Telecommunications firm Globe Telecom Inc. is ramping its business segment via a series of forums targeting owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The company recently launched its series of forums, under its Negostar branded product, which would be held in Quezon City, Makati, Bacoor, La Union, San Fernando, Cebu and Davao. Globe is expected to draw entrepreneurs in these locations.

The Negostar bundles 10 products and services beginning with a postpaid plan offering unlimited calls and a website builder tool.

“After a year since it was launched, Globe Negostar has helped many SMEs grow their businesses through its business innovations,” the company said.

Globe named eight companies that have used products and services under Negostar since the brand was launched last year.

One SME that uses the Negostar inventory and ordering system (IOS) is Lots’A Pizza Franchise Systems Inc., which president and treasurer Teresita L. Ngan Tian said took seven to eight months to build before full implementation.

“As a complete solution for supply chain management offered through Globe Business, IOS makes it easy to do inventory and sales monitoring, automated invoicing, and procurement for Lots’A Pizza,” a statement quoted Ngan Tian as saying.

The entrepreneur said during the launch at Globe’s headquarters in Makati City that the IOS allows customers to order via the use of mobile phones and over the Internet, “all in a simple Web-based and self-service setup.”

“More than our investment, which is on servers and some computers, Globe also invested a lot, and I think we got more benefits from the partnership than they did,” Ngan Tian told reporters.

Business executive Jennilyn M. Antonio, for her part, said the IOS helps her cut costs in transporting her peanut butter products under the EHJE brand.

She subscribes to the mobile service offered by Globe Business, as well as the broadband services to gather orders and reports.

However, Globe’s Emmanuel A. Aligada said they cannot guarantee a zero downtime.

“Nobody can. What we can do is assure subscribers that the technology they’re using, its hardness, is business-grade. What is essential is the speed of their return. The customers won’t feel any hiccup at all,” he said, adding that Globe’s web site was still needing a few tweaks and advised users to expect “bugs here and there.”

Accoring to him, the consumer segment of Globe remains the firm’s majority source of revenue at 85 percent. Of the remaining 15 percent, which is the business segment, a growing and considerable part would be SMEs, he added.

While declining to cite specific numbers, Aligada said the unit aims to reach even more SMEs this year.

In addition to the forums to be held in seven locations at a time across the country, Globe Business plans to hold smaller activities related to its Negostar brands.