RP remains attractive site for BPO firms

The Philippines continues to be an attractive site for outsourcing as several business process outsourcing (BPO) firms have expressed plans to move their operations to the country.

According to the business advisory and auditing firm KPMG, one BPO company is even planning to provide as much as 20,000 jobs to the Philippines.

“A number of our clients are looking at the Philippines because of its talented and educated workforce,” Edge Zarella of KPMG’s Risk Advisory Services department said in a forum on Monday.

Zarella, however, did not identify the companies that are moving into the Philippines this year, saying that they have yet to make a public announcement.

Industry players have earlier cited the availability of high-quality talent in the Philippines, making the country an ideal location for their businesses.

Specifically, BPO companies saw managerial talent and leadership skills in Filipinos, giving them an edge over other countries.

The economic crisis has forced most companies to cut down on production costs such as manpower and rentals to survive, making them move some of their businesses offshore.

This has greatly benefited the Philippines as the BPO industry served as a sponge for the surplus of graduates that other sectors could no longer absorb.

A number of BPO firms have flocked to the country this year to expand their operations amid the economic crunch. Leading outsourcing firm Convergys, for instance, is on a roll with its expansions this year, opening three new contact center facilities in Cebu, Quezon City and Laguna last April.

Another company, Affiliated Computer Services Inc., announced plans to add 2,000 more seats in the next five months as it continues to strengthen its presence in the Philippines through its offices in Makati, Pasay and Cebu.

The market is also faced with new entrants this year, with HP Outsourcing Philippines Inc. and Thomson Reuters Legal expressing interest to put up facilities in the country. –abs-cbnNEWS.com