Corporate giants launch consortium Goal: To make Phl the global center for business analytics

MANILA, Philippines - A consortium of private, public and academic institutions was launched yesterday in a bid to make the Philippines the global center for business analytics.

Speaking at the launch of the Analitika consortium, IBM Philippines president and country general manager Mariels Winhoffer said the consortium was formed to make the Philippines the preferred destination for big data and business analytics.

“The analytics industry will impact all industries. We will work towards making the Philippines the global center for analytics,” she said.

IBM, along with other firms such as Bank of the Philippine Islands, ABS CBN Corp., Smart Communications, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc., SM Retail Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., and Manila Electric Co. formed Analitika to serve as the governing body that would define, develop, enhance, promote and monitor analytics as an industry.

This, as the companies recognize the power of analytics and vast opportunities it presents in the global market.

Winhoffer said there are many opportunities in analytics as companies now use big data to make business decisions.

In the Philippines, she said, firms engaged in the retail, telecommunications and banking sectors are already harnessing data to achieve business outcomes.

At present, the country only accounts for about 10 percent of the $212 billion global analytics industry.

“What we are advocating is to be the global center so our market really is that whole market,” Winhoffer said.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, who attended the launch said business analytics has become an indispensable tool for any organization to differentiate itself and stay on top of the game. He noted global demand for such services is expected to continue to grow.

Research firm Gartner forecasts that by 2015, big data and business analytics would create a demand for 4.4 million jobs, but only one-third would be filled.

Domingo said the projected demand for jobs in the analytics industry presents a huge opportunity for the country.

“With the right academic foundation honed by subsequent professional training, the Philippines has the potential to fill this shortfall in advanced business analytics talent,” he said.

Being the first country to focus on analytics as a business and given the country’s vibrant economy, conducive business environment, available quality talent and engaged government, Domingo said the Philippines has the potential to cater to the global demand.

“With the confluence of fresh insights and brilliant ideas that Analitika is sure to provide, the Philippines is well-prepared and well-positioned to become the global center for smarter analytics,” he added.

Winhoffer said the consortium intends to come up with a roadmap which would cover the necessary skills and promotion efforts for the analytics industry in the next six to eight months.

While 12 leading universities in the country have developed curricula for business analytics, she said the consortium plans to come up with a program on analytics to be included in the curriculum for elementary and high school, as well as one for information technology- business process management workers who would like to take business analytics jobs.