Redefining Offshoring, 10,000 Staff, & AI Dominance – with Scott Stavretis of Acquire Intelligence

Derek is joined by Scott Stavretis of Acquire Intelligence (formerly Acquire BPO) in this exciting episode of the Outsource Accelerator Podcast. Scott is the CEO and Co-Founder and has spent nearly two decades reshaping how companies think about outsourcing. 

They delve into the birth and growth of Acquire Intelligence and its response to the hunger for clarity over artificial intelligence. 

Acquire Intelligence and Scott’s journey

With operations across the United States, Australia, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic, Acquire Intelligence employs around 9,500 people. Today, it’s now fusing business process outsourcing with AI consulting in a bold industry shift.

“My journey pretty much started off in the technical and operational space,” Scott recalls. “I started my first internet service provider when I was 16… continued to pursue that for a few years until I had an offer to sell that business when I was about 20, 21.”

That sale led him to meet Larry Kestelman, with whom he launched Dodo—eventually Australia’s largest private telco—before selling in 2011. 

“We really started the Acquire business based off our need in the telecommunications space… We couldn’t expand quick enough, had talent shortages in Melbourne… and that’s why we decided to start Acquire in Manila back in 2006.”

Although the original setup was to support their own telco operations, opportunity quickly came knocking. 

“A very well-known large New York Stock Exchange business knocked on our door… and as entrepreneurs, of course, we said yes. They were our first client—and still are to this day.”

The AI revolution

The outsourcing industry has matured far beyond simple cost savings. 

“It needs to be a whole lot more. Nowadays with systems and tools and the AI explosion, it’s really about how do you actually get the right people to do the right work and really be able to embrace technologies?” 

AI, he believes, will impact “all elements of white-collar roles… It’s just a matter of when and exactly how, [and] what that partnership is between human and technology.” 

This is why Acquire BPO merged with its AI consultancy—Acquire AI—in June 2024 to form Acquire Intelligence.

“We take a sort of eliminate, automate, reallocate approach,” Scott explains. “First, eliminate waste in processes and resources. Second, automate using both AI and other automation tools. Third, reallocate resources—whether within the client’s business or through outsourcing—to where they can add the most value.”

Crucially, Acquire Intelligence takes a technology-agnostic stance. 

“We’re finding and putting forward the best systems [and] solutions at the time. We’re not tied to recommending our own platforms… It’s about understanding the market, the client’s industry.

It’s very much about how you put in lightweight, easy change, because however good AI is today, it’s going to be better tomorrow.”

Scott is candid about the hype cycle. “Where there’s a lot of smoke, there is some fire—but there’s probably a whole lot more smoke right now. The smart companies are looking under the hood at [how] AI can help every part of their business. 

The conversation may start with AI, [but it might end] with straight automation or real business process optimization.”

And while AI can reduce headcount, Scott says Acquire’s private ownership allows them to prioritize client outcomes over short-term revenue.

“Cannibalize our own revenue before somebody else does…We’re about making sure we provide the absolute best outcome to our client, and then they’ll become a client for life.”

Technology-enabled partnerships in outsourcing

For Scott, outsourcing is no longer about being a vendor—it’s about becoming “a true extension of the client’s business.” This means sitting in on the same meetings, sharing the same systems, and aligning on the same end goals.

“The maturity of the industry has completely changed. With that change comes a whole bunch of upskilling of people that run these businesses. Not just [managing] KPIs and SLAs and [punishing] when they’re not performing or giving them a pat on the back when they are.” 

He also sees the role of BPOs as guiding clients through the AI and automation maze. “We have a team [whose] full-time job is to understand exactly what the newest thing is, how it’s used, and how it’s being implemented in each industry.”

Scott is bullish on the road ahead. “I love catching up with our clients, hearing what they’re doing in their business… Over the next two or three years, this space is going to be super exciting.”

Visit Acquire Intelligence’s website, and Scott can be reached via LinkedIn. 

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