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    Tech Island 2.0: Mastering the Digital Wave

    ArchivesTech Island 2.0: Mastering the Digital Wave

    It has been said it time and again, the business landscape has changed. It isn’t the same as what it was five or ten years ago. If you’re thinking of starting a business with the formula successful entrepreneurs applied back in the day, you might have to consider the state of the field you are getting into and re-map your plan with what you just have observed. With its goal of providing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a venue to explore their options for growth in this digital age, PLDT SME Nation hosted Tech Island 2.0 in Ocean Adventure, Subic.

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    The biggest ICT event in the country, held from April 15-16, gathered industry leaders, business owners, and IT professionals gathered for discussions and workshops on how to effectively communicate in the digital sphere, better understand it, and bank on their newfound information.

    Tech Island 2.0, now on its second year, opened its first day to key business owners in a forum that is meant to inform participants of the state of the changing digital landscape in the Philippines. With the theme “Transformation Leadership in the Digital Era,” PLDT executive vice president and head of Enterprise and International and Carrier Business Eric Alberto shared his insights on how to ride waves of the increasingly digital world for SMEs to remain competitive in the market.

    Other key speakers that shared their knowledge on the field are Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa–on her experience in taking Rappler to uncharted digital territories–and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Cardinal Luis Tagle–on the responsibility that users and businesses need to take in maximizing the potential of the digital world. They were also joined by Golden ABC president and CEO Bernie Liu and TV5 head of sports Vincent Reyes, and PLDT communication and ventures inc. Orlando Vea in a panel discussion about being transformational leaders in the digital era.

    On April 16, a larger crowd of over 1,000 members of IT professionals, business owners, and developers gathered on the second day. Similar to the activities available on the first day, the second day consisted of sessions and workshops with some of the country’s top technology brands.

    Surfing is a challenging sport. In this water sport, your ultimate goal is to be able to stand on your surfboard whilst riding a wave; that is only when you can say you’ve succeeded. To be able to do such feat, you must learn to overcome certain challenges first. In surfing, you must know how to handle an ebb, ride the flow, and when you get knocked down, learn how to get back on your surfboard. In some way, this is analogous to what it’s like running a business. You make time to study  trends, give it a shot, and adapt to changes to thrive in the thick of competition.

    Jumpstarting day two with the theme “Mastering the Digital Wave,” participants learned from talks that will allow businesses to shift from traditional to the digital with the use of tools and services that can empower SMEs.

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    The plenary kicked off with International Data Corporation’s Software and Services Director for ASEAN Roger Ling.  He presented his analysis on where the technology industry is heading in the coming years and expressed the need for IT companies to evolve for them to remain competent in the field.

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    Following Ling was Foodpanda Philippines’ chief executive officer Mauro Cocchieri who shared his experience in bringing Foodpanda to the country. During his time on the stage, he shared the changing behavior of consumers with the proliferation of internet technology. He added that SMEs can take advantage of the digital revolution and integrate their operations and deliveries into the cyberspace. “Execute well, it makes the difference.” Cocchieri concluded.

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    Amihan Global Strategies managing director Winston Damarillo, on the other hand, shared his journey in making it big in Silicon Valley and how he started his own enterprises. Also, he shared his dream of a Philippines brimming with entrepreneurs who “build their own, sell their own stuff, and is proud of what they make.”

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    Rounding out the morning session was a talk from IdeaSpace Foundation president and co-founder Earl Valencia, who discussed the need for science and innovation to solve the region’s market issues. He also shared the tools SME’s need to help grow their business.

    For the afternoon, participants engaged in four breakout sessions with each intended to cater to every stage of a digital enterprise’s growth.

    • “Catching the Wave,” discussed a full-solution approach in providing SMEs with the necessary platforms as they continue to grow their businesses in the digital hemisphere.
    • “Riding the wave,” unveiled the key to competitive efficiency and centered on the benefits of automating and streamlining operations with ICT solutions.
    • “Sink or Swim,” is for businesses that already have cloud solutions and how they sustain their digital enterprises.
    • “Surfing Lessons,” provided business hacks for starting a digital outlet.

    Capping off the event, participants partied on the beach with special guest Ellen Adarna.

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