by Lowell Clifford Opada | Dec 13, 2021 | Industry Knowledge
Because of its affordability and effectiveness, live chat has remained one of the most successful customer service channels to date. It has advantages that will help your business succeed. Companies are searching for cost-effective solutions in the midst of the economic downturn. With the current state of the economy, outsourcing live chat has increased in popularity.
Businesses that are unaware of live chat outsourcing depend on their in-house team to handle it, which adds to their other responsibilities. Letting your employees manage it can not only be inconvenient for them, but it is also expensive. Here are five perks of outsourcing live chat.
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Experienced staff. Companies that provide outsourcing services have well-trained and skilled employees. This means that the customers get the support and expertise they need. This will also help you save money on training your staff, as training and development costs are on the account of the outsourcing provider.
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Re-defined focus. Customer service is essential to the success of every company. With a dedicated team solely handling that aspect for you, you and your team can concentrate on critical areas such as operations, marketing, sales, and distribution. By outsourcing live chat services, your team members can now focus more on other critical aspects of their work.
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Fewer expansion costs. Company expansions will affect the cost of rent, salaries, and utility bills. Letting your outsourced team handle your live chat services will help you grow your customer support coverage without incurring high costs. Most business process outsourcing companies charge considerably lower rates especially when they’re located in countries like the Philippines.
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Real-time coverage. Many customers usually reach out to you after office hours. Save the hassle of employing staff at odd hours by having your outsourced staff respond to your customers in real time. Most outsourcing vendors, such as SOPHI, operate 24/7. With this, you can double your ability to “be there” for your customers, thus earning their trust and loyalty.
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Customer-centered support. With the aim of reducing costs, several companies turn to chatbots to handle their chat support. However, this can feel impersonal to customers. Outsourcing live chat to a BPO can help humanize your business with an actual agent on the other end of the line. Make your customers feel connected. Customers will feel more at ease if your chat operators engage with them in conversation. Customers are more likely to maintain a positive relationship with your organization if they receive personalized responses.
Outsourced live chat services have become a trend in these modern times. The Philippines is one of the world’s top destinations for business process outsourcing. Choosing a BPO company in this country would give you a competitive advantage.
by Lowell Clifford Opada | Nov 8, 2021 | Industry Knowledge
With the global market being affected by the pandemic, entrepreneurs are now more hesitant to invest in scaling their businesses. In the latest survey by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 41.3% of businesses reported temporarily closing because of COVID-19. Business conditions continue to worsen, and survival is at risk. Here are reasons why outsourcing can be a survival plan in this pandemic.
- Affordability – Outsourcing decreases spending compared to hiring in-house. With increasing health benefits required to attract talent, hiring additional employees onshore can rack up the costs of running your business. Outsourcing reduces the cost of manpower with a considerably lower cost of labor in BPO destinations like the Philippines.
- Scalability – Outsourcing allows firms to grow operations to ease the burden of their workload. Almost any task can now be outsourced, and the latest software and technology are accessible online. Companies such as SOPHI, offer a wide range of services, from customer support to digital marketing.
- Flexibility – Outsourcing providers have the ability to increase the number of manpower according to your needs. Resources can be added during your business’ peak seasons to support the demands of your customers. After which, you can easily scale back to your core team onshore when you reach the lean months.
A recent study by McKinsey & Company claimed that 90 percent of executives said they expect COVID-19 to fundamentally change how they do business in the next five years. Smart strategies are needed to get through these challenging times. Outsourcing has become a viable solution to the growing pains of many businesses in this pandemic. Combining the right strategies with the help of a reputable service provider offers a long-term plan to help businesses outlive this crisis.
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by Lowell Clifford Opada | Oct 11, 2021 | Industry Knowledge
It takes conviction and determination to take your business down the outsourcing road. With the competitive market nowadays, multiple startups are now considering outsourcing to focus on their business goals. But any business can significantly benefit from this cost-effective opportunity as long as they find a suitable country that offers a win-win situation for both parties.
Outsourcing to the Philippines is an inviting concept to many entrepreneurs, especially Americans. According to Oxford Business Group, the Philippines has been the global leader in voice and call center services since 2010. The Contact Center Association of the Philippines also claims that the country’s call center industry will expand and generate up to US$20.4 billion in revenue by 2022. The IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines forecasted in their 2019 assessment a revenue growth that would reach 7.3–10.8% by 2022 and 7.3–12.3% in gaming and animation. Aside from its industry growth rate and revenue rate, there are numerous reasons why the Philippines rises above the outsourcing world.
As a startup business, innovation and resourcefulness are vital. The majority of companies that outsource to the Philippines stand to save up to 80% in wages, which is much cheaper than providing a salary for almost the same duties and responsibilities in the first-world countries. In addition, with over 64 million English speakers, language barrier would never be a problem. Lastly, the country’s culture is highly westernized. Offshore team members can easily relate to their clients.
Multiple outsourcing vendors are operating out of the Philippines, so it’s crucial to look for a BPO that can be trusted. Call centers, such as SOPHI, offer flexible and affordable rates to suit any startup’s budget. If you haven’t tried outsourcing to the Philippines yet, this may be the best decision you can make for your company’s growth.
You can learn more about outsourcing in the Philippines by visiting our website and following our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.
by Lowell Clifford Opada | Jun 7, 2021 | Industry Knowledge
For many years, outsourcing has made significant changes and has been of great help in building the foundation of many startups. The Philippines, among other countries, has been the preferred destination of many western companies and has remained to be the BPO capital of the world.
Outsourcing companies are primarily concentrated in Metro Manila. However, due to the government’s unceasing efforts to help provinces’ economies, most BPOs have spread out in various parts of the Philippines.
Dumaguete City is one of the top-ranking cities in the Philippines for outsourcing, and here are five reasons why.
Education. Apart from being “The City of Gentle People,” Dumaguete is also dubbed a “University Town” by the locals. Dumaguete City has a total of four universities and is a host to other colleges and schools. With the city’s comprehensive university and vocational school support, the town produces thousands of graduates each year, with promising young professionals entering the labor force.
Millennial Workforce. Majority of today’s workforce now consists of millennials. Dumaguete residents that belong to this age bracket have grown up with the rise of technology, exposing them to modern tools, social media training options, and online educational institutes. They enter the marketplace tech-savvy and fully equipped with the knowledge to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Most importantly, businesses benefit from the young and hardworking Filipinos’ drive, ambition, and energy.
Lower Cost of Operations. One of the advantages of outsourcing in Dumaguete City is its affordability itself. Due to the minimalist way of living in the city the cost of most goods and services are almost half of those in larger cities. Business owners save up on labor costs and other expenses, such as office space rental, equipment, salaries, taxes, and many more.
English Proficiency. Along with the national language, Filipino/Tagalog, most of the country’s population has a strong proficiency in English. Locals can communicate through any channel, be it verbal or written. This is one of the top reasons why American businesses choose the Philippines when it comes to outsourcing.
Infrastructure. Outsourcing to Dumaguete won’t be difficult because of the number of available and affordable offices in town. These offices are certified by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and are also backed with fiber-optic lines to ensure smooth and continuous operations.
With its rising popularity, Dumaguete is now seen as a practical destination for outsourcing services. With the increasing abundance of BPOs in Dumaguete, getting the right provider can be easy. Companies such as SOPHI, known for their tagline, “Outsourcing Made Easy for Startups,” are among the few who offer services such as customer service, lead generation, back office, search engine optimization, digital marketing, etc.
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by Lowell Clifford Opada | Apr 6, 2021 | Industry Knowledge
Working remotely has its advantages and disadvantages. When done right, it provides great flexibility and incomparable benefits of work-life balance. However, to reap the benefits of working remotely, you must possess several skills, including time management.
While working remotely, you’re responsible for creating a structure or a routine that helps you get things done effectively and efficiently. This is necessary if you don’t want to mix your work with your leisure time. The goal isn’t just to get everything done on time, checking one task at a time. It’s to have a smooth and easy working rhythm so that you don’t feel drained at the end of the day. Here are five strategies that can help you manage your time more effectively.
Track your time.
To effectively manage your time, you must understand how you use it. Time tracking helps you know how long it takes to complete different tasks to allocate the right amount of time for each one of them. This allows you to budget your time for more critical activities in your day. Additionally, this strategy helps highlight your inefficiencies and distractions, so you can regularly improve your routine.
Block your distractions.
Distractions come in many shapes and forms. To truly succeed at time management, you have to build up your ability to focus and master your distractions. One simple tip is to put your phone away. Set a designated time to check your phone for notifications, emails, and messages.
Change your work setting.
When you always work from home, it’s quite easy for work to mix with your downtime, and without a clear cut-off, you might find yourself working longer hours than you would in the office. Try moving to a cafe or a co-working space, even for an afternoon. This can help create boundaries between work and rest.
Have buffers in between tasks.
Try to leave at least ten to fifteen minutes between tasks to prevent spillovers. It keeps you from rushing between items on your list, and it helps you work at a more relaxed pace. If a meeting takes longer than what you initially expected, you wouldn’t have to worry because you’ve already budgeted time for this. And if you finish something a little earlier than expected, then you’ve earned yourself a break!
Reward yourself.
Don’t forget to treat yourself. Small rewards after completing a certain task can be a great motivator. Taking minor breaks can make great rewards, or treating yourself with a cup of your favorite drink after that difficult work hump can be beneficial too. Doing this will not only make you feel good about yourself, but it’s also a great way to keep you moving toward your goal.
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