Cebu slips a notch lower in Tholons 2019 ranking

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu has further slipped in the Super Cities ranking by Tholons for 2019, from hitting 11th place in 2018, it backtracked to 12th place this year.

“The list is becoming more competitive and other cities/countries are catching up fast on digital adoption and the startup activities,” said Cebu IT-BPM Organization (CIB.O) managing director Wilfredo Saa Jr.

Manila sustained its second place from 2018 to 2019, competing closely with Bangalore, India.

Cebu City on the other hand is in close rivalry with Krask’ow City in Germany (11th), Buenos Aires, Argentina (10th) and Singapore at 9th place.

“Intelligent Automation, Machine Learning, Cognitive Computing and Applications moving to cloud is transforming businesses and the services industry. Tomorrow's workforce will be a digital workforce at scale, consisting of digital workers and human beings working together,” said Vashistha, Tholons chairman and chief executive officer (CEO).

According to Vashista digital is now a critical element in disrupting and transforming industries globally.

“Technology, business process management companies and multinational corporations need to align with the stark reality of digital innovation and transformation,” he added.

The rise and fall of a city, like Cebu which landed on its highest ranking at 8th place in 2016, it is because of the fast changing requirements of clients worldwide.

“Clients are now seeking strategies to digitally transform their businesses, leveraging new age technology like AI, mobility, analytics, cloud, social media, blockchain and cybersecurity. The legacy and traditional businesses need to revisit their business models in order to harness the power of such technology,” Vashista noted.

Also, the intelligent automation of services like application management, infrastructure support, testing and business process management, is reducing or even eliminating the need for manpower. These new forces will push technology and services companies to think differently to sustain and grow, the Tholons chief further advised.

Cebu, according to Saa should push for more digital adoption, not just the private sector but most importantly, the government.

“More digital adoption in our government processes( like business permits/cedula/real estate taxes,etc). Functional one stop shops where new employees get their SSS/TIN/PhilHealth/NBI clearance and a more vibrant startup ecosystem,” Sa-a stressed as Tholon’s ranking involves the holistic digital adoption of a city.

The academe in Cebu also should work harder in catching up with the industry’s requirement saying “talents must be more ready for programming/coding related jobs.”

Tholons Services Globalization Index 2019TM" (TSGI), its flagship research report and ranking of the Top 50 "Digital Nations" and Top 100 "Super Cities." The Services Globalization (outsourcing) industry has been shaken by the paradigm shift and big industry leaders are grappling to align their business model to the new world of enterprise digital innovation and transformation. Tholons Services Globalization Index (TSGI) is published annually and is the industry's premier ranking of the Top 100 "Super Cities" and Top 50 "Digital Nations."

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ competitive advantage in Tholons top 50 digital city, weakened further from hitting the 2nd place in 2018, to 5th place this year.

The Philippines is closely racing with India, Brazil, United States and Canada.

Tholons Services Globalization Index (TSGI) is published annually and is the industry’s premier ranking of the Top 100 “Super Cities” and Top 50 “Digital Nations”. (FREEMAN)