The global shift to remote work due to the pandemic has completely transformed the way we work. As businesses navigate what the future of work means, it is clear that hybrid work is here to stay. This includes the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry, an essential sector to the Philippine economy. Cisco is committed to helping companies in the IT-BPM sector achieve their long-term hybrid work strategy securely and address key challenges in the transformation.
“Today’s workforce demands more flexibility to work from anywhere. This calls for a radical change in the IT-BPM industry to meet this demand and ensure business continuity, increased competitiveness and employee productivity,” said Robin Llamas, Officer-in-charge (OIC) Managing Director for Cisco Philippines.
The Philippines is considered a global leader in the IT-BPM Industry. Last year, IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) data showed that the sector contributed USD26.7 billion in revenue.
In its commitment to empowering an inclusive digital future for all, Cisco, through its country digital acceleration program – UGNAYAN2030 – is working closely with industry leaders, the government, and the academe to achieve a shared goal in elevating the state of the IT-BPM industry. UGNAYAN2030 is looking to explore technological opportunities to increase Filipinos’ digital literacy, accelerate enterprise recovery, and strengthen local capacities for innovation.
The IT-BPM industry is essential to the Philippine economy. It provides direct and indirect jobs for at least 5 million Filipinos, and is expected to generate more openings by the end of 2022, IBPAP data reveals. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to a Work From Home (WFH) set-up have highlighted some challenges that hamper the future of hybrid working. According to Llamas, concerns include the deployment of PCs to call center agents, talent generation, wellness and productivity, unequipped agencies, latency, and the lack of stable internet and technological resources.
Through UGNAYAN2030, Cisco is currently advocating for long-term hybrid offshoring, grounded on the following pillars: connectivity, collaboration, and cybersecurity. This is achieved through a seamless technology experience that adopts (1) agile infrastructure for mobility and secure set-up for remote work, (2) safe space assurance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through technology like facial recognition, contact tracing, low- to no-touch devices, voice commands, social distancing alerts and notifications, and (3) security and remote features to connect and protect users and devices whether they are working at home or in the office.
“The goal is to resemble an on-premise type of experience in a home set-up, especially since the IT-BPM sector’s value proposition is centralized management,” shared Llamas.
Llamas also emphasized the importance of addressing the personal health and wellness of BPO employees amid the hybrid set-up, as it is a pressing concern in the time of a pandemic. He adds that “while hybrid work is already being implemented, we must focus on ensuring that this set up is productive and sustainable. In addition to seamless technology, the health and wellness of employees is a critical component of successful hybrid work in the long-term.”
Cisco aims to support the industry through technology that will help companies in the IT-BPM industry enhance security systems while championing performance and employee productivity at a minimal cost. “The goal is to create a simple and integrated solution to address the challenges of a hybrid work environment,” Llamas said.
Ample technology infrastructure support, talent and culture development, as well as networking and partnership opportunities are crucial components to a successful hybrid work strategy to power an inclusive future in the IT-BPM industry says Cisco.