3 Areas to Include in Your Cultural Awareness Training

Faith Ocampo Published on May 26, 2016 Last updated on June 3, 2022

For call centers, the key to global dominance is multiculturalism.

Our modern world, one wherein distance and time gaps are becoming irrelevant, empowers global brands. Largely aided by technology, globalization provides businesses a rich array of opportunities—from far-reaching influence to stronger branding. It’s safe to say, therefore, that entrepreneurs are in a niche conducive for building a globally recognized legacy.

What the Training Must Cover

cultural awareness training with diverse call center team

These brands, however, don’t work alone. Most of them commonly offshore their customer service to a contact center. For this partnership to be successful, call centers and brands must set their sights on the same business goals, among the most important of which is cultural awareness.

Brands can no longer ignore the fact that they must embrace diversity now that the web allows people from all backgrounds to meet and interact. And it’s good that most businesses are already thinking along these lines. They’re starting to breed a culture out of cultural sensitivity, and that’s a big leap forward. But are their call centers able to do the same?

Call centers must always be able to make good impressions, being the frontline organization that directly caters to customers. Even one mistake can be costly, so promoting multiculturalism must be their top priority. Most outsourcing companies start by conducting a cultural awareness training among employees. This way, their agents know what’s expected of them from the moment they become part of the contact center.

  • The Basics

    cultural awareness training with trainer in multilingual call center

    Customer centricity dictates that brands and their call centers know who the target customer is. Understanding the customer, however, isn’t limited to knowing their basic demographic traits like age, gender, or employment background.

    To personalize your services, you must appreciate the culture the customer is part of. Identify the customer’s location as well as the common practices that are unique to their area. You may not think these things matter at first, but this would help brands and customers find a common ground.

  • Language

    cultural awareness discussion in diverse call center team

    There’s a reason why multilingual call centers rose to popularity: they empower global brands by allowing them to connect to multiple market sectors. Aside from this, the highly diverse environment in these organizations is a big advantage.

    Operating in such a dynamic environment, agents gain instant exposure to a hodgepodge of cultures. Their everyday interactions thus become a form of practice, shaping their intercultural communication skills and their ability to relate to others.

  • Unacceptable Expressions

    cultural awareness trainer looking at notes during call center training

    Your cultural awareness training should cover the common expressions, gestures, or terms that may be acceptable for some groups but are offensive to others. That said, comparing cultural values is also a must. This is one way to communicate effectively and overcome language barriers.


Establish a strong foothold in your global markets with Open Access BPO’s business solutions. Our programs support over 30 languages, manned by our talented multilingual teams of professionals whose cultural awareness goes way beyond language proficiency.

Contact us today and tell us your business needs and goals and we’ll craft the operations just for you.

 

Read More

Faith is a digital media enthusiast aiming to become an active part of the tech world by sharing her insights. She likes to blog about everything digimarketing, technology, and social media.
Join us on facebook
Open Access BPO 12 hours ago
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗣𝗢 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙𝗧 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀

Multilingual call center Open Access BPO announced the official launch of 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙𝗧: 𝗔𝗻 𝗢𝗔𝗕𝗣𝗢 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, an initiative designed to foster sustainable health and well-being among its employees.

The program, whose acronym SHIFT stands for Sustainable Health and Integrated Fitness Transformation, aims to address the challenges of sedentary work lifestyles prevalent in the BPO industry by providing comprehensive support for health improvement.

The OABPO SHIFT Program will offer a holistic approach to employee wellness, encompassing structured physical fitness activities, wellness coaching, and a smart, sustainable nutrition guide.

This program highlights Open Access BPO's dedication to employee well-being, recognizing that healthy team members are key to both professional success and a great quality of life.

Employees are encouraged to check their official Open Access BPO email for detailed information on program enrollment and participation.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OneForHealth #oabpoSHIFT
#IdeaHubOABPO #EmployeeWellness
#WellbeingAtWork
Open Access BPO 4 days ago
Delivering outstanding #CustomerSupport on over #SocialMedia promptly is essential for enhancing #CustomerSatisfaction and improving the overall brand experience.

But how can your brand consistently deliver on this crucial front?

Improve your customer interactions and build stronger connections on social media by reading all about it on our blog: https://buff.ly/sdjJ2A3

——————————
Give your brand a CX boost on the social web!
Outsource to a #CustomerService expert today: https://buff.ly/aBetHaO

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerService #CSat
#CustomerExperience #CX
Open Access BPO 14 days ago
The world is getting smaller, and your customers come from all corners of it!
Partnering with a culturally diverse #CallCenter team isn't just the right thing to do, it's a smart business move.

Learn about the key benefits in our blog:
https://buff.ly/360SqHP

----------
Want a high-value #CustomerExperience for your diverse audience?

Let our multicultural teams help your brand break into international markets without worries.

Contact us today: https://buff.ly/59i7YD6

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CX #diversity #inclusion
Open Access BPO 14 days ago
Open Access BPO is kicking off our Pride Week, a dedicated series of events celebrating #PrideMonth. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a workplace culture built on #inclusion and #diversity.

Throughout the week, we've planned a series of meaningful activities designed to celebrate the #LGBTQIA+ community. We believe that fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered is crucial for our collective success.

Our dedication to creating a safe and equitable space extends beyond this week, reflecting our ongoing commitment to a more inclusive future for all.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #Pride2025 #UnitedByLove
#OneWithDiversity #PrideMonth2025
Open Access BPO 14 days ago
Open Access BPO is kicking off our Pride Week, a dedicated series of events celebrating #PrideMonth. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a workplace culture built on #inclusion and #diversity.

Throughout the week, we've planned a series of meaningful activities designed to celebrate the #LGBTQIA+ community. We believe that fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered is crucial for our collective success.

Our dedication to creating a safe and equitable space extends beyond this week, reflecting our ongoing commitment to a more inclusive future for all.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #Pride2025 #UnitedByLove
#OneWithDiversity #PrideMonth2025
Open Access BPO 15 days ago
Open Access BPO conducted Plant It Forward, a two-part tree-planting initiative, held in Laguna and Davao in May and June 2025.

Volunteers from both activities planted 300 Philippine indigenous trees, which were selected to help maintain the biodiversity in the area.

“This program is more than just planting trees; it’s about cultivating a culture of social responsibility within our organization and demonstrating our commitment to the communities where we operate,” said Joy Sebastian, Global VP at Open Access BPO.

This is only the start. Open Access BPO vows to continue investing in such environmental projects, affirming its core value of creating positive impact.

Read more about the green initiative here: https://buff.ly/HjTlHZC

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OABPOPlantItForward
#OABPOcares #IdeaHubOABPO