Alfamart pushes for mutual growth with “local jewel” partnerships
Setting up community-based bakery has always been a dream of Jannice Enas, 12C-4 Bread Station franchisee. She however faced various challenges: the pandemic, the recent typhoons, and the logistical obstacles for setting up a physical bakery in the middle of community lockdowns.
Alfamart, the country’s first and only Super Minimart chain, stepped in and changed everything.
12C-4 Bread Station franchise recently opened its doors to customers in the Silingan 1 Alfamart branch Rosario, Cavite.
“Once there was a clear direction to work as a franchise, we chose Alfamart because their structure offers exactly what we want to offer to our customers and community as well,” Jannice shared.
***
Toyota PH introduces the Fleet Management Service
Toyota Motor Philippines has introduced the Fleet Connected Service, a GPS-based system designed specifically for Toyota vehicles, to assist business owners and operators in managing vehicle assets and optimizing productivity.
Committed to provide only the best products and services, Toyota took another step forward and launched the Fleet Management Service (FMS) last July 16, 2021.
The FMS can manage the complete lifecycle of a fleet, from vehicle purchase to disposal.
Included in the service package are the LTO-related processes, such as registration renewal and transfer of ownership. This service also covers driver training arrangement, insurance claiming and renewal processes, emergency roadside assistance, and disposal arrangement through our Toyota Certified Used Vehicle channels.
***
Federal Land welcomes S&R Marikina into its community
Membership shopping retailer S&R opened its new store in Marikina on Sumulong highway, providing members with big savings, great deals, and a more convenient shopping experience.
The newly opened S&R Marikina is a two-storey 5,000-square meter shopping space, strategically situated close to major roads and accessible to communities within the city and nearby province of Rizal.
S&R Marikina opens within Federal Land’s mixed-use community, further enhancing the development’s existing retail and residential offerings.
***
SEEK Asia appointments
SEEK Asia, which includes two leading brands JobStreet and JobsDB, has announced the appointment of Shen Tham as chief technology office, Asia, and JaneCruz-Walker as chief marketing officer, Asia.
Tham, with 20 years experience in various techinical and leadership position, will be accountable for partnering across the Asia business to shape and deliver a transformed technology strategy and capability in that region.
Cruz-Walker, also a 20-year veteran in tech, media and telco, will be responsible for building and evolving the JobStreet and JobsDB brands for both the jobseekers’ and employers’ sides of the marketplace across SEEK Asia’s six markets.
***
HealthNow turns 1
HealthNow, the all-in-one health app developed by AC Health and Globe’s 917Ventures, has noted over half a million users nationwide in its first year of operations surpassing its initial target for the period.
HealthNow simplifies patient experiences with their healthcare services, which include easy access to telemedicine services, medicine deliveries, and urgent care hotlines.
In its first 12 months of operations, the healthtech company has onboarded some 600 healthcare providers and more than 60pharmacy stores to support its operations across the country.
Through its innovations, patients can now easily book consultations with general practitioners and specialists via video calls, purchase over-the-counter and prescription medication for delivery, and centralize all medical records in one easy-to-use app. Soon, users will be able to book diagnostic tests for home service and have their lab test results interpreted online.
Notable names it has partnered with include immediate 24/7 health hotlines such as KonsultaMD, Lifeline, Hopeline, and pharmacies like Generika and diagnostics aggregator Dashlabs.ai.
***
Nestlé PH launches vaccination drive
Nestlé Philippines has launched its vaccination program called “You Call the Shots #WeGotYour Vax” covering all employees, their qualified dependents, and business partners.
The program is administered based on government priority guidelines.
Earlier in the year, the company had implemented several vaccine awareness campaigns including:Know Your Vax — a series of talakayans or discussions in the form of employee webinars with Dr. Anna Lisa Ong Lim, of the Department of Health Technical Advisory Group;Just the Vacts — a series of COVID-19 facts to promote credible vaccine resources on vaccine safety; and I Call the Shots — a series of employee testimonials on why they have chosen to be vaccinated, starting with the company’s own doctors and leaders.
***
DHL Express unveils DIYShipment
DHL Express customers in the Philippines can now enjoy hassle-free drop-offs for international shipping with the new DHL DIYShipment service.
To make shipping more convenient, DHL has launched an exclusive shipping platform, which customers can access online via mobile, tablet, or desktop. The DIYShipment is a self-help portal that allows customers to arrange for deliveries, obtain shipment information, get charge estimates, complete the bill of lading, and choose delivery dates ahead of time.
The DIYShipment tool also boasts of other advanced features. No need to log in as the simple interface will allow users to fill up the online form without registering an account. The side-by-side function can help users identify the address formats of countries and regions for a quicker view of shipping and receiving addresses. It also has a notification feature for customers to be able to check if the information was entered correctly. If not, the system will prompt otherwise.
***
Eastern vaccinates 73% of employees
Eastern Communications said 73 percent of its employees have received COVID-19 vaccines.More employees are also expected to get vaccinated of their own volition for the rest of the year.
Earlier this year, Eastern Communications announced their procurement of Moderna vaccines and offered non-mandatory free vaccination among their employees. The vaccination program was also extended to their employees’ family members at cost.
***
Lalamove joins Clorox PH Safer Today Program
Clorox Philippines has teamed up with Lalamove to provide its courier riders with their sanitary and livelihood needs.
Through this initiative, Clorox Philippines, helped Lalamove provide 15,000 care packages, consisting of road essentials from sanitation like Clorox Disinfecting Wipe, to road safety products such as Prestone Brake Fluid Dot3, and Prestone Coolant for its partner drivers across the country.
Lalamove’s collaboration with Clorox Safer Today Program is also in line with Lalamove’s Panalomove Program. Through the initiative, its partner drivers are extended exclusive driver benefits, including discounts and freebies on maintenance services, healthcare, financial support, and insurance, among others, to help improve their livelihood and further support their families.
***
E-commerce businesses boost operations with Viber
Viber Business Messages, a sound solution that brands can invest in, allows brands and businesses to plug in their existing customers’ opt-in database.
Business Messages– secure for both brands and customers– can include richer messaging elements like images, files, and call-to-action buttons with links for a more enhanced experience for customers, instead of just generic text-only messages. Depending on specific business needs, messages from brands to customers can be transactional (for example, order confirmation or notification about delivery of goods), promotional (messages with a special offer or promotion), as well as two-way conversations (customer support, receiving feedback, or placing orders).
Viber is keeping things within reach and as seamless as possible for both brands and customers, bolstering the future of e-commerce with the power of reliable and effective business messaging solutions.
***
LONGi Solar solution
LONGi Solar, the industry leader in manufacturing monocrystalline solar products used in many major solar panels in the photo voltaic (PV) industry, has become an established brand in the country in just four years.
LONGi has supplied the 100MW PV + 132MW wind hybrid project in Ilocos Norte, with another 80MW project expected to be completed in 2021.
Founded in 2000, LONGi is the fastest-growing PV module manufacturer. In 2020, LONGi has become the largest mono wafer and solar module manufacturer worldwide.
LONGi is the only solar panel producer rated AAA in PV ModuleTech Bankability Ratings.
***
3 Filipino startups selected by QBO
QBO Innovation Hub and Microsoft has announced the three startups selected to participate in the “AQELERATION: B2B Startups Disrupting Industries” program.
The startups are: Steer: A no-code operations digitalization platform that helps companies transform the way they do business; Mayani: An agri-ecommerce and supply chain platform that connects smallholder farmers to buyers; and Last Mile Incorporated: A shared logistics platform ecosystem that aims to solve the challenges for businesses that operate their own logistics operations and those who rely on third-party providers.
The three startups will receive intensive training, dedicated mentorship, a financial grant from QBO, and strategic support to ensure that they scale and grow faster. The 6-month program will start in September 2021 and run through February 2022 and is designed to empower B2B tech startups–currently the largest startup segment in the country–as part of QBO and Microsoft’s shared commitment to nurturing the greater Philippine startup community.
