IBM Philippines has showcased its commitment to advancing enterprise efficiency and sustainability through artificial intelligence (AI), by hosting a roundtable discussion on how AI-powered asset management solutions can strengthen local industries—especially in the energy sector.

The event, titled “Strengthening Philippine Industries through AI-Powered Enterprise Asset Management,” gathered industry leaders, IBM executives, and media partners to explore the role of predictive analytics and intelligent asset lifecycle management in supporting infrastructure-heavy sectors.

Christine Llanto-Ravelo, IBM Philippines’ Country Manager for Software, said that asset-centered industries such as energy must look beyond just reactive maintenance to ensure uninterrupted service and long-term sustainability. She noted that even a single five-hour power outage can cost the Philippine economy over PHP 550 million in losses, specifically referencing figures from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

“At the core of a resilient grid is an effective asset lifecycle management solution,” Ravelo said, highlighting the importance of optimizing maintenance schedules, reducing unplanned downtime, and extending asset lifespans using predictive technologies.

IBM Asia Pacific’s Principal for Asset Management Neeraj Gupta delivered the keynote presentation. In it he outlined how IBM’s flagship platform, the Maximo Application Suite, is evolving to meet the growing needs of asset-heavy industries. Now in its 40th year, Maximo has expanded from a basic plant maintenance tool to a comprehensive asset lifecycle management system with AI and analytics capabilities.

Gupta emphasized key challenges faced by industries. These ranged from high costs, unplanned downtime, inefficient calendar-based maintenance practices, and the loss of institutional knowledge due to an aging workforce. He noted that IBM’s solutions help address these through AI-powered predictive maintenance, real-time data integration, and centralized platforms for managing diverse asset classes, from physical infrastructure to IT and renewables.

A recent IDC study commissioned by IBM revealed that organizations using Maximo were able to extend asset lifespans by 17% and improve workforce productivity by up to 26%, while also reducing maintenance costs and risks.

One of IBM’s long-time partners, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), shared its journey during the fireside chat. Kenny Martinez, Head of IT at MGen, detailed how the power generation company has used Maximo over the past 20 years to support operational efficiency, uptime reliability, and health, safety, and environmental compliance.

“We’ve standardized our maintenance, procurement, and inventory processes within Maximo, which supports our goal of minimizing downtime and meeting contractual obligations,” Martinez said. He also explained that MGen is currently upgrading to Maximo 9.1 and sees this as a springboard toward adopting predictive maintenance, AI-driven forecasting, and eventually, digital twin technology.

Responding to a question on AI’s environmental footprint, IBM’s product lead Stan Smith clarified that their use of AI is highly targeted. “Our goal is to use AI to drive better, more efficient decisions—decisions that organizations would have made anyway, but now with greater insight and less waste,” he said. He added that IBM uses model optimization to ensure energy-efficient AI deployment.

The roundtable concluded with a message that AI-powered asset management is not just a technological upgrade, but a strategic imperative. As Philippine industries continue to scale and modernize, IBM and its partners aim to provide the tools and expertise needed to ensure assets remain efficient, resilient, and sustainable.

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