MANILA, Philippines – As more Filipino MSMEs grow their online businesses, many are also dealing with the day-to-day demands that come with more orders. With an increase in order volume, the work of packing, shipping, and managing returns can begin to compete with the work that actually builds the business, leaving less room for the decisions that move a business forward.
For Em Uy-Taclibon, that challenge was familiar. Owner of Filipino-Made Cast Iron, a one-woman cookware business based in Davao that sources cast iron products from Cebu, she managed fulfillment on her own: order packing, shipment coordination, and inventory tracking, on top of running the business day-to-day.
“Nagpo-promote, nire-record sa inventory, nakakaubos ng oras, tapos kapag dumadami ang orders, ako pa rin ang nagbabalot,” shared Em. “Mabigat ‘yung products ko, kaya umaabot ng halos 15 minutes ang pag-pack ng bawat isa. Do’n ko na-realize na kailangan ko na talaga ng tulong.”
Em’s story is one that many growing sellers can relate to. As order volumes increase, the work behind each sale can become harder to sustain. At the same time, buyer expectations continue to rise, with online shoppers expecting the same delivery speed, order accuracy, and returns experience from a small seller as they do from a major retailer
FBS manages fulfillment end-to-end
Through Fulfilled by Shopee (FBS), Shopee helps sellers manage the work behind every order, from storage and packing to shipping and returns processing, allowing sellers to spend less time on day-to-day operations and more time growing their business.
“As sellers grow and start receiving more orders, they need consistent support across packing, shipping, inventory movement, and returns. FBS is built to close that gap, helping sellers build the capacity to scale while giving buyers a reliable shopping experience,” said Jack Ng, head of commercial, Shopee Philippines.
Growth works differently across the Philippines
Geography adds another layer of complexity for MSMEs serving customers across the country. Longer routes and different delivery conditions across the country can affect timelines and costs, particularly for businesses servicing customers outside major urban centers.
Thus, FBS supports sellers by allowing inventory to be stored within Shopee facilities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, helping bring products closer to buyers regardless of where sellers are based. The reach reflects a broader reality as 83% of FBS buyers are located outside Metro Manila, showing that demand increasingly extends across regions nationwide.
By storing inventory closer to buyers, FBS helps reduce delivery times in Visayas and Mindanao. Orders from FBS sellers are typically delivered within 3 to 5 working days, compared to 7 to 10 working days for non-FBS sellers, helping buyers receive their orders sooner regardless of where they shop.
Creating room for sellers to grow
Since moving to FBS, Em’s inventory is stored in Shopee’s Davao warehouse and orders are packed and shipped through the fulfillment service, including periods when she is away from the business.
“Kahit nasa bakasyon ako, ang stocks ko nasa Shopee Davao warehouse, tuloy pa rin ang pag-asikaso sa orders. Napakalaking tulong no’n kasi mas nakakapag-focus ako sa negosyo.”
Across FBS sellers on the platform, order processing time has come down. For Uy-Taclibon, that shift has meant more time redirected to product sourcing, live selling, and content creation.
“Dahil sa Fulfilled by Shopee, na-realize ko na kaya ko pa palang palaguin ang negosyo. Mas may oras na ako ngayon maghanap ng products at mas nakikita ko na rin kung paano ko pa siya mapapalago.”
With the right support behind her, Em can spend less time keeping up with every order and more time thinking about where to take Filipino-Made Cast Iron next. For sellers like Em, growth is not only about reaching more customers. It is also about being able to keep up with demand, find new opportunities, and keep building the business.
