Growing compliance expenses and the rapid pace of digital change are forcing businesses across the Philippines, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to modernize their old systems. This shift is driving demand for software solutions that are specifically designed for the local market to minimize errors and enhance operational efficiency.
A Strategic Partnership for Affordable Enterprise Tools
Responding to this need, TransNational Company LLC (TNC), based in Dubai, and global software developer 1C Company have joined forces. They are promoting their collaboratively deployed platform as a cost-effective option for companies grappling with inefficient operations. Vijendra Singh, the Chief Executive of TNC, pointed out that numerous Philippine SMEs suffer financial and time losses due to obsolete processes. These range from manual document handling to irregular tax reporting practices.
Singh emphasized that the partnership's objective is to provide smaller firms with access to high-caliber business tools typically used by larger corporations, but without the prohibitive cost. This access is intended to help them decrease compliance-related mistakes and smooth out their business processes. He noted that while TNC had earlier introduced systems like Sage and QuickBooks, these international products frequently failed to keep up with the specific regulations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and variations in regional tax requirements, ultimately increasing operational expenses.
Tailoring Technology for Philippine Regulations
This gap in the market motivated TNC to collaborate with 1C to implement a fully adapted version of the 1C Accounting Suite for the Philippines. Throughout the past year, TNC and its local distributor, Classen, have worked closely with Filipino consultants to reconstruct the software. The goal was to ensure full compliance with BIR mandates and enable reporting for multiple regions. This effort has resulted in distinct software versions customized for the business environments of Cebu, Davao, and Manila.
Alexey Novikov, head of international business development at 1C, explained that SMEs gain from the platform's scalable nature and open architecture. He stated that even the smallest retail operations can modify modules or create new reports independently. This capability means they do not have to wait for updates from a global headquarters, which reduces system downtime and significantly improves efficiency.
Building Local Talent for Long-Term Growth
To support sustained adoption and development within the country, 1C intends to partner with Philippine universities to train a new generation of software developers. This strategy follows a successful model implemented in Vietnam, which produced over 100 engineers specializing in regional customization for the platform. The initiative aims to broaden the local pool of tech talent and contribute to strengthening the national digital economy.
The rollout will be centered in Cebu, which is TNC's strongest domestic market, before expanding nationwide. Singh stressed that tools which are compliant with local regulations are becoming indispensable. This is especially true as Philippine businesses navigate evolving tax laws, ongoing supply-chain challenges, and increasingly fierce competition.
