When it comes to employee satisfaction, factors like competitive pay, benefits, and work responsibilities are common considerations that shape the playing field. However, specialists are now looking at the correlation between a location’s general climate to career satisfaction and overall business success.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) operates under this concept. The affiliate of SM Investments Corp. has invested on the E-Com complex to ride and sustain the booming business growth in the country by providing a progressive work environment.
David Rafael, Senior Vice President of SMPHI explained, “Companies are investing in the Philippines because of three things. World-class facilities, competitive labor cost, and its educated workforce. Maintaining that growth momentum means we have to keep these factors intact.”
He continued, “How do you do this? By creating infrastructure that is conducive to both the business and the workforce.”
The E-Commerce complex located within the Mall of Asia township is built around the concept. Comprised of One, Two, and Five E-Com Center, the steadily rising business district is designed to offer a good balance of accessibility, infrastructure, and lifestyle opportunities for work-life balance.
Also currently in the pipeline is SM Prime’s first Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building Three E-Com center which is slated to be completed by 2017. Four E-Com center, which has broken ground this year, is also expected to be operational by 2020.
One E-Com center opened in 2008 followed by Two E-Com center in 2012 to much success. Five E-Com center, which contributed an additional 88,000 sqm leasable area to the business complex last year has also reached full occupancy since opening its doors last year.
Three E-Com Center and Four E-Com Center will both add a gross floor area of 111, 727 sqm and 123,968 sqm respectively to the growing business district.
The master planned buildings are specifically designed to cater to information technology businesses which have been flooding the country during recent years. Recently, the SM Central Business Park or SM iCity 3, which includes the area of Three and Four E-Com, has also been declared as a PEZA Special Economic Zone.
“The focus should not only be in fostering business growth but in cultivating a dynamic work environment for the people operating there,” said Rafael. “A business district should be well-rounded and capable of standing by itself.”
SM Prime’s vision for its E-commerce centers is supported by a strong suite of resources within the township. Besides from the place being accessible to employees through major thoroughfares, the area also has lifestyle destinations for a more versatile experience. A stone’s throw away is top shopping destination Mall of Asia and entertainment venues SMX Convention Center and SM Arena.
Leisure developments like Microtel and the soon to be operational Tryp Hotel and Conrad Hotel are also included in the township. Residential developments under SM Residences (Sea, Shell, Shore, and Shore 2) are also within close proximity of the area.
Boosting the convenience of the business district are also expansion of infrastructure. Additional floors in the North and South Parking building are in the works as well as an additional pedestrian footbridge that will connect the office buildings to the lifestyle and parking spaces.
“Boosting the business sector should be fueled by support from all aspects. This means providing the right infrastructure and a good working environment. If the workforce is happy, growth will definitely follow,” Rafael closes.
About SM Prime: SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is the property arm of the SM Group of Companies, which has major business interests in banking and retail sectors apart from property segment. M Prime has developed key establishments in the residential, office, hotels and other leisure-oriented projects.
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Richard Mamuyac
