MANILA, Philippines – Many of today’s MSMEs are born from a passion: a recipe that’s been passed down for generations, a love of coffee and pastries, or a vision to showcase local fashion and design to the global stage. But turning that passion into a sustainable business is another thing on its own. Day-to-day challenges like managing orders and keeping payments on track can be overwhelming.
As businesses grow, so does the need for better tools. While there’s no shortage of tech in the market, many MSMEs often steer away due to cost and complexity. However, when presented with the opportunity to use solutions from GCash for Business, more business owners are discovering the advantages of adopting new tech innovations — especially when it comes to payments.
One innovation is GCash SoundPay. This device provides instant voice confirmation for every successful QR payment made. It’s easy to carry, affordable, and simple to use – requiring only a fully verified GCash account of at least 12 months to get started.
For Nikko Mendoza of Smthn Smthn Cafe in Davao, Michael Chan of Mom Rose Chicken Lechon in Bacolod, and Emgee Po of Get Spotted in Bacolod, embracing digital tools has helped them grow their brands while allowing them to enter a new era of ease.
Here’s what they’ve learned:
1. Faster checkouts make everyday transactions feel hassle-free – Michael Chan, Mom Rose Chicken Lechon
Mom Rose Chicken Lechon was born from both necessity and memory. When the pandemic shut down their carinderia in 2021, the Chan family shifted to making their signature Spicy Chicken Lechon, a dish inspired by their late mother, Rosemarie.
To this day, the business honors her wish for “a happy family,” and GCash SoundPay helps them keep that promise by ensuring this joy extends to their customers by making everyday payments stress-free.
“Most of our customers prefer GCash now. With GCash SoundPay, payments are faster and more reliable, so we can focus on serving food that makes people happy,” Michael shares.
In store, each team member carries their own GCash SoundPay device, worn with a lanyard and ready to use. This allows them to accept and confirm payments anytime, anywhere. No need for long waiting lines and just one payment acceptance device at the counter. Because of the real-time audio alerts, transactions move quicker, and the team can focus fully on serving their customers more efficiently.
2. Tech is a driver of growth. – Emgee Po, EMGEE by Get Spotted
A thesis project in 2011, EMGEE by Get Spotted is a local fashion brand from Bacolod that is now making waves internationally. Its founder, Emgee Po, partners with Negros weavers and Angono seamstresses to create one-off designs that are proudly Filipino. From a mall location in Ayala Malls Capitol Central to pop-ups in Paris and soon New York, EMGEE continues to expand its reach.
GCash played a role in how Emgee connected with customers. She first used her personal GCash account for payments, where cashless transactions made it easier to keep up with multiple customers paying at the same time.
“Most [of] our sales for the shop would be [through] credit cards and GCash. It’s very easy and it’s very convenient [to go cashless],” Emgee shares. But as the business grew, the confusion of mixing personal and business transactions and manually checking her phones to confirm payments started becoming a challenge.
That’s why she moved to GCash for Business. With GCash for Business, she now has everything to confidently grow her business such as an easy-to-use business wallet, no limits, no transaction fees. Now, there’s no more mixing personal and business payments.
3. Businesses benefit from an easy-to-use platform – Nikko Mendoza, Smthn Smthn Cafe
What started as seasonal pastries grew into a full-fledged garden café in 2024. Since day one, Smthn Smthn Cafe in Davao has accepted GCash payments to serve its customers better. But as the café expanded, owner Nikko Mendoza realized he needed more than just a way to receive payments.
With the new GCash for Business Portal, businesses get access to an easy-to-use platform to track and manage all online transactions in one place. It includes a simple, , easy-to-use payments tracker and management system, no wallet limit when receiving cashless payments from customers, and no transaction fees when paying suppliers through GCash. Additionally, the portal allows merchants to pay their suppliers directly through bank transfer or even to their GCash accounts with no fees, reducing the need to use multiple platforms and pay multiple fees.
For Nikko and his team, utilizing a system like the GCash for Business Portal means more time to focus on running the café, and less time worrying about payment limits, fees, or keeping track of scattered transactions.
Tech Made for Business’ Easy Era
From Manila to Bacolod to Davao, these small business owners show how digital solutions are helping them experience ease everyday in their operations. With GCash SoundPay and an upcoming new device that enables merchants to accept credit card payments through their phone, GCash for Business continues to provide MSMEs a selection of tools tailored to their specific needs per industry.
Utilizing these solutions also comes with a dedicated business account in the new GCash for Business Portal, providing a dedicated dashboard where business owners can order devices and manage their business transactions in a simple, easy-to-use business portal with no limits and no fees.
Learn more about how GCash for Business can empower your business and sign up today with just a GCash verified account of at least 12 months.
