Month: May 2017

BPO You were WARNED

Insights from my good friend Jerry about a looming threat to the BPO/Call Center industry in the Philippines, which impacts millions of Filipinos.

The Outsource Source

In the spring of 2011 Frost & Sullivan held a BPO event in Manila.  Held on the heals of the much welcomed attainment of #1 global status as the lead in BPO services the Philippine BPO celebration was in full swing.  There is nothing like a celebration in the Philippines and nothing can dampen the opportunity or the spirit of such revelry.  So it comes as no big surprise that the words I shared at that event were drowned out by the merriment that was being enjoyed.  It was no small feat that rising to this level of achievement over India had taken place.  The future was all bright and there was a sense of invincibility.

While some make predictions on the basis of a hope that no one will remember when it doesn’t take place.  I chose my words careful in issuing a warning that while celebrations are taking…

View original post 849 more words

Advertisement

Global Chamber Manila: Filipino jobs threatened by Artificial Intelligence

For the past couple of weeks, digital transformation has been making headlines in the Philippines… finally!

A recent article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer has Senator Bam Aquino worried about Filipinos losing jobs to Artificial Intelligence.

Aquino, who chairs the Senate committee on science and technology, filed Resolution No. 344 that seeks to look into the government’s plan and initiatives to maximize the development of AI and other emerging technologies. Aquino says, “This early, we should be preparing for any eventuality that may occur when automation goes into full swing.”

Thus, we need to move very quickly to prepare! Don’t miss the Digital Transformation Summit on May 24-25. Save 15% on tickets with promo code: DTSBBDA15

Read the full news article: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/894684/filipinos-losing-jobs-to-artificial-intelligence-bam-aquino-worried

DMAIPH hires, refers and connects Filipino analytics talent. The Philippines is at the center of the action when it comes to solutions to the global need for analytics.

Working with DMAIPH to find work, hire analytics talent or set up analytics teams will ensure you are tapped into the best of the best when it comes to analytics in the Philippines. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to find out how to take advantage of this booming opportunity.

gcmpicture1

Global Chamber Manila helps members get business done across metro areas!

We are a thriving and collaborating community of CEO’s, executives, and professionals growing business across 525 metropolitan areas. We leverage technology and our collective networks around the world to help member companies grow, reduce risk, be more productive, and succeed faster.

We are the only organization in the world with the mission to grow business from anywhere to anywhere while collaborating with every organization. We help companies, investors and business service providers around the world succeed.

APEC Data Science & Analytics Key Competency #3: Data Management and Governance

According to the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Advisory Group, Data Management and Governance is one of the key competencies of a Data Science & Analytics professional working in the region.

By definition, a DSA professional can develop and implement data management strategies and governance, while incorporating privacy, data security, polices and regulations, and ethical considerations.

The concepts of data management and data governance are kind of the like the chicken… you really can’t have one without the other. Although to the layman, data management includes data governance.

The simplest way to put it, is that data management is the physical aspects of data collecting, capturing, storing, segmenting, etc. Data governance is then the rules or guiding principles that direct how data management works.

There are a lot of data management resources out there. There are not a lot of data governance resources out there. This is why in a majority of companies, we have raw data that needs a lot of cleaning and refining before it can be used in a business.

Organizations that are good in data governance, generally have solid data management. Mature analytics companies have data that is easy to access, is accurate and is used in decision-making.

Data Governance is composed on three parts: People, Process and Technology.

DMAI_DataGovernanceThe people have titles like database admins, data stewards and data warehouse experts. They enforce the laws and rules around data within an organization.

The technology used is generally programming languages, coding and joining data structures to layout the blueprint of how data flows throughout the organization’s hardware.

The process is the rules, generally set down by senior management, and often in line with government or industry regulations that govern how data should be used.

If your organization has a lot of data, has people that are well versed in data management, and uses data to feed decision-making, then you need to make sure you have solid data governance.

If you don’t, DMAIPH can help. Likely you are missing key people, clear processes, and/or the right technology to ensure your data is being governed correctly.

jobspicture2

Analytics Training – DMAIPH offers a wide range of analytics centric training solutions for professionals and students via public, in-house, on-site, and academic settings. We tailor each training event to meet the unique needs of the audience.

If you need empowerment and skills enhancement to optimize the use of analytics in your organization, we are here to help. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation to learn which of our DMAIPH analytics training solutions is best for you.

Worried Your Call Center Job Might Be Taken by a Robot? You should be.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/12/17/bpos-gearing-up-for-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-on-industry

I shared this article on an FB group and got a lot of inquires from people who are indeed seeing an opportunity to move from a call center job to a Data Science and Analytics (DSA) job.

Most of the questions revolved around how to transition.

Want to get Data Science and Analytics Training. Not sure how, here are some tips!

  1. Self-Teach a Skill. (YouTube has thousands of free resources)
  2. Volunteer at Work. (Find out what skills are in demand in your company and ask if you can help)
  3. Take a Training Class (there are a lot of public training classes out there, including some that DMAIPH does).
  4. Read a Book (Experts share a lot… like my book Putting Your Data to Work: An Analytics Guidebook for Filipino Professionals)
  5. Find a Mentor (Jedi Knights start as an apprentice, so do many analysts and data scientists)
  6. Join a Group (there are a lot of meet up groups like Data Science Philippines you can use to network)
  7. Go Back to School (a few dozen schools here in the Philippines are either already offering data science an analytics programs are kicking them off soon)
  8. Follow a Blog. (Besides reading books, there are a lot of good ideas shared on blogs like mine, dmaiph.com)
  9. Become a Member (join associations like aap.ph aka Analytics Association of the Philippines)

Another question that came up often was, “What should you learn first?”

Find a tool, technique or technology that is high demand and fits your interests and aptitude. The best way to find out what to focus on is do a job search for the kind of job you want and look at the requirements. For newbies some of the in demand skills are

  • SQL (the most widely used language used for data analytics)
  • Microsoft Excel (if you know pivot tables, simple formulas and can make decent visuals you will be in high demand)
  • Tableau (a free version called Tableau Public can be downloaded and is easy to learn)
  • R (the most widely used tool for predictive analytics and data science and its free)

And then a lot more people added me on FB, hoping to network and find new opportunities. Thats a good tip too. Networking is key.

DMAIPH offers a wide range of analytics centric training solutions for professionals and students via public, in-house, on-site, and academic settings. We tailor each training event to meet the unique needs of the audience.

jobspicture2If you need empowerment and skills enhancement to optimize the use of analytics in your organization, we are here to help. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation to learn which of our DMAIPH analytics training solutions is best for you.

IMG_9107

Also if you own or manage a call center, we can help. In fact, DMAIPH has successfully set up Filipino analytics teams for over a dozen U.S. based businesses. Offering both virtual and office based teams that specialize in problem solving using data, new technology and analytics techniques is our strength.

Finding and empowering analytics talent is increasingly challenging, but we have mastered Surfing Into The Storm and can show you how to succesfully set up a team. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to learn more about how to set up an analytics-centric team in the Philippines.

APEC Data Science & Analytics Key Competency #2: Data Visualization and Presentation

According to the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Advisory Group, Data Visualization and Presentation is one of the key competencies of a Data Science & Analytics professional working in the region.

By definition, a DSA professional demonstrates the ability to create and communicate compelling and actionable insights from data using visualization and presentation tools and technologies.

Data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context. Being able to present these visuals in a way that initiatives action and empowers decision-making is just as important.

The best data visualizations are simply ones that take data and convert it to visuals like pie charts, line graphs, sales charts, etc.

Patterns, trends and correlations that might go undetected in spreadsheets or text-based data can be exposed and recognized easier with data visualization software.

Good analysts are the ones who can visualize data and use tools to add a story telling component to their analysis.

One of the best ways of communicating any kind of complex information is to turn it into a story, starting at the beginning and working your way through to the end.

Making the story relevant to the audience is key. By making the results both easier to understand and more likely to be remembered it becomes easier to convince an audience of the validity of your approach and make them more likely to accept and take action based on your conclusions.

In the end, just think of the adage picture is worth a 1000 words, just like a good pie chart is worth 10,000 rows of excel data.

IMG_9107

DMAIPH offers a wide range of analytics centric training solutions for professionals and students via public, in-house, on-site, and academic settings. We tailor each training event to meet the unique needs of the audience. If you need empowerment and skills enhancement to optimize the use of analytics in your organization, we are here to help.

Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation to learn which of our DMAIPH analytics training solutions is best for you.

APEC Data Science & Analytics Key Competency #1: Operational Analytics

According to the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)  Advisory Group, Operational Analytics is one of the key competencies of a Data Science & Analytics professional working in the region.

By definition, a DSA professional uses data analytics and specialized business analytics (i.e. business intelligence) techniques for the investigation of all relevant data to derive insight in support of decision-making.

Operational analytics is made up of all the analytics processes within an organization that take data and transforms the data into actionable intelligence. In short, this is management reporting.

Without a doubt the most widely used form of analytics, management reporting is deeply ingrained into the culture of data-driven organizations.

I often liken management reporting to a pyramid. The bottom of the pyramid is the data or the base of decision-making in an organization.

The middle of the pyramid is the processes of operational analytics. Where the data is transformed.

The top of the pyramid is the decision-making. Managers need intelligence that comes in the form of insights. Great analysts deliver these insights in reports, dashboards and visualizations.

DMAIPH offers a wide range of analytics centric training solutions for professionals and students via public, in-house, on-site, and academic settings. We tailor each training event to meet the unique needs of the audience. If you need empowerment and skills enhancement to optimize the use of analytics in your organization, we are here to help.

Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation to learn which of our DMAIPH analytics training solutions is best for you.

Teaching Analytics: APEC List of Competencies

Teaching Analytics: An Instructor’s Guide to implementing the recommendations of Project DARE (Data Analytics Raising Employment).

APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) hosted an event on May 4-5 bringing together over 50 analytics experts and visionaries from over 14 counties across the Asia-Pacific region to form an advisory group.

The APEC Project DARE (Data Analytics Raising Awareness) Advisory Group started with an agenda set to develop recommended “APEC Data Analytics Competencies.

There are still being finalized, but as of last week here is a high level of the competencies that we came up with:

Business and Organizational Skills

  1. Operational Analytics: Use data analytics and specialized business analytics (i.e. business intelligence) techniques for the investigation of all relevant data to derive insight in support of decision-making.
  2. Data Visualization and Presentation: Ability to create and communicate compelling and actionable insights from data using visualization and presentation tools and technologies.
  3. Data Management and Governance: Develop and implement data management strategies and governance, incorporating privacy, data security, polices and regulations, and ethical considerations.
  4. Domain Knowledge and Application: Apply domain-related knowledge and insights to effectively contextualize data, achieved by practical experience (e.g. apprenticeships) and exposure to emerging innovations.

Technical Skills

  1. Statistical Techniques: Apply statistical concepts and methodologies for data analysis.
  2. Computing: Apply information technology, computational thinking and utilize programming languages and software and hardware solutions design and development for data analysis.
  3. Data Analytics Methods and Algorithms: Capture, clean and inspect data. Evaluate and implement data analytics and machine learning methods and algorithms on the data to derive insights for decision making.
  4. Research Methods: Utilize the scientific and engineering methods to discover and create new knowledge and insights.
  5. Data Science Engineering Principles: Use software and system engineering principles and modern computer technologies, incorporating a data feedback loop, to research, design, and prototype data analytics applications. Develop structures, instruments, machines, experiments, processes, and systems to support the data lifecycle.

Workplace Skills

  1. 21st Century Skills: Exhibit crosscutting skills essential for DSA at all levels including, but not limited too; collaboration, customer focus, communication and storytelling, organizational awareness, critical thinking, planning and organizing, problem solving, decision making, business fundamentals, awareness of social and societal awareness, intelligibility, cross cultural awareness, dynamic (self) re-skilling, professional networking, ethical mindset and entrepreneurship.

Once this list is finalized I will update you all.

My end goal is two fold, (1) to help craft a version of the competencies into an academic discipline that the Analytics Council can present to CHED for adoption and (2) to design a vocational education track to address the basic skills needed for entry level DSA work here in the Philippines.

Stay Tuned!

IMG_9107

Analytics Training – DMAIPH offers a wide range of analytics centric training solutions for professionals and students via public, in-house, on-site, and academic settings. We tailor each training event to meet the unique needs of the audience. If you need empowerment and skills enhancement to optimize the use of analytics in your organization, we are here to help. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation to learn which of our DMAIPH analytics training solutions is best for you.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Digital Transformation Summit 2017

From the Global Chamber® Manila Newsletter

May 9, 2017

  1. Be inspired by an all-star lineup of speakers, who are already gaining significant benefits from adapting new technologies
  2. Learn about various technological platforms such as AI, IOT, Big Data, Analytics, and how it’s disrupting businesses
  3. Reflect, re–examine your company’s issues and goals, and set your vision and new strategy for the next decade
  4. Engage and network with executives and fellow thought leaders
  5. Empower the culture of innovation within you!

Not registered yet? It’s not too late to sign up!

I will be one of the speakers, talking about Data Storytelling. It is quite an honor to part of this awesome event! 🙂

Attend one or both days of the Digital Transformation Summit this May 24 and 25 at SMX Aura Convention Center.

Become a Data Science & Analytics Pro! Apply for the DMAIPH Apprenticeship Program

A standard definition of Apprenticeship is a kind of job training that involves following and studying a master of the trade on the job instead of in school.

Learning to become an analyst for the most part has been something done on the job.  after working in a company and gaining subject matter expertise, those who had good analytics skills often found themselves going down the analyst career path.

Big Data and technological advancements in analytics processing and data science have changed all that.

IMG_9107

Nowadays, there are so many analyst jobs available that the natural order of learning to become an analyst isn’t working fast enough.

Higher education is trying to come up with solutions to offer analytics themed course, a few are already in place. But that’s only training 100’s when industry needs 1,000’s.

SO, to help fill the skills gap between the very finite supply of Data Science and Analytics (DSA) talent and the huge demand in the form of open jobs, we have to get outside the box.

You will see a lot more ideas like the DMAIPH Data Science & Analytics Apprenticeship program coming in the near term.

But don’t wait for the future, get ahead of the game.

Learn the DSA skills you need for a long and profitable career as an analyst.

E-mail me your resume today if you would like to learn more.  danmeyer@dmaiph.com

I will be taking on a few more apprentices in the coming months as we grow the program to implement APEC’s Project DARE recommended approach to gaining a basic understanding of what it means to be a DSA professional.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Dan

jobspicture2

Analytics Training – DMAIPH offers a wide range of analytics centric training solutions for professionals and students via public, in-house, on-site, and academic settings. We tailor each training event to meet the unique needs of the audience.

If you need empowerment and skills enhancement to optimize the use of analytics in your organization, we are here to help. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly to set up a free consultation to learn which of our DMAIPH analytics training solutions is best for you.

The Automation Storm is Coming… is Your IT-BPO Ready?

The number of posts like this one that talk about downsizing in traditional IT-BPO firms are getting more and more common every day.

Some naysayers think statements like this are just hyperbole, “saw their aggregate workforce shrink by seven the same year, highlighting a situation created by a perfect storm of tough business conditions and increasing automation.” But not me. I’m preparing for it.

And then there is this statement… that can easily be talking directly about the IT-BPOs in the Philippines. “This is a war of many battles being fought where smart service providers are aggressively implementing RPA (robotic process automation) into their own operations to drive down their delivery costs and reduce their own headcount. Hence, services providers will be hell-bent on destroying each other and the winners will be those who eventually succeed in winning more work than they lose amidst all the destruction”

I would add to this nationalistic pressures to counter the flow of globalization and “bring jobs back home”.

There are plenty of signs on the horizon that will spell doom for companies that aren’t ready for the coming storm.

Which is where DMAIPH can help.

DMAIPH has successfully set up Filipino analytics teams for over a dozen U.S. based businesses. Offering both virtual and office based teams that specialize in problem solving using data, new technology and analytics techniques is our strength. Finding and empowering analytics talent is increasingly challenging, but we have mastered Surfing Into The Storm and can show you how to succesfully set up a team.

may 17-18

The Philippines is at the center of the action when it comes to solutions to the global need for analytics. Blessed with a solid foundation of young, educated and English speaking workforce, companies around the world are look for Filipino analytics talent to fill analytics positions.

DMAIPH was set up to facilitate these solutions and bring the talent and the business together. And that is exactly why I wrote Putting Your Data to Work, the first analytics guidebook designed specifically for the Philippines. Contact DMAIPH now at analytics@dmaiph.com or connect with me directly so we can help you take advantage of this unique global opportunity.