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Call for Application: eBiz Training for SMEs

Hello friends. I am scheduled to conduct a 3-day e-commerce training through the APEC Digital Opportunity Center on these dates:
 
Batch 1
September 26 to 28
 
Batch 2
September 29 to October 3.
 
This training is open to SMEs for free. It will be held at the National Computer Center, C. P. Garcia St., U.P. Diliman, Quezon City.
 
SMEs interested to apply for a slot can email me at [email protected] and will email the application form. You can also call Mercy Nicolas of the APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) at 920-7976.
 
Thank you.

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EBIZ TRAINING FOR SMEs
PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION

DESCRIPTION

 The EBiz Training Program for SMEs aims to give participants the knowledge, guidelines, strategies, and skills in applying e-commerce to their business.

OBJECTIVES

- Enhance SMEs participation in the digital economy and to support e-business.
- To learn new technology and e-commerce tools for business.
- To provide online and offline collaborative opportunities among SME participants.

METHODOLOGY

- Lectures
- Hands-on exercises
- Group workshop
- Lessons-learned sharing
- With complimentary e-learning facility for uploading of seatwork

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

- Must have knowledge on how to use the Internet

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

- Must be an SME
- Must have plans of putting up an e-commerce website or have an existing website

TARGET AUDIENCE

- Small and medium enterprises, maximum of two (2) participants per company
- With preference to rural SMEs
- Will strive to ensure gender balanced participation

REQUIRED SKILLS

- Must know how to use the Internet

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

- High school graduate

GRADING SYSTEM

- E-Commerce Project Plan presentation
- Completion of four (4) exercises

COURSE CONTENT

Day 1

- Introduction to E-Commerce
- Advantages and disadvantages of E-Commerce
- Personal and Business Internet Etiquette
- E-Commerce Law
- Types of E-Commerce (Internet Banking, Online Shopping, Mobile Commerce, B2B Commerce)

Day 2
- Internet Payments (Credit/Debit card payment, Mobile payment, Inter-bank fund transfer, Money remittance)
Passive income online

- Internet Marketing (Understanding your market, Online branding, Internet advertising, E-mail marketing)

Day 3
- E-Commerce Project Planning (E-Commerce strategy, Developing the Project Plan, Work breakdown structure, Resource Allocation)

- Presentation of E-Commerce Project Plan

Handling OFW Remittances

I just got an email lately asking this question:

"Is there a way in E-Commerce to handle online remittances of OFWs ? I am just wondering what a good business opportunity it will be for us?"

My answer is this:

I believe there's a great opportunity to handle online remittances for Overseas Filipino Workers. However, my only concern will be if they have a credit card to begin with. Based from OFW Research we did 2 years ago, only OFWs of certain professions have a credit card to begin with. As a result, remitances are sent via traditional bank and couriers. Having a counterpart brick-and-mortar and/or pick-up service can also be of value.

Futhermore, you have to establish yourself as a trustworthy establishment that OFWs can feel safe that their remittances will reach their loved ones as committed. Putting up a company with sufficient capitalization is a must.

Lastly, I believe that a money remittance service capable in depositing to any commercial or rural bank or home delivery at a competitive cost will prevail and rule the remittance target market of your choice.

I hope this helps.

CCNow.com Merchandising and Discounts Tools

The first online payment system that I used in DigitalFilipino.com was CCNow.com. At that time, the service requires no monthly fee. Even though it charges a per transaction rate of 9%, its market entry cost and mechanics are very entrepreneur-friendly compared to local payment gateway services in the country today.

 

Yesterday, I decided to tinker around with its two unique tools that I haven’t seen with other payment systems. This is the merchandising tools and discount coupon.

 

I am marketing an e-commerce book. As it can be bought anytime, there’s a need to create an urgency to get it. One way to do that is by offering a limited discount coupon. I generated a 10% coupon that can be used until end of March and distributed to my free e-commerce workshop mailing list members. Within the same day, orders came in.

 

Another interesting one is its merchandising tool. This allows you to cross-sell a specific product while the customer is about to purchase one that they just clicked on. I’m experimenting with our Philippine Internet History book with this one and will see if it will work.

 

CCNow.com also launched a facility where Google AdSense and Overture advertisers can monitor if their advertisements are generating the sales result online. In addition, the company will also launch soon an ATM card that merchants can use to withdraw their sales online from any Visa ATM worldwide. This is far better compared to check issuance that is being used to pay most merchants worldwide by CCNow.com.

 

It is great to see services that are sensitive to needs of online merchants today. CCNow.com has raised the bar once again and glad to see this site evolving.

Helping Davao friends

I just got a chat with friends from Davao last week. One thing frustrating that has happened recently is that so many organizations have been doing research in that part of the country on its outsourcing developments. However, most don't go back to fulfill their developmental promises to the said area. I hope this effort can help in its own way. For those you who are into outsourcing are encouraged to give Davao a look.

This coming February 16, Wednesday, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm, there will be a briefing on Mindanao/Davao eServices Capabilities at the Pethouse, Board of Investments, Jupiter St. corner Paseo De Roxas, Makati City (near MRT Buendia Station).

Organizations who have a commitment in developing outsourcing capabilities of companies outside of Metro Manila, I hope, shall look into ASID.

Companies interested in opening an office in the Davao area or possibly look into outsourcing, you are more than welcome to attend:

The following is the agenda:

1:00 - 1:30 registration
1:30 - 2:00 Talk on Mindanao’s ICT Capability
2:00 - 2:30 Davao City as an eService Investment Destination
2:30 - 3:00 Introducing the Association of Solution Integrators in Davao (ASID)
3:00 - 3:30 Davao’s eServices Capabilities
3:30 - 4:00 Open Forum
4:00 - 5:00 Snacks/Coffee Break/Networking

Parties interested to attend are encouraged to email me at [email protected] with the following information:

Name:
Position:
Company:
Address:
Phone:
Website:
Expectations from the briefing:

Details about ASID can be found at http://www.asidph.org/

Getting started in blogging

Simon asked for help in his blog as to how can one write an article. Actually, there's no straight answer to this one as you can always get a writer's block from time to time and never get over with. (I've encountered this lately and had not been able to recover)

However, I suggest that you start writing the moment the idea hits you. Write it first in a notebook if a PC is not immediately accessible to you. One site that really helped me get started in blogging/writing was Shery's DailyWrites lesson. It is free and I suggest you check it out. 

I find writing to be therapeutical too in some ways. Lately, I've been a little sad and decided to draw a card in my Writer's Deck. The task given to me is to "write a letter" and express my feelings. I decided to write to my Dad (who already passed away years ago), pour my heart out, and felt relieved a few days later. I'm back to my normal self again.