Undoubtedly, the Philippines is one of the most popular call center outsourcing destinations. It is considered the largest outsourcing industry in the world, with an annual turnover of over 25 billion dollars.
The Philippine economy has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to an excellent workforce with a high percentage of university graduates, the use of the latest call center technology, and a large English-speaking population.
The Call Center Industry in the Philippines
The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines is one of the drivers of the country’s economy. Over the past decade, significant investment has been made in training and infrastructure to support the growing call center market. As more companies rely on call centers in Philippines for their outsourcing needs, agents gain unparalleled experience in virtually all industries and services. Tax incentives from the government for the BPO industry and a lower cost of living help keep prices down, resulting in very competitive salaries for agents and savings of up to 70% for businesses.
The workforce in the Philippines
The enormous call center industry in the Philippines makes an agent’s career productive, feasible, and attractive with competitive pay and job security. Add to that an agent with impeccable English, pride in their work, and a strong Western influence, and you have a workforce that does not match the BPO world.
English is one of the official languages of the Philippines and is spoken by more than 70 million Filipinos. Apart from Tagalog as the mother tongue, English is taught to students from an early age and is the main language used in higher education. In addition, English is used, with very rare exceptions, in law, court decisions, and media such as film, television, and music.
Filipino workers also tend to speak English with a low accent and have a strong understanding of Western culture due to past US occupation and constant consumption of Western media such as television, music, movies, and books.
These qualities make them excellent representatives of American and Canadian companies. Despite being on the other side of the globe, Filipino agents have a deep understanding of North American cultural and social norms, including the intricacies of Western communication styles. This connection reduces communication barriers and misunderstandings.
Benefits of hiring a call center in the Philippines
Some of the buzzing outsourcing markets in the Philippines today include call centers, search engine optimization, IT services, virtual staffing solutions, and internet marketing. In fact, one of the main advantages of outsourcing to the Philippines is that it is very small business friendly as it only costs $2,000 to run a team of workers. The industry is currently booming and has a lot to offer in terms of reliability and security when outsourcing to the Philippines.
Some of the main advantages are:
Good costing
One of the advantages of hiring a call center in Philippines is undoubtedly the pricing itself, which is the main reason companies outsource. Not only are labor costs in the Philippines almost half of those in the US or the UK, but as a business owner, you can also save on other tertiary costs such as office space, legal and staff costs, the latest equipment, taxes, and fees. Typically, business owners can save up to 60% simply by outsourcing to the Philippines.
Neutral language
Compared to India, the Philippines has a significant advantage in terms of language. As English is the official language of the Philippines. As a result, the BPO industry is full of fluent English-speaking workers with accents similar to those in the United States. This neutral accent and speaking style are ideal for voice services such as call centers and virtual workers.
US and UK-based broadcasts also find it easier to work with service providers in the Philippines as language is never a barrier.
Better access to talent
While there is no dearth of talent in countries like India, headhunting and getting access to skilled individuals is definitely a task. In contrast, companies in the Philippines can hire qualified, prepared, and willing workers more quickly. Much of this has to do with how the education system in the Philippines closely follows the US. Ensuring that you know the exact level of your outsourced workers as well. According to a recent ASEAN Briefing report, more than 450,000 students graduate yearly from universities and institutes. In addition, the Philippine government sponsors various government-run programs in universities that provide skills related to the BPO industry.
A young, dynamic population
The Philippines holds a very young population, with a national average age of 23. This demographic has grown up in a technologically advanced world. And therefore has an innate understanding of how to use technology for better business solutions. Many young people can also receive high-level education to prepare them for the BPO industry. Thus advertising them on the market and equipped with appropriate skills to succeed.
Reduce legal obligations and management issues
One of the unfortunate side effects of the company is to open your process to legal liability. And frivolous lawsuits submitted by the internal staff. But when you hire a call center in the Philippines, you save yourself from all these problems. Because all these outsourcing companies are legally very strong. Ensuring that their clients and client relationships remain intact. They also support you by providing access to a strong HR and management team. That can help you easily create and assign training programs, task assignments, tax returns, and more. This ensures that you are always focusing on your business.
Cultural Influence
The Philippines is among one of the few Asian countries with Southeast Asian and Western influences. Much of this is because of the fact that the Philippines was a colony of Spain, Mexico, and the US. So, Filipinos grew up watching western media that has many similarities to their culture. American pop culture is also very popular in the Philippines. And while it may be a very small factor in the overall scheme of things. The reality is that this cultural similarity plays a big role in outsourcing work out of the ordinary.
Data protection and security
The Philippine government plays an extremely important role that the BPO industry can thrive and prosper by ensuring favorable legislation. Because outsourcing activities often involve sharing confidential data. The Philippine government’s 2012 Data Protection Act ensures that privacy standards are in line with international standards. There are strict regulations under the law to protect valuable confidential data from unauthorized access. Which is why industries such as healthcare now see the Philippines as a viable outsourcing destination.
Choose the Philippines as your next outsourcing spot.
Over the years, the Philippines has become one of the most popular outsourcing destinations because it combines many factors. BPO providers in the Philippines help you access the best local talent and services at affordable prices. So you can start outsourcing as soon as possible.
