Is Kenya the Next Outsourcing Hot Spot? With John Mamboleo of VIZX Global

Amidst the pool of well-known outsourcing destinations like India and the Philippines, countries like Kenya lie in wait for their turn in the spotlight. 

In this episode of the Outsource Accelerator Podcast, Derek speaks with John Mamboleo, the Chief Executive Officer of VIZX Global. 

Their talk mostly revolves around how Kenya is an undiscovered hub for outsourcing that nevertheless offers plenty of opportunities for both its workers and business clients. 

VIZX Global 

John opens by introducing VIZX Global. 

“VIZX is a BPO that’s based out of Nairobi, Kenya… VIZX International and VIZX Global Solutions are two entities that are focused on business process sourcing.

We’ve been in business now for over 20 years with a focus on outsourcing, especially the recruitment process.” 

He explains that the company’s name encapsulates their mission. 

“The VIZ stands for vision, and the X is for execution. So definitely we are a company that believes in having a vision that you can actually execute on.” 

John didn’t initially start his career in outsourcing. He had a business in healthcare staffing before moving back to Kenya to mobilize the talent there. 

“The challenge was, where else could I do this more effectively, probably much cheaper and more efficient? 

And the truth is when I came back to Kenya, I [realized] there’s a very good pool of young people who are very fluent in the English language, very competent, very well-educated.” 

Kenya as an outsourcing destination

John believes that the outsourcing sphere is growing in South Africa, and he thinks Kenya is also starting to feel positive effects.

“We’re seeing success in how quickly the market is growing, in terms of other companies looking into the Kenyan market. 

Big corporations are coming into Kenya, not only [for] the cost factor, it’s also the skill level we have here.”

He has great faith in Kenyan talent, particularly from his place in Nairobi. 

“We are definitely coming out as a very strong contender and a leader as a country in terms of producing, or rather, offering to companies looking for sourcing partners that are competitive.” 

He points out the good quality of educated professionals who can do the quality work that many firms are looking for offshore.

“You look at Kenya’s landscape, the adult literacy levels are at 83 percent of the population, with 75 percent of which having attended at least high school or gone to college. 

That just tells you that there’s a very good literacy level and exposure in terms of knowledge and skill set.” 

He also brings up the stability of their infrastructure, allaying fears that many may have about the country possibly being behind when it comes to technology.

“We have a very stable supply [of power]. The internet is very stable. We have very fast speeds and we’re very good adopters in terms of new technologies. 

Those are very important factors when you’re looking into partnering with someone as an offshore outsource partner.” 

Acceptance and awareness of offshoring to Africa

Even after their decades in the industry, John notes that it’s always a struggle to get clients onboard. 

“There’s some people who still don’t understand or don’t believe that they can outsource to a new market like Kenya.

So there’s also the efforts that we have to make in terms of making them aware about the country, letting them know why they should choose Kenya as an option as a destination for offshoring.” 

He realizes that the process doesn’t just involve branding their company, but also the nation itself.

“We have to improve VIZX in some areas and we have to be very creative in terms of our marketing and sales strategy. And I’ve come to realize that I have to sell the country first before I even sell the service.” 

Still, he’s confident that many will see their advantages in the long term. 

“We here in Kenya can offer much more of the same quality of service with the same high standards at a much lower cost. 

I do believe that in the next five years, in the near future, we’ll see a big shift. And that shift will be towards customers in these outsourcing markets.” 

You may visit VIZX at their website or through their social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.