The Philippine IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector displayed resiliency in the face of the pandemic by quickly pivoting to meet the emerging needs of businesses. Many companies adopted digital transformation by investing in manpower choosing to remain optimistic amid the changing landscape of business operations.

“We were able to quickly mobilize the blended way of working onsite and working from home, bringing a high productivity level for the industry of 92%,” said Rey Untal, president and CEO of IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

While viewed as one of the hardest hit sectors because of the lockdowns, Untal noted that they are seeing signs of growth especially now that companies across all industries are adopting digital transformation and this includes the ITBPO.

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“Digital transformation, even before the pandemic, is one of the challenges we need to face as an industry,” said Lito Tayag, chair, IBPAP. “Investments have to be made in upskilling and reskilling our people in order to address the impact and disruption brought about by digital transformation.”

Virtual Innovation Summit

According to Untal, the ITBPO companies within the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) are looking at increasing its investments to 37% during the first half of 2020 (January-July) reaching P11.4 billion from the PHP8.32 billion in the same period last year.

Months after the COVID-19 disruption, the industry is set to proceed with its annual event International Innovation Summit (IIS) over the course of five days starting on Nov. 4.

Titled “A World Caught Unaware: Navigating Pandemic Uncertainties and Unleashing Future IT-BPM Potentials,” this year’s IIS aims to lay down the groundwork for the sector’s recovery and future-readiness in the context of this evolving reality that it is currently facing.

Economic driver

“The industry is at a crucial turning point,” said Untal. “We need to be leading not just conversations about the WHATs, HOWs, and WHYs of sustaining the growth of Philippine IT-BPM but also the strategic action plans to strengthen its role as a major economic driver of the country.”

A key feature of IIS 2020 is the unveiling of a recalibration and imperatives analysis, which will serve as vital input to the industry’s playbook on how to optimize the Philippines’ capabilities in IT-BPM services, accelerate recovery, and facilitate expansion.

“The impact of the health crisis has put the sector in uncharted territories, but knowing of the collective and steadfast efforts of the builders, enablers, and trailblazers of Philippine IT-BPM, we continue to remain hopeful about the future,” Untal said. “I enjoin members of the industry, government, and academe to take part in the 12th International Innovation Summit.”