Becoming Big Brother

MANILA, Philippines - The term “Big Brother” originated from a novel entitled Nineteen Eighty-Four--written in 1948 by English novelist, George Orwell. In this piece, he describes “Big Brother” as a “ubiquitous and repressive but apparently benevolent authority.” The term became so popular that it soon became part of the lexicon, and has since been used to reference anyone, or any authority, who keeps close surveillance on a group of people (hence the title of the popular reality TV show as well).

Fast forward to the 21st century--and understanding the modern-day context in which the term is used--and you’ll realize that getting to be ‘Big Brother’ certainly has its benefits. Especially when it comes to running your business. What business owner wouldn’t want to keep a watchful eye over his assets? Then again, how does one even achieve that, when the business involves say, a fleet of moving vehicles?

A viable solution to a tricky problem such as this was demonstrated by PLDT SME Nation (a group formed by PLDT to provide innovative, technological support to Filipino enterprises) at a media event that commenced in Bonifacio Global City last Friday.

Members of the motoring media were asked to drive test vehicles that were equipped with PLDT SME Nation’s F.A.S.Track (Field Asset System for Tracking). F.A.S. Track is a productivity tool that allows for accurate and invariable per-minute location-monitoring of the vehicles equipped with it. Simply put it allows someone to precisely pinpoint a car’s location, at any given time, while the latter is on the road, anywhere in the country, 24/7. The location information is updated every minute, and can be accessed from any online device, such as a desktop, laptop, tablet or even a smartphone.

Being Big Brother in this sense is especially important to business owners whose enterprises involve critical field operations such as transport, logistics and courier delivery. This enables the businessman not only to observe the location of each one of his vehicles (to make sure that employees do not divert from assigned routes to do other things while on duty), but the system can also report over-speeding drivers, and send notifications if the vehicles are used outside of specified usage hours.

To thoroughly demonstrate the features of this tracking system, the media participants were split into several teams, and each was assigned a specific route to take in driving to the destination, namely, Antonio’s restaurant in Tagaytay. My partner was Beeboy Bargas of Top Gear, and ours was an awesome vehicle: a Mini Cooper S, courtesy of the Autohub group.

After picking ballots, we were assigned to take what was perhaps the most undesirable route to Tagaytay at the time--via Coastal Road! We took the route anyway, and used our car size advantage to strategically zip through many choke points along the way. A F.A.S.Track transmitter device was attached to the car--via cigarette lighter socket--for the course of the journey.

As soon as all teams arrived at Antonio’s after following their assigned routes, PLDT SME Nation personnel demonstrated to us how they closely monitored our progress, and even pointed out the specific roads and turns we all took; those who were caught speeding at some points; and those who were not following instructions! All this information was verified correct by the participants. Clearly, there were no secrets to be hidden.

Now in case you’re wondering, SME stands for “small and medium-sized enterprises,” but it also becomes an acronym for “Success Made Easy” through technology--the new tagline of PLDT’s ongoing campaign to support local entrepreneurs through providing them with business solutions.

“Adopting technology is no longer a choice but is now an imperative to their (SME’s) very strategic survival,” pointed out Kat Luna-Abelarde, VP and Head of PLDT SME Nation. “It is the vision of PLDT SME Nation to arm them with the right technology tools, knowledge and hardware to help them reach their full market potential,” she added.

For more information about PLDT SME Nation’s F.A.S.Track service or any of their other business solutions, you may call 101-888 or visit their website at www.pldtsme-nation.com.ph.