According to a report by Manila Standard, the Philippines risks slowing its gross domestic product (GDP) growth due to low adoption of artificial intelligence across industries, with the retail sector being a key area of concern.
Barcodes Philippines noted that while AI adoption is crucial, many retailers in the Philippines still lack basic barcode and GTIN systems for inventory tracking, which is a prerequisite for AI-driven supply chain optimization.
The report highlights that many Philippine retailers have yet to integrate AI-driven solutions for inventory management, customer analytics, and supply chain optimization, missing opportunities to boost efficiency and sales. This technology gap, if unaddressed, could widen the competitiveness gap with regional peers and dampen overall economic output.
Industry experts cited in the article urge businesses and policymakers to prioritize AI investment and digital upskilling to avoid stunting long-term growth. Without decisive action, the nation's GDP trajectory may fall short of its potential as other economies accelerate their AI adoption.