Filipino startup Packworks partnered with Help.NGO to launch SariLink, providing reliable Starlink Internet to sari-sari stores in the Catanduanes to boost local entrepreneurship and close the digital divide.
Currently in its pilot run, the SariLink program involves installing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communication terminals in select micro-retail stores in the province, empowering small entrepreneurs in the far-flung areas of the island with online access.
Stores in Catanduanes can digitize their operations and process digital payments with up to 220 Mbps download and 80 Mbps upload. They can also access inventory management tools, pricing tools, sales and revenue tracking, and vital inventory financing services to grow their businesses.
SariLink program beneficiaries will be monitored for sales growth using Amazon Web Services (AWS) data analytics to provide optimal support for their business growth.
SariLink aims to overcome the unreliable internet access faced by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The World Bank’s report “Better Internet for All Filipinos” states that the Philippines lags behind neighboring SEA countries in terms of internet connectivity, citing affordability, speed, and access issues.
One of the beneficiaries of the SariLink program, Cynthia Icaonapo, reports that her business management has improved since joining. Her store, Nisos Variety Store, has experienced a 53% increase in transactions compared to the previous month.
“Before, we manually wrote down each customer’s purchases, and we only used mobile data, which was slow in our area. So, we are very grateful to have been connected to Starlink Internet because it has greatly simplified our daily transactions,” said Icaonapo.
The SariLink program runs a one-year pilot and seeks partners and funders to expand to other rural areas.
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