Corey Kotlarz, the president of Outsource Consultants, was recently interviewed and featured in the following article by Telus International. To read the article in its original location and format, please click here.
The Philippines has become one of the top global hubs for outsourcing, and for good reason.
Many studies have rated the Philippines first in client satisfaction, in terms of both cost and performance. Experts also estimate that the BPO industry in the Philippines is responsible for generating roughly $25 billion in revenue, which accounts for about 10 percent of the country’s economic output.
A young population, a growing economy and a large pool of English speakers are some of the key factors companies looking to outsource should be excited about. However, it’s important to understand how the political, cultural and economic landscape of the Philippines is evolving before setting up shop in this Southeast Asian archipelago.
For those looking at the Philippines as a potential offshore outsourcing destination, here are some of the key things to consider in 2017 and beyond from experts with boots on the ground in the region.
The changing political landscape
The recent presidential elections in both the United States and the Philippines have led to some uncertainty about the future of U.S. outsourcing in the country. “Gone are the days of strictly evaluating a location based on its cost,” advises Scott Wilson, consultant and co-author of The Black Book of Outsourcing. “Today, companies looking to outsource consider the locations’ environmental, political, social and economic health all part of a sound outsourcing strategy.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated the possibility of taxing companies that outsource offshore, while many are concerned with the stability of President Duterte’s leadership in the Philippines. But it’s also important to separate real policy from political rhetoric in both countries, say some experts.
Mike Larcher, principal at Manila-based consultancy Outsourced, has been asked about the potential risks that the result of the Filipino election might present, including the stability of leadership. “I don’t see any geopolitical concerns for businesses,” notes Larcher. “All I see is a country bursting with possibility and talented professionals eager to find work,” he says.
Language and culture
Language and culture will continue to provide a huge benefit to companies that choose to outsource to the Philippines, thanks to an emphasis on teaching English in schools, combined with the service-oriented mentality of the local people. “Our satisfaction scores show that clients consistently feel more comfortable communicating with Filipino [staffed] call centers and help desks, compared to other outsourced voice service locations,” says Wilson.
Another advantage of locating in the Philippines is for call centers that have requirements for other Asian languages such as Mandarin, Japanese or Cantonese. The geographical position of the country means a strong pool of candidates able to meet a breadth of language requirements, even if agents may not all be native speakers.
Over 500 years of Spanish and American influence on the Philippines, coupled with a population polite in nature, results in phenomenal service results, even if there is an occasional “communication gap between customers and Filipino agents,” according to Corey Kotlarz, president of Outsource Consultants. Still, even at a distance of more than 8,000 miles and a time zone that is often polar opposite of Western businesses, Filipinos are unwavering in their professional and positive attitude and delivery, says Kotlarz.
Given such a broad geographic separation, there are some clear cultural differences to be aware of. For one, Larcher advises that typical Filipino workers may occasionally need to be prodded to voice their opinions. “Companies need to be aware that Filipinos are naturally quiet, respectful and subservient to their supervisors. This means that they often need to be encouraged to speak openly about their thoughts and opinions to support a collaborative workplace,” he says.
Conditions to anticipate in 2017 and beyond
There are several major trends that will affect the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry within the Philippines that companies should carefully assess.
One of which is a steady rise in salaries for call center agents. “Demand for talented professionals in the Philippines is growing rapidly, due to the immense success of so many companies who have outsourced there,” says Larcher. “I’ve seen salaries growing consistently, over seven percent per year, compared with one to three [percent] in developed countries.”
However, Larcher still thinks that salaries in the Philippines will continue to be a source of considerable value for companies in 2017 and beyond. But with higher salaries come an increased local cost of living and more traffic and congestion in urban areas where outsourcing centers are traditionally located.
With these factors in mind, Kotlarz says a growing number of companies are beginning to consider more suburban or rural locations for their BPO operations. Though there are trade-offs in either case. “Employee attrition rates are increasing in the major metropolitan cities where heavy outsourcing is done,” Kotlarz explains, but more rural populations may also be less educated, with looser cultural ties to North American customers.
Business leaders have more choices than ever when it comes to choosing an outsourcing location. The Philippines continues to rank highly in many important categories, but it’s a highly skilled, flexible and educated workforce that makes it a consistently attractive BPO destination. On top of that, a large pool of English speakers, close cultural proximity to western business practices, and a service-oriented culture will no doubt continue to produce top-notch (and cost-effective) service results for organizations that outsource in the Philippines in 2017.
If you’re interested in outsourcing with a Philippine call center, we can help!
Outsource Consultants are call center experts with over 25 years of outsourcing industry experience that have spent thousands of hours vetting and analyzing the strengths and specializations of the industry-leading outsource call center vendors. If you’re considering call center outsourcing, simply call 888-766-4482 or request a free call center cost proposal today and we’ll help you find the solution that best fits your exact requirements.
