ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF E-WALLET USAGE ON LEAD TIME IN INVENTORY PROCUREMENT AMONG MICRO ENTERPRISES IN BARANGAY NOVALICHES PROPER, QUEZON CITY

Abstract

In Barangay Novaliches Proper, Quezon City, micro enterprises (MEs) contribute significantly to the local economy but often face difficulties in managing inventory procurement due to outdated manual methods, resulting in delayed restocking. As the use of e-wallets gains traction in the Philippines—fueled by smartphone accessibility and a nationwide push toward digital payments—there emerges an opportunity to modernize procurement processes. Despite this shift, the role of e-wallets in reducing inventory lead time for micro enterprises remains largely unstudied, presenting a valuable area for further research. The research explores how the adoption of e-wallets affects the lead time in inventory procurement among micro enterprises (MEs). Utilizing a descriptive research approach and purposive sampling, the study collected data from 30 selected MEs through structured survey questionnaires. The responses were analyzed using weighted mean and t-test to determine the extent of the impact. Findings reveal that e-wallet usage is highly effective in reducing inventory procurement lead time, scoring 3.47 on the effectiveness scale. Factors such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, intention to adopt, and actual usage strongly influence micro enterprises’ decisions to implement e-wallets. While challenges like limited supplier adoption and monthly transaction limits exist, their effects were minimal, and the solutions applied successfully mitigated these issues. Consequently, an action plan was developed to assist micro enterprises in leveraging e-wallet technology more efficiently to streamline their procurement operations. To sum up, e-wallets play a crucial role in boosting the efficiency of inventory procurement for micro enterprises, thereby helping to shorten lead times. Despite this, the study finds that many MEs primarily use e-wallets for convenience rather than leveraging them strategically to streamline procurement. It is recommended that micro enterprises adopt a more deliberate and strategic use of e-wallets to maximize operational efficiency. Moreover, improving collaboration with suppliers around e-wallet transactions can further enhance the smoothness and effectiveness of procurement processes.