For years, Cebuana Lhuillier has stood as the Filipinos’ primary microfinance institution, catering to various needs such as pawning, remittance, microinsurance, micro savings, and business-to-business microloan solutions. Since its inception in 1987, Cebuana Lhuillier has remained dedicated to empowering Filipinos by delivering accessible financial services anytime and anywhere. This unwavering mission serves as the driving force propelling Cebuana Lhuillier to continually expand, evolve, innovate, and enhance its services.
To drive this expansion, Cebuana Lhuillier relies on its distinct BrickTech strategy. This innovative approach combines a robust and extensive physical branch network (Brick) with swift integration of technological advancements through an in-house platform. This integration aims to elevate services and broaden product offerings (Tech).
The Strength of BRICK
In 1990, Cebuana Lhuillier initiated an ambitious nationwide branch expansion with the goal of establishing an extensive network across the Philippines, ensuring accessibility of their services and products to Filipinos. This expansion drive remains ongoing, with Cebuana Lhuillier actively inaugurating new branches in remote areas, targeting financially underserved communities. In a bid to reach the most financially excluded Filipinos, the company has formed partnerships with both local and global strategic entities, leveraging online technology solutions to bolster its market presence, broaden customer touchpoints, and streamline transactions.
Presently, Cebuana Lhuillier boasts a network of over 3,000 branches nationwide, coupled with more than 20,000 domestic partners and an extensive global reach spanning over 3 million partner locations. This expansive network ensures unparalleled customer access points and service availability for their clientele.
The Power of TECH
Cebuana Lhuillier’s swift integration of technological advancements has positioned it as a trailblazer in financial technology. The company’s tech strategy commenced with the inception and integration of its Application Program Interface (API) Technology. This API network serves as the bedrock for a seamless and efficient gateway connecting Cebuana Lhuillier with over 600 business-to-business partners, encompassing banks, insurance firms, lending institutions, telecommunication companies, utility providers, and more. Through this API, Cebuana Lhuillier ensures reliable money transfers worldwide, enhances customer accessibility to their services, and fosters increased connectivity via mirror technology.
As an integral part of its TECH approach, Cebuana Lhuillier also established a robust data center. This data center, equipped to safeguard its nationwide business operations from any unforeseen circumstances, features a state-of-the-art backup data center. The implementation of cloud backup solutions for critical systems and diverse infrastructure guarantees the security of the company and its partners, both within and outside the country. Cebuana Lhuillier’s Data Center stands as a pillar for business continuity, capable of withstanding various contingencies. It operates as a reliable hub enabling neighboring branches to support one another, designed with disaster resilience and robustness at its core.
Customer-Centric Digital Platforms that Work
Cebuana Lhuillier’s Tech strategy has birthed innovative digital platforms, applications, and products, significantly enhancing customer engagement and streamlining transactions, making them easier, faster, and more convenient. Among these advancements is the PeraLINK app, an innovative agent network platform that provides clients and customers with increased money transfer options and flexibility. Through PeraLINK, clients can transact across any branch of a PeraLINK member, facilitating transfers between banks and non-bank institutions, as long as both are PeraLINK members.
Another notable offering is QUIKZ, a novel Remittance-as-a-Service (RaaS) solution powered by Pangea Connect. This secure, rapid, and user-friendly money transfer technology caters to Filipinos seeking a convenient method for sending and receiving funds in the US.
Additionally, the eCebuana app was unveiled, granting clients convenient access to a range of microfinancial services such as Micro Savings, Money Remittance, Micro Insurance, as well as services like E-loads and electronic bills payment. This solution aims to streamline transactions, minimizing processing time for users.
Furthermore, ProtectNow, Cebuana Lhuillier’s cutting-edge digital platform, offers a variety of life and non-life insurance products through partnerships with numerous insurance providers.
Through the implementation of the BrickTech strategy, Cebuana Lhuillier has attained an unparalleled market presence in the microfinancial sector. With a client base of 32 million, 21 million loyalty card holders, and over 7 million Micro Savings account holders, Cebuana Lhuillier remains committed to advancing their BrickTech strategy. Their goal: to continue empowering more Filipinos financially, regardless of their location.
