BPO

BPO Industry

What to Expect in BPO Industry this Coming 2023?

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is probably one of the most popular and fastest-growing industries worldwide. In fact, according to Statista, approximately 57% of companies globally will use BPO to concentrate on core issues and activities in 2021. As a result, this industry has continually evolved with different trends emerging. Likewise, as entrepreneurs, we are responsible for keeping abreast with new technology, changing trends, or global inclinations that may affect our business. One is various resources or suppliers to your business’ resources and people – in this case, outsourcing. This article will tackle various BPO trends in the industry that you should expect and utilise in 2023. What is the future of the BPO industry? The BPO industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. It has been steadily increasing in size and scope over the past few years. And it is expected to continue to do so in the future. And with technological advancements, the BPO industry has become more efficient and cost-effective, allowing companies to outsource their business processes to countries with lower labor costs. This has enabled organizations to focus on core competencies while keeping costs low. As more organizations outsource their processes, it is clear that the future of the BPO industry will be bright. 6 Trends in BPO That You Should Look Forward to In 2023 As mentioned earlier, outsourcing is a very dynamic industry. It’s unstoppable and is continuously growing as more businesses patronise it. Over the years, we saw the BPO industry grow with new policies, technology, and inclination. Likewise, here are 10 BPO trends that you should look forward to in 2023! 1. Use of AI everywhere Like in other industries, Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a vital role in the BPO trends. Today, AI technology in BPO is used to automate mundane tasks, streamline processes, and improve customer experience. It is used in various ways, from automating customer service inquiries to optimizing supply chains and managing complex projects. According to Business Wire, the Global Market of AI in the BPO industry reached an estimated US$ 1.1 Billion in 2020. This trend is expected to grow further by 2023. As a result, AI has enabled businesses to reduce costs and increase efficiency while providing better customer service. By leveraging AI-based solutions, companies can free up their resources for more important tasks and focus on their core competencies. Moreover, with AI-driven outsourcing, businesses can take advantage of the latest technologies without investing in expensive infrastructure or hiring additional staff. 2. Omnichannel customer support One of the most significant BPO trends existing is Omnichannel customer service. It is a modern approach to providing excellent customer service by creating a unified experience for customers across multiple channels without having to repeat themselves on their issues. Omnichannel customer support also allows businesses to provide more personalized service as they can track customer interactions across all channels and provide timely responses. With the rise of omnichannel customer services, outsourcing has become a viable option for companies looking to streamline their operations and increase efficiency. Moreover, it helps businesses build better customer relationships and increase loyalty. By outsourcing certain services, companies can focus on core competencies while having access to specialized expertise. Likewise, Omnichannel services allow the outsourcing of various tasks, including customer service, marketing, sales, and more. With omnichannel services in outsourcing, businesses have the opportunity to create a competitive edge while saving time and money. 3. Increased demand for remote working During the COVID-19 Pandemic, remote working was streamlined and popularised more than ever. This trend intensified as numerous BPO companies switched to remote working with the government and pushed quarantine restrictions, social distancing, etc. And despite removing quarantine restrictions, this trend is not slowing down. Today, businesses and employees prefer to work remotely or from home. According to research conducted by a better team, 62% of their respondent BPO employees expect their companies and future employers to allow remote work even after the pandemic. This is probably due to the profits remote working provides, including reduced costs, increased productivity, and employees’ better work-life balance. It offers greater flexibility when it comes to managing their time and workloads. In addition, remote working has enabled them to work from any location at any time without compromising on the quality of service or productivity levels. Likewise, with remote working, BPO companies can offer their services to customers worldwide. It helps organizations save on office space costs and reduce overhead expenses associated with running an office. Moreover, remote working also allows companies to access a larger talent pool and hire people worldwide. 4. Maintaining business continuity Business continuity is a process that helps organizations prepare for and respond to unexpected events that could disrupt their operations. It involves creating plans, strategies, and procedures to ensure the business can quickly resume normal operations in an emergency. This includes contingency plans to manage risks associated with natural disasters, cyber-attacks, or other disruptions. While BCP was established in some, due to the pandemic, it became more widespread across all industries, including BPO. The pandemic has opened the eyes of companies to include operational preparedness and their weaknesses in BCP. 5. Outsourcing more to Eastern Europe Recently, outsourcing in Eastern Europe is becoming increasingly popular due to its various benefits, such as cost-effective solutions and access to skilled professionals. In fact, the region is home to over 3,500 software development companies and more than 1.3 million developers. Thus, many businesses are taking advantage of these BPO trends by leveraging the region’s competitiveness. This has opened up new business opportunities, as they can now access a wide range of services from remote locations. In addition, Eastern Europe offers a unique cultural perspective that can benefit companies looking to expand their operations into new markets. As such, outsourcing in the region is becoming a progressively attractive option for businesses looking to maximize their potential growth. 6. Customer-focused services Today, business is all about good customer service and personalised customer experiences. It is the foundation

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Flexisourcing vs Business Process Outsourcing: Which is Best for Your Company

Flexisourcing vs Business Process Outsourcing: Which is Best for Your Company

When it comes to business, outsourcing can be a confusing concept. What is it? What are the benefits? Is it the right setup for you and your company? Outsourcing is contracting out specific business functions to a third party. This could be anything from customer service and tech support to digital marketing and data entry. There are a number of benefits to outsourcing that businesses can take advantage of. One of the most obvious pros of outsourcing is cost savings. When a business outsources, it can save money on everything from labour costs to overhead. Additionally, businesses can benefit from the expertise and specialisation of the outsourcing company. By working with an experienced outsourcing partner, businesses can focus on their own core competencies and strengths. In recent years, the trend of outsourcing has exploded. Businesses of all sizes are looking to outsource their non-core functions in order to save money and focus on their strengths. The most popular type of outsourcing is probably business process outsourcing (BPO). However, there is a new type of outsourcing that is slowly revolutionising remote work as we know it. Flexible outsourcing or flexisourcing, true to its name, is a relatively new way of outsourcing with a strong emphasis on the flexible use of resources. This type of outsourcing is ideal for businesses that are looking for short-term solutions or need help with specific tasks on a temporary basis. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at BPO and flexisourcing to see which setup would work best with your business and business needs. What is Flexisourcing? Some companies are turning to flexisourcing, a hybrid of contracting and outsourcing, as a way to get the best of both worlds. With flexisourcing, companies can contract out specific work or services on an as-needed basis instead of hiring full-time employees. This allows businesses to pay for only the services they need and avoid the costs associated with having a full-time employee. It also gives them the flexibility to quickly ramp up or down their workforce depending on business needs. The term “flexisourcing” was first coined by Richard Gross. Founder and CEO of Flexisource IT, Gross argued that this approach offered several advantages, including greater flexibility and cost savings. Pros of Flexisourcing Flexisourcing is a great way to get the benefits of both outsourcing and in-house staffing. You can save money because you only pay for the services you need. You can also get the expertise of an outside company while maintaining control over your project. This type of outsourcing allows you to quickly scale up or down your staff as needed. You also have the flexibility to switch providers if you’re not happy with their work. Flexisourcing helps you avoid the costs and hassle of recruiting and training new employees, but it can also reduce the risk of layoffs during tough times. Flexisource IT is an IT outsourcing company in the Philippines and one of the pioneers of flexisourcing. We specialise in using the agile methodology for project management, specifically using the Scrum and Kanban methods. We have found great success in using these techniques, which allow for more flexibility and adaptation to change.  We are able to quickly respond to customer needs and changes in the market, which gives them a competitive edge. But why are you in better hands with companies that practice the agile framework? Well, it is simple. Agile helps improve communication between the company and our clients. It encourages regular communication through short, frequent meetings, which helps ensure that everyone is always on the same page. This leads to a smoother, more efficient project flow and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings or conflicts arising. And because tasks are completed in shorter cycles, there is less wasted time due to re-working tasks or fixing errors. Cons of Flexisourcing In a nutshell, flexisourcing describes a scenario in which a company contracts out specific work or services to a third-party provider on a short-term or project-by-project basis. It allows businesses to reduce costs, access specialised skills, and respond quickly to changing market conditions. However, there are also several potential drawbacks to consider before making the decision to flexisource. You have to consider cultural differences. When working with a third party located in another country, it is important to be aware of the cultural differences and how they may impact the project. For example, what may be seen as polite or rude behaviour in one culture may not be understood or respected in another. In addition, language barriers can create communication problems and lead to misunderstandings. Also, there can potentially be a lack of trust and transparency when working with external partners, which can lead to misunderstandings and affect project timelines. What is Business Process Outsourcing? The term “BPO” is a broad one and can refer to a wide range of services. At its core, BPO is contracting out business processes to a third-party service provider. This could include anything from customer service and technical support to HR and accounting. BPO services can be delivered in a variety of ways, including on-site, off-shore, or through a mix of both. On-site services are delivered by the provider in close proximity to the customer, while off-shore services are delivered in another country. A mix of on-site and off-shore services is often referred to as nearshoring. BPO providers typically offer a menu of services that businesses can choose from depending on their needs. This flexibility makes BPO an attractive option for businesses of all sizes. Pros of BPO By outsourcing certain processes to a BPO, businesses can improve communication between departments and with customers. This improved communication can lead to better customer service and a more efficient business operation. Additionally, BPOs often have specialised knowledge and experience in certain areas that businesses may not have in-house. This expertise can lead to cost savings and improve the quality of services provided by the business. Aside from improved communication, businesses can rely on enhanced customer service and increased

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return to office

Making Work-From-Home Work: Philippine BPO Finds Loophole to RTO Order

With the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and the lowering of restrictions, several major business groups in the Philippines have supported the government order to return to the office. Many BPO companies are now requiring their employees to report to the office. And while some big corporations help this order, not all BPO companies and employees are in favor of this mandate. Some organizations like ICCAW and IBPAP have asked the government to extend the WFH setup. Similarly, many employees express distress and the possibility of resigning from the company. But recently, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) released a new resolution, giving BPO companies a loophole. In this article, let’s find out about the future of remote work in the Philippines. Why do BPO employees in the Philippines need to go back to work? Since the pandemic, IT-BPO companies in the countries were allowed to work from home, as stated by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), to help protect workers against the COVID-19 virus. However, last 1 April 2022, FIRB said that IT-BPO businesses registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) need to return to office setup. The government considers that employees’ returning to their workplace is all to help the economy recover. They said that returning to the office is an excellent catalyst for boosting consumption in the country. In addition, Secretary Ramon Lopes of the Depart of Trade and Industry (DTI) stated that resuming on-site work stimulates spending that will help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. And together with this order, the government will remove the tax breaks placed to BPO companies. Do Philippine BPO Employees Want to Return to the office? Many BPO employees are anxious due to this new regulation. They are worried about the long commute, traffic hours, rising commodities prices, and exposure to the virus. In addition, the work-from-home setup has helped them have a higher quality of life with their family and personally. Losing said benefits has caused a massive resignation to many companies, especially those jobs that can do remotely.  IT BPO companies in the Philippines ask the government to extend the previous work-from-home (WFH) setup or make it permanent. Jack Madrid, President and CEO of IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) is requesting an extension of their work from home arrangement to September. In his interview with the inquirer, he mentioned that “it is not easy to transition back to the office after remote working for two years.” Yet, the FIRB was persistent in stating that their tax break would only last till March. Still, the enterprise supporters of the government in the industry have advised outsourcing companies to follow the FIRB’s directive as failure to comply puts them to lose their tax perks. Yet, forcing employees to work back in the office could result in a high attrition rate. What do the IT-BPO Companies Want? One of the largest call centers in the Philippines, US-based Concentrix, has warned the government of the consequences if companies and employees lose work incentives from home setup. Nikkei Asia interviewed the company’s Philippine country head Amit Jagga. In the interview, he stated that imposing higher taxes on employers like Concentrix will result in a substantial financial impact that will be significant and disadvantageous. It could hamper their capability to attract talent, expand, and grow employment. Said mandates could also make the Philippines a less attractive investment to many investors.  He stated, “We hope that the government would reconsider WFH or allow a hybrid approach.” What’s the loophole to the Return to Office Order? On 08 April 2022, the IT-BPO company’s appeal won government support. FIRB, PEZA, and DTI are working on a loophole, allowing BPO companies to maintain the WFH setup of employees. Companies can implement a Hybrid Work setup, allowing 30% of their staff to remain working from home while 70% work in the office. Secretary Lopez of DTI explained that since BPO companies are considered export enterprises, 70% of their sales should be from the export market. And in comparison, 30% should be sold locally. This ratio could also be a threshold for their hybrid work setup.  Yet, Secretary Lopez highlighted that some companies might run into the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regarding their local incentives. Still, PEZA Director-General Charito Plaza assured all their members that they are working on resolving the tax issues with BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) that will allow a hybrid model with BPO companies. Conclusion IT-BPO Industry is a significant contributor to the Philippine economy, contributing $26 billion to the country’s income. However, removing the tax break and requesting employees return to the office might be at risk.  Follow Flexisource IT for more IT Outsourcing news!

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