Business Process Outsourcing: How it all begun

Outsourcing may sound like a 21st century concept, but it has essentially been existing for a very long time. Follow the timeline below to see its evolution, from mere division of labor to becoming an important business strategy in today’s economy. Read more at http://goo.gl/jBo1F8

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Offshore Outsourcing: A Strong Combination

In today’s cut-throat economy, offshore outsourcing is one of those solutions that have emerged to remedy the need to reduce expenditures and produce more in a limited amount of time.

The combination of both strategies has allowed businesses and firms to: (1) take advantage of the low taxes and costs of factors of production in another country, particularly developing countries; (2) be able to focus more on their core competencies. (3) take advantage of continuous operations even when the in-house staff is already hitting the sack, and; (4) access a great pool of talents with the right skills and expertise for the job or function, thus ensuring more productivity in the least amount of time.

Today, with various BPO services providers emerging from different parts of the globe, the bar for providing the best offshore outsourcing services at a competitive price continue to get raised.

But it takes more than just quality and time and cost-efficiency to make a partnership with a BPO provider work. Selecting an offshore outsourcing provider with values and culture similar to yours will minimize miscommunications and breakdown cultural barriers to ensure a harmonious relationship between your firm and the vendor.


For this reason, the Philippines is the most favorable outsourcing destination. In addition to its high English literacy rate and the abundance of highly skilled and service-oriented professionals, the strong and ubiquitous presence of the US culture in the country has made it easy for Western companies to easily establish a strong and long-term business relationship with offshore outsourcing providers in the Philippines.

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Business Process Outsourcing Industry in the Philippines: A brief history

Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO), the practice of contracting operations and responsibilities of a certain function to a third party vendor, has become a pivotal tool in the success and continued growth of multinational corporations and businesses.

India and the Philippines were the major key players in the BPO industry. But in 2011, the Philippines beat India by a mile as the top BPO services hub across the globe. The combination of the country’s exposure to western culture through colonization and their people’s intrinsic qualities such as hospitality, perseverance and adaptability has made it the most preferred outsourcing destination in the world.

But while the BPO industry in the country has only seen massive growth in the 2000’s, they have been around for more than two decades already.

Accenture Global Research Center in Manila formally paved the way for the growth of the BPO industry in the Philippines. Developed and marketed by Frank Holz in 1992, the center focuses on software development and technology-driven solutions.

Following the success of Accenture was the birth of the early key players in the Business Processing Outsourcing industries, such as Sykes Asia (1997), SPi Global (after its acquisition by CEO Ernesto Cu in 1997), eTelecare (1999), People Support (1998), and ePLDT Ventus (2006).

To date, the BPO industry has become one of the biggest contributors to the growth of the Philippine economy. With an annual growth of 46% since 2006, BPO comprises 30% of the country’s export earnings.

And the Business Processing Outsourcing industry will continue to grow and evolve to meet the demands brought by the changes in our technologies and business trends.

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Variation Among Outsourcing and Offshoring

The need to cut costs while maintaining quality and productivity has urged many firms to explore the following options: outsourcing and offshoring.

While both terms have been used interchangeably in most of today’s business literatures, they technically refer to two different things.

Outsourcing is the practice of contracting a non-core function or a project to a third party vendor whether locally or abroad. Offshoring, on the other hand, happens when a firm sends their in-house jobs or projects overseas in either a subsidiary, or a third party vendor.

Both have their own sets of benefits.

For instance, the former allows companies to focus more on their core competencies by contracting non-core but critical functions to a third party vendor. In addition, a third party vendor with people equipped with the right skills and expertise will be able to accomplish tasks or undertake functions an in-house staff won’t be able to do, and produce better results. Lastly, firms can easily ramp up or ramp down quickly without having to face the repercussions of exterminating personnel. As a result, companies can hire people on a project basis only.

Alternatively, the latter lets companies take advantage of low costs of factors of production, such as wages, raw materials and utilities in other nations, especially developing countries. Added to that, the availability of human resources with skills and expertise specific for certain types of tasks have made this option viable for most companies. Take note that a company does not have to outsource in order to offshore. Some multinational companies set up captive offshore units to exploit the low costs and taxes without having to contract functions or projects to a third party vendor.

But then again, both systems are not without risks. An outsourced vendor’s lack of knowledge in the client firm’s business and long-term objectives could breakdown its otherwise ideal partnership with the client.
With offshore partners, miscommunication stemming from cultural gap could put a strain on the relationship of the firm and its subsidiary. On top of that, factors like political unrest, changes in the economic policies of the government and poor infrastructure could affect the output of an offshore unit.

But despite the setbacks, both practices are continually on the rise. In fact, the success of both systems has spawned a new practice that combines the benefits of the two strategies. Today, many offshore third party providers offer a wide range BPO services.


And with best practices being created to mitigate the risks and multiply the benefits of offshoring and outsourcing, they will not only guarantee more savings on your part but also more profits.

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The Best Way to Improve Social Media Marketing with Visuals

Looking to put a spin on your company’s social media presence in an effort to boost engagement? If so, you can start by increasing the volume of visuals shared with followers. And while you may have to spend a little extra cash for a graphic designer, the benefits will outweigh the costs if the new strategy is executed properly.

Household name companies like Charmin and Starbucks incorporate infographics, videos, and captivating photos into their social media platforms several times a day to communicate the essence of their brand. Consider following suit to take your social media marketing efforts to the next level.

Compelling Statistics on Visuals

“Why all the hype about visuals? Simply put, humans are drawn to images because they are a common form of communication,” Donna Moritz, founder of Socially Sorted, told the Social Media Examiner.

• Approximately 82 percent of respondents of a survey conducted by The B2B Marketing Mentor indicated images were an important tactic in social media content optimization.
• Thanks to expanded tweets by Twitter, tweets with images receive 18 percent more clicks, 89 percent more favorites, and 150 percent more retweets than plain text updates, notes Buffer for Business.

• A study from Social Bakers found the top 10 percent of posts with photos on Facebook brand pages account for 87 percent of total interactions.

Since social media platforms are flooded with more and more content each day, the attention of your followers is more than likely being pulled into several directions. Digital markers, well aware of the stiff competition for eyeballs, use visuals to keep their followers stimulated.

How to Incorporate Visuals into Your Strategy

Here are several methods for improving and incorporating imagery in your social strategy:

• How-to-guides: While you probably can’t embed all the contents of the guide into one image, you can create an image to display the essence of your message. Readers will be more inclined to click on the image since it’s much more noticeable and appealing than plain text. Just don’t forget to include a link in the caption.
• Tips: Do you have a post on your blog site that’s chock full of useful tips and accompanying details? If so, embed the tips on a relevant stock image and share with your followers. This will enable followers to grasp the main concepts and feel compelled to share with others before they click through to read the entire post.
• Infographics: Have a ton of information you’d like to share in an image? If so, an infographic is worth considering. Hire a graphic designer to execute properly.
• Videos: Flipagram, anyone? Not only is it ideal for sharing a series of photographs from a special event, but it can also be used to illustrate a visual checklist for a simple recipe or anything of the like.
• Quotes: Several individuals in the self-help industry, such as Zig Ziglar and Tony Robbins, frequently share quotes on decorative backdrops to motivate their followers. The image could be something as simple as a company logo or small flower. Shifting away from traditional text heightens likeability and social interaction.

Boost your brand’s online presence and engagement with your audience by applying some of these strategies. And remember: a picture is worth a thousand words!

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Time Management Tips From Marketers: How to Deal with Weekly Commitments

As a marketer it can be tough handling countless, never-ending obligations on a week-to-week basis. If only we were tasked with sitting down and banging out 20-plus stories by the end of the week we would feel infinitely less stressed.

But this is the real world where marketers have calendar pop-ups and strategically placed post-it notes to remind us to update editorial calendars, review client workloads, conduct weekly client calls and attend monthly internal team meetings, among many other responsibilities. Before you know it, that once blank schedule is now filled to the brim with a number of seemingly small tasks that quickly add up—and it can be completely overwhelming.

This process makes me think of the way credit card spending works; you make seemingly small, miscellaneous purchases that very quickly add up until you’re looking at your statement wondering: “How in the world will I be able to pay all of this off quickly?” In many ways, time management can feel like paying off a mountain of debt; we work to shave off items on our weekly schedules within an allotted time frame—all while feeling the pressure to complete projects on time and within budget.

I may not know what projects or deadlines you have ahead of you this week, but I can promise you that they are doable with the right time management plan in place. For instance, I would suggest avoiding multitasking. With research showing that only two percent of people can successfully multitask, chances are you cannot multitask as well as you think. Not only this, but multitasking (ex: catching up on emails while in a weekly team meeting) has been linked to a number of negative, brain-damaging effects. For instance, aggregated research from Forbes shows that high multi-taskers have less brain density in their anterior cingulate cortex—a part of the brain responsible for empathy as well as cognitive control. Additionally, the research shows that multitasking is directly linked to decreased productivity and lesser quality work.

Therefore, your best bet is to take one thing at a time; hone in on that one task until it has reached completion or expectations, and then move on to the next.

Here are some other time management tips from my team that seem to work well for us marketers:

• “Use Google Trends instead of combing the Web for relevant information if you need a quick topic,” Gerald Baldino, Digital Content Editor.

• “The key with time management is to get really good at prioritization. Not every task is a must-do; some can be pushed to the backburner. When you get a better handle of how to prioritize work, you can execute more swiftly,” Carrie Majewski, Director of Content Marketing.

• “Never handle the same item twice. That is, whether you’re opening an email or listening to your voicemail, be prepared to address its contents then and there. If you put it aside for another time, you’re adding to the time each item requires of you,” Peg Ventricelli, Quality Control Editor.

What other time saving or management tips would you add to our list? Let us know!

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Internet marketing specialist tip: Get Personal with “Love Letters”

Make your customers fall in love with your brand with something as heartfelt and personal as an email.

Fellow Internet marketing specialist, you might be surprised to know that despite the popularity of social media email marketing hasn’t lost its glimmer.  According to the Radicati Group, Inc., a technology market research firm, the number of worldwide email accounts is expected to increase to over 5.2 Billion in 2018 from 4.1 Billion of 2014.  (Details can be found in this report).

So why does email remain to be more ubiquitous than social media? Unlike a social media post, which addresses all of your followers, an email is more personal.  First-name-basis personal, as a matter-of-fact.  It gives you a chance to create a more intimate experience with your customers.

But with all that said, achieving success in email marketing can be quite tricky.  You might be rubbing your customers the wrong way by constantly pitching your products or sending generic newsletters with irrelevant content that your efforts always go down the drain (and into the Spam folder).  But don’t despair.  You still have a chance to sweep your customers off their feet again with these tips:

Say thank you.
Let your customers know how much you appreciate their business.  Send them an elegant thank-you email, or give them a discount coupon for their next purchase.  Thanking them for trusting your company lets them know that you care about them, and are not always after a sale.

Apologize.
Order delays and services, and broken websites can be frustrating to your customers.  But they’re all an inevitable part of any business.  The best thing you can do is damage control.  Show how much you care for your customers by sending them an apology email.

Be thoughtful.
Nothing says “I love you” more than little tokens, gifts, and favors.  Remember how giddy you feel when someone hands you flowers, even when it’s not Valentines, or when your other half buys you your favorite dessert on the most random occasion?  Your customers, too, will feel smitten when you give them something that will add value to their life, without expecting something in return.  Sharing helpful advice for free will not only demonstrate your expertise, but also help build trust and loyalty among your clients.

Let them know that you remember them on their special days. 
Birthday cards and special holiday wishes are the best way to let customers know that they are remembered on their special day or during the holidays (and a chance for you to do holiday promotions).  Add in discounts, freebies, and fun images that are worth sharing.

Don’t be the “overly attached” partner
You may have a knack for crafting spectacular newsletters and emails thanks to your website copywriting prowess.  But just because you can send them a personalized email filled with love and appreciation everyday doesn’t mean that you should.  Blasting emails too often can come out as spammy-creepy.  Think about how an overly attached beau leaving you 29 voicemails everyday, or, texting you every minute can be so annoying.  Remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Keep them looking forward to your next email by scheduling your email marketing blasts and sending only targeted and relevant content.

When done right, email marketing can do more than just win your customers’ affection.  It can help you earn a permanent place in their hearts.

So dear Internet marketing specialist, it’s time to get personal… with email marketing, of course.

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