Pinoy IT workers get ‘above average’ rating from Japanese firms

Filipino information technology (IT) workers received an "above average" rank in a recent customer satisfaction survey based on quality standards set by Japan.

Trade and Industry Secretary Juan B. Santos said the survey result is a major boost to the country’s IT sector, especially for local companies looking for partnerships with Japanese firms in areas like web-enabled applications, engineering design services, telecom and enterprise solutions.

Covering the period April 2004 to March 2005, the survey showed Filipino professionals in IT and IT-enabled services scored an average of 83.7 percent satisfaction rating in four parameters namely, professionalism, knowledge and skills, responsiveness and promptness and over-all performance.

The survey was mentioned in a report by Fujitsu Philippines Inc. (FPI) whose subsidiary, WeServ Systems International Inc. (WeServ), is one of the largest software development firms based in the Philippines.

WeServ is a Fujitsu company providing outsourced IT services for Fujitsu’s international operations covering the Asia-Pacific region, North America, Europe and other parts of the world.

WeServ is part of the Philippine delegation to Japan’s Software Development Expo & Conference or SODEC to be held from June 29 to July 1 in Tokyo.

"For many years now, Japan looks in the Philippines for software development and related outsourcing requirements despite stiff challenge from other countries. Several Japanese business enterprises consider us their trusted partner for their critical IT needs," according to Jun Lasco Jr., director of Fujitsu Japan’s Business Division of WeServ.

Japan is the third largest IT services market in the world after North America and Western Europe. Japanese IT services spending is projected to hit $120 billion in 2008 with a steady 7.3 percent growth, analysts said.

The Philippine participation to SODEC is being organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Board of Investments (BOI).

Last year, 146 IT companies and a record number of 12, 807 visitors joined SODEC.

Japanese companies have historically looked inward for their IT systems primarily due to fears of sacrificing quality, confidentiality and timeliness of programs for their businesses.

However, after Japan’s recent economic problems and the global trend towards outsourcing IT services, many Japanese firms have grown more receptive to outsourcing as a way to boost their operating efficiency, improve their financial performance and upgrade IT systems.

Likewise, the shortfall of skilled engineers and the rising cost of IT services in Japan have prodded more companies to hire overseas professionals to serve their business processing and IT requirements.

"Our adaptability to international cultures as well as our combined Nihongo and English language skills give us the edge when it comes to winning IT outsourcing opportunities in Japan," Lasco added.

The Philippines has the third largest English-speaking people in the world outside the United Kingdom and the United States, thus giving it a major competitive advantage in clinching partnerships with Japanese firms, specifically those who are aggressively expanding into the predominantly English-speaking international markets.

Every year, the country graduates 34, 982 students in IT and IT-related courses.

To date, there are about 300 software development companies in the country performing system design/analysis, application/middleware/firmware development, testing and quality assurance to software maintenance and software project management.

Companies such as WeServe has partnered with the country’s leading universities like the University of the Philippines in selecting scholars for higher IT courses equivalent to a master’s degree, thus ensuring a steady pool of highly qualified and Nihongo-skilled software developers for the Japanese market.

"Japanese firms look for overseas partners in software development that will give them the benefit of high productivity-cost ratios, access to large and ready pool of highly skilled engineers, international quality assurance and control processes and on-time delivery of high performance work products," Lasco said.