By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Shoppedia and J&T Express on Monday (Oct. 21) formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which aims to redefine online shopping delivery in the Philippines held at the Privato Hotel.
The partnership between the two companies brings together Shoppedia’s commitment to providing a curated and authentic online marketplace with J&T Express’s extensive nationwide network and dedication to fast and reliable delivery.
It can be recalled that the Shoppedia concept was created on Sept. 1, 2023. In just six months, it reached 710,000 followers on the social media platform Facebook.
“This partnership is driven by our shared passion for customer satisfaction and a vision to elevate the e-commerce experience in the Philippines,” Neil G. La-as, Managing Director of Shoppedia, said during the press conference.
La-as said that Shoppedia’s dream is to deliver packages across the country safe and secured and shall be delivered on time.
“There’s no system that is perfect. There’s no technology that is perfect,” he said.
La-as said that the platform was built having its own regulatory body. “We don’t have to be regulated by the government,” saying that “I have already self-regulated myself.”
“Without self-regulation in the platform, everything can happen,” he said.
“We’ll be asking license to operate if you are a pharmacy,” he said, otherwise, we will be liable for allowing merchants not licensed by the government.
“We generate income through commission and soon with advertisements,” La-as said.
He stressed that they chose J&T as their partner as the latter covers 42,000 barangays nationwide, or almost 98 percent of the Philippine market.
“Nobody is perfect. No company ever existed that is perfect. Everybody commits mistakes,” La-as said.
“We will be part of the growing e-commerce in the Philippines. By 2024, we will be hitting US$25 billion. We will not only delivery in the Philippines. We will deliver wherever J&T is,” La-as said.
Maricris Timbreza is the Chief of Operations Management of Shoppedia.
Francis Balagtas, Chief of External Affairs of Shoppedia, said that Shoppedia’s dream is to deliver packages across the country safe and secured and shall be delivered on time.
Balagtas added that the reason why they partnered with J&T is due to the fact that because they provided them with lower rates.
“By leveraging J&T Express’s unparalleled reach and operational excellence, we can ensure that our customers receive their orders quickly and efficiently, no matter where they are in the country,” said Zoe Chi, representative of J&T Express.
“We are excited to partner with Shoppedia in this endeavor. This collaboration allows us to contribute to the growth of e-commerce in the Philippines by providing a seamless and reliable delivery experience for Shoppedia’ customers,” Chi added.
“I’m just here to secure the delivery of service,” she said.
Chi stressed that J&T Express and J&T Cargo are two different companies.
It was noted that J&T charges lower fees compared with other competitors in the industry.
The partnership is geared towards significantly enhancing the overall customer experience for Shoppedia users by focusing on:
–Delivery Speed: Leveraging J&T Express’s extensive network and optimized delivery routes to ensure faster delivery times.
–Reliability: Utilizing J&T Express’s robust tracking system and reliable delivery processes to minimize delays and ensure consistent service.
–Service Quality: Providing proactive communication and dedicated customer support channels to address any delivery-related inquiries or concerns.
–Innovation and Future Plans Shoppedia and J&T Express are exploring innovative solutions to further enhance the delivery experience, including:
–Integrated Tracking: Seamlessly integrating J&T Express’s tracking system into the Shoppedia platform for real-time order tracking.
–Flexible Delivery Options: Offering a wider range of delivery options, including same-day or next-day delivery in select areas.
–Optimized Logistics: Collaborating on optimizing logistics and warehouse operations to improve efficiency and reduce delivery times.
Both companies expressed their ambition to potentially expand their partnership to other regions in the future, contributing to the growth of e-commerce across Southeast Asia while the initial focus was on serving the Philippine market.
The strategic alliance between Shoppedia and J&T Express marked a significant step towards creating a more seamless, efficient, and customer-centric e-commerce ecosystem in the Philippines.
Both companies are poised to redefine the online shopping experience for Filipino consumers with a shared commitment to innovation and service excellence.
