supports portable payments which is especially useful for MSMEs with booths and kiosks. Finally, GCash is introducing a new innovation that will greatly benefit the service industry, particularly front-line workers such as delivery drivers and gas station employees. The device, designed specifically for MSMEs, offers businesses the convenience of an affordable, lightweight, and portable device. All these innovations boost the capabilities of GCash as a convenient, efficient, and fast financial service provider.
Making Cities Digital Through GCash
In a bid to bring digital finance to more MSMEs, GCash is rolling out its DigiCities program in 27 cities nationwide. DigiCities provides local government units with the tools to empower their businesses to go digital and to expand their business acumen such as financial literacy workshops and GCash For Business hubs that allow easy onboarding to the platform. The program will also provide MSMEs with Masterclass sessions on how to use TikTok Shop, Canva, and other digital tools, boosting their digital marketing and branding capabilities to reach more customers. This is an initiative made possible through GCash's partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and StartUp Village. MSMEs will also get access to mentorship from some of the most successful Pera Outlet businesses through the GCash Pera Outlet kapihan. The pilot implementation of the DigiCities program aims to transform LGUs to become more digitally inclusive, not just within their business community but also with government services. GCash will be working with LGUs to enable convenience and accessibility in services like tax collection, revenue generation, public services, social welfare and financial aid. "GCash is only as good as its latest innovations — our technology is constantly evolving, and so are the needs of MSMEs. We need to make sure that the ecosystem that we are constantly developing addresses their needs. Since our vision is Finance For All, we are always thinking of developing new tools and functionalities that will be useful for everyone in the digital economy, including MSMEs. This makes us the trusted partner of businesses, big and small, nationwide," said GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon. Some of the cities that have already being empowered through DigiCities include Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Baguio, San Fernando, Bacoor, Sta. Rosa, Lipa, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Victorias, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos.
