“Padalapit” na ang pagpapadala with Smart Padala!
JJ Deomano, Product Marketing Manager for domestic remittance
Earlier this week, Smart announced a new service, which basically gives Filipino consumers more options to send and receive money. Smart Padala is Smart’s ingenious foray to domestic remittance in the Philippines. The new remittance solution does not just allow people to receive and send money; it also opens up vast livelihood opportunities to more Filipinos by becoming a Smart Padala agent.
As a remittance solution, the process is very simple. The send just needs to fill out the transaction slip, including the recipient’s mobile phone number along with a fee (2.5% of the amount to be sent) and proof of identification to the Smart Padala Agent. Once sent, the recipient will receive a text notification with the reference number of the Smart Padala pickup Anywhere transaction. That Reference number, along with a valid ID and one-time-verification PIN, are keys to effectively and securely receive money.
Logistically, Smart is very capable of servicing the Filipinos; currently the company has over 15 agents/centers nationwide, which is more than touch points than ATMs, bank branches and pawnshops in the country combined. In fact, this new service also opens up a new way for entrepreneurs to securely receive money/payments from clients.
(Left to right) Ethel Ines, Brand Manager for Smart Padala, Lawrence Ferrer, Vice President for Smart eMoney, Inc., JJ Deomano, Product Marketing Manager for domestic remittance.
[su_spoiler title=”Did you know?” open=”yes” style=”simple”]Based on data from the first National Baseline Survey on Financial Inclusion released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas this year, it takes Filipinos an average of 22 minutes to reach the nearest financial services provider. In terms of cost, the average roundtrip fare to reach a financial access point is PhP 43.[/su_spoiler]
Lawrence Ferrer, Vice President for Smart eMoney, Inc
According to Lawrence Ferrer, Vice President at Smart eMoney, Inc. (SMI), ““When you’re sending money to someone who needs it, you want to ensure that they can receive it immediately and conveniently. By enhancing our Smart Padala service with PickUp Anywhere, we are enabling millions of more Filipinos to experience the benefits of financial technology when they need it the most, wherever they may be.” Ferrer also added that Filipinos will see Smart Padala Pickup Anywhere’s hyperlocality as an added convenience and a “tangible way to help improve the standard of living for millions of Filipinos.”
[su_spoiler title=”BSP’s Data say…” open=”yes” style=”simple”]44% of Filipino adults had remittance transactions in the past six months and for those on the sending side, 91% sent to their families while 6% sent to their friends. On the other hand, for those who received remittances, 90% received from their families while 7% received from friends. Top line items for purposes of remittances received is for food (71%), education (39%), medical expenses (28%) and emergencies (22%).[/su_spoiler]
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
