[NEWS RELEASE]
Reaffirms Its Commitment to the premier city and hub of Mindanao
IBM kicked off its centenary celebrations in the Mindanao Region last 21 July 2011 with an IBM Comes To You (ICTY) event for clients and business partners in Davao City, as part of the company’s commitment to help bring smarter business and technology solutions to local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in key areas outside of Metro Manila. The event featured the IBM Mobile Solutions Kiosk and was held at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.
The ICTY roadshow series is part of the company’s geographic expansion strategy to bring expertise and technology solutions to clients outside metropolitan areas at greater speed and efficiency. It showcases IBM’s comprehensive set of offerings, including hardware, software and services tailored for the SMEs.
“Businesses based outside the National Capital Region (NCR) see great value in information technology as a way to increase competitiveness and as an enabler for a smarter planet. It is our strategy to work more closely with the city and our clients outside Metro Manila and to empower them to drive innovation and business efficiencies, that is why we continue to bring various initiatives to this region,” said Joy Bellosillo, Geo Expansion Leader, IBM Philippines.
Mindanao is an important market for IBM. The company is committed to help businesses and governments in the region grow and innovate through its extensive network of technical consultants and engineers, resellers, integrated software vendors and distributors in Davao, the region’s main business hub.
The ICTY Davao leg is in line with IBM’s mission to increase smarter technology adoption in the region across all industries with strong focus on the retail industry.
According to the Philippine Retail Association (PRA), the retail industry is experiencing significant growth in the Philippines, mainly due to rapid urbanization happening especially in growth areas like Davao. It is also an important contributor to the Philippine economy as it accounts for roughly 15% of the country’s total Gross National Product (GNP) and 33% of the entire services sector. It employs some 5.25 million people, representing a significant 18% of the country’s work force, which means roughly 2 out of every ten (10) workers is employed in the retail industry.
“We are in the age of the ‘empowered customer’ where the consumer expectations have accelerated rapidly over the past 10 years. Consumers are demanding greater flexibility and choice, creating opportunities for companies of all sizes to innovate and change the way consumers connect, interact and transact. Successful companies are staying competitive by transforming their approach to commerce. At IBM we call the path forward: Smarter Commerce — a strategic approach that places the customer at the center of a retailer’s business operations. IBM’s new smarter commerce approach and innovative standards-based technologies specifically designed for retail will enable retailers in Davao and other emerging markets in the Mindanao region to deliver better and more meaningful customer experiences,” Bellosillo added.
IBM’s commitment and focus in the Mindanao region reaches beyond the business frontiers — it extends to the community. In 2008, IBM deployed a team of 10 top-performing employees from various parts of the world to Davao for the IBM Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program. The volunteers were deployed to Davao Tourism Council to collaborate and work on strategic plans to establish a roadmap/framework for a master plan to achieve the council’s objectives. Another CSC team is set to be deployed in Davao in September.
IBM is also one of the founding members within ICT councils in the southern region. In November 26, 2009, IBM Philippines, Davao City Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (DCCCII) and ICT Davao, Inc. launched an SME Technology Center in Davao City. The center aims to help local enterprises to leverage IT as a strategic business enabler by providing partners and developers a facility to increase homegrown software development using IBM technology as a platform. The IBM-powered facility is located at DCCCII Building, Bajada, Davao City,
The company regularly partners with local ICT groups, government, business chambers and academic institutions to actively promote and harness technology for the region’s business and economic growth.
For more information, please visit www.ibm.com.
