In a survey conducted by Epson, the leading printing solutions provider, 8 out 10 of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines see digital technology adoption as the way to improve business processing and customer experience. As more and more people interact with their gadgets, such as phones, tablets, and laptops, the use of digital devices to improve one’s business has become more relevant than ever. Epson also reported that half of its respondents are at the very early stages of digital transformation.
The SMEs striving for Digital Transformation amidst many hurdles survey gathered 800 SME decision-makers in the six largest Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries by GDP, with the Philippines accounting to 154 respondents.
“This survey highlights the tremendous interest that SMEs in the Philippines have in using technology to improve business functions, especially in areas impacting the customer,” said Eduardo Bonoan, Epson Philippines General Manager for Marketing. “Although SMEs in the country have generally begun to adopt digital technologies, more work is needed to help and encourage these companies to extend digital technologies further beyond customer-facing areas of the business.”
More from the survey, the country’s SMEs cited that the two most challenging parts of adopting digital solutions are “upfront cost of new tools and technology” and the difficult perception of replacing old processes and systems.
“In order for digital transformation to reach maturity in the Philippines, SMEs need greater awareness of the total cost of ownership beyond the initial investment,” said Bonoan. “With access to information and industry support, SMEs can overcome the perception that deploying new technology is beyond them.”
About 56% of the respondents are already benefitting from the digital transformation, with another 51% noting that their organizations have been outpacing their regional counterparts in decision-making. But among the respondents, a very high 76% consider the impact on the environment when choosing a printing solution.
“We are committed to sustainability and showcasing innovations that help customers reduce their impact on the environment, such as heat-free printing solutions, and support SMEs with solutions that meet their business and productivity needs,” said Bonoan.
