Debunking outsourcing misconceptions

Outsourcing is a controversial topic. It’s either you love it or you hate it. To the casual observer, outsourcing is an unfamiliar topic so they, by default, are skeptical about it. And on the extreme ends of the spectrum are those who discreetly outsource and those who are completely against it.

It is also likened to slavery and unfair wages. It is also thought of as an industry that takes away job opportunities from companies’ countries of origin.

But the seismic change brought about by the pandemic to the way people work is only carving outsourcing as the future of work. This comes as a golden opportunity for the Philippines — a country whose people speak very good English and is teeming with college-educated professionals.

When the Philippine economy took a hit after Covid-19, business owners of varying degrees and industries wondered, “Where do we go from here?” In comes one of the industries that proved the strongest even amidst the onslaught of the pandemic.

This countercyclical industry has been prevalent in the country — the business process outsourcing or BPO.

Since the first use of the term in the 70’s, this business model has steadily evolved, transcending previous understanding. Globally, outsourcing generates $100 billion and employs around 10 million people annually.

Even though outsourcing has been working for several years to make services accessible, flexible, affordable and reliable for the masses, other people still won’t take the plunge. They would allege poor service quality, unethical salaries, inhumane conditions and even the cause of the ruination of industrialized economies.

AUTHOR Derek Gallimore says that if there is something that could positively impact your business, encourages you to try it at least once, otherwise, you would be ‘remiss if you didn’t at least explore this opportunity.’