Come Day 3, we were pretty much knowledgeable about digital business BUT acknowledge that there’s so much we still don’t know.

Our schedule looked like this:

• Demonstration IoT and Sharing
• Session 5: Multiplayer AR and VR as an effective virtual collaborative work environment
• Session 6: Building up the best in digital business
• Session 7: What’s Next for Venture in ASEAN+3
• Briefing for ExploreKUL
• ExploreKUL
• Submission Video for ExploreKUL
• Dialog Session
• Networking Night

It’s pretty full – and even more tiring considering we had to go out and actually explore a designated tourist destination – but we’re not complaining! 🙂 It was a fun-filled day.

My take for Multi-player AR/VR is that in the Philippines, I believe it’s still unexplored. I have seen it at work for some projects, but not to the extent that we saw in AYDBS. There, AR/VR are utilized to their full potentials and have seen many businesses grow because of its usage.

ExploreKUL on the other hand gave us an opportunity to utilize our skills as youth in highlighting an important issue through different creative means. We were broken into groups (a mix of different countries in one group), and tasked to create a video for our ExploreKUL output.

Day 2 was when many of the more serious stuff happened! 🙂

It started with a keynote from Mr. Steven Sim Chee Keong, the Deputy Minister Youth & Sports Malaysia, followed by the first four sessions:

• Session 1: ASEAN Towards a Digital Business Community
• Session 2: Online Platform & Sharing Economy: Reshaping Entrepreneurship & Business Landscape
• Session 3: Cybersecurity: Business Opportunity
• Session 4: Optimizing E-businesses using E-wallet (FinTech)
  
  There was also a Demonstration of IoT and Sharing Session, followed by a Pecha Kucha Discussion and Presentation

All of the sessions were packed with informative data and fun nuggets that challenged our minds – what can we do as youth to contribute to own local economy? What are the things our countries lack and how can we help in little ways?

Collaborating with the delegates gave us an opportunity to really delve in to the importance of digital in helping scale digital business. For example, cashless transactions are widely-preferred in other Asian countries but it’s not as practiced here in the Philippines. Cybersecurity is not yet a fully-integrated aspect in our digital economy while it has already presented a huge benefit/opportunity in other nations.

On a lighter note and in the afternoon session, many of us were introduced to Pecha Kucha, a presentation approach involving twenty slides and twenty seconds to discuss each. It was a struggle for many, especially our friends who are non-English native speakers and those who weren’t as prepared with their topics. But for some, it was a breakout discovery – they had a gift for presentation and can effectively convince their audience that they know their topics in and out.

Day 1 was essentially the first chance we met with the rest of the delegates. We had dinner, followed by a quick briefing and ice-breaker.

This night, we were able to get to know some delegates from some countries, mainly due to the QR Code Game. I was paired with a delegate from Japan and found that he was an achiever in multiple fields – a multi-hypenate.

The other delegates were funny, some were shy, others confident and approachable. If there was something common with everyone, it was the look of excitement at the prospect of learning. Seems everyone can’t wait for Day 2!

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DIGITAL TIDBIT
In the Philippines, QR codes are present, but not as widely-used as we found in Malaysia, in department stores, restaurants, and other retail outlets.

Day Zero is Travel-to-Malaysia Day!

Jamiya, Valen, and I all gathered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), days after we officially met for the first time at the National Youth Commission (NYC) office for introductions and briefings.

I was excited for the trip, this having been my first to Malaysia, and to represent the country as a youth involved in digital business (my background is digital advertising and writing!)

It was a little past noontime when we landed, hungry, and a little bit lost in the airport looking for our WIFI suppliers’ stores. With a little help from the AYDBS receiving team, we were able to locate them, buy food, and head to the venue.

We’re ready for Day 1!

I have previously posted about my key takeaways from the ASEAN+3 Youth Digital Business Summit in relation to digital business. (Read it here.) Now, I have decided to share my key takeaways in creating a collaborative work environment for businesses.

Traffic is horrendous in Manila and it seems to get worse every year. It doesn’t help that the mass transport system in the country feels more of an inconvenience rather than a solution to the problem. Studies show that Filipinos lose 9-15 years in traffic – which is equivalent to a loss of P3.5 Billion. 

As a solution to the woes of employees, there have been talks on how to work more efficiently and conveniently. Some companies have already implemented policies such as working from home or flexi-time. These policies have been helpful for the employees who waste hours on traffic and they are able to use their time wisely.

Another solution, which was discussed in a keynote session in the AYDBS 2019, is the use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for a collaborative work environment. The benefits of using VR/ AR are: simulation and visualization of data, connection from anywhere, direct communication, reduce time wastage, improve efficiency, and cost-saving.

Outsourcing freelancers is another growing trend in employment. Freelancers are able to control their time of work, as well as where they work. They are able to work with local and international clients and utilize digital tools to collaborate.

Cross-border collaboration is another highlight for the ASEAN+3 delegates. Entrepreneurs and professionals were able to connect with one another and exchanged ideas on digital business. As the ASEAN+3 countries are also miles away from each other, digital technology has enabled the delegates to collaborate beyond the AYDBS event.

Read more on my experience with ASEAN+3 delegates and the AYDBS here and here.

As a marketing and e-Commerce practitioner, the ASEAN+3 Youth Digital Business Summit 2019 agenda truly excited me. I am already very familiar with the Philippine digital business market and looked forward to learning new things from the summit – and I most certainly did. Not only did I learn from the speakers, but I also met delegates across ASEAN+3 and gained new insights from their perspectives.

The ASEAN+3 digital business landscape is continuously adapting to evolution and we are constantly innovating, which was the constant theme throughout the summit. Here are some of the key takeaways from the summit:

                • Making Online and Offline a Thriving Ecosystem

                As online continues to gain momentum, businesses and consumers are expected to have a seamless experience for online and offline. Before, businesses considered online and offline as two separate channels. Now, they have recognized the need to adapt and make these two channels mutually symbiotic for a thriving business ecosystem. Omni-channel strategies are key to success in digital business and offline. 

                Online and offline can co-exist, and ASEAN+3 is now working on addressing barriers in order to help businesses succeed in digital business.

                • The Digital Economy and the Future of Entrepreneurship

                Digital technology and online platforms are disrupting business models. The emerging digital economy has the potential to generate new scientific research and breakthrough. It also provides job opportunities, economic growth and improvement in the quality of life. The ASEAN region also has potential with its own unicorn companies, such as: Grab, Lazada, Traveloka, etc.

                Freelancing is also a growing trend in the digital economy and entrepreneurs are using their skills to build their freelancing business. This is also apparent as most of the delegates in the summit are entrepreneurs who offer their own products or services.

                • Optimizing E-Payments

                Optimizing businesses using e-Wallets/ Financial Technology is a growing trend in ASEAN+3. Some countries are already successful in integrating this to their culture of life. This trend is yet to be seen in the Philippines. Despite the introduction of e-Wallets, statistics still show cash on delivery as a dominant payment method. Studies also show that there is a big chunk of the population who do not have bank accounts and credit cards.

                Another barrier to consider in growing FinTech in the Philippines is data connectivity. The government should deliberate on how FinTech can be grown in the country to keep up with the ASEAN+3 trends.

These are my key takeaways in relation to digital business. Read about my key takeaways on collaborative work environments here.

I previously wrote about what it’s like to be a delegate, particularly what to do before your departure. (Read it here.) Now, I’ll share with you what it was like to be a delegate selected by the National Youth Commission for the ASEAN+3 Youth Digital Business Summit 2019, particularly on what it was like during and after the summit.

• Tight Schedule – Expect that as a delegate, there is a schedule to be followed. Our schedule for 2 days was filled with key note sessions and activities. Luckily, we had free time when we arrived, after the activities, and before we left: us Philippine delegates were able to go around Kuala Lumpur for a bit.
• Enriching Key Note Sessions – The agenda for the AYDBS 2019 had the theme “Entrepreneurship in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. Speakers for the sessions are established opinion leaders in the industry. The topics discussed are relevant in my career, and I have been able to apply me learnings to my work. Read about my takeaway from the key note sessions here and here.
• Challenging, Yet Fun Activities – We had 2 group activities during the AYDBS 2019. One was the Pecha Kucha, which is a presentation method and groups had to present about a certain topic. Another was the Explore KUL, wherein each group had a tourist spot in Kuala Lumpur to visit and had to create a video. What’s good about these is that we were grouped with delegates from different countries and worked with them.
• Amazing Co-Delegates – I met new friends across ASEAN+3 and we had an amazing time exchanging ideas, working together in the Pecha Kucha and Explore KUL activities, and celebrating at the cultural night. We also have a group in which we can contact each other for future collaborations.
• Hospitable Organizers – The Malaysian organizers are very welcoming. They also worked hard in making the event fruitful and successful, which I really appreciated. I also liked their food and have grown fond of Malaysia’s Kopi O!

Over-all, being a delegate for the AYDBS 2019 is such a fun and productive experience. I am grateful to the NYC for the opportunity.

Being selected as a Philippine delegate for the ASEAN+3 Youth Digital Business Summit 2019 is my second experience of being an ambassador of the country for an international program. (Read about my experience as an AIESEC Exchange Volunteer in Thailand here.) It can be nerve-wracking experience, since you’ll be staying in an unfamiliar country and meet people from different cultures.

The National Youth Commission posted the call for applications for the AYDBS 2019 at least a month before the event. The NYC posts applications for different programs, and I keep tabs on these posts so that I can apply. My application to be a delegate for the AYDBS is my 3^rd application for a NYC opportunity, and like what they say, third time’s a charm and I was finally selected.

I received the acceptance email from the NYC around 2 weeks before the summit. Like all NYC programs, there is a pre-departure briefing which is where I first met my co-delegates. The briefing took place the day before we flew out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the summit.

Here are tips on what to do before your departure:

• Cultural Awareness – Where would the event take place? What countries would other delegates come from? Once you are aware about this, do some research about the country you will go to. This way, you are aware of how to behave appropriately as a global citizen. Be familiar with the culture of your co-delegates as well. There are gestures or expressions that we may consider okay, but they may find it inappropriate.
• Program Preparedness – What are the program activities? Is there anything that you need to prepare beforehand? Understanding the activities can help you pack and prepare accordingly. For instance, the AYDBS had a Cultural Night in which delegates are required to wear national clothing.
• Tokens – You will be meeting new people and will make new friends! It would be nice if you could prepare trinkets for them such as local snacks or souvenirs. Also, there is a high chance that you will meet VIPs (for instance, I was chosen by the organizers to meet the Minister of Youth and Sports for Malaysia), so it would be advisable to prepare a token for them.

That’s a wrap on what to prepare before your departure.