LCP Rex Pajenado
Technology has developed a lot over the last few years, however, a lot of businesses that could generate good use of this change have chosen to avoid or not accept these changes in reconstructing their businesses and the latent business models. These businesses will find it difficult to continue business as usual in the prevailing environment of ambiguity.
More than one year after the start of the pandemic, the prolonged quarantine institutive actions, along with the lockdown, have vigorously affected the business operations and national economy. While the lockdown has been a crucial option for containing the pandemic, it has unavailingly impaired micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Targeting to close the digital gap, the Rotary Club of Manila Fort Santiago has partnered with The Asia Foundation | Go Digital ASEAN Philippines with support from Google.org to provide free digital literacy training to MSMEs and Filipinos to gear them with technological skills and necessary online tools to engage in the digital economy and surmount the economic brunt brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last August 13 and 14, the Rotary Club of Manila Fort Santiago together with 23 co-host clubs conducted a successful 2-day digital skills training entitled “Getting Your Business Online” with the Go Digital ASEAN’s senior trainer, Mr. Raf De Guzman as the Resource speaker. The online training was attended by RI District 3810 officials, District Secretary Edwin Seymour Chiu, Chief of Staff, Vilma Vinluan, district officers, Life Changing Presidents, and club members comprising 78 attendees.
The course aims for participants to access and maximize online resources for business growth. Topics in the training covered both the conceptual aspects and practical tools that can help enhance an enterprise’s development and operation. It provides an overview of the best practices, emerging trends, and key developments in the digital economy. It also discussed the different tools for product and experience promotion, basic online customer service practices, key social media platforms, and financial technology for small businesses.
Yours truly encouraged all fellow Life Changing Presidents and Rotarians to share the knowledge and digital skills that they gain to their respective communities to grab new opportunities and counter traditional threats due to their readiness for such eventualities. And also to help MSMEs shift online through the use of online digital platforms in promoting their products and innovate their financial access in order to prosper during this time of the pandemic.