PLDT launches new product for retailers

Telecommunications leader Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has launched a new product called Shops.work in order to address the data communications needs of multi-branch retailers by making real-time data communications affordable.

PLDT senior vice-president Ernesto R. Alberto said the main reason why most retailers balk at the idea of implementing a real-time sales and inventory monitoring system in their operations is the huge cost involved.

"We are very proud to say that we have addressed this problem with Shops.work, a new addition to our PLDT Business Solutions brand. With Shops.work, we offer cutting-edge technologies, the widest network coverage, unsurpassed reliability, and the best pricing there is in the market," Alberto said.

Shops.work is the first networking solution in the country designed for retailers. This solution links all the stores or shops of a particular company, enabling it to electronically manage business transactions. This is made possible with the use of various PLDT managed networking and managed access products such as Brains IP VPN (Broad and Robust ATM and IP networking solutions-Internet protocol, virtual private network), RAS (remote access service), DSL (digital subscriber line), etc.

While most retail companies such as those in the fashion industry and fast food industry have software solutions for their sales and inventory systems, their data transmission procedures are not real-time.

PLDT vice-president for business solutions Nerissa Ramos said the usual ways of sales reporting-such as by phone, dial-up access, fax, and ISP access may not be enough for the needs of today’s retailers.

"Many still use the old diskette, fax, dial-up, or phone call procedures for sales reporting. However, these procedures are prone to errors and may even be too slow for catching up with competitors," Ramos said.

Unlike voice, ordinary dial-up, fax, and ISP access, Shops.work guarantees secure, scalable, and fast connections. It also eliminates toll charges and provides a single access for sites nationwide.

For his part, Joselito S. Limjap, PLDT category head for corporate product development and demand planning, said the response of PRA members and visitors to Shops.work was very encouraging.

"Retailers are now beginning to realize that affordable real-time data communications is possible. PLDT is glad that in a way the company has opened windows of opportunity for them on how to use technology to improve their business. Shops.work will definitely change the way they operate and help them become more globally competitive," Limjap explained. – Mary Ann Reyes