The Outsourcing Week in Review: Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Welcome to Inside Outsourcing: The Outsourcing Week in Review
The tug-of-war between the Department of Finance and the outsourcing industry took an interesting turn last week with the suggestion by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) that if tax incentives go, then an eight-billion peso subsidy to help on retraining BPO workers would be a smart alternative. Market demand for outsourcing still appears robust: according to the latest ISG Index last quarter, contract values in Asia Pacific were up 44%. Given that all agree that investment in training will be among the most important factors if the country is to stay ahead in the game, there may be merit in the IBPAP suggestion.
The importance of good strategies by BPO outfits to improve staff practices and provide employees and their communities with a sense of value and belonging, was also manifest in the week’s news. The competition for BPOs to build their brand attraction as places to work in a tight labor market is growing, not just from other companies, but also from the appeals of freelancing, according to Professor Aldrin Atienza of UST College of Commerce and Business Administration. BPO firm Everise/C3 has launched a recruitment chatbot to help in its hiring. Group sporting activities are another means. There are now 28 BPO firms taking part in the ‘BPO Olympics’ a growing annual industry sports extravaganza. Bacolod City had six BPO firms take part in its first inter BPO volleyball competition, similar events are now being held in other cities such as Cebu, Davao and Metro Manila. Alorica donated ten computers to Ilocos Norte schools as part of its ongoing educational support CSR program.
Meanwhile, steady growth of the industry in the regions continues apace. Cagayan ecozone announced it is building the ‘Crypto Valley of Asia’; aimed at targeting emerging fintech and cryptocurrency activities. NEM, a cryptocurrency and blockchain platform, announced it will be setting up in the economic zone. French games giant Ubisoft is putting up an operation in Laguna; Megaworld has new BPO space planned for Bacolod, and ePerformax opened a new center in Roxas City. In other news Accenture continued its steady stream of acquisitions with the Chinese digital agency, HO Communications. Sitel hired two new VPs to expand its service offerings. Finally, Wipro put an end to an ongoing dispute with the National Grid over an enterprise resource planning project, with a no-liability or wrongdoing settlement of US$75 million.
News Roundup
06 August 2018
28 outsourcing firms take part in local BPO Olympics – read more…
Cagayan ecozone building Crypto Valley of Asia – read more…
Wipro settles National Grid lawsuit for USD75m – read more…
03 August 2018
Alorica donates 10 computer units to Ilocos – read more…
Outsourcing demand in APAC up 44% in Q2 – read more…
Accenture acquires Chinese digital agency HO Communications – read more…
02 August 2018
ePerformax opens new center in Roxas City – read more…
Sitel hires two new VPs to expand its service offerings – read more…
Philippines gig economy boosted by young population, ICT – read more…
01 August 2018
Megaworld’s Bacolod new township will feature BPO office space – read more…
Panasiatic wins 1st Inter BPO volleyball title in Bacolod City – read more…
BPO firm Everise/C3 launches recruitment chatbot – read more…
31 July 2018
French games developer Ubisoft opens new studio in Laguna – read more…
IBPAP proposes P8bn annual subsidy for BPO sector – read more…
NEM to put blockchain hub in Cagayan – read more…