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TECHNOLOGY

Data, digitalization keys to stewarding sustainability in PH

December 11, 2022 9:32 p.m.

Nowadays, businesses and governments have been racing to achieve a sustainable, green, and digital economy and are driven to showcase their sustainability goals transparently. 

In the Philippines, for instance, the government further enhanced its efforts to build climate resilience among communities nationwide and address climate change to protect the environment, lives, and property. Last year, the country submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Secretariat the first nationally determined contribution (NDC), covering its planned reduction and avoidance of greenhouse gasses (GHG) of 75 percent, of which 2.72 percent is unconditional. This commitment covers the period 2020 to 2030 for the sectors of agriculture, waste, industry, transport, and energy. 

At the UN’s 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in November 2022, the Philippine government also vowed to support host country Egypt in its efforts to revitalize international consensus on the climate crisis. It also reiterated its call for climate justice and financial and technical support of developed countries for climate initiatives, particularly for developing nations.

Becoming stewards of sustainability

Meanwhile, in recent years, a growing number of organizations have been stepping up to help achieve a sustainable future by integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their strategic frameworks. In this year’s COP27, for instance, SAP (NYSE: SAP) pledged to support more policy transformation globally and help innovate sustainable businesses by reenergizing emerging economies to achieve a trillion-dollar greener impact and job generation.

A recent report by SAP and Oxford Economics also revealed that 66 percent of businesses in Asia do not think it is difficult to be sustainable and profitable at the same time. However, only eight percent say they receive significant value from their sustainability strategies today. 

This reality may have happened due to the disconnect between sustainability plans and actions for many organizations. While 60 percent of businesses have a communicated sustainability plan, only 20 percent have incentivized leaders based on their success. In addition, less than half (44 percent) say their employees are active participants in their sustainability efforts, with the highest in India at 52 percent, followed by Singapore at 51 percent and the lowest in Malaysia at 33 percent.  

“Businesses across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, believe that they can boost their earnings while protecting the environment. This reality is a positive indicator to continue pushing towards sustainability. However, organizations must refocus their strategies to realize the significant value and reap better and actual outcomes,” said Rudy Abrahams, Managing Director of SAP Philippines.

Regulatory compliance: A key sustainability driver and a challenge

In a recent media event held by SAP at its headquarters at the NAC Tower, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Abrahams was joined by Apple Evangelista, Head, Sustainability and Social Responsibility (SSR) of the Globe Group, and Henrik Batallones, Marketing and Communications Director of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), to discuss how organizations have been refocusing their strategies to ensure sustainability. 

“In the Philippines, organizations used to consider sustainability as a cost tied to regulatory compliance. But that perspective is changing. Sustainability is now seen as a strategic imperative to ensure that organizations not only provide better service to their customers but also help ensure a sustainable future,” said Batallones.

SCMAP is the premier supply chain industry organization in the country. Composed of the country’s major manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers, SCMAP moves the industry’s global competitiveness by engaging with stakeholders in the public and private sectors, advancing supply chain education on all levels and organizing events that provide a venue for supply chain professionals to connect.

Abrahams, meanwhile, noted that too much focus on compliance can sometimes hinder achievement of sustainability goals. Citing data from the SAP and Oxford Economics report, he said that organizations in the region consider compliance as the second biggest sustainability challenge (26 percent), only behind reinventing business strategy. This means that organizations in the country may need to refocus their strategies to achieve greater value and benefit from sustainability.

Investing in data, improving sustainability outcomes 

Key to improving sustainability outcomes will be the effective use of organizational data to make more informed decisions. For businesses in the Philippines, this remains a challenge as it takes time, especially for organizations like Globe, the Philippines’ top telco and digital solutions platform, which has various entities with different processes and reporting formats. 

To address this challenge, Globe has been utilizing SAP solutions with 70 percent of the company’s internal systems now run by SAP. With SAP solutions already in place across its business units globally, the company migrated to SAP S/4HANA to improve fragmented processes, manual workloads, inefficiencies, lack of insights, and delayed decision-making. 

Meanwhile, SAP Fiori apps helped enhance the user experience and access to insights. Enhanced visibility enables well-informed decision-making throughout the organization, and automation and fewer reconciliations in finance allow faster financial transaction processing, book closing, and error-free reporting.

Finance functions became integrated and efficient, providing real-time business insights, while IT security was strengthened with improved authorization controls and compliance. By facilitating these improvements, SAP S/4HANA proved to be a catalyst for change for Globe, helping it adapt to changes easily in its business environment.

“For us at Globe, sustainability is putting our purpose in action. By understanding what is material to us as a business and what matters to our stakeholders and our industry, we recognize how data-driven strategies play an integral role in guiding our sustainability practice,” Evangelista said.

Evangelista also emphasized the importance of responsible sustainability reporting, using it as a springboard for goals and target milestones in the coming years.

Abrahams could not agree more. He noted that businesses that are achieving value from sustainability are defined by traits such as setting clear expectations at the strategic level, applying the transformative power of technology and data management, and engaging with important audiences such as employees, supply chain partners and policymakers. 

Helping organizations in their sustainability journey

SAP, for instance, has been helping organizations in their sustainability journey enabled by data, from driving transparency for disclosure purposes,incorporating or optimizing their data to make more sustainable business processes and decisions, to scaling sustainable practices across industry business networks and value chains.

In line with its purpose to help the world run better and improve people’s lives, SAP also enables organizations to achieve zero waste, zero emissions, and zero inequality through a broad range of solutions. Since organizations now demand fast, reliable, and compliant standard regulatory reporting, and want to leverage insights for their internal sustainable business transformation, SAP ESG solutions portfolio provides a scalable and integrated reporting platform.   

Among its offerings are its most recently updated SAP Sustainability Control Tower (SCT) solution, which can help improve ESG transparency and sustainable business performance. SCT enables companies to record ESG factors with out-of-the-box integration with SAP systems for faster time to value and granular data visibility based on actual data, not averages.  

The solution also enables companies to report regulatory compliant ESG metrics covering common frameworks based on an open and extensible solution with the largest ESG ecosystem. And lastly, it allows business leaders to act and plan with actionable insights, forecasts and setting targets, track initiatives, and optimize business processes to make an impact. 

Visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @SAPNews.

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TECHNOLOGY

Pre-order vivo V50 Lite until April 25 to enjoy exclusive perks

1:30 p.m. April 18, 2025

There’s a new must-have phone in town and it’s Maine Mendoza-approved. Meet the all-new vivo V50 Lite with features that are perfect for go-getters, creatives, and trendsetters.

Whether you’re a heavy user or someone who’s always on the go like Maine, the massive 6500mAh BlueVolt battery will keep you powered all day. And when it’s finally time to recharge, vivo’s 90W FlashCharge ensures you’re back to full power in a flash. It’s no wonder this is Maine’s latest favorite!

But the vivo V50 Lite isn’t just about battery life. It’s built to impress from the inside out.

What makes the vivo V50 Lite a game-changer?

  • SGS Five-Star Drop Resistance – Engineered for durability so you can stay worry-free even during accidental drops.
  • IP65 Dust and Water Resistance – Ready for unpredictable weather and everyday mishaps.
  • 60-Month Smooth Experience – Enjoy reliable performance that lasts for five years.
  • AI SuperLink – Stay connected even in weak signal areas with this smart, always-on connectivity solution.
  • 50MP Sony IMX882 Camera with Aura Light – Capture vibrant, clear, and well-lit photos even in low light.
  • 120Hz Ultra Vision AMOLED Display – See and scroll with incredible clarity and smoothness.
  • Dual Stereo Speakers with up to 400% Volume – Experience rich, immersive audio whether you’re watching or listening.

Choose the right vibe for you

The vivo V50 Lite comes in three powerful variants to match your lifestyle:

  • 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM (4G) – Php 13,999
  • 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM (5G) – Php 16,999
  • 12GB RAM + 512GB ROM (5G) – Php 19,999

Until April 25, vivo fans who pre-order the V50 Lite will enjoy exclusive perks:

  • Php 1,000 Off
  • Limited Edition vivo Buds
  • vivo VIP Card with 5-year battery warranty and 6 months extended warranty

Visit any vivo store nationwide and secure your vivo V50 Lite today. Don’t miss out as this is your chance to own the phone that’s not only smart and stylish, but also Maine Mendoza’s top pick for 2025.

The vivo V50 Lite: power meets beauty. Pre-order yours now!

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TECHNOLOGY

Samsung unveils epic screens for the ultimate gaming experience

5:19 p.m. April 8, 2025

As the Philippine gaming community continues expanding rapidly, the urge for top-tier gaming displays has never been greater. Samsung stands at the forefront, unlocking a new phase of gaming for Filipinos through its Odyssey lineup that is set to take users beyond reality.

Samsung’s gaming monitors deliver unparalleled speed, precision, and immersion from the revolutionary glasses-free Odyssey 3D to the ultrawide Odyssey G9 and the industry-first 4K, 240Hz OLED G8. 

A New Dimension in Gaming with the Odyssey 3D

The 27-inch Odyssey 3D (G90XF model) monitor introduces a next-level 3D experience, without the need for special glasses. By combining advanced eye-tracking with a lenticular lens, it delivers vibrant, lifelike 3D visuals through Samsung’s Reality Hub app. 

Samsung has collaborated with top developers like Nexon (The First Berserker: Khazan) and Neowiz (Lies of P, Overture DLC) to ensure seamless 3D optimization. The built-in AI-powered 3D conversion enhances both gaming and video content, supported by a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms Gray-to-Gray (GtG) response time for fluid, responsive performance on its 4K screen. AMD FreeSync™ Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility eliminate choppiness and lag, even during fast-paced action.

For deeper immersion, Edge Lighting adapts to in-game visuals, illuminating the gaming space with synchronized ambient colors that amplify the 3D visuals and bring game environments to life. 

Stunning OLED Brilliance with the Odyssey OLED G8

Available in 27” and 32”, the Odyssey OLED G8 sets a new standard for gaming displays. It features the industry’s highest pixel density for a 27” display, paired with the world’s first 4K resolution monitor with 240Hz refresh rate, delivering unmatched fluidity and responsiveness. 

Its quantum dot technology and VESA DisplayHDR™ TrueBlack 400 ensure vivid colors and deep contrasts. Built for long-term durability, it features dynamic Cooling Safety and Samsung OLED Safeguard+ to prevent burn-in and ensure prolonged performance. 

Other standout features include AI image upscaling, customizable Core Lighting+, and a sleek metal design, making this monitor as stylish as it is functional. Glare-free technology, certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), reduces screen reflections, while the AI processor optimizes lower-resolution content for the full 4K experience.

Expanding Horizons with the Odyssey G9

With its expansive 49” Dual QHD curved display and Picture-in-Picture features, the Odyssey G9 (G91F model) is ideal for immersive gameplay and multitasking. The HDR10+ GAMING supports optimized brightness and color range for a dynamic picture. A 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro guarantee smooth, vibrant gameplay. The Odyssey G9 also streamlines gaming access with Auto Source Switch+, automatically detecting connected devices and displaying them as soon as they are powered on, making gaming setups more effortless.

Unleash Victory with your Next Phase of Gaming

The advanced features and seamless connectivity ensure Filipino gamers stay ahead in the rapidly evolving gaming landscape. Each movement is presented with accuracy, giving players a clear competitive advantage, because when it comes to gaming, second best is never an option.

Pre-order Samsung’s Odyssey monitors until April 19, 2025 and enjoy exclusive discounts and perks. Early bird customers receive PHP 3,000 worth of e-vouchers, along with special deals such as up to Php 27,600 on the 32” Odyssey OLED G8,  Php 19,800 off on the 49” Odyssey G9, and Php 45,850 off on the 27” Odyssey 3D. Elevate your gaming setup and seize the victory you’ve been striving for.

To know more about Samsung’s latest gaming technology, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/monitors/odyssey-gaming-monitor/.

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TECHNOLOGY

DigiPlus bags 7 wins at 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

3:56 p.m. April 4, 2025

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus), the pioneer in digital sports and entertainment in the Philippines and the company behind leading gaming brands such as BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, won seven honors –  including five coveted gold awards – at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. 

This milestone places DigiPlus among the most awarded companies in the region this year, spotlighting its strategic growth and transformative impact across digital entertainment, social development, and investor relations. 

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program that recognizes innovation across all 29 markets in the region. Widely regarded as the world’s premier business awards, the Stevie Awards represent a prestigious recognition of business excellence. 

DigiPlus bagged five Gold Stevies for ‘Innovative Achievement in Growth’, ‘Innovation in Investor Relations’, ‘Excellence in Social Impact Companies’, ‘Innovation in Annual Reports’, and ‘Innovation in Corporate Websites’. The company also clinched Silver and Bronze Stevies for ‘Achievement in Product Innovation’ and ‘Innovation in Brand Renovation’ respectively. 

At the core of these wins is DigiPlus’ commitment to innovation and digital transformation. From redefining the player experience through localized and immersive content, to launching a refreshed brand identity that resonates with a more connected and tech-savvy user base, DigiPlus has embraced a future-forward mindset. The company’s calculated investments in big data, cutting-edge technologies, and stakeholder engagement have not only fueled business growth, but also opened inclusive pathways to digital participation through its social development arm, BingoPlus Foundation. 

“This momentous victory at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards affirms DigiPlus’ emergence as a true powerhouse of innovation and progress, reshaping industry boundaries and redefining digital consumer engagement on a global scale,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco. “Through consistent growth and business performance, DigiPlus reaffirms its unwavering commitment to creating long-term value.”

Winning entries in the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards undergo a rigorous, multi-layered evaluation by an esteemed panel of judges composed of business and industry leaders across the region. “The 12th Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards received an impressive array of outstanding entries,” said Maggie Miller, President of the Stevie Awards. “This year’s winners have clearly shown their dedication to innovation, and we commend their resilience and imaginative efforts.”

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