Central Visayas Among RP's Major IT Markets
Central Visayas is among the regions identified as major markets for information technology products and services. Carolyn Andaya, IBM Philippines country manager for cross industry sector, said the company recently commissioned a marketing study. The study showed that six areas outside Metro manila accounts for 53 percent of IT spending.
Four of the six areas, including Central Visayas, are found in Southern Philippines. The three other areas are Western Visayas, Davao and Northern Mindanao, Andaya said. For this reason, she said, IBM Philippines is focusing on expanding its market reach to the areas concerned.
"Cebu is hub for the Visayas-Mindanao area. Part of our commitment is increased focus on these areas," Andaya pointed out. Abraham Thomas, vice president for global small medium business for IBM ASEAN/South ASia, noted that Cebu's economy is growing, as evidenced by a lot of construction activities here. Thomas said that IBM would like to take part in the economic growth by offering hardware and business solutions that would help businesses here become more efficient and productive.
He said that small and medium businesses (SMB), which numbers 500,000 worldwide, provide the IT industry an estimated US$380 billion market opportunity. For IBM, Thomas said, SMB is the largest single market opportunity, accounting for more than 20 percent of the company's total revenue in 2003 and 2004. In the Philippines, small and medium businesses account for US$551 million of market potential or 74 percent of total market opportunity, he added.
A report by IDC showed that 80 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) come from small and medium businesses, which in turn provide 70 percent of total jobs generated, Andaya said. IBM is also focusing on the growth areas such as banking, wholesale and retail sectors, and electronics sector, she said. Another area of growth is in IT sector, particularly the business process outsourcing (BPO) and the call centers, Andaya said.
According to Thomas, IBM's marketing focus is on two fronts, industry and geographical view. While the customer has choices of various products, he said, IBM offers value-for-money through its end-to-end products and the after sales service available to customers through the 100 service centers nationwide.
Cebu has a parts center that would allow quick replacement for damaged parts, Andaya said. Aside from this, she said, Cebu has several service engineers that would take care of the client's after-sales service requirements.
Cebu Daily News 25-February-2006
Four of the six areas, including Central Visayas, are found in Southern Philippines. The three other areas are Western Visayas, Davao and Northern Mindanao, Andaya said. For this reason, she said, IBM Philippines is focusing on expanding its market reach to the areas concerned.
"Cebu is hub for the Visayas-Mindanao area. Part of our commitment is increased focus on these areas," Andaya pointed out. Abraham Thomas, vice president for global small medium business for IBM ASEAN/South ASia, noted that Cebu's economy is growing, as evidenced by a lot of construction activities here. Thomas said that IBM would like to take part in the economic growth by offering hardware and business solutions that would help businesses here become more efficient and productive.
He said that small and medium businesses (SMB), which numbers 500,000 worldwide, provide the IT industry an estimated US$380 billion market opportunity. For IBM, Thomas said, SMB is the largest single market opportunity, accounting for more than 20 percent of the company's total revenue in 2003 and 2004. In the Philippines, small and medium businesses account for US$551 million of market potential or 74 percent of total market opportunity, he added.
A report by IDC showed that 80 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) come from small and medium businesses, which in turn provide 70 percent of total jobs generated, Andaya said. IBM is also focusing on the growth areas such as banking, wholesale and retail sectors, and electronics sector, she said. Another area of growth is in IT sector, particularly the business process outsourcing (BPO) and the call centers, Andaya said.
According to Thomas, IBM's marketing focus is on two fronts, industry and geographical view. While the customer has choices of various products, he said, IBM offers value-for-money through its end-to-end products and the after sales service available to customers through the 100 service centers nationwide.
Cebu has a parts center that would allow quick replacement for damaged parts, Andaya said. Aside from this, she said, Cebu has several service engineers that would take care of the client's after-sales service requirements.
Cebu Daily News 25-February-2006
posted by Cornelius at 11:09 AM
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