Outsourcing? Head to the Philippines. Here’s Why

Excellent Outsourcing Services Comes Naturally for Philippine-Based BPOs!

From majestic beaches, Olympic Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, Nobel Prize recipient journalist Maria Ressa, and Netflix comedian Jo Koy, to the place where the best mangoes (bar none) grow this side of the universe, the Philippines has always been known to pack a punch when it comes to talent, grit, skill, and outsourcing capabilities.

The Philippines comprises 7,640 islands in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. Approximately 2,000 of them are inhabited. The Philippines is further split into three main areas: Luzon (the biggest, northernmost island, which contains Manila); Visayas (which includes the major islands Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and Masbate); and Mindanao, the archipelago’s second-largest island.

Think beaches, vast mountain ranges, coves, caves, and natural resources. Plus, cosmopolitan hubs that are fast becoming the go-to tech hubs of South East Asia. Within these islands, the Philippines has a lot to offer to the adventurer or the talented entrepreneur seeking to scale their business to global heights.

The Philippine-based BPO is Always a Top Choice When It Comes to Outsourcing

It may not be the biggest in terms of floor space or seats.  But when it comes to top-notch services, training, and skilled personnel, the Philippines is always the country of choice. The country’s BPO business made a remarkable $32 billion in earnings as of this writing.

Philippine BPOs employ at least 1.50 million people and provide a broad variety of services – with accounting, logistics management, web development, and customer service topping the list.

Offshoring to the Philippines is becoming more popular among global organizations thanks in part to the high quality of service and talent pool available in the metro. Thus, it shouldn’t be a surprise to note that despite the epidemic, employment and revenue rates continue to rise.

Why are Philippine BPOs the Ideal Option for Companies Seeking to Scale via Outsourcing?

1. Philippine BPOs are reasonably priced.

A deciding factor for many multinational corporations outsourcing to the Philippines is the reasonable labor cost. This is due in part to the peso’s connection with international currencies.

A dollar, for example, is worth Php 55 in the Philippines. In comparison, the average monthly wage of a Filipino contact center representative is merely $500. To summarize, multinational corporations may make the most of a limited budget by working with Philippine BPOs.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that low prices imply poor service though.

Filipino BPO employees are extremely skilled.

When compared to their Western and Asian counterparts, Philippine BPOs provide the best value for money. Not only are labor expenses low, the quality of work produced by Filipinos is excellent, as well.

In terms of language proficiency, the Philippines remains one of the top English-speaking nations for business.

2. The Philippine government is supportive of BPOs.

When it comes to upskilling, the government itself has initiated campaigns to provide the necessary training. The Information Technology and Business Process Association (IBPAP) has collaborated with the Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology (PDICT) to educate thousands of outsourced workers. This commitment to skill development distinguishes Philippine BPOs.

In addition, the Philippine government, through a law, established the TESDA (Technical Education And Skills Development Authority). This arm aims to encourage the full participation of labor and local government units to provide technical-vocational institutions in the skills development of the country’s human resources.  It aims to provide skill training to meet the growing demand of international companies who have chosen a Philippine-based BPO.  To prepare the labor force for the demand, TESDA provides contact center training courses across the Philippines in which Filipinos are rigorously schooled in English grammar, syntax, accent, and pronunciation.

3. Continuous Availability, Regardless of Time Zone

Regardless of your company’s or customer’s time zone, the Philippines can supply business solutions around the clock.  Despite the 12-hour time difference, the Philippines’ greatest trade partner is the United States. To meet US business hours, the Philippines continues to have a substantial chunk of its outsourced labor (approximately 60%) working alone at night.

This practice is extremely frequent in the Philippines, which is why for US-based companies, a Philippine-based BPO is the only way to go. Weekend coverage and rotating shifts are also standard working conditions in the outsourced industry.

4. Filipinos are quite agile.

Filipino BPO workers — from Virtual Assistants to Developers, Programmers, and Graphic Designers, consistently demonstrate excellent adaptability.   Filipinos thrive in high-stress conditions and constantly changing work environments because of their resilient culture and leadership skills. 

Filipinos can easily speak with a neutral American English accent. With training, a majority can even speak with an impeccable East or West Coast twang.  Further, most Filipinos can speak at least two languages with many speaking a third or even a fourth.  Before the pandemic, retiring overseas contract workers returning home found employment with BPOs. Their fluency with a European or Asian language has been put to good use.

When Filipinos found themselves unemployed as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, many found opportunities doing various side hustles to supplement their income. Many also found stable employment with outsourcing firms since work-from-home options were offered for safety reasons.

Even the dreaded graveyard and extra hours do not dampen the enthusiasm of the Filipino employees. Outsourced employees are well-versed in adapting to their employers’ needs since many BPOs operate in accordance with their clients’ time zones. Plus, of course, Philippine-based BPOs endeavor to prioritize a work-life balance.

5. Many Western cultures are compatible with Philippine culture.

The Philippines is a cultural melting pot but is heavily influenced by Western ideals and philosophies. Filipinos like American music, television programs, and food. One may even assume that social media is their source of English skills.  But the reason for their English proficiency is embedded in basic education.  Instruction from the primary years all the way to post-graduate studies is conducted in English.

Contact center courses offered by TESDA, as well as training offered by various local government units, include lectures on Western culture.  The Philippine government is genuinely invested in training and upskilling to ensure that the country’s employees can compete in the global arena.

Seeking to partner with a Philippine-based Contact Center?