What are the differences between BPO and KPO?

What are the differences between BPO and KPO?

Julie Pearl Published on June 23, 2014

The abundance of proficient workforce and outsourcing firms offering call center services in the Philippines made the country a leading BPO (business process outsourcing) capital in the world.

For these same reasons, BPO has become synonymous to call centers. What many people may not be aware of, however, is that the services outsourced to the country are not limited to minor tasks but also core processes that require expertise on certain fields.

The BPO boom in the Philippines has likewise opened opportunities for foreign companies to entrust important business aspects to highly skilled professionals in the country. This is when knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) evolved as a BPO sub-sect.

BPO and KPO both thrive on the improved services and expansion they provide to clients. BPO’s main selling point is that it allows companies to focus on their core duties while cutting down costs. KPO also does the same, but more than cost efficiency, it is the high-quality work that attracts foreign businesses to delegate important roles to the Philippine workforce, especially if skill is scarce or even unavailable in their local labor pool.

BPO and KPO are similar and interconnected in these ways, but they also have differences, particularly in these areas:

  1. Focus

  2. outsourcing team BPO-KPO Open Access BPO

    BPO handles services that support the main processes of a company. KPO, on the other hand, takes care of core processes or advanced duties that are directly tied a company’s core competencies.

  3. Services offered

    Aside from call center solutions, BPO companies usually provide data processing, data entry, email support, tech support, and account setup services. Common KPO solutions, on the other hand, are related to design, animation, insurance, legal work, healthcare, research, education, and biotechnology.

  4. Market

    The KPO sector caters to certain types of markets, and its services are geared towards specific types of customers. This is why KPO tools are often customized. The BPO industry caters to more types of businesses, and its services are characterized more by size rather than by what they focus on.

  5. Hiring process

    outsourcing team BPO-KPO job interview

    Both BPO and KPO firms put careful attention to the qualifications and attitude of those who aspire to be part of the industry, but KPOs are more meticulous when it comes to the skills of the people they hire.

    Since KPO services are industry-specific, candidates must be highly proficient in their chosen fields. BPOs also benefit from professionals with specialized skills, but there is a high preference for jacks-of-all-trades who can perform a wider range of tasks.

BPO in the Philippines has experienced immense growth over the decade, and KPO seems to be on its way to trailblazer status as well. KPO may have emerged from the larger industry of BPO, but it may one day stand alone as an independent, bigger sector if the Filipino workforce and labor cost remain competent.

As one of Open Access BPO's content writers, Julie Pearl shares her BPO knowledge through her blog posts, research papers, and other resources. She writes about outsourcing news and call center management tips and insights.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
Open Access BPO
Open Access BPO2 days ago
To build a truly customer-centric organization, your #CustomerExperience team must be highly emotionally intelligent.

Here are the 5 advantages of cultivating #EmotionalIntelligence among your #CallCenter staff: https://buff.ly/43uHbcu

----------
Connect with an #outsourcing firm that can deeply connect with your customers: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CX #CustomerSupport
Open Access BPO
Open Access BPO2 days ago
Love knows no boundaries, and this month, we celebrate the beautiful #diversity that makes us who we are. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 honors and uplifts the LGBTQIA+ community, their achievements, and their ongoing fight for equality.

Open Access BPO joins the LGBTQIA+ community in celebrating authenticity, acceptance, and love this #PrideMonth.

Let's all spread love in all of its forms! Happy Pride!

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #Pride2023
#OASpeaksWithPride
#OneWithDiversity
Open Access BPO
Open Access BPO2 days ago
#FlashbackFriday: Revisit an enlightening blog post that delves into the historic Stonewall Riots, a pivotal moment in #LGBTQIA+ history.

Let's honor those who paved the way for progress, sparking a movement that continues to inspire change today: https://buff.ly/3C9zdd8

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PrideMonth #InclusivityMatters
#PrideMonth #Pride2023 #PrideHistory
#OASpeaksWithPride #OneWithDiversity
Open Access BPO
Open Access BPO updated their profile picture.3 days ago
Open Access BPO
Open Access BPO3 days ago
Companies lose billions due to poor #CustomerService. But more than the monetary loss, giving customers reasons to leave can incur a far greater impact on your business.

Read: https://buff.ly/43xXepW

----------
Step up your #CustomerRetention game by #outsourcing to a #CustomerSupport expert: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerCare #CallCenterOutsourcing
Open Access BPO
Open Access BPO3 days ago
The idea that brands should add value to their customers' purchases and transactions is probably one of the most commonly talked about #CustomerService and retention strategies.

But what does "added value" really mean for customers?
Read: https://buff.ly/45Ahj0N
----------
Elevate customer experience by partnering with a #CallCenter that goes the extra mile 24/7: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started/

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #BPO
#CustomerExperience
Open Access BPO