Google Philippines Country Manager Ken Lingan talks about digital solutions for small businesses during the launch of PLDT SME Nation’s Small Business Month.
In this digital age of borderless work spaces and online marketplaces, an efficient system of collaboration is crucial for SMEs (small to medium enterprises) to thrive.
To help SMEs improve operational efficiencies, enhance productivity and consequently, improve revenues, PLDT SME Nation, through ePLDT subsidiary IPC®, an Internet data center and cloud services company, now offers Google Apps for Work to the Philippine SMEs, which account for about 90% of all local businesses.
Google Apps for Work is a collaboration suite packed with cost-saving, productivity and efficiency promoting tools that will enable co-workers to effectively work together from anywhere. The applications are categorized according to functionality—Communicate, Collaborate, Manage and Store.
Under Communicate, featured applications include Gmail, Hangouts, Calendar and Google+. For Collaborate, applications included are Sheets, Forms, Docs, Slides and Sites. For storage, SMEs can take advantage of Google Drive, and for management purposes, Google Admin and Vault.
“When it comes to web-based products and applications, Google is known for reliability and innovation,” PLDT First Vice President and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde said. “We look forward to being able to offer their industry-leading products and applications to our local SMEs. With IPC® and PLDT, SMEs can be assured of reliable and 24/7 customer support together with Google’s best-in-class products.”
Because Google Apps for Work is web- or Internet-based, it can help SMEs, whether with 10 or 10,000 employees, reduce operational costs including maintenance and capital investments. In fact, studies have shown that shifting from on-site to web-based applications can contribute to up to 85 percent worth of energy savings.
For budding businesses, Google Apps for Work can aid companies in establishing their unique brand. It allows SMEs to integrate their domain name in their e-mail addresses, hosted by Google’s network. For start-ups, an official e-mail domain goes a long way in reinforcing credibility among potential and existing clients.
This suite of collaboration application can also help improve coordination and communication among work mates particularly when they are out of office. For instance, co-workers can conduct meetings remotely using Google Hangouts and jointly review documents using Google Sheets or Google Docs.
Additionally, SMEs can use Google Apps for Work’s Admin and Vault applications to enhance data security and management especially of sensitive information. This is particularly helpful for easily managing office devices and configuring security settings so data stays safe. In cases of resigning employees, Vault can be used to manage, retain, search and export e-mail and on-the-record chats.
Alberto added, “Google Apps for Work is a convenient and cost-efficient way to harness the benefits of today’s rapidly advancing technology. With our reliable and powerful network infrastructures, SMEs can overcome the barriers that eventually lead to low productivity.”
SMEs can choose between two packages — the basic Google Apps for Work , priced at US$50 annually per user, and Google Drive for Work, at US$120 annually per user, which has all the inclusions of Google Apps for Work but is powered up by unlimited storage. Both packages come with mobility devices, such as tablets and pocket WiFi devices, as add-ons. PLDT subscribers also have the advantage of being able to upgrade to hardware and connectivity bundles to supplement work place tools.
To find out more about Google Apps for Work, log on to ipc.ph.
