ePLDT sees more firms outsourcing IT

MANILA, Philippines -  More companies are expected to outsource their information technology (IT) infrastructure and operations as they put more focus on going digital to keep up with competition, a unit of PLDT said.

According to the International Data Corp., global spending on digital transformation technologies and solutions is expected to hit $2 trillion by 2020 as more companies put greater emphasis on going digital.  

“Undergoing digital transformation requires a company’s in-house IT department to work with emerging and constantly evolving technologies. This can put a strain on their resources. Outsourcing IT takes their hands off the more mechanical tasks enabling them to focus on the strategic part of their responsibilities,” ePLDT Group chief operating officer Nerisse Ramos said.

Managed service providers  (MSP) or those offering managed IT services bring in knowledge and experience to an organization on an ongoing basis.

By tapping the services of the MSP, companies can have access to new technologies.

In addition, companies can cut costs because MSPs operate through a subscription-based model which does not require huge capital expenditures.

“Digital transformation requires very specific skills to stay up-to-date with emerging trends. It can be a difficult task especially for companies whose core business is not IT. In cases like these, outsourcing can significantly help manage the risks as well as resources since the implementation is handled by IT experts, while the in-house IT department can devote their undivided attention to achieving business goals,” Ramos said. 

Outsourcing IT operations also allows companies to improve overall productivity. 

A recent Deloitte survey showed 59 percent of respondents said outsourcing has reduced costs, while 45 percent said it was useful in addressing capacity issues, and 29 percent saw it help boost chances to scale globally.

“A qualified MSP can achieve all of these by streamlining processes and making them more efficient and productive. This enables a company to take advantage of opportunities more quickly,” Ramos said.

At present, ePLDT offers managed IT services to small, medium and large-scale businesses.

Its services include IT operations and maintenance for network, systems, devices, security, storage, and contact center support which businesses can avail of through a monthly subscription.