IT-BPM to drive inclusive growth with higher value services
In the next six years, companies in the information technology and business process management (ITBPM) industry are expected to expand operations in key growth areas and complex services like animation, game development, and health informatics, as part of the IT-BPM Roadmap 2022.
With the blueprint, the IT-BPM industry hopes to generate US$40 billion in revenues by 2022 and surpass all other sectors as the biggest revenue source for the country.
While this industry movement will send tremors throughout sectors, business and government alike are optimistic that the disruption will help carry out the decentralization strategy of the IT-BPM sector.
“The DICT is already training out-of-school youth in rural areas in collaboration with local government and members of the National ICT conference. We’ve noted that once these residents learn to apply technology, they use the knowledge to start and sometimes augment their business,” said Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Rodolfo Salalima.
The IT-Roadmap 2022 also details initiatives to be led by the IT and Business Process Association Philippines (IBPAP), including releasing lists of IBPAP-recognized academic institutions and training centers. Interactive career roadmaps will also be designed to help students, new graduates, and transitioning professionals adapt with the sector.
Connecting communities for progress
Industry partners welcome IBPAP’s move to grow the IT business outside of Metro Manila, from 7 percent to 11 percent. Eastern Communications, the official Internet provider for the biggest assemblies in the information technology industry, also extends its operations by servicing clients from the government sector and communities set to join the localities classified as “next wave communities”.
Eastern Communications marketing services head, Jed Estanislao, explained the roadmap’s implications on the communities, “The roadmap tackles multiple challenges in growth. For one, it helps decongest the cities. We also get to explore the undertapped talent pool in the regions. Weare able to bring them connectivity and its accompanying surge of growth.”
Maximizing the shift to the regions will demand the country’s workforce to build soft skills like situational response and critical thinking, specialize on emerging areas for IT, and align their skill set with the demands of the market. Online courses and training will be valuable advantage to professionals as new trends arise for IT.
IBPAP vice chair Lito Tayag affirmed that the shift to higher-value services is possible, but only if infrastructure and resources are in place. The IT-BPM Roadmap 2022 is set to reinvent the opportunities available to Filipinos.