Automation to create additional jobs for IT-BPM

By Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star), Sep 28, 2017

MANILA, Philippines — The automation of the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry will create the need for mid-skilled jobs and high-skilled services, industry groups said.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Rey Untal said while experts are predicting that the local workforce is in danger of being replaced by automation, it would also enable the sector to produce mid-skilled and high-skilled jobs

“What is often overlooked about automation is that while it is expected to impact certain jobs in the sector, this will also enable the IT-BPM industry to move up the value chain, resulting in an increase in mid-skilled jobs and high-skilled services,” Untal said.

Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) chairman Benedict Hernandez said only the simple type of jobs would be lost, as the industry shifts to cater to higher-skilled tasks.

“In 2022, we forecast the simple type of work to employ 40,000 less people,” Hernandez said.

He added the country is seen to generate 70,000 or more mid-skilled or complex-skilled jobs from the shift.

“We’re generating jobs, but the kind of jobs we’re doing and the kind of work is becoming less simple,” Hernandez said.

Untal said it is important to continue discussions on the effects of automation to the IT-BPM industry in order to prepare for its impact.

“That is why it is important for us to continue the conversation at the summit, where we have experts flying in from all over the globe to discuss the impact of technology and the future of the industry in great detail,” Untal said.

The IBPAP and CCAP will hold the 9th International IT-BPM Summit (IIS) in November to further discuss the effects of automation.

The summit aims to extend the conversation on the impact of technology on the entire IT-BPM space – from contact centers to the budding upstart sectors in information technology, software development, game development and healthcare information management.

“The conference will also serve as the launch pad for the new country brand and narrative – a top priority of the Roadmap 2022’s high impact programs on country marketing – and to continue the Philippine IT-BPM industry’s thrust to solidify its position as one of the top players in the global marketplace and highlight the country’s competitive edge on unparalleled customer experience and world-class talents,” IBPAP said.

“The Philippines is a global leader in the IT-BPM space but we are not done growing,” IBPAP vice chair Catherine Salceda-Ileto said.

She added the group sees opportunities to turn disruptive technological headwinds into advantageous differentiating factors for the Philippines.

“We are excited to see global and local leaders work together to showcase and find applications for the unique value proposition of the Philippine IT-BPM industry,” Ileto said.

Apart from the misconception of technology, particularly automation on the IT-BPM sector, Ileto also dismissed predictions of a slowdown in the Mindanao IT-BPM industry due to the declaration of martial law.

Ileto cited Davao City as an example, where the number of full-time employees of the IT-BPM sector continues to grow,

“A lot of our operators are already there. In fact we already have about 35,000-40,000 full-time employees in Davao alone,” Ileto said.

Moreover, the upcoming IIS will also recognize the drivers and enablers of the IT-BPM industry with the Flare Awards. The 9th IIS will be held on Nov. 7 at the Shangri-La Hotel Manila in Makati City.