Survey Reveals Philippine Employees’ Vital Need for Digital Innovation, Amidst Resource and Support Challenges

The Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Study by innovation outfit F(DEV) is a nationwide survey that reveals TikTok is the most effective method of consumption of educational content on digital innovation and skills

The innovation arm of the Filinvest Group, known as F(DEV), has launched a comprehensive study on digital readiness, revealing that the majority of Filipino workers consider digital innovation to be essential in their work. However, only about half of them believe that their respective companies are allocating sufficient resources to drive innovation. Conducted in partnership with the market research firm Tangere, the Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Report surveyed over 700 professionals across various industries to assess the digital readiness of both companies and their employees.

This research stems from Filinvest’s dedication to nurturing a workforce that is prepared for the future and globally competitive. The report provides a broader perspective on the level of digital presence and adoption in Philippine companies, as well as the primary obstacles to innovation. Recognizing that transforming people is a critical aspect of digitalization, the report offers insights on how companies can harness employee attitudes to cultivate a culture of innovation and empower their workforce.

Xavier Marzan, Group Chief Digital Officer of the Filinvest Group and CEO of F(DEV), commented, “We believe that innovation begins with disrupting ourselves before others can disrupt us. While we have launched several internal programs in collaboration with industry experts, our primary goal was to collect impartial data on employees’ views regarding innovation and the factors that influence their ability to innovate. The findings not only validate the effectiveness of our existing programs but also reveal exciting opportunities to enhance our strategies for preparing our workforce for the future.”

Marzan further stated, “We are eager to share the insights from this study with the intent of promoting growth and innovation across various industries in the Philippines. By gaining deeper insights into our workforce, we empower our industry peers to embrace new work methodologies and become more innovative themselves.”

Digital innovation and key barriers

The vast majority of Filipino employees regard digital innovation as significantly important for both their individual work (91 percent) and their contributions to team efforts (98 percent).

While 52 percent of the surveyed employees perceive their companies as highly innovative, and 88 percent find their work environment conducive to innovation, 47 percent identify the primary barrier to digital adoption as the absence of resources and support for innovation or an unpreparedness for innovation. The second most common obstacle, cited by 42 percent, is budget constraints or financial costs, followed by the lack of relevant knowledge or skills at 38 percent.

PH employees’ readiness for innovation

Notably, in the face of these obstacles, Filipino employees display a strong enthusiasm for upskilling. They are keen to explore innovative learning approaches. A significant 70 percent of respondents express a willingness to invest in their development and deepen their knowledge in areas like business innovation and leadership. Additional areas of interest encompass design thinking, product development, graphic design, and marketing (65 percent), as well as data-related skills encompassing collection, analysis, and legal aspects (59 percent).

It’s imperative to grasp the preferred avenues and methods through which employees wish to enhance their skills. Currently, social media platforms have emerged as the top choices for learning. Remarkably, 44 percent regard TikTok as the most effective platform for accessing educational content, closely followed by YouTube at 38 percent, and Facebook at 36 percent. These preferences offer companies a chance to harness these platforms for efficient skill development. The era of conventional corporate training techniques is fading, and organizations must embrace readily available content and growth opportunities for their workforce.

People Transformation: Bedrock of digital transformation

The survey results align with the Filinvest Group’s commitment to people transformation. Through F(DEV), the group has been implementing people transformation programs to future-proof Filinvest for the benefit of its employees, customers, and stakeholders.

“Guided by our people transformation agenda, our Open Collaboration and Open Learning initiatives have reshaped our workplace culture, promoting creativity and innovation. These efforts have nurtured a culture emphasizing customer-centricity, accountability, and innovation,” explained Isabelle Yap, Chairperson at F(DEV).

In collaboration with industry experts, startups, and tech enterprises, F(DEV) has developed “Open Collaboration” and “Open Learning” initiatives to prepare its workforce for the dynamic and fast-changing environment. Throughout the year, a series of free learning and upskilling events for Filinvest employees cover a wide range of topics, including Design Thinking, Customer Centricity, User Interface (UI) / User Experience (UX), Data & Analytics, and AI. F(DEV) also organizes annual conglomerate-wide Hackathons, challenging and empowering Filinvest’s employees to generate innovative ideas and address real operational challenges.

For HR and Digital Transformation leaders in the Philippines, the Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Report offers valuable insights into the critical intersection of people transformation and digital innovation. By understanding employees’ challenges, interests, and preferences, businesses can proactively bridge the gap between digital aspirations and implementation.

To access the Philippine Employee Digital Readiness Report, you can download it through this link.