Digital Sign Up Now 2022 kicks off

TRANSFORMATION Go Negosyo founder Jose Ma. ‘Joey’ Concepcion 3rd with the attendees to the Digital Sign Up Now 2022, which kicked off on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 

THE year’s biggest digital transformation event aimed at encouraging micro, small and medium enterprises to embrace digital transformation kicked off on Monday, bringing together the two growth drivers in the country’s economic development: MSMEs and digital technology.

Organized by Go Negosyo together with the US Embassy in the Philippines, the Digital Sign Up Now 2022 highlighted efforts to accelerate the digital transformation of MSMEs en route to the post-pandemic era.

“They were the ones who benefited immensely from the e-wallets, the delivery apps and social media, which allowed them to compete alongside the big players,” Go Negosyo founder Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion 3rd said at the opening of the event.

“The coming together of these two drivers of growth will redound to so many benefits down the line,” he added.

The former presidential adviser for entrepreneurship said that MSMEs account for almost all enterprises in the Philippines and generate as much as 65 percent of jobs. Moreover, the Philippines has been cited as the area with the fastest growth in digital consumers, according to the 2021 report “e-Conomy SEA” by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.

“With hope, during the Digital Sign Up 2022, we will teach MSMEs how to use digital technology to make their operations efficient, reduce their costs and expand their markets,” Concepcion said.

Digital Sign Up Now 2022 is designed as a free learning platform for MSMEs where they can learn from the experiences and best practices of other entrepreneurs who have successfully transformed their businesses using digital platforms. It will also introduce attendees to possible business collaborations with the different digital platforms now in the country, as well as impart knowledge from professionals specializing in creative services, brand imaging, fintech as well as cybersecurity.

Attendees were given the opportunity to choose and learn from 11 30-minute sessions. They also received one-on-one mentorship from big-brother companies and digital experts.

The Digital Sign Up Now 2022 was participated in by MSMEs, founders of digital startups, key executives from leading digital technology companies and incubators, experts in the creative industry, innovation experts, incubators, and startups, as well as young professionals and students in the field of digital technology.