The Department of Trade of Industry (DTI) is gearing up digital transformation regarding the formulation and implementation of the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3s) for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the country. While MSME’s contribution to the Philippine economy is impressive, they were also the hardest hit during the pandemic as many businesses had been forced to close down. Nevertheless, one silver lining in this crisis is the Digital Transformation that we are experiencing now.
Digital transformation emerged, making our lives more accessible and more manageable. However, the MSMEs in our country still have very low technology utilization. They still need to adapt and embrace new technologies to remain competitive and accelerate business expansion in the global market. With this, the DTI is currently implementing programs to help MSMEs needing Digital Transformation during the new normal. They have partnered with the US-ASEAN Business Council and launched the ASEAN SME Academy. It is a one-stop-shop multiplatform online learning and information resource which aims to produce training and mentorship to enhance ASEAN SMEs’ capabilities to grow and compete regionally and globally. It aims at increasing innovative and globally competitive manufacturing, agriculture, and services while strengthening their linkages into domestic and global value chains with innovation at the core of the country’s strategic policies and programs. It embraces the MSMEs towards Industrial Revolution 4.0 and builds startup ecosystems.
Digital transformation may be gaining, but it does not intend to replace and destroy humans as they still have the ethical judgment on how things are. Therefore, though it may be inevitable for technology to take over soon, people are still the center of the Industry 4.0 transformation plans.AGPM