LIQUID STUDIO BY ACCENTURE
Innovation hub speeds up software application development cycles
New York Stock Exchange-listed firm Accenture reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines as one of its key centers of innovation during the launching of a “liquid studio” in the country yesterday.
The liquid studio, from the technology term liquid, which means “faster” and “more adaptable,” accelerates software application development cycles where both clients and Accenture engineers co-innovate to turn concepts into applications and solutions.
The 2,000-square-meter liquid studio, located inside the Accenture facility in Uptown Place in Bonifacio Global City in Manila, aims to reduce development time from months to days by applying rapid development approaches.
Further, it also serves as an experiment hub for Accenture employees in manipulating disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation, augmented and virtual reality, analytics, as well as the Internet of Things, among others.
“The Philippines is a significant and strategic part of Accenture’s global operations, and the new Liquid Studio in Manila will help our clients navigate the digital revolution and stay competitive in today’s challenging marketplace,” said Ambe Tierro, Accenture Philippines technology lead, during the launch in Manila.
Accenture also has liquid studios in Silicon Valley, London, Milan, Paris, Kronberg, Singapore, and Sydney.
Bhaskar Ghosh, Accenture Technology Services group chief executive, said the Philippines was an ideal location to open another liquid studio, citing the available talent pool and young workforce who are generally more flexible in adopting innovations and new technologies.
“We have a large presence in the Philippines, and an excellent track record of (project) delivery,” said Ghosh. Accenture has 22 facilities in the Philippines scattered in Manila, Cebu and Ilocos.
In support of the company’s commitment to future-proofing talents, executives said the Manila liquid studio will collaborate with startups and students to help them develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Filipino-led tech
In a studio tour yesterday participated by reporters, Accenture executives and engineers showcased Filipino-led technologies applying artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, as well as the Internet of Things, and how these will shape the future of key industries from automotive, mining, real estate and agriculture, among many others.
To date, Accenture Philippines Digital Lead managing director JP Palpallatoc said, it is mostly global companies that have benefited from these advanced technologies, although some Philippine companies have started to make use of Accenture’s innovations too.
The call is for Philippine companies to also embrace the “new IT (information technology)” to scale up their business.
Globally, Accenture employs 401,000 people serving clients across 120 countries.
In the Philippines, where the company has been for 32 years, it has a total workforce of 45,000, with 85 percent of them being millennials. In Cebu, it employs roughly 5,000 workers offering clients services in strategy, consulting, digital technology and operations.