IT’S a natural consequence of success, especially in the food industry. Growing into a multi-branch operation can happen sooner than expected. Philippine food franchising is replete with stories of mom-and-pop generations booming into a small empire within a few short years. There are, however, real digital-age challenges for anyone who has experienced quick growth.

With quick growth comes change and small and medium enterprises that have tasted the efficiencies and benefits of a “networked” or “online” store often wonder how they could have gone on without multi-branch networking.

Just ask Harbour City Dimsum House Co., operator of dimsum chain restaurants under the Ding How, Ding Qua Qua and Dimsum Break brands. With 12 branches strategically dotting the Metro Cebu area, coordinating between individual branches and their main commissary is more crucial than ever.

Steve Kokseng, Harbour City Dimsum House’s owner, says, “The need for networking arose when we acquired enterprise-wide software that also connected our branches to our commissary and to our head office.”

The software was optimized by PLDT’s myDSL Biz. “It enables branches to order stocks from the commissary online. Also once deliveries are sent, branches confirm receipt of these deliveries also online,” he adds. “Ordering and system information updates are accomplished in near real time.”

For Harbour City Dimsum House, their entire procurement process was rendered several times more accurate and efficient. Today, Harbour City’s production department has enough “lead time” to meet requirements across their range of products—they never “lose” an order due to short notice.

Ace in the hole

For globally branded Dunkin’ Donuts’ Cebu operations, overseeing its 60 branches presents similar challenges and demands similar solutions. The franchise giant was at first hesitant to integrate or network its operations due to a general “lack of information,” according to Nissa Gesalem.

Today VPN over myDSL Biz is their favorite networking solution with helpful consultation from the folks at SME Nation. According to Gesalem, inter-branch communication and operational updates are the main networking processes that run on their VPN. Otherwise, “inter-branch coordination will be inconsistent and targets will become difficult to achieve. Customer service will also be affected,” she adds.

Other benefits Dunkin’ Donuts Cebu has realized include “fast and efficient inter-company document approvals.”

Today, Dunkin’ Donuts is looking into other services such as WiFi connections and Inventory Software Management specifically for food and manufacturing businesses. The primary reason for their continuous patronage of SME Nation is its seamless integration and increased efficiencies of responsive solutions on top of its wide coverage and network.

Dimsum, and then some

The famous North Park Noodles chain now includes 16 North Park branches, three Next Door branches and two Kopi Tiams. It’s been quite a ride for brothers Gabriel and Raphael Soon who founded their “home-grown company” in 1994.

Jennifer Soon, North Park’s corporate secretary and treasurer, describes the setting up of an IT infrastructure in any organization as a “combination of excitement and worry— all at the same time.” But according to her the crucial need to have a seamless flow of information within North Park’s many arms was paramount.

“Some time early 2007, we subscribed to PLDT Shops.Work (VPN) facilities to answer one of our basic needs—inter-linking all the branches within one network infrastructure,” she says. After some birthing and teething pains, the company readily adapted to the new environment.

“Having a VPN in place [even with just 60-70 percent of our branches connected] significantly reduces the time and effort needed to gather all this information,” she adds. “With Shops.Work VPN connectivity, our staff can extract the Time Management data of the branch inside the comfort of our IT room.”

Today, Jennifer says that VPN is a crucial component of their IT infrastructure and business operations. They are likewise looking to maximize the full capabilities of Shops.Work VPN by connecting new branches to their main network.

One branch, two branches, three branches, twenty…

Chito and Lizzie Guerrero knew the way to every Filipino’s heart: a plateful of home-cooked pasta. In 2003, The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH) was born, with their first restaurant in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. With its sister companies Grilla Bar and Grill, Chilly Willys and Cravings, TOSH today has 20 outlets, 15 company-owned and five franchised. Now that their business is steadily growing, they cannot be in two places at one time. To solve this “dilemma,” they needed the right solution.

With VPN over PLDT myDSL Biz, managing two, three and even 20 branches with one efficient solution meant faster operations and more visible returns. “With the use of the DSL, we can easily process or check payroll disbursement without the hassle of visiting the store for approval. Memos and queries can also now be ‘inter-branched’ on time. Financial reports can now be sent to respective branches with detailed attachments, to be easily reverted to Accounting Department for reconciliation,” TOSH accounting head Crecy Ibarra shares, explaining how PLDT myDSL Biz has improved day-to-day operations.

SMEs just starting to grow or well on their way to the next new branch share common growth concerns. PLDT SME Nation will still be the “stable and reliable” partner for them to realize all the opportunities, and conquer all the challenges for making the next big leap in their business.

Go with PLDT SME Nation, your technology partner of choice.

To learn more about PLDT SME Nation’s products and services, call 101-888 or visit www.pldtsme-nation.com.ph.