Last March 20, Union Bank of the Philippines unveiled a free, innovative platform UnionBank GlobalLinker that helps micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
During the media launch, I got inspired to continue to put up a startup (hopefully this year) like what my friends in the industry who established Manila Workshops, Bayani Health, and Taxumo.
When I found out that it’s a free platform for MSMEs and also for those whose planning to have a startup and online business, it will be a great opportunity to collaborate with others. If you’re familiar with LinkedIn, the potential business partner or supplier will not add you, they can easily contact you using UnionBank GlobalLinker.
According to UnionBank Vice President and UnionBank GlobalLinker Lead Proponent Dino N. Velasco, “We are strongly committed to empowering MSMEs in the Philippines by providing business solutions and other opportunities that meet their needs. Now we are going a step further through UnionBank GlobalLinker, an innovative digital platform that helps entrepreneurs efficiently manage their businesses,” He added, “When MSMEs have access to this digital platform, it won’t be long before they find themselves in the global scene.”
Through UnionBank’s UREKA Forum—the Bank’s lead social responsibility project and the country’s biggest e-Commerce mass conversion program after activating 1,500 MSMEs into digital commerce, MSMEs have been given opportunities to learn from industry giants, jumpstart their digitization, and convert their brick-and-mortar business model into brick-and-click.
Using the Network feature, MSME owners can link with other business owners who may be their potential supplier, partner or customer. They may find providers of products and services that can help their business.\
Useful articles, news, and discussions on industry developments are posted on Biz Forum in which users to stay up to date and share insights with others. Discussions under the Biz Forum also provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to promote their own products and services.
For those who do have an e-commerce store, they have LINKER.store, entrepreneurs can build an online store which you can personalize your online store and it’s free. It also come with inventory management and data analysis tools, which can help make smarter data-driven decisions.
“Going online is the first major step for businesses to thrive on digital, but another thing that entrepreneurs should consider is the extent of efficiency that their tools deliver for them. That is why we made UnionBank GlobalLinker that single destination where they can be productive in the way they interact with colleagues and make use of online business solutions,” Velasco said.
When companies enroll in the platform, they get a storage service called eBriefcase where they can upload word files, spreadsheets, and slides. These files can be shared between users of the platform. Members can enjoy up to 1GB of free space while companies have an overall cap of 4GB.
UnionBank GlobalLinker also has a built-in calendar that helps users set meetings. The calendar lets users view the availability of their links and set recurring weekly or monthly meetings.
One of the great thing about UnionBank GlobalLiner is that entrepreneurs on the platform can also avail of special deals and offers that save time, money, and effort. The said services become available on negotiated terms and are packaged to meet business needs.
Aside from giving MSMEs access to all the innovative tools and functions for efficient business management and networking, the platform also serves as a gateway to UnionBank’s different business solutions that can help organizations manage their finances.
“The shift to digital technology is a challenge for MSMEs but through UnionBank GlobaLinker, we make them our partners in our pursuit of innovation. We look forward to seeing more MSMEs grow on UnionBank GlobalLinker and reach their full potential,” Velasco said.
Get to know more about UnionBank GlobalLinker, check out their website, and download the app via Google Play and App Store.