IBPAP’s SOLAIA awards signal Philippine IT-BPM pivot to AI and skills
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine IT-BPM sector is formally shifting its growth strategy from volume expansion toward AI adoption, specialized capabilities, and higher-value talent — a pivot crystallized at SOLAIA: The IT-BPM Awards, where IBPAP introduced four new recognition categories and named its 2026 honorees.
Among them, Connext was recognized as one of the Philippines’ Best Workplaces in IT-BPM 2026 in the Large category — and reached the finalist stage in three more.
New award categories define where the industry is headed
SOLAIA: The IT-BPM Awards 2026, held June 11 at Shangri-La The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, introduced four new recognition categories this year — an AI Impact Award, a Talent Transformation Program of the Year, a Sustainable Impact Award, and a Rising Enterprise of the Year — all aligned with IBPAP’s updated roadmap placing greater emphasis on emerging technologies and higher-value services.
“These are not just award categories. They are signals of what we value, where we’re headed, and the kind of industry we are choosing to become,” said IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid.
Madrid said the sector’s challenge is not simply to expand but to build the specialized capabilities that create higher-value opportunities for Filipino talent.
Connext takes three finalist nods alongside its top win
Connext Global Solutions, headquartered in Angeles City, was named one of the Best Workplaces in IT-BPM 2026 at SOLAIA — and was the only company to also reach the finalist stage across three separate categories: BPM Company of the Year, Company for Regional Development of the Year, and Talent Transformation Program of the Year.
“A great workplace is built through consistent decisions — supporting people well, creating clear expectations, and building teams that can deliver with quality and accountability,” said President and Founder Tim Mobley.
The night’s other top company honors went to Accenture as BPM Company of the Year, ING Hubs Philippines as GCC of the Year, Cognizant Technology Solutions Philippines as Technology Company of the Year, and Santa Rosa City as Outstanding LGU Partner of the Year.
Six Eleven Global Services & Solutions was named a finalist for the Rising Enterprise of the Year award — one of four new IBPAP categories introduced this cycle to recognize emerging IT-BPM companies scaling toward higher-value specializations.
KMC Solutions also reached the finalist stage for CompIT-BPMany for Regional Development of the Year, alongside Connext.
IBPAP’s new award categories formally recognize what companies like Connext are already building.
As AI hiring regulation escalates globally, the Philippine IT-BPM sector’s shift toward higher-value, AI-augmented talent is not a retreat from its core advantage — it is the next form of it.
Connext, SixEleven and KMC Solutions are currently subscribed as Outsource Accelerator (OA) BPO Partners. Through OA’s Marketing, Sales, and Source Partner Hubs, the firm accesses a unified growth platform designed to convert high-intent prospects and accelerate deal flow in the outsourcing industry.
