Unlocking SME Success in the Philippines: Business Outlook Interview with AutoCount

Unlocking SME Success in the Philippines: Business Outlook Interview with AutoCount

Running a small or medium-sized business in the Philippines isn’t easy. From managing sales and inventory to staying on top of accounting and tax compliance, business owners often find themselves juggling multiple roles and tasks every day. But as customer expectations evolve and competition increases, relying on spreadsheets and outdated software tools could be holding your business back.

In a recent Business Outlook interview (ABS-CBN News), Alex Ng, Sales and Marketing Director at AutoCount, shed light on real challenges faced by Filipino SMEs and how the company’s BIR-Accredited POS and CAS-Ready accounting solutions are helping businesses stay agile, compliant, and unlock growth opportunities.

Watch the full interview to discover how AutoCount can simplify your business operations and set you up for long-term success.

The SME Software Gap in the Philippines: Too Basic or Too Costly?

Alex highlights a critical gap in the Philippine software market. According to Alex, most accounting and POS software solutions in the Philippines market are stuck between two extremes. They are either too basic that lack functionality for growing operations and unable to scale with their growth. On the other hand, enterprise-level ERP systems are too costly, overly complex and resource heavy for mid-sized companies to adopt effectively.

Common Challenges Faced by Philippine SMEs:

  • Outdated Software Holds Back Growth - As businesses expand, their operations become more complex. Basic systems can’t support advanced features like inventory tracking, multi-branch operations, or integrations. This leads to costly and painful software system changes later on.
  • Manual Workflows Inefficiencies - Many SMEs still rely on spreadsheets, looseleaf and manual bookkeeping and inventory, which not only consume time but also prone to human error and poor financial visibility.
  • Limited Access to Financing - Without accurate, up-to-date financial reports, SMEs struggle to meet bank requirements for loans and credit, limiting growth opportunities.
A Smarter, Scalable Solution for Every Stage

AutoCount’s software steps in where others fall short. With options for both cloud and on-premises deployment, the software is built to support businesses from startup to scale-up.

What makes AutoCount different?

  • Budget-Friendly - Entry-level cloud accounting plans are priced to suit startups and growing SMEs looking to save and take advantage of business digitalization.
  • Flexible & Scalable - Whether you're running a solo micro-business or running a team of 100+ staff, AutoCount solutions is fully integrated and grows with you without painful software change needed.
  • BIR-Accredited POS and BIR CAS-ready accounting software - Fully compliant with Philippine regulations, you stay aligned with local tax laws.
  • Simple to Use, Built for SMEs - With features like AI-powered SmartScan, intuitive dashboard and simple workflows, going digital is straightforward even for non-tech and non-accounting users.
Key Takeaways for Filipino Business Owners

According to Alex Ng, here’s what every SME should focus on:

  • Digital Is No Longer Optional
      With government-led initiatives such as electronic invoicing system (EIS), Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT), and other digital compliance mandates rolling out, adopting digital tools is crucial and not just for efficiency, but for long-term growth.
  • Use Data to Grow Smarter
      Real-time financial data lets business owners make faster, smarter decisions and opens doors to financing and increase your chances of securing capital.
  • You Don’t Have to Be a Techie
      AutoCount accounting is built to make life easier even if you’re not an accountant. It's simple to use, easy to pick up, and powerful in handling complex accounting tasks.

If your business is still using outdated manual processes or multiple disconnected systems, it’s time to upgrade. AutoCount Accounting and POS solutions is already helping Philippine SMEs gain clarity, control, and confidence in their operations.

Source: ABS-CBN News. (2025, May 7). Business Outlook (9AM) | ANC [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWOjTIiLLkk]