“Our commitment to the Philippines has never been stronger,” said Karthik Krishnamurthy, CEO of Ascendion said at a media press conference last week. “We are redefining how we serve clients and empower local talent with global capabilities.”
Ascendion, is a global software engineering company with a large pressence in the country. It is significantly expanding its presence here, integrating its Collabera Digital operations and recently opened what it called an AI Studio geared towards making their operations here as a key hub for the company’s AI-driven software development efforts.
The company plans to create 6,000 jobs in the Philippines over the next three years, projecting an estimated economic impact of at least $500 million. The company aims to make the Philippines a major delivery center for AI-enhanced software development, combining human expertise with AI tools to improve efficiency and innovation.
“With one of the most tech-savvy populations in the world, the Philippines is uniquely positioned to lead in AI-powered digital transformation,” noted Manan Mehta, Senior Vice President, Global Growth Markets at Ascendion. A core element of this strategy is AI deployment certification for all Ascendion software engineers in the Philippines, reflecting the company’s focus on equipping its workforce for next-generation software development.
Key initiatives include the deployment of AI agents to assist engineers with tasks like code generation and testing, mandatory AI training for all Philippines-based engineers, and the establishment of “AI Studio Manila,” a dedicated facility for collaborative AI development and research. “We are creating a stronger, more agile organization that will deliver transformative growth for the Philippines,” added Krishnamurthy. “Our focus is clear: bring cutting-edge AI-powered platforms, leverage the Philippines to serve global clients, and create global opportunities for engineers in the Philippines.”
Ascendion reports that its engineers in the Philippines are already collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, applying AI to streamline software development processes. The company cites examples of clients in logistics, payment solutions, and healthcare achieving significant cost reductions and productivity gains through the application of AI-powered solutions. For instance, a logistics leader reportedly transformed a $33 billion unit by eliminating manual tasks and boosting data-driven decisions.
To support its AI-driven talent growth strategy, it is introduced Ascendion AVA+, an AI-powered software engineering accelerator designed to improve productivity and time-to-market, and MeTAL, a talent orchestration platform aimed at connecting Filipino professionals with global projects.
The integration of Collabera Digital under the Ascendion brand is intended to create a more agile organization. The company’s stated goals for its expanded presence in the Philippines include providing AI-first software solutions to global enterprises and solidifying Manila’s position as a key center for AI-powered software engineering.
“By integrating our capabilities, we are creating a future where the Philippines is a global leader in AI innovation,” Mehta concluded.
