The Philippines has a long and prosperous history in the world of outsourcing. Since the global phenomenon of business process outsourcing – BPO for short – skyrocketed in the last few decades, the Philippines has quickly become a global leader in the industry. BPOs in the Philippines employ more than 1.4 million Filipinos, much more eager to join the industry with the promise of a lucrative and well-respected career. Moreover, the industry has contributed more than 30 billion annually to the worldwide economy and is on track to grow exponentially by 2030.
There are many reasons for the country’s great success in this sector, but one of the primary ones is its government’s investment back into the industry. This comes in financial and political support – specifically, in deregulating the sector for foreign companies to participate without worrying about international bureaucracy and law. Philippines’ former president Rodrigo Duterte, recognizing the sector’s crucial role in the country’s economy, even declared the country’s BPO sector essential during the COVID pandemic to allow call centers in the Philippines to remain open during the lockdowns. Even in times of uncertainty, the Philippines’ BPO industry maintained its stability in ways many other countries did not.
The Philippines is the premier destination for outsourcing because of the country’s dedication to education. The government’s investment into this industry of almost $300 million has ensured that public universities train students to enter the BPO workforce. Thus, outsourcing services in the Philippines is a smart business move for many foreign companies, especially in a global market where in-house employment can eat into a tight profit margin.
Many of the workers of contact centers in the Philippines are college-educated and extremely motivated to learn and rise in the ranks. As of 2022, many of the Philippines’ world-renowned universities offer degree programs, specialized certifications, and continuing education in contact center work, western relations, and business management. As more and more foreign businesses take notice and move their operations from in-house to the Philippines, BPO companies have improved their training methods to keep up with the fast-moving markets.
Many contact centers in the Philippines have the most up-to-date technologies that enable their workers to answer customer calls, work remotely on IT support, enter data, program software, and more. While this technology improves workflow efficiency and the quality of the work, the real value is within the workers themselves, something BPO companies have realized. Many workers are encouraged to participate in monthly training programs; some companies even pay workers to return to school and learn valuable new skills. As the industry continues to explode, it’s clear that companies and the Philippines’ government will continue to play a pivotal role in continuing its expansion.
In summary, the Philippines’ BPO sector has many uniquely positive qualities. For many businesses, it would be a mistake not to take the leap and take advantage of the vast benefits of BPO in the Philippines. Government deregulation of the industry, allowing eign companies to start outsourcing to the Philippines easily, and support from companies and the government in providing opportunities for continued training are two reasons the Philippines is the ideal country for outsourcing.
