$1.16 billion export revenue expected for the Philippine software industry by end of 2013

MAKATI CITY, Philippines - Nov. 21, 2013 - PRLog -- Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies in the Philippines have been inching their way to recognition in an effort to strengthen their hold in the export business scene. The Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), which promotes the growth of the Philippine software industry, is confident to reach $1.16 billion in export revenues for 2013.

With an estimated 400-600 Philippine software companies in existence - mostly small to medium enterprises with niche expertise in various technology areas - this industry is focused on its goal of boosting the export market in the Philippines, as well as opening up more employment opportunities for Filipino software professionals.

Filipino software engineers compete on a global level
According to Calen Legaspi, CEO of Orange and Bronze Software Labs (http://www.orangeandbronze.com) (O&B), “the skills of Filipino software engineers are at par with their foreign counterparts. This is the value offshore clients see. Most foreign companies want solutions providers that operate on the same level as their internal teams.”

O&B has been servicing companies in the United States, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe since 2005. Aside from providing software development services, the company also provides training opportunities for the Philippine academe. This is an effort to uplift the level of Computer Science education in the country and improve the competency of graduates.

“From my experience, Filipino engineers already have the raw skills to compete on a global scale”, says Legaspi. “With the right training and guidance, they have the potential to bring in more business for local companies.”

Manila is a top outsourcing destination
Outsourcing has been on a steady incline in the Philippines, providing employment for half a million Filipinos. It has grown 46% annually since 2006. At the forefront is Business Process Outsourcing (more popularly known as “call centers”), with Manila ranking number 3 worldwide for top BPO destinations, following Bangalore and Mumbai. Fueling the growth of outsourcing work are the higher-end services - which counts software development as part of the list.

According to Arup Maity, President of BlastAsia, Inc (http://www.blastasia.com/). (BAI) and a professor at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), there were around 50,000 Filipino software engineers involved in export services in 2012. “The number of software developers grow at an average of 20% annually. The Philippines arguably comes second in terms of software export, following India. Because of Filipinos’ excellent English skills, it is proven that the country is a strong player in software product engineering, as this type of work requires heavy interaction and verbal communication with foreign clients.”

BAI is a software development company that has been operating in the Philippines for over a decade. Majority of its clientele are located overseas, including the US, Australia, and Europe. The company has witnessed and has been part of the growth of ICT outsourcing demand.

Maity adds that “software development services for offshore clients started in the Philippines in the early 1980s, ahead of several other Asian countries. Our software industry right now is mature, the service providers come with years of experience and are knowledgeable of the best business practices to cater to global clients.”

International research firm Everest Group confirms that the Philippines has joined India, China, and Poland as a mature destination for IT outsourcing services. With dedicated government support, strong ICT infrastructure, and English-proficient workers - the industry is well on its way to reach its targets.