Schneider Electric: Ensuring power security is the new competitive advantage for Philippine MSMEs

Manila, Philippines – The next disruption to a Filipino Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise’s (MSME) bottom line may not come from a slow sales day. It may come from five hours without power.

With recurring power alerts and weather-related disruptions continuing across the Philippines, staying operational is becoming a growing concern for MSMEs. During the rainy season, storms can trigger power interruptions, while El Niño-driven demand surges place additional strain on the power grid. According to the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, even when supply is officially adequate, thin reserve margins worsened by plant outages and spikes in demand continue to leave the grid vulnerable to alerts and rotating brownouts, 

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader with 190 years of innovation expertise, says the difference is not whether an outage hits. It is whether a business is ready when it does.

For a digitally-run MSME, unstable power no longer just means lost lighting, even a brief flicker can pause a transaction mid-checkout, delay an order, or damage the equipment behind both. It is a cost often noticed only after revenue is already lost.

Business Continuity Becomes a Competitive Advantage

Schneider Electric sees that risk differently. "Disruptions are becoming more frequent, and digital operations are now central to how MSMEs run their business," said Harold Lim, Country Solutions Head, Schneider Electric Philippines. "That shift is changing how we think about resilience, it's no longer a contingency measure. It's becoming a competitive advantage."

Point-of-sale terminals, routers, computers, servers, CCTV systems, and communication devices now run the daily operations of a typical MSME. Losing power to any of them, even briefly, can interrupt a transaction, corrupt data, or damage the hardware outright.

Schneider Electric addresses that exposure with its APC Smart Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) On-Line built for businesses running equipment that needs stable, reliable power.

Unlike standby units that only switch to battery once the power goes out, Smart-UPS On-Line keeps equipment running continuously, filtering out voltage dips and surges before they ever reach connected devices, even outside a full outage. This is made possible by double-conversion technology: incoming power is continuously converted and cleaned before it reaches connected devices, rather than being passed through directly and only corrected after a problem occurs. 

At full load, it provides around 4 to 6 minutes of battery backup — enough time for equipment to shut down safely or switch to another power source. This runtime gets longer as the load on connected devices decreases, guarding critical electronics and data against dangerous power conditions and disturbances. Multiple protected outlets mean several devices can stay covered at once.

Business owners can check battery and system status at a glance through an easy-to-read display. Available in either rack or tower design, it is well suited for point-of-sale terminals, computers, network equipment, servers, and other critical electronics that need protection during unexpected power disruptions.

“A UPS protects critical systems from outages and other power abnormalities that can damage sensitive equipment. It also gives businesses time to shut down safely in case of prolonged outages,” Lim added. 

Resilience for Growing Businesses

As Philippine MSMEs continue to grow, reliable power protection is becoming part of what it means to run a resilient workplace: equipment safeguarded, downtime reduced, customer service uninterrupted. For Schneider Electric, empowering MSMEs means making business continuity practical and accessible, so business owners can focus on growth with protection already built in.

That commitment extends to its products. Schneider Electric also manufactures UPS units in the Philippines, which accounts for 60% of the company's global UPS supply. The APC Smart Factory in Cavite positions the country as a key part of Schneider Electric's global operations and puts locally made power protection technology within closer reach of Philippine businesses.

Additionally, the company is working toward Net Zero by 2050 by using better materials and helping customers use products longer through its "Use Better, Use Longer, Use Again" campaign. It also publishes detailed environmental data — like carbon footprint and recyclability — for 120,000 products online.

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FedEx Simplifies U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission e-filing for APAC Businesses as New Requirements Take Effect

Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, is strengthening its support for Asia Pacific businesses, including the Philippines, as they prepare for the upcoming mandatory U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) e-filing requirements, set to take effect on July 8, 2026.

 

The new requirement mandates all U.S. importers of CPSC-regulated products to e-file the data elements needed for clearance at the time of entry into the United States. This is aimed at improving safety oversight and compliance transparency. U.S. importers of CPSC-regulated products must include the full CPSC PGA message set for each product imported. To streamline the process, importers may pre-file information about the product in CPSC’s Product Registry, which allows importers to transmit an abbreviated CPSC message set.  For⁴6 a QPhilippine exporters, this marks a significant shift in when that product information is made available, prior to shipment.

         Ahead of the new requirement, FedEx conducted customer education webinars across 12 Asia Pacific markets, reaching more than 5,000 participants, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to multinationals. The sessions provided practical guidance to identify regulated products, assemble required compliance data, and build repeatable processes to minimize clearance disruptions once enforcement begins.

Awareness is High, but Readiness Lags

         Post-webinar insights show awareness of mandatory CPSC e-filing is increasing, but operational readiness remains limited:

·        Almost two-thirds (64%) of APAC businesses shipping consumer products to the U.S. are not yet ready. Among them:

o   28% understand requirements but have not yet acted;

o   18% expect significant disruption to U.S.-bound shipments.

·        The remaining 36% report some readiness, but only 15% are fully operational.

         Businesses that have yet to address product safety data requirements, electronic documentation standards, and certificate referencing risk clearance delays, penalties, or refusal of entry at U.S. borders. Registration for businesses in the CPSC Product Registry for a reduced message set can take up to six months.

Product Scope Clarity and Digital Pre-Validation Top APAC Business Needs

         For APAC businesses, clarity is the starting point. Identifying products within the CPSC scope ranks as the top need (32%), followed by digital tools for pre-validating data (23%) and simplified guidance on scope, registration, and documentation (19%).

As e-filing requirements approach, businesses are prioritizing solutions that reduce clearance delays and embed compliance into operations. Most valued capabilities include:

·        Centralized resources with timely regulatory updates and structured guidance (31%)

·        Integrated workflow tools that streamline documentation and compliance processes (27%)

·        Access to trade compliance and customs expertise (17%).

Translating Trade Complexity into Customer Confidence

               “Changes of this scale can introduce complexity for businesses operating across borders,” said Salil Chari, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx. “Our focus is on making compliance straightforward for customers, so they can continue to move goods seamlessly while meeting new standards with confidence.”

 

"Evolving global trade requirements underscore the importance of having the right partner to ensure compliance and continuity," said Maribeth Espinosa, managing director, FedEx Philippines. “FedEx is committed to equipping Philippine exporters with the insights, tools, and reliable solutions they need to remain competitive and resilient in the U.S. market.”

Equipping Businesses with Trade Expertise and Tools to Navigate CPSC Regulations

        FedEx is enabling customers to navigate this transition with greater confidence through integrated digital solutions, regulatory guidance, and operational expertise. By simplifying compliance processes and embedding requirements into existing shipping workflows, FedEx is helping reduce disruption while supporting timely, accurate submissions.

 

1.      Digital Solutions Streamline CPSC Data Collection and Submission

As digital pre-validation ranks among the top business priorities, FedEx has integrated CPSC e-filing capabilities directly into its shipping platforms to simplify compliance:

·        CPSC e-filing capabilities are now integrated into FedEx’s digital shipping channels, including FedEx Ship Manager^TM and FedEx API, enabling businesses to provide Certificate of Compliance data seamlessly as part of their existing shipping workflow. These tools support both e-filing methods, whether customers submit the full CPSC PGA message set or the abbreviated three-element reference set for products registered in the CPSC Product Registry.

·        FedEx’s digital solutions also provide step-by-step guidance to enable the submission of a certificate of CPSC compliance data, helping businesses establish a streamlined, repeatable process for U.S.-bound shipments of regulated goods.

 

2.      Practical Guidance and Expert Access

With registration in CPSC’s Product Registry taking up to six months and the July deadline approaching, FedEx has launched a proactive customer support program that includes:

·        Direct outreach and step-by-step guides on identifying CPSC-regulated products, assembling required compliance data, and how to initiate registration.

·        Access to FedEx trade compliance and customs clearance specialists for personalized support on documentation and clearance processes.

·        Up-to-date guidance on customs policies and required documentation, along with service fact sheets and tutorials are available through FedEx resources on this page: U.S. CPSC-regulated commodities.

 

        To access the latest U.S. compliance guidance and support resources, businesses are encouraged to visit the FedEx U.S. Tariff Hub and contact their local FedEx representative for personalized support.