Tag: Packworks

Manila, Philippines – Philippine-based data analytics platform Packworks has officially launched its business intelligence tool ‘Sari IQ’, which provides data analytics on the behaviour and spending habits of consumers who buy their needs in traditional ‘mom-and-pop stores’, known locally as ‘sari-sari’ stores.

The platform launch was announced by Ibba Bernardo, Packworks’ co-founder and chief marketing officer, at the IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 held virtually on October 11, 2022.

The Sari IQ dashboard provides real-time and historic information on consumer spending and can be configured to develop an analysis for product types sold in small retail formats. It gives retailers and multinational brands complete visibility into sari-sari stores’ operations, allowing them to extend their slow-moving products and services to a wider pool of customers. Analysis through the platform also helps them come up with data-driven decisions to increase sales of sari-sari store owners by understanding and predicting consumer demand within their area.

Moreover, the platform tracks information from Packworks’ broad network of almost 200,000 sari-sari stores nationwide that use its super app called ‘Super Sari Store’.

“Sari IQ is the trusted, go-to partner for sari-sari stores that empowers businesses to be on top of their brand’s performance and make data-driven decisions every day,” said Andres Montiel, Packworks’ chief data officer.

In Packworks’ latest study, Sari IQ showed that Filipinos tend to care more about their hygiene than their empty stomach as they prioritise buying self-care products such as hair shampoo and conditioner in sari-sari stores located in areas previously battered by natural calamities.

Manila, Philippines – In times of distress and disaster aftermath, a large majority of Filipinos are purchasing more hygiene-related products, alluding to associating beauty and hygiene with dignity and self-respect even in times of hardships. This is according to the latest data from data analytics platform Packworks.

According to the data, 18% of the average total sales volume of sari-sari stores were hair care products. Laundry supplies and tools saw the second highest portion of average sales with 16%.

Other top priority purchase types of items purchased include breakfast items such as tea, coffee and creamer, and oats and cereals covered 14% and 13% of the total average sales, respectively.

The data also notes that spending on shampoo and hair conditioner grew amid the occurrence of three natural disasters such as Typhoon Odette in December 2021 (Leyte), Taal volcanic eruption in March 2022 (Batangas/Cavite), and Abra earthquake (Abra) in June 2022.

The remaining total average sales of other sari-sari store items were evenly spread out to other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) such as ready-to-eat beverages, snacks, instant noodles, canned goods, cooking essentials, and body and oral care items.

There were also specific purchasing trends on several events, including more than 50% uplift in the hair care category during the period of the Taal Volcano unrest around last week of March, and a 50% to 60% increase in food spending, specifically noodles and cooking essentials, after Typhoon Odette hit Leyte.

Andres Montiel, head of data at Packworks, said, “The Philippines is a regular target of natural disasters because of its location at the Pacific Ring of Fire. Residents at the epicenter opt to buy their immediate necessities from a nearby ‘sari-sari’ store rather than go to big supermarkets.”

He added, “The analysis on the sari-sari stores becomes more valuable to track what items are deemed to be essential upon the occurrence of such natural disasters. This can be helpful in demand planning and product seasonality on the brand principal’s end.”