DTI lauds the success of the first ever Pinoy Cyber Sale (PCS) held last November 27 to 30, where over 20 e-commerce leaders and players participated to provide a full online shopping experience to the public. Participating merchants’ PCS offers were available on www.pinoycybersale.com and on their respective websites.
Majority of the PCS participants were from the retail, travel, and services industries, most of whom reported significant upturns in profit and web traffic. These were fueled by the product/service discounts, as well as massive product promotions offered by these e-commerce players during the period.
E-Commerce advocate Janette Toral revealed that, “While the event garnered weighty increases from a business standpoint, there is much opportunity to fully maximize the advantages of the concept/event through advanced preparation and extensive promotion.” Lazada’s Mila Jimenez emphasized that, “sustaining communication across platforms must also be highlighted.”
With the apparent success of the PCS, the group is set to make this an annual event every November and take advantage of every Juan and Juana’s inclination and ability to shop. Preparatory activities for the PCS 2016 will be held in March and communications strategies will be devised to ensure sustainability.
The country is expected to fully accelerate on infusing e-commerce as a tool in globalizing SMEs, which aligns with DTI’s and APEC’s thrust of integrating SMEs into global value chains. “The tremendous growth of digital, specifically through mobile devices, is creating new opportunities for the Philippines: from customers, to e-commerce companies, to traditional brands,” Zalora’s Tolian Gjika cited.
The Pinoy Cyber Sale was launched in partnership with DTI, Dragonpay, Hellopay, and the Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines (DCOM), and co-presented by Globe Telecom. Merchants included Lazada, Zalora, Foodpanda, Ensogo, Shopee, Goods, Xend Business Solutions, Shopinas, Weemall, AVA.ph, Reloved, Island Rose, Azalea Residences, Best Western Antel, Ellana Minerals, Mimaropa Ventures, One Network E-Commerce, Shopback, and Takatack. With the success of the first run of the Pinoy Cyber Sale, it is poised to become an annual online shopping event in the Philippines, akin to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales in the U.S. and MY Cyber Sale in Malaysia, among others.