Part I of the Definitive Guide to Remote Employees from the Philippines
More and more companies and brands are outsourcing their work to the Philippines, the so-called “outsourcing capital of the world”. Companies like Google, Amazon, FOX Sports, and AT&T all use remote Filipino employees to get their work done – all the way from small generalized tasks to specialized work like customer assistance and web development.
These companies know that the path forward toward greater growth and scaling up is to delegate tasks and outsource work. And it’s a lesson that smaller businesses and entrepreneurs can learn from. There is a large and energetic educated talent pool in the Philippines, and anyone armed with the right tools and knowledge can tap into it, too.
So why are so many companies outsourcing their work to the Philippines? Here are the 8 reasons that explain it.
The Philippines is a leader in the outsourcing industry with decades of BPO experience
The outsourcing industry first moved to the Philippines all the way back in the early 1990s, and it shows in the work they produce. Filipino workers aren’t newbies; they understand how important growth is to a business and have decades of experience working in the industry to back it up.
That’s why they’re a popular choice for companies looking to outsource. You’re less likely to run into any problems, mishaps, or miscommunication when the person on the other end of the line is experienced and knowledgeable.
Proficiency in English is the best in the region
If you’re worried about the language barrier issues you may run into when outsourcing your work, you won’t have to worry when you outsource your work to the Philippines.
English is one of the two official languages of the country, and most of the population grows up comfortably bilingual in schools that teach in English. This means that they have a grasp of the language unmatched by any other working population in the region.
The Filipino character is geared towards performing high quality work
Reliability, friendliness, hard work, and dedication. These are the values central to the Filipino ethic, and it shows in the way they treat their family and friends, and in the way they approach work.
Filipinos are naturally industrious people because of their history and culture as island-dwelling people, and this is evident in their admirable work ethic and in their personality dealing with other people. They’re friendly, polite, respectful, and hard-working in all their dealings.
You can reduce overhead costs when you outsource to the Philippines
When it comes to growing your company and hiring more staff, there are costs that cannot be avoided. But with outsourcing, there is a solution for effectively lowering those seemingly unavoidable costs and save money on additional office space and equipment.
The Philippines has a young and highly educated workforce looking for jobs
The literacy rate in the Philippines is among the highest in the world and educational attainment in the country is similarly high with an increase of college graduates from 2000 to 2010 of over 130%.
This means that every year, more young and well-educated people enter the workforce eager to learn and find jobs. And with an educational system similar in quality to that of the US, you can be sure that they know what they’re doing.
Their energy, dedication, and creativity can thus be funneled towards your company and your goals when you outsource to the Philippines.
Outsourcing to the Philippines is a cost-effective financial choice
Because the standards of living are lower in the Philippines than in the US, wages are also lower for the workforce. This means that while you would pay a certain amount plus taxes and benefits to an in-house staff member, you can receive the same quality of work at more than half the cost.
This means an increase in your bottom line alongside an increase in productivity.
The Philippines is a great cultural fit for companies in the West
It may not be common knowledge, but the Philippines was once a US territory. This means that the Philippines has the same system of democracy, a similar educational system, and a culture that aligns well with the West.
You won’t have to worry about cultural differences causing problems between you and your remote employees, as they’re well-versed in the Western way of doing things and can fit perfectly in your company.
Outsourcing creates more time for you to do other things
As a committed business owner, you probably spend a large amount of time working. Sending emails, performing tasks, and thinking about business logistics are all things you can outsource to a dedicated and intelligent member of your remote staff in the Philippines who can do these tasks efficiently.
This frees up time for you to focus on growing and scaling up your business and to focus on personal important things in your life.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that outsourcing is not a fairytale solution nor the end-all-be-all of your business strategy. Outsourcing to the Philippines has downsides such as:
- Slow internet speeds and patchy phone signals in less developed areas of the Philippines that can hamper the speed of your operation
- There is a time difference between the Philippines and most countries in the West, which on one hand ensures that there is staff working around the clock, but also means that it can be hard to organize staff meetings
- There are still small cultural differences that could present as problems in the future
Ultimately, as a business owner, you will have to run the cost-benefit analysis and weigh the pros and cons of outsourcing work to the Philippines to determine if it’s the right step for you and your business’s growth.
If you’re interested in learning more about outsourcing to the Philippines and how to do it as a small business or as a solo entrepreneur, you can contact Remote Staff Seeker.