Rahul Shinghal, General Manager, PayPal Southeast Asia
Global digital payments service provider PayPal has launched the PayPal Business App and the PayPal Freelancer Community Program to enable merchants and freelancers to advance in the Philippines’ increasingly mobile and digital economic environment.
Freelancers make up a significant portion in the Philippines, with the local Department of Information and Communication Technology pegging the number of freelancers at about 1.5 million. The country has become a hotbed for freelance work because of its enormous talent pool, technology-savvy demographic, and an upbeat business community. Leveraging the three-point strategic framework set by ASEAN, PayPal’s new offerings will help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale up their businesses and services through increasing their access to the 3Ms: Money, Markets and Mentorship.
PayPal helps its Filipino merchant subscribers gain access to a wide network of 210 million active users from more than 200 markets around the world. The new business app and the freelancer program is PayPal’s answer to help achieve the goals for Money and Mentoring, respectively.
“PayPal has always been supportive of freelancers and MSMEs in Southeast Asia, ensuring that our customers get the best tools to move and manage their money seamlessly as they take charge of their cross-border businesses. The launch of the PayPal Business App is testament to that,” said Rahul Shinghal, General Manager, PayPal Southeast Asia. “As the ASEAN integration spotlights entrepreneurs, we are doing our own part in empowering the community by providing new services and programs that could accelerate their opportunities in line with ASEAN’s Money, Markets and Mentorship framework.”
PayPal Business App and PayPal.Me for Business
The PayPal Business App is a mobile application that offers merchants an easy way to manage their PayPal transactions wherever business takes them. Launched first in the Philippines amongst other Asian countries, the PayPal Business App allows merchants to review transactions, check balances in all currencies, send customized invoice to clients, track unpaid accounts and streamline their communications with clients at any time and place. It is the perfect business tool for busy freelancers, allowing them to check and make their transactions while on the go.
Interested users can simply download the app in the Android and Apple stores and sign up through their existing PayPal Business accounts.
Freelancers and MSMEs who are conducting their businesses on the go can also choose to use PayPal.Me for Business to get paid online. PayPal.Me for Business is a personalized unique link that sellers and freelancers can send to their customers. The link is instant and can be sent from any device on any platforms including text message, e-mail, instant messenger and social media platforms.
PayPal Freelancer Community Program
From selling and upgrading skills, to managing clients and money, the PayPal Freelancer Community Program themed “Take Control of Your Freelance Money” is proactively educating Filipino freelancers to help them grow their business.
PayPal has tapped the country’s top freelance experts to educate and mentor budding freelancers and solopreneurs to expand their reach, better manage their finances and build strong client relationships. Technology whiz and blogger Abe Olandres, personal branding guru Liz Lanuza, serial entrepreneur Ginger Arboleda, and finance expert Fitz Villafuerte will lead the campaign. Through the program, PayPal will roll out a series of activities freelancers can be a part of:
- PayPal Philippines Facebook page – PayPal’s first dedicated online space for freelancers to exchange ideas and gain insights from experts.
- PayPal Summit – the campaign’s kick-off event, hosting freelancers to share best practices and spark dialogue on digital payments, business technology trends and personal branding.
- Freelancer Learning Workshops – a collaboration with co-working spaces to provide closer interaction with freelancers as they discuss a spectrum of thematic topics on business and client servicing.
“We are establishing our first-ever Freelancer Community Program in the Philippines because it is one of the world’s most dynamic markets for freelancers and solopreneurs,” said Leanne Sheraton, Vice President of Marketing for PayPal Asia Pacific. “PayPal has been enabling Filipino freelancers to get paid easily, and provide them with more convenient options to access their funds. We know from our research and insights that freelancers also want opportunities to upskill and be connected, which is why PayPal is expanding beyond offering payment solutions to provide community engagement and business amplification opportunities for our freelancer customers. The Freelancer Community Program will connect established freelancers with their peers to provide mentorship and the guidance they need to navigate in this environment.”
