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outsourcing Archives | Optimal Outsourcing

Apr 09
outsource to the philippines

3 Killer Reasons why Outsource to the Philippines

By Outsourcing

The number of international companies that have started to outsource their business processes to the Philippines continue to rise.

Why?

Unlike other Asian countries like China or India, the Philippines incorporates a culture that’s compatible with the Western world. Once a Spanish colony, the Philippines was ruled by the US from 1899 to 1946 – their influence is still very evident today.

English is the primary language for business and education within the Philippines though the official language is Filipino. With the robust presence of the U.S., the Philippines has developed a government that’s somewhat like the U.S. system. This makes Western corporations more comfortable doing offshoring within the Philippines.

Top Reasons to Outsource to the Philippines

Low Costs

Offshoring in the Philippines may be low-cost compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Salaries within the Philippines are a fraction compared to what the Western world offers their citizenry, with the daily pay set at around $8 per day.

Newly graduated outsourced staff with college degrees from respected universities are employed at around $300 per month. These low cost salaries also apply to some or all business expenses like office rental, utilities, supplies, and third party services.

Philippine outsourcing is usually aiming to be competitively low compared to costs within the U.S. and Europe. You’ll be able to expect to work an offshore staff at around 30-40% of the cost of a domestic team.

 Highly Skilled Workforce

The Philippines incorporates a 92% literacy rating with basic education offered to nearly the entire population. Filipinos are genuinely artistic and naturally expressive people that they naturally gravitate towards fields of learning like the arts, multimedia, freehanded drawing, and animation. There are many schools and universities that offer top-notch education and coaching in these artistic fields.

Because of its traditionally weak local economy, the Philippines has had many tough circumstances providing jobs to the many thousands coming into the manpower annually, inflicting a major portion to migrate overseas.

The Philippines owes its growing BPO business for providing local opportunities to employees that might otherwise need to leave their country.

For these reasons, BPO companies have very little hassle finding extremely qualified employees for their clients.

This is a stark contradiction with its neighbouring countries in the same business as it is a struggle finding candidates and keeping staff which is always a serious problem.

Government Support

The outsourcing industry has become one of the top revenue generators of the country that is why the government totally supports its endeavours.

It’s created special economic zones, established a Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and grants business enterprise and non-fiscal incentives like a 4-year or 8-year tax holiday to BPO players. Even Indian BPO service suppliers have established operations within the Philippines over the years.

IBPAP plays a large role in promoting the country because of the ideal location of alternative and in supporting BPO players.

Since talent is the primary driver of the business, BPAP is collaborating with government agencies to any improve the education system. It’s conjointly implementing industry-specific coaching programs to hone the abilities of Filipino employees and build them up for BPO work.

It’s no wonder the Philippines has gained a new reputation as the most popular BPO destination – a highly skilled workforce and home to a number of the warmest and friendliest folks in Southeast Asia.

We have a team set up ready and willing to assist you realise your offshoring goals.

At Optimal Outsourcing you can trust us to deliver where it counts!

Contact us today!

Apr 08
professionalism in the wordplace image 1

Professionalism in the Workplace

By Outsourcing

Professionalism is the conduct, aims or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or skilled person; it implies quality of craftsmanship or service.

Every organization must be aware that the distinction between success and failure is in the staff’s level of professionalism.

A highly professional employee is an asset of the company.

Professionalism yields respect.

It will not be a surprise if the company provides recognitions such as salary raise or promotion if employees are observed with excellent level of professionalism at all times.

Typically, it’s troublesome to be in “the zone” each hour of the day, however, it gets easier after you make professionalism a habit.

Focus on your performance and you’ll begin to notice the rewards of your diligence.

The following are 7 traits that one should embody to start becoming a true professional in the workplace.

Continuous Improvement

This can be your main motivation to achieving excellence in whatever endeavour you undertake.

This standard will make your work stand-out.

Striving for the quality of service that is remarkably smart to surpass normal standards, if turned into a habit, will leave a good impression on your bosses and colleagues.

Be trustworthy

In today’s society, trust is a BIG word. Any team member that exhibits this trait is on the quick track to embodying the essence of a true professional.

Trustworthiness is fulfilling any assigned task and is always ready to be counted upon even as an extension- without lowering down expectations.

It is the state of being dependable and reliable when tapped upon to deliver a service so as to earn the trust of your bosses and colleagues – value and integrity should be earned over time.

Be responsible

To be responsible is to stand tall and be accountable for what actions you’ve undertaken, this can be the culpableness and responsibility for your actions and its consequences- smart or unhealthy.

Be courteous and respectful

Courteousness is being friendly, polite and well-mannered with a gracious thought towards others.

It makes social interactions within the office a pleasant one, avoids conflicts and earns respect.

Respect could be a positive feeling of esteem or deference for someone or for the organization.

Be competent

Competence is more than the ability to perform beyond what is expected from you. It is also the mastery of the tasks that you handle.

It’s a mix of information, skills and behaviour wont to improve performance.

It grows through expertise and to the extent one is willing to learn and adapt.

Be ethical

Ethical behaviour is acting within the walls of certain ethical codes in accordance with the commonly accepted code of conduct or rules.

It’s continuously safe for team members to abide by the rules.

This can be continuously the most effective policy and in instances, acting with a transparent ethical conscience is that the right way to go.

This could cause friction in some organizations.

However, moral organizations can continuously stand by the correct ethical choices and actions of their staff.

Be honourable and act with integrity

 Honourable action is behaving in a way that portrays “nobility of soul, liberalness, and a scorn of meanness” that springs from virtuous conduct and personal integrity.

This can be a thought of “wholeness or completeness” of character in line with certain values, beliefs, and principles with consistency in action and outcome.

Professionalism is extremely valued by every organization nowadays and professionals are hardly ever out of work.

Apply these 7 traits to being professional and luxuriate in an exquisite, skilled and prosperous career.

At Optimal Outsourcing Corporation, we have a team of highly-trained, competent and professional staff ready to assist you realise your outsourcing objectives!

Contact us today!

Feb 19
overseas staff image 1

7 Tips on How to Get the Best Out of Your New Filipino Overseas Staff

By Outsourcing

Getting the best out of your newly outsourced Filipino overseas staff is a lot easier than you think.

You may be wondering what gives Filipinos job satisfaction.

It’s not very different from what satisfies Western employees ‐‐ a sense of belonging, a sense of job gratification, receiving honest feedback and enjoying a tangible reward system are all key components.

When outsourcing, don’t focus on the fact that these are employees working abroad, but rather integrate them into your company culture as if they were in the same country, city and office.

Watch this short video to learn more

Get the best out of your new Overseas Staff

  1. Having an awesome company culture and a great work atmosphere are incredibly important, and the creation of this is largely dependent on management. It’s important to always maintain a positive attitude when dealing with your outsourced employees. An on the ground Filipino manager helps to manage your overseas staff. At Optimal Outsourcing , our on the ground Manager helps you manage your staff.
  1. Good communication with your employees is essential, especially when they are living and working several time zones away. But remember, communication is a two‐way street; listening is just as important as talking.
  1. Take advantage of any opportunity to absorb ideas for improvement your employees may provide. Business specialists have long been telling business owners to embrace, rather than discourage, racial and personal differences among their employees. Different perspectives on a single issue can lead to a uniquely multi‐faceted approach to a topic, which may solve a problem that’s been eating at you for weeks. So, mention from the outset that you’ll respond to any emails your outsourced employees may send, and follow up if they make good on your offer.
  1. Another good way to keep in touch is to create regular team huddles. Connect via Skype or GoToMeeting or, if you’re outsourcing several employees, establish a live virtual chat room where you can have regular 10 or 15‐ minute discussions to clarify your business goals. Keep it light, inspiring and efficient so that employees will want to start every work‐day with gusto. At optimal outsourcing we can help you set up good lines of communication.
  1. Create a regular meeting time that’s convenient for everyone and make attendance mandatory. Many employers use what are called key performance indicators, or KPIs, to keep a running record of employee activity. These are a great way to establish what everyone in your business should be striving toward. For example, in marketing, they might emphasise things like customer turnover and acquisition rates, existing customer satisfaction data and so forth. Utilising up‐to‐date KPIs, and making everyone aware of these metrics, lets you keep track of your business’s progress, as well as your employees’ work as a team.
  1. Offering bonuses is another way to reward your outstanding Filipino offshore staff. Implementing an achievable reward system will encourage virtual employees to strive to meet company goals, help keep them focused and avoid disenchantment. You can offer financial incentives, gifts or other rewards that demonstrate to employees that you value their dedication and hard work. Tying bonuses to job performance reinforces the idea that when the company succeeds, they reap the benefits, which is excellent motivation.
  1. Also most outsourcing businesses provide you with time-logging software. This type of software is a handy tool that requires contracted employees to log in at the start of each shift and log out when finished for the day. Some variations will take a screen shot of an employee’s desktop, typically every 10 minutes at random intervals throughout a shift. It can also monitor mouse clicks and keystrokes. A few may offer an optional web cam hook-up that will snap a photo of a contractor working, or initiate a periodic pop‐up where an employee will report the task they are currently working on. While this software may seem a bit intrusive, it’s an indispensable tool for ensuring that employees are doing the work you’ve requested. Many of the programs will email a report at the end of each day so you can know exactly what your employees have accomplished, and at what speed, as well as how many hours they’ve actually worked.

Also keep in mind when you engage an outsourcing business with a management team in the office in the Philippines as we do at Optimal Outsourcing Corporation, we will help manage your staff in terms of ensuring they are turning up to work on time and are working at their desks.

We provide your staff social interaction through organised office parties and events to help them feel part of a happy office community and a team. At Optimal Outsourcing we understand happy workers work better and stay longer in jobs.

Contact us today at Optimal Outsourcing Australia and allow us to help you achieve your outsourcing needs!

Feb 16
recruiting and hiring image 1

Recruiting and Hiring Tips before Outsourcing Staff

By Outsourcing

Recruiting and hiring is a multi‐step process that should ideally be tweaked to suit your particular business and needs especially if you are looking to outsource staff.

In the hope of helping you out on this important facet of the outsourcing industry.

Watch this short video to learn more:

I listed down some basic but essential suggestions.

Recruiting and Hiring Tips

  • Find an outsourcing company with a good reputation. It’s wise to look for a company with a team on the ground in the Philippines so that they can locate the best candidates from talent pools, which an online‐only company may miss. Optimal Outsourcing has an office located in Clark Freeport Zone Philippines.
  • Pick an outsourcing company with a dedicated Human Resource department to screen out and test the best candidates for your requirements. Optimal Outsourcing has a dedicated Human resources team led by Byron Dizon.
  • Use an outsourcing company that has an Australian office that is familiar with Australian business standards. Note there is only a 2 hour time difference between the Philippines and Australian Eastern Standard Time. Optimal Outsourcing has an Australian base on the gold Coast and In Sydney.
  • Opt for a company that will both screen and pre‐interview candidates for you. This is standard process with Optimal Outsourcing, this saves you time wasted sifting through the resumes of those who may not fit your needs.
  • Look for a company that will handle all payroll and administrative duties so that once you select a candidate they can take care of these details. Unless you have experience in these areas on an international scale, delegating them will reduce needless headaches and allow you to focus solely on your business.
  • Write a compelling and colourful advertisement for your business. Explain in ample detail what the job is, what qualifications you’re expecting in an employee, both technical and personal, and include a description of the type of skills you want a candidate to bring.
  • Mention the kind of personality best suited for the position, and indicate any particular interpersonal and communication skills you expect. The more clear and direct your advert, the easier it will be for an outsourcing company to assist you in finding the right people to fit the bill. Be sure to include your business’s strongest suits and merits to help attract the top candidates.
  • Set up Skype Interviews. At Optimal Outsourcing we set up Skype video interviews with your selected candidates at a mutually convenient time. Have a list of pertinent questions prepared to help you decide on the right candidate for the position.
  • Check references provided. Optimal Outsourcing will check the references provided by each candidate. This is a step in the process that should be mandatory for each contractor you interview. It’s not only necessary to verify experience and credentials, but it can be an ideal way to learn more about a potential employee. Or better still have the outsourcing company’s HR Department check the references on your behalf.
  • Set up a test for each candidate. At Optimal Outsourcing we have a written and oral test for each applicant. Testing allows you to judge the skills of a candidate and further evaluate their suitability for the position before you do any hiring.

Choosing your outsourced staff is a major key to your business’s productivity. It will save you time, resources and headache in the long haul.

Still if you are unsure about the whole process, give us a call, we are more than willing to help you out.

Feb 10

3 Benefits of Outsourcing

By Outsourcing

Whilst the benefits of outsourcing to the Philippines grow to outweigh those of many other nations, there are a number of benefits that are accessed by major corporations across the globe, and increasingly, the enlightened few who have discovered them for their start-‐ up or SME ventures.

Regain Time

Arguably the most valuable commodity today, our time, is growing scarcer and more precious. Dozens of entrepreneurs and business owners are working fewer than 10 hours per week, and virtually all of their work has become simply catching up, motivating and maintaining weekly goals.

Once you set your gears in motion, you allow yourself significantly more time to spend being the real CEO you were meant to be, and more importantly, with your family and friends.

It’s a very personally empowering route. Don’t you like the idea of someone else growing your business while you’re lounging on the beach with your family?

Your contractors, who (with the right training) will become perfectly autonomous and knowledgeable, can evolve and develop your business independently at a significantly lower cost than if you had to put in all those hours by yourself.

Up to 80% cheaper

Are you ever daunted at the cost of hiring a local Australian or US employee?

We were too!

Thankfully, outsourcing is 60-‐80% cheaper than hiring locally in most cases.

If you’re in need of a telemarketer, for example, the numbers speak for themselves: a typical Australian telemarketer costs around $4,500 per month whereas a Filipino with perfect English will earn almost a quarter of that, just under $1,300.

A Filipino accountant can earn $1,400 per month, whereas an Australian accountant typically earns over $7,000. The same applies to admin staff, payroll clerks, bookkeepers and receptionists.

It’s important to keep in mind the substantially lower cost of living in the Philippines.

A thousand dollars per month stretches considerably further for a Filipino than it does for an Australian.

Additionally, by choosing to outsource your employment you are actually creating well-‐paying and sought-‐after jobs for Filipinos.

Working remotely for international employers is in very high demand in the Philippines, not only because of the wages received, but because this type of employment allows a Filipino to work from the comfort of their own home.

Easy Access to Skilled Staff

Outsourcing eliminates the immediate need for recruiting personnel to do a specialized task. This enables the company to save a lot of its time and finances plus it can focus on the more important core tasks.

Outsourcing to skilled staff also eliminates the margin of error on the task allocated. Lastly, having skilled staff to outsource to also speed up the completion of the assigned task/s because of their training, efficiency and general technical know-how of the tasks involved.

These are but some of the more obvious reasons why outsourcing to the Philippines can be a definite boost to your company.

Contact us now @ +61755970661