Groundbreaking digital solutions and innovative ideas take center stage during the Philippine Digital Convention 2019, which gathers together industry leaders and key stakeholders on July 18 to 19 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

Organized by the B2B arm of the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider, PLDT Enterprise, together with industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines, ePLDT Inc., and premier global market intelligence provider, International Data Corporation (IDC), the Philippine Digital Convention once more seeks to connect key decision makers with thought leaders and pioneers in technology.

"The Philippine Digital Convention is all about breaking boundaries, being on the edge," said PLDT and Smart Chief Revenue Officer Al S. Panlilio.

“As we enjoin our customers to adopt advanced and innovative technologies, it is our aim to accelerate the Philippines’ shift towards becoming a digital-first nation. Not only will this be better for business, it will likewise bring forth unprecedented economic growth, which will uplift the condition and capabilities of our nation,” adds Panlilio.

Headlining the event’s plenary session is motivational keynote speaker and digital leadership expert Erik “Equalman” Qualman, whose book, Digital Leader, made him the second most likeable author in the world — just a spot behind J.K. Rowling.

Listed by Forbes and Fortune as a Top 100 Digital Influencer, Qualman is set to discuss how executives can better connect with their clients and employees in today’s Wi-Fi world with a talk themed, “The Edge of Digital Leadership.”

Delivering the opening remarks of the said plenary session is none other is SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy Hernandez. Also preceding Qualman’s segment is a welcome message by PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan. He will then be followed by Nokia Senior Partner for Bell Labs Consulting Fuad Siddiqui and Cisco Southeast Asia President Naveen Menon.

This year’s convention will once again feature a digital exhibit — aptly referred to as the Digital Grounds. The guided tour will allow guests to traverse through time, ultimately culminating with a glimpse of a future built on 5G, AI, IoT, SD-Wan and next-generation cyber security — the PLDT products headlining this year’s convention.

With 2019 forecasted to see huge milestones in the tech and business landscapes, many analysts predict that this year will be the beginning of the fourth industrial revolution. The said products were chosen with the aim of enabling enterprises to better accommodate next-wave solutions through a solid technological backbone.

“Given the development of technology, we predict that businesses will have three key pillars in their digital transformation method, namely — connectivity, mobility and security. With these key pillars as guidance, enterprises will be able to leverage on solutions most relevant to their needs,” said SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy Hernandez.

“We simplified the formula for digital transformation so that our customers are equipped with a technology blueprint that will not only allow them to edge out competitors but will also future-proof their businesses,” he added.

On top of the said product highlights, the event will also see the launch of the Smart 5G alliance — comprised of such as Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, Cisco, Microsoft, SMS Global Technologies, Fujitsu, Clark Development Corporation, Araneta Center, and the Ateneo de Manila University. The partnership is envisioned as a sustainable forum for 5G innovations within the Philippine setting.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in a series of deep-dive workshops conducted by sector leaders and expert analysts during the industry breakout sessions happening on the second day of the event.

Key verticals to be covered are banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), manufacturing, public sector and local government units, retail and food servicing, and transportation and logistics. Among issues to be discussed at the said sessions include telecommuting, industry 4.0, green transportation, and the use AI/AR to improve customer experience, among others.

Now on its fifth year, The Philippine Digital Convention 2019 is set to be attended by over 1,500 delegates across industries and over 680 enterprises.

The Philippine Digital Convention 2019 is also brought to you by Nokia, Cisco, Palo Alto, Samsung, Fiberhome, Google, Huawei, Microfocus, Polycom, SMS Global Technology, and Hewlettt Packard Enterprise. Event exhibitors also include Secure 64, Soprano and Ericsson. For more information about the event, visit http://pldtenterprise.com/digicon2019!