Record PC shipments

There is an interesting report from International Data Corp. and it pertains to the record-high shipment of personal computers into the country.

According to IDC, the performance of the Philippine PC market in the first quarter of 2016 exceeded expectations, posting the highest shipment levels since the third quarter of 2014. IDC data show PC shipments reached 518,645 units, growing seven percent year-on-year. Such robust growth reinforces the Philippine PC market’s position as among the few in the world to still see growth, it said.

IDC said the healthy shipment levels during the first quarter of the year could be attributed to the consumer segment’s increased uptake of notebook PCs pegged at 56 percent year-on-year on the back of bullish consumer spending. Entry-level notebooks were the biggest volume drivers in the consumer market during the quarter, it noted.

On the other hand, the election season impacted the commercial PC market, causing it to decline by 17 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the report said. It explained the quarter saw delayed PC deployments for government projects and requests for bids held off, while the enterprise sector adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward major investments and spending.

But market intelligence firm IDC pointed out this standstill is expected to change in the coming quarters as opportunities for the commercial PC segment would begin to flow again once the new administration has settled in.

Meanwhile, the report revealed the transition from desktop PCs to notebooks became more pronounced in the first quarter of 2016 as more and more end users embrace a mobile lifestyle.

According to IDC Philippines associate market analyst Sean Paul Agapito, the continued push of PC vendors in the entry-level notebook space, the proliferation of WiFi zones in public establishments, and the growing on-the-go culture of the working class are compelling consumers to consider portable PCs more than stationary ones.

Come to think of it, when was the last time I used a stationary PC?

IDC noted that while this trend has been observed in the consumer segment for several years now, the transition is gradually reaching the commercial sector. In fact, the commercial desktop market declined 27 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, while the commercial notebook market grew 24 percent.

The first quarter performance may signal a positive market performance for the rest of the year, IDC said, noting that “while the global PC market continues to contract due to sluggish economic growth in most regions and the ongoing shift from PCs to smartphones as the preferred computing device (especially in developed countries), the Philippines is among the countries that will continue on a growth track.”

From a regional perspective, the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that would see growth in 2016, it added.

Agapito explained that although short-term uncertainties and seasonality may impact growth of the PC market, the country’s momentum toward ICT adoption would remain strong in 2016, and this positive ICT outlook is a result of various elements overlapping to create an environment conducive to business growth, such as favorable macroeconomic trends, rise of millennials in the workforce, impact of the IT-BPO industry, and demand from small and medium-sized businesses.

He also pointed out that once fully established, the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) would also play a critical role in bolstering the growth of the Philippines PC market. He added the creation of a centralized ICT agency would set the Philippine ICT market on a clearer and more cohesive direction and would make the country an even more attractive investment destination for market players, both local and global.

Good for tourism

Who says all these killings are bad for our country’s image?

A tourism industry leader says the intensified anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration, which has to date brought down the crime rate to 49 percent compared to last year, is in fact a boon to tourism.

Network of Independent Travel & Allied Services Philippines, Inc. (NITAS) president Robert Lim Joseph  said it is now safer to move around the country not only for residents, but also for tourists because the low crime rate is very good to the tourism industry.

Joseph called on the police to continue its campaign since peace and order is a prerequisite for a successful tourism industry. He said the high crime numbers in the past gave the impression to tourists that the country is not safe. But with reports the crime volume has dipped dramatically, more tourists would be encouraged to visit the country, he said.

He recommended the intensification of drug testing among drivers, even as he reiterated what police have been saying that many crimes are either drug-related or committed by those under the influence of drugs.

 AIM’s 10^th

One of the country’s biggest names in the multilevel marketing field, Alliance in Motion Global (AIM Global) celebrates its 10th year via a three-day convention themed ‘A Decade of Passion, Service, and Excellence.’ During the event, ‘AIMcademy’ was launched with AIM CMO John Asperin, CEO Dr. Ed Cabantog, CFO Engr. Francis Miguel (shown in photo from left), vice presidents Arnel Limpin and Jurgen Gonzales, medical consultant Dr. Butch Villena, and networking marketing strategist Art Jonak among the speakers and facilitators. Other international speakers include Nature’s Way’s master herbalist Dean Moris, Weider Global Nutrition’s Bill Robbs, Dr. James Bauly of DSM Nutritional Products, and Dr. Rudy Simons of Frutarom Switzerland. Also during the convention, Nature’s Way and Natura Life Asia presented a $30, 000 check to ALIVE Foundation, a charitable institution chaired by AIM Global’s Dra. Connie Cabantog that has given assistance and medical attention to more than 30,000 families since 2008. Weider Global Nutrition also donated $10,000.

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