GOOGLE Philippines has offered to help increase the number of small businesses in the Philippines that have a website.

To do so, the company partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to link micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) to its online listing tool.

Yves Gonzales, Google Philippines government affairs and public policy head, told reporters on Wednesday that the company had trained 2,780 MSMEs in 20 cities and eight regions with digital tools since last year.

“The objective is really to help MSMEs digitize,” he said. “It’s a big opportunity for MSMEs to be able to be discoverable on (Google) search, on Maps.”

Google’s digital workshops and the use of its tools are free. Google My Business is the online listing tool that helps businesses create an online presence, including developing a free website. Primer is a mobile app that teaches business owners digital skills.

“The digital skilling program is through the DTI’s Negosyo Centers. The Negosyo Center is the one that actually invites the MSMEs to attend,” he said, adding that Google provides the trainers.

Mr. Gonzales said companies in city centers are more aware of digital tools.

“There’s a lot of opportunities in the more rural areas for us to be able to reach those MSMEs, to actually just inform them that there are available tools,” he said.

While the online listing and app are free, businesses pay for added features that boost searchability and target advertising. Google My Business does not feature transaction or e-commerce features.

“If an MSME wants to eventually graduate to some of Google’s additional tools and services na may bayad (that have cost), then that’s optional,” Mr. Gonzales said.

The project, he said, helps Google organize and present more information to users, including the list of available small restaurants in a given area.

“The consumer is changing nowadays. They’re more demanding,” he said. “The current consumers now have evolved so that they want [what they are searching for] instantaneously and they want it to be customized for them.”

DTI said in a statement that MSMEs employ 63% of the local workforce and generate 25% of the country’s revenue.

“We hope that our joint digital upskilling program will help MSMEs become more competitive,” DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said.

Google’s project to expand digital tools to MSMEs includes programs in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, among others. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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