Category: Marketing

As an E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, Payo wants to make sure that merchants can easily reach their customers. And we don’t just mean customers in Metro Manila; we want our merchants to connect with customers across the country as well! That’s why we’ve put up multiple provincial hubs in different key cities –  hubs that are just as important as our main office in Makati. 

To know more about how each hub operates, we sat down with Hub Managers Liezl Amante, Odessa Reboquio, and Wesley Ramos. They lead Payo’s hubs in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and Pampanga, respectively. 

Read on to learn about their day to day experiences, favorite Payo moments, and hopes for the company’s future!

1. Please tell us a little about your journey with Payo. What year did you start working at the company, and how were your first few months?

Liezl: I joined Payo last year. It was a hard decision on my part since I was at my previous company for 12 years. I considered it as a gamble at first because I wasn’t sure of what was ahead of me. 

My first month was challenging in terms of shipment volumes, and I honestly felt discouraged at first. However, the feeling didn’t last long because of my very supportive colleagues. Plus, once we started working with more merchants, I began enjoying my work more and slowly discovered the beauty of the E-commerce industry. 

Odessa: I started working at Payo in 2019, and I was actually the one who set up our office and our warehouse here in Cebu. This ranged from processing all our licenses and permits to looking for third-party logistics that could serve our merchants and customers. My first three months at Payo were quite challenging, but things got better once we became fully operational. 

Wesley: I was hired in 2018 as a Data Encoder. I trained for a couple of weeks to get familiar with Payo’s workflow and processes. During that time, I was traveling everyday from my hometown Pampanga to Makati and vice versa. This was because I didn’t have a place in Manila. Once I settled in and learned the flow of Payo’s work processes, an opportunity to work in Pampanga came. That’s how I became Payo’s Hub Manager in the north.

2. What made you interested in working for an E-commerce enabler?

Liezl: I really like online shopping, and before I even dreamt of becoming an online seller. That’s why I’m interested in how things work in E-commerce — from packing to delivery. Plus, I do believe that the E-commerce industry is very promising. 

Odessa: Because the E-commerce industry has evolved through the years, the demand for E-commerce enablers has also increased. When I was invited to apply for Payo’s opening in Cebu, I saw it as an opportunity and decided to be a part of this ever-expanding landscape.

3. What does a usual day of work look like for you?

Odessa: Very fulfilling, especially when we deliver quick solutions to address customer issues or concerns. That’s why we provide high-quality service – to ensure that customer satisfaction is achieved.

Wesley: Back then, a usual day for me at Payo would be encoding data, creating reports, and whatnot. Now it’s really different. I do more tasks related to managing inventory, checking warehouse processes, and overseeing transactions. 

4. How do you coordinate with Payo’s main hub in Manila, as well as the other hubs across the country?

Liezl: The platforms that we usually use for coordination are Slack, Viber, and Gmail. 

Odessa: We pay special attention to staying connected. We ensure proper communication and make sure that all of the hubs are aligned. We do this by having weekly meetings and actively using different platforms like Slack, Viber, and Gmail. 

Wesley: Coordination with Payo’s main office and other hubs was never really a problem. We usually communicate through multiple messaging apps and email.

5. What’s something that you think is unique to your hub?

Liezl: I must say that our hub is small but terrible! We do our best to serve all our merchants, and we consider all of them as our precious gems. Plus, we handle all the products that are stored in our hub with as much care as possible.

Wesley: What I think is unique about all of Payo’s hubs is the accessibility they provide to our partners. Another thing is our capacity to grow and adapt to the needs of both merchants and customers.

6. What’s your favorite part about working at Payo?

Liezl: The working environment. I have the best team and the kindest colleagues. Everyone is easy to work with, and I can say that we are able to face any challenge with grace. I feel like I found my place in the company in just a short span of time.

Odessa: We treat each other like family, and the management always takes care of its people.  With regards to work, there is collaboration and teamwork among all departments, which helps improve our productivity and creates better results at the end.

Wesley: My favorite part about working with Payo is being given opportunities to learn and grow. From starting as an Encoder to now being a Hub Manager, I am proof that you can really grow with Payo.

7. How does your work contribute to making E-commerce simple, which is Payo’s goal?

Liezl: Merchant and customer satisfaction are our top priorities. We make E-commerce simple and easy by giving quality service at all times, and making sure that we address the needs of both merchants and customers. 

Odessa: Some issues need quick-fix solutions, so I always make sure to attend to any concern as quickly as possible. I also make sure that things are managed properly, and that solutions to our merchants’ problems are always available.

Wesley: As a hub in Central Luzon, we help merchants simplify their processes by taking care of package pick-up, warehousing, and delivery. Ultimately, Payo eases their troubles when it comes to logistics.

8. What’s one thing you want to achieve with Payo this 2022?

Liezl: I hope Payo continues to grow and work with more merchants. I also hope that Payo becomes more established not just in the Philippines, but also worldwide. I believe in Payo, and that we can all grow together!

Odessa: For this year, I want to increase the Cebu hub’s sales and continue to contribute to the growth of Payo.

Wesley: If there’s one thing that I really want to achieve this 2022, it’s more growth for our Pampanga hub. Additionally, I hope we get more opportunities to display its full potential, whether that’s in Warehousing, Pickup and Delivery, or Merchant and Customer Support. 

Curious about how Payo, an E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, can help your business? Check out our website for more information, or sign up with us today! 

Payo wasn’t always the E-commerce enabler in the Philippines that it is today. The company actually started out as an online store, one that sold religious items all the way from Israel. Eventually, the company transitioned into a CoD gateway, and then into a solutions provider for E-commerce.

One of the employees that was there for all these transitions is Jhoy Villagonzalo, our Same-day Logistics Lead. In fact, she was Payo’s first ever employee! Learn about her experience through the years, as well as her favorite memories with Payo. 

1. Please tell us a little about your journey with Payo. What year did you start working in the company, and how were your first few months? 

I started working for our CEO, Liron Gross, back in 2014. It was under a different company then, and I started as a Sales Agent. By 2015, I became the Customer Service Manager. Come 2017, the company was renamed to SOW Philippines Fulfillment Inc., better known as Payo, and transitioned from an online store to a CoD gateway. 

I started as a Last Mile Officer in Payo, where I handled the remittances from third-party logistics on a daily basis. I was also in charge of updating our system’s remittances, courier fees, and claims once they were validated by the Finance team.

I’m now the Same-day Logistics Lead, meaning my team and I are responsible for all Same-day deliveries. We always strive to provide excellent service to each merchant from the moment their orders come in to the moment they’re delivered. We also make sure that all their concerns and queries are addressed as efficiently and as soon as possible. This is important especially because Same-day deliveries are time-bound. 

2. What was it like being the company’s first employee? 

I felt privileged and honored to be part of an amazing company, especially as it grew. I was able to test myself and my capabilities when it came to doing work in an industry that was new to me. Payo gave me the chance to explore and maximize my potential, and everyone has been supportive since day one.

I am grateful that our CEO and Co-founder Liron Gross gave me the opportunity to be part of her company and share my ideas and talents here. 

3. How have things changed between your first year in Payo and now? 

A lot has changed, especially within myself. Through the years,  I saw that I slowly became more professional, patient, confident, and eager to learn about the E-commerce industry.

4. What are some ways that the company grew or evolved? 

We used to do a lot of manual processes. One example of this is how we used to manually choose which orders were for Standard Delivery, and which ones were for Same-day Delivery. Now, our online system can easily identify which is which. We’ve leveraged tech and automation to make sure things are faster and easier. 

The company has also become more well-known with local and international online merchants, especially when it comes to providing the best E-commerce services.

5. Which of Payo’s company events do you look forward to every year? Why? 

I always look forward to our team building events. It’s nice to just interact and bond with all the Payo employees from different departments. We always have a lot of fun. 

6. Can you share one of your favorite Payo memories?

I have a lot of favorite memories related to our annual year-end Christmas parties. This is because everyone is excited to participate, and everyone does their best to make the event successful and fun. 

7. How does your work contribute to making E-commerce simple, which is Payo’s goal? 

We offer premium services to merchants who want to provide same-day deliveries in Metro Manila.  We make it a point to monitor all these deliveries from pick-up to delivery, so that we can make sure that our merchants’ customers are happy. Ultimately, we lessen the burdens of our merchants by providing excellent service. 

8. What’s one thing you want to achieve with Payo this 2022? 

I want Payo to find even more success, and I want to hopefully still be a part of that success.

Curious about how Payo, an E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, can help your business? Check out our website for more information, or sign up with us today! 

As one of the leading E-commerce enablers in the Philippines, Payo has always strived to make E-commerce simple for merchants and their customers. That’s why it has continuously evolved over the years, from starting as a CoD payment gateway to now being an established holistic solutions provider. 

This growth is only possible through the dedication and commitment of Payo’s team, which is why we’re launching our very own Payo Feature series! This is where we put the spotlight on our team members and ask them to share how their stay at Payo has been.

For the series’ first feature, we had the opportunity to talk to June Cloma, Payo’s new Managing Director. 

1. Please tell us about how your journey with Payo started. How was your first few months like?

I’ve been with Payo for a year and a half now, and the first few months were admittedly quite challenging. I had to adjust to a new job while the pandemic was at its peak. We had very tight lockdowns, and several businesses were closing down. 

As Payo’s Chief Operating Officer, I had to get things rolling fast in order to hit our targets. It took some time at the beginning, but with our goals in mind and a few adjustments in the process, things started to move according to plan. Eventually, we were able to complete our projects on time. Overall, the start of my Payo journey was both a challenging and rewarding experience.

2. What does a usual day at work look like for you?

I first make myself a cup of coffee to get my morning dose of caffeine. I then make it a point to answer messages and emails. After that, I’ll go over and check some reports. I also attend the meetings I have throughout the day, and I dedicate time to make sure that everything is going smoothly with my team’s operational activities. This is more or less what I do everyday. 

3. You recently got promoted to Payo’s Managing Director. How has that been for you?

It’s exciting and challenging at the same time. I’ve been handling operations for a long time now, and it’s been my comfort zone. This time around, I get to collaborate with other functional areas of the business and have more of an impact in shaping the company’s future and growth, so it’s a big responsibility. But I’m very grateful to have this opportunity. 

4. How do you overcome challenges as the company’s Managing Director?

It all boils down to not giving up no matter how challenging things get, and knowing that there’s always a solution. Another thing that keeps me going is knowing that the work I do contributes to the common good. E-commerce truly is the future, and presents huge advantages for Filipino consumers. The more we work toward Payo’s goals, the more inclusive E-commerce becomes, meaning more of our fellow kababayans will benefit from it.

5. How does working amid a pandemic affect you? 

It was tough at first, but after a while I eventually adjusted to working in this setup. I actually work on-site if possible because I feel more productive, and there’s nothing like being at the Payo office. Though I do understand that others prefer to work from home.

I think it’s important to strike a balance between working from home and working on-site once the situation permits it. By adapting to this new normal way of working, we can continue being productive. 

6. What is your favorite part about working at one of the Philippines’ leading E-commerce enablers?

Aside from knowing that what I do contributes to driving E-commerce in the country, my favorite part is working with the amazing people in the company. 

7. How does your work contribute to making E-commerce simple, which is Payo’s main goal?

My designation lets me work with shareholders and set the direction our company must take to achieve our objectives. It’s also important that I oversee how our initiatives will be executed.

There are a lot of opportunities to make the end-to-end process of E-commerce simpler, whether it’s in Warehousing, Last Mile Management, or Customer Support. That’s why we focus on finding key solutions to the problems that merchants and customers encounter.

8. What’s one goal that you want to achieve with Payo this 2022? 

I’m excited to expand Payo’s operations so that we can serve more merchants and customers this year. 

Curious about how Payo, an E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, can help your business? Check out our website for more information, or sign up with us today! 

2021 was, more than anything, a year of big change. This was evident in global and local events, the E-commerce industry, and our very own company – Payo. 

As the leading E-commerce enabler in the Philippines, we adapted and changed with the times. We found ways to turn challenges into opportunities, especially when it came to helping our merchants. To better illustrate the different ways our company evolved this year, we asked our CEO and six other Payo team members to share their thoughts on 2021 as a whole.

2021 in a nutshell

When it comes to how the E-commerce industry has grown, Payo CEO Liron Gross shared that online shopping transitioned from being an option to an essential. She believes that E-commerce is here to stay, even after the pandemic ends. “COVID-19 brought this cloud of uncertainty, but amid that, you can see how E-commerce established itself as a primary way for customers to shop,” she said. 

To address this transition, Payo took its logistics strategy and fulfillment service in the Philippines to the next level, mainly by putting up multiple warehouses across the country. This helped our merchants reach customers nationwide with ease.

As Payo expanded its operations, its team also grew. For Multimedia Designer Anjeli Celaje, this helped her focus on the work she wanted to do. “I think this year has been my most productive one yet, especially since the Marketing team has grown. All of us came together and planned where we wanted to take the brand. As an artist, I finally got to work on materials that have a positive impact on the company.”

The challenges along the way

If there’s one thing that was certain for 2021, it was change. And with change sometimes came challenges. Customer Service Manager Herbert Concina experienced this when his team was reduced to nearly half its size. However, that didn’t stop the Customer Service team from powering through. “We had less manpower, which meant making some adjustments as a team. Still, we were able to hit our department target, which shows that teamwork and communication are essential when it comes to overcoming challenges.”

Similarly, Billing and Collections Head Lea Anyayahan saw how change could make things more difficult. With the pressure to shift to hybrid offices, her team did their best to find a setup that works best for them. “My team isn’t used to working remotely. We were used to working the ‘old school’ way, meaning a lot of manual processes and physical documents,” she shared. “But as time passed, we adapted and overcame the challenges of this new normal. This eventually helped us improve our processes.” 

Our moments of success

Despite some challenges, Payo also experienced many wins and hit many milestones this 2021. Beyond our company’s growth in numbers, Payo gradually made a transition into something more holistic over the past year. “Payo now has a much stronger business model. Add this to the IT improvements we made and the establishment of our Marketing team, and you get a much more efficient and reliable company,” shared Jean Rollon, Payo’s Office Manager. 

Our CEO Liron also put emphasis on how our merchants’ growth has been one of the biggest indicators of Payo’s success. 

“We have seen just how much our merchants can grow with us, and it’s amazing because our merchants’ wins are also ours,” she said. “Some merchants would start with just a few orders in a week, and then seven or eight months later they’re shipping hundreds of orders on a regular basis. I definitely feel that any time something like that happens, it’s also the company’s win.”

Hopes for the new year

As our team says goodbye to 2021, we look forward to what 2022 has in store for us. Senior Data Scientist Brent Carbonera is most excited about executing projects that his department has worked on for the past year. “I foresee even more growth for Payo in 2022. This year, we focused on building a solid foundation for analytics. Next year, we will leverage this to deliver better and more relevant insights to the organization. We have a lot of things planned for 2022 that will surely have an amazing impact on Payo and its merchants,” he said. 

And amid the different plans that our departments have for the coming year, there’s one hope that persists – that we can finally get past the COVID-19 pandemic. Business Development Manager Tristan Gomez shared this sentiment in his message for the team. “I just want to tell the Payo team that I’m thankful to be part of this family. I hope things continue to get better so that I can share my passion and energy with everyone in person. That would be really fun!” 

Ultimately, 2021 taught us countless lessons and pushed us to constantly innovate. As a team, we’re excited to continue making E-commerce simple and easy for merchants this coming 2022 and beyond. 

Learn more about our services by signing up today or sending us a message at [email protected].