PLDT and Cisco urge organizations to prioritize digital transformation

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PLDT Enterprise, the business arm of PLDT, and BOUNDLESS: Philippine Digital Convention 2022 (PH Digicon) highlighted emerging technologies and practices to help leaders and consumers adapt to the ever-changing business landscape during the panel discussion “Going Beyond the Future of Tech,” moderated by PLDT-Smart FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications, Catherine Yap-Yang. The panel was joined by global tech leaders such as ePLDT President and CEO, Victor S. Genuino, Nokia Vice President and Head of Southeast Asia, Daniel Jaeger, and Cisco Head of AppDynamics, APJC, Simon Rizkallah.

 ePLDT President and CEO, Victor S. Genuino on adapting to the ‘new normal’ for consumers and businesses 

“With today’s ever changing business landscape, enterprises are seeing the need to adapt because consumers are changing the way they consume products and services: they want goods and services delivered in a convenient, timely, and secure manner,” explains Victor S. Genuino, ePLDT President and CEO. “Businesses are realizing that if they are to adapt to this new normal, their businesses have to transform as well.” 

Cisco, the worldwide leader in technology, and one of this year’s keystone sponsors for PH Digicon 2022, shared insights on how the company embodies what it means to be boundless–in terms of always putting customers first and helping build a resilient and flexible enterprise as companies bounce back into their new normal.    

“From Cisco’s perspective, the end user is always in mind,” says Simon Rizkallah, Head of AppDynamics, APJC, Cisco. “We also understand that digital transformation really occurs with the service provider. [And so, we congratulate] service providers like PLDT who have managed, during COVID, to live up to the level that customers were looking for and enable people to operate their businesses, for people to work from home, and for kids to continue their education through e-learning.” 

 Simon Rizkallah, Head of AppDynamics, APJC, Cisco talked about how digital transformation is a continuous evolution 

Rizkallah goes on to explain that from a digital transformation perspective, it is still occurring, that it is a continuous task and evolution. Cisco also continues to take steps into adapting to this evolution, from insight and automation to sustainability in smart infrastructure, and data security. 

“For us at Cisco, the Environmental, Social, and Governance requirement is top of mind. So, everything that’s going to come out from Cisco moving forward is going to be focused on power and how we can become greener for the environment,” Rizkallah shares. “Security is also top of mind for everyone. We’ve seen hacks across the globe and power utilities, so, [for us and service providers] how do we protect this critical infrastructure as it becomes digital?” 

PH Digicon remains to be the Philippines’ most prestigious and one of the most sought-after digital thought leadership events in APAC that brings together global thought leaders and technology experts from across all industries. 

For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/.  

PH Digicon 2021 power panel highlights embracing revolutionary technology

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Featured power panelists of the REVOLUTION: Philippine Digital Convention 2021 Day 1 Plenary Session imparted significant insights and takeaways on embracing revolutionary technology as a means to thrive and serve the shifting needs of their customers in the post-pandemic world.

Part of the power panel of the digital convention’s Plenary Session which happened last October 6 were Yasuo Suzuki, President of NTT Global Data Centers; John Harrington, Nokia Senior Vice President and Head of the Asia Pacific and Japan; Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Dave West, President of Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China; and Nicholas Ma, Huawei Asia Pacific Enterprise Business Group Head.

Pangilinan discussed key perspectives to the delegates, along with other industry leaders in technology. He says companies nowadays are measured on sustainability and digitalization or their adaptability to technology which is “no longer a luxury but an imperative.”

“We have to persuade senior management that it’s important to adopt digital technology because you will be obsolete if you don’t do that. And values are now driven by your ability to do your digital pivot, especially if you are a publicly-listed company,” said Pangilinan.

The MPIC head, who also chairs the PLDT Group, added that businesses need to adapt to innovation to leverage the revolutionary solutions of tech companies.

“We’re seeing revolution happening across the board for businesses, so it’s our job to be able to encourage if not push them into that space. The enterprise group should provide the solutions to these companies in their pivotal switch…They need somebody to tell them what to do…,” Pangilinan noted.

Huawei executive Nicholas Ma said that as time goes on, “networks will become self-organizing, self-healing, self-optimizing, and autonomous,” allowing enterprises to access intelligent connectivity with more straightforward and secure service to organizations.

“The technology is always working for the people and the entire organization. With the revolutionary technology, we hope our customers and the people can live a simple, personalized, and secure life with ICT technology,” said Ma.

Meanwhile, Suzuki highlighted that NTT Global Data Centers is constantly looking to develop more efficient data centers while maintaining sustainability. With their long history of world-class networking products and services, he said that NTT is well-positioned to lead the industry amid the demand for additional capacity.

Likewise, Harrington noted the role of Nokia in allowing the world to act together through the use of critical networks that are secure and trusted.

He said that 5G is more than just a faster experience for consumers but is about bringing digitization, productivity, and growth to industrial sectors suffering from low growth even before the pandemic.

“Nokia’s off to a great start in terms of leadership with over 240 commercial 5G agreements,” the Nokia executive said.

For Cisco, West shared that their purpose is creating an inclusive future and building technology that allows people to be included no matter who they are, where they are, or how they work.

“Our technology is built in a way that enables people to feel included, and it is core to our cultural beliefs as a company… As we think about next-generation technology, it is providing connectivity to the unconnected, how we create technology and innovation, and how we use technologies to do the right things and provide capabilities for innovation,” West said.

The Philippine Digital Convention is the most prestigious digital thought leadership event hosted by PLDT Enterprise. Titled “REVOLUTION”, this year’s PH Digicon featured over 120 industry leaders and experts, sharing their expertise on topics such as technology predictions, industry evolution, emerging technologies, among others.

Relive the three-day convention like no other via content on-demand available exclusively on phdigicon2021.com.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.