Singapore’s community of IT experts at Spark and Manila’s Digital Pilipinas are partners in a program boosting digital capabilities in the region.
The partnership recognizes that ASEAN is the world’s fast-growing market whose output measured as the gross domestic product (GDP) is seen boosted to USD1 trillion but hounded by digitalization issues as workforce shortage of skills, lagged support for innovation and entrepreneurship and cyber threats outpacing cybersecurity measures, among others.
Spark and Digital Pilipinas signal the start of their partnership by gathering esteemed tech and business leaders to a panel discussion on emerging technologies at the “LeaderShift: How Tech Leaders Continue to Navigate the Ever-Changing Global Digital Landscape”webinar. The agenda centers on areas of digital transformation that organizations must embrace and opportunities for cooperation between countries, sectors and industries.
According to Abhijit Dasgupta, global head of Technology Risk, Control and Governance at ManpowerGroup, the digital transformation happening in Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore and the Philippines, present a vast opportunity for upskilling tech professionals and emphasized the need for workforce readiness. “The job descriptions we currently have in the industry are very fast changing and the companies have to adapt”, said Dasgupta.
Amdocs vice president Olivier Van Grembergen shares Dasgupta’s sentiments on the importance of manpower training. He emphasized the importance of integrating technical competencies into career paths. “Linking trainings to career aspirations and career paths incentivizes individuals to focus on continuous learning and helps with attracting and retaining technical talent”, said Van Grembergen.
For PLDT Philippines first vice president for Group CISO Angel Redoble, digital readiness also requires collaborations anchored on cybersecurity. “It is crucial for all levels of an organization, from the board to the lowest-ranking personnel, to prioritize cybersecurity and integrate it into their daily routines. While cybersecurity is a never-ending job, proactive measures such as “security by design” and anticipating compromises help mitigate the impact of cyber-attacks and uphold the continuity of services”, said Redoble.
More than organizational readiness, Hyperscal CEO Eugene Yeo believes that government collaboration plays a crucial role in the success of digital transformation. He cited his experience with Hyperscal saying, “For a startup like mine, in order for us to get a foot into the game, governments must also be open to having certain services or certain offerings, having a certain sandbox environment where they can actually view what these startups can provide and perhaps even embrace within the government itself.”
Additiv’s Philippines sales director Clarence Bondoc said digital transformation is not a quick sprint but rather a marathon that extends across various industries. This perspective underscores the long-term commitment required to navigate the complexities of digitalization successfully.
Beyond the recent gathering of tech leaders, Spark and Digital Pilipinas are on the move towards more collaborative efforts that will drive the digital transformation agenda. With shared goals and an even stronger network of tech visionaries working together, this new promising partnership in ASEAN shall take strides in empowering organizations and industries to thrive in the ever-changing tech landscape.
Spark and Digital Pilipinas are set to unveil more plans of advancing digital transformation together while recognizing outstanding leaders in business and technology at the upcoming Asia Digital Leader Awards happening at the Digital Pilipinas x Festival of Festivals on November 20-24, 2023 at SMX Aura, Taguig. To register, please visit https://digitalpilipinas.ph.
