Philippine BPO companies are driving up business development

Faith Ocampo Published on July 12, 2016

Philippine cityscape

Philippine BPO companies are not just creating job opportunities, they’re also boosting the country’s economic growth in plenty of ways.

Since the Philippines saw the potential of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, it’s been on a mission. The ultimate goal has always been to catapult it toward global dominance. By giving it the push it needs—through workforce training programs, effective business policies, and good branding—this has been made possible. More than 20 years since the first contact center was created in the country, the Philippines is now considered one of the best outsourcing locations in the world.

Filipino call center team giving thumbs up

Filipino employees, economists, and government leaders alike consider the BPO industry a backbone for the country’s growth. It’s the second largest income generator in the country, ranking after remittances from overseas Filipino workers. The 2016 headcount revealed more than one million professionals are employed by call centers in the Philippines. This isn’t surprising at all, given the sector grows by 17% every year.

This growth rate spurs the development of new BPO zones outside capital region Metro Manila. In addition to this area, five more centers of excellence for outsourcing have been handpicked: Cebu, Clark, Bacolod, Davao, and Iloilo.

That call center hubs are spreading in many parts of the country indicates that the Philippine BPO sector is on the right track. As it seeks to diversify outside customer service and deploy more knowledge-driven functions, the industry is boosting and widening its workforce. Now that BPO employment is distributed outside Manila, more entry points are being created for those planning to carve a career in this field. This levels off economic growth and job opportunities across the country.

However, the impact of call centers in the Philippines extends beyond direct employment to include business development.

Creating business ecosystems

finger pushing keyboard button with Philippine flag

The presence of contact center operations in a particular area encourages the growth of local businesses. Where there are call centers, there are consumers: agents looking for lunch or coffee and other basic everyday needs.

From entrepreneurs’ point of view, therefore, the vicinity of contact centers is an enabling environment for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In a typical BPO area, one can find more cabs and drivers, small convenience stores, food stalls, coffee shops, groceries, and other types of businesses. In an interview, David Leechiu, CEO of Leechiu Properties Consultants, remarked, “The indirect employment as a result of this could be […] 2.5 times as many people—from drivers, sari-sari store [convenience stores] clerks, food vendors, shop clerks, et cetera.”

It’s fitting to conclude that BPO hubs create not just jobs but livelihood opportunities for proprietors who can run self-sustaining, small businesses. Looking at this from a macro level, it fortifies the country’s domestic economic growth and provides local entrepreneurs a real chance to start and grow their own enterprises.

Philippine BPO and real estate

In addition to business development, the real estate sector is invigorated by the increased demand in office space. The Asia-Pacific Property Digest released in the first quarter of 2016 cited the offshoring and outsourcing sector in the Philippines as the main demand driver in the real estate sector. The same report stated this trend isn’t likely to die down anytime soon as new industry players enter the country.

Combine this with the establishment of Next Wave Cities), and the opportunities for real estate growth mount up significantly. While Manila’s teeming with commercial, office, and mixed-use spaces, there’s a need to put up buildings in new BPO hubs in other parts of the Philippines. Several real estate firms are already on their way to make this happen.

Impacts on national economic growth

The opportunities that call centers in the Philippines create venture far beyond direct employment. The effects, particularly on business development and real estate, boost domestic growth. The revenues the BPO sector generates, predicted to amount to $25 billion by year-end, therefore paints a slightly inaccurate picture. If we consider the indirect—and yet valid—consequences of having a strong outsourcing industry, then the income is surely bigger than this.

But there are plenty of challenges that Philippine call centers must overcome. Right now, the country needs to shift its focus to knowledge-driven processes to adapt to the changing business landscape. This is the next step toward a sustainable outsourcing industry.

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 6 days ago
Driving excellent #CustomerExperience hinges on the diverse perspectives within your team.

Cultivating a culturally competent environment not only enriches your workforce but directly translates to superior service for a global customer base.

Join us as we discuss how #diversity elevates #CX!
Dive deeper into our insights and share your thoughts: https://buff.ly/fqcGUQK

——————————
Partner with a team that values and leverages diversity for outstanding results.

Contact us today to discuss your outsourcing needs: https://buff.ly/fNfWbTE

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CulturalDiversity #EmployeeManagement
#DiversityManagement #CustomerSuccess
Open Access BPO 6 days ago
Getting a bad performance review can be tough, but it doesn't have to be the end of the world.

In fact, it can be an opportunity to learn and grow, and to come back stronger than ever.

𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.

𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.

Read our blog post right now: https://buff.ly/hiAUi78
And let's explore:
• the importance of recovering from a bad performance review;
• the causes of performance failures; and
• how to determine the best course of action to address these challenges

——————————
Find out how Open Access BPO's 24/7 multichannel services (in 30+ languages) can upgrade your #CX, strengthen brand loyalty, and drive business growth: https://buff.ly/cltoadZ

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #CustomerService
#CustomerExperience #CSat
Open Access BPO 9 days ago
Open Access BPO's recent 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 showcased our unwavering commitment to #diversity, #equity, and #inclusion. This inaugural event united our teams in Makati and Davao to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and support meaningful causes.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬-𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: https://buff.ly/nmRUrVg

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #Pride2025 #UnitedByLove
#OneWithDiversity #PrideMonth2025
Open Access BPO 23 days 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 27 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 37 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