In order to boost the country’s small and medium enterprises, PLDT SME Nation, through ePLDT subsidiary IPC, an Internet data center and cloud services company, is now providing Google Apps for Work to Philippine businesses.
Google Apps for Work is a collaboration suite packed with tools that allow co-workers to effectively work together wherever they are. The applications are categorized according to functionality—Communicate, Collaborate, Manage, and Store.
Under Communicate, featured applications include Gmail, Hangouts, Calendar and Google+. For Collaborate, applications included are Sheets, Forms, Docs, Slides and Sites. For Storage, SMEs can take advantage of Google Drive, and for Management purposes, Google Admin and Vault.
“When it comes to web-based products and applications, Google is known for reliability and innovation,” said PLDT First vice president and head of SME business Kat Luna-Abelarde. “We look forward to being able to offer their industry-leading products and applications to our local SMEs. With IPC and PLDT, SMEs can be assured of reliable and 24/7 customer support together with Google’s best-in-class products.”
The web-based Google Apps for Work promises SMEs reduced operational costs, maintenance fees, and capital investments. It also allows them to establish their own brand, complete with an integrated domain name in the email address courtesy of Google’s network. The collaboration suite can also help co-workers coordinate and communicate even outside the office using Google Hangouts, Google Sheets, or Google Docs.
Additionally, Google Apps for Work’s Admin and Vault applications can be used to enhance data security and management of sensitive information. In cases of employee turnover, Vault can be used to manage, retain, search, and export email and on-the-record conversations.
Abelarde added, “Google Apps for Work is a convenient and cost-efficient way to harness the benefits of today’s rapidly advancing technology. With our reliable and powerful network infrastructures, SMEs can overcome the barriers that eventually lead to low productivity.”
Two Google packages are currently available—the basic Google Apps for Work at USD 50 annually per user, and Google Drive for Work at USD 120 annually per user, which has all the inclusions of Google Apps for Work but with unlimited cloud storage. Both packages come with mobility devices, such as tablets and pocket Wi-Fi routers, as add-ons. PLDT subscribers also have the advantage of being able to upgrade to hardware and connectivity bundles to supplement work place tools.
To find out more about Google Apps for Work, log on to ipc.ph.
Pictured above: Google Philippines country manager Ken Lingan talks about digital solutions for small businesses during the launch of PLDT SME Nation’s Small Business Month.