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Call Center

Definition

What is a call center?

A call center may refer to a physical center where an outsourcing company conducts various customer contact services that act as a front line to customers.

Call centers comprise a team of agents who are trained for the product or service being offered.

A call center may also refer to a type of BPO setup where a client gets a remote team to handle its customer service hotlines and attend to the client’s customers on its behalf.

In call centers, agents often do inbound or outbound call handling. The former talks about customer service, order processing, or technical support.

The latter focuses more on telemarketing, promotions, or selling. In this setup, it is the call center agent who initiates the call to potential customers.

What is a call center

Call center outsourcing

A call center employs agents who act as representatives on their client’s behalf to deal with questions, concerns, and complaints of the customers.

Aside from that, call centers can also function as sales hotlines and telemarketing teams. Outsource Accelerator provides you with the best call center outsourcing companies in the Philippines, where you can save up to 70% on staffing costs.

Call center vs. Contact center

Call centers and contact centers have almost the same functions and processes. However, their distinction lies in various factors, such as communication channels, skillsets, and volume of handled data.

Call centers focus on offering customer service through phone calls. While many call centers now use non-voice options such as email and chat, their priority still lies in handling incoming or outgoing calls.

Contact centers, meanwhile, provide their services in a wider range of communication channels.

They create an omnichannel approach to their functions, giving clients more flexibility in how they can reach a business. This is why a contact center is also called a “modern call center.”

Types of call centers

Below are some of the types of call centers today:

Inbound call center

Inbound call centers focus on handling incoming calls daily. Each customer service agent is responsible for answering inquiries and concerns about a firm’s products and services.

Outbound call center

Outbound call centers handle outgoing calls to leads and customers of a business.

Agents in this call center type reach out to people for lead generation, appointment confirmation, payment reminders, and other related functions.

Automated call center

In an automated call center, agents use call center technology to handle some or all of their responsibilities.

Some of their functions include appointment setting, sending shipping updates, and automated transaction confirmation.

Virtual call center

Lastly, virtual call centers handle inbound and outbound calls through the cloud. Compared to a traditional call center, virtual call centers don’t need a physical space and in-house agents to accomplish their work.

Outsourcing FAQ

What is a Customer Service?

What is customer service?

Customer service is a process of delivering a product or service to a customer in an efficient, accessible, cost-effective, and satisfying manner. It is creating a relationship that involves trust and builds loyalty, even after the delivery is made.

Customer service is knowing how to deal with customers and understanding their needs and wants. It is finding what customers want during the entire process of delivering the product or service.

Excellent customer service is knowing when to ask the right questions to get the correct answers. It is listening wholeheartedly to your customers as if you’ve known them for a very long time. Excellent customer service is learning to adapt and provide solution to each individual client.

It is discovering the right level of judgment then and there. Most importantly, in-depth knowledge of the products or services you offer is the ultimate foundation of a great customer service experience.

Communication skills, creating the right environment, and being friendly aren’t enough if you don’t have in-depth knowledge of the product or service that your company offers.

Outsourcing of customer service

Outsource Accelerator provides you the best customer service outsourcing companies in the Philippines, where you can save up-to 70% on staffing cost. We have over 3,000 articles, 200+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 700+ BPOs… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about, and engage with, outsourcing.

First call resolution definition

What is the first call resolution?

First Call Resolution (FCR) is a crucial metric in customer service that measures the ability of call centers to address customer calls and resolve their problems during initial interactions.

The primary goal of FCR is to ensure that customer problems, inquiries, or concerns are effectively resolved without the need for subsequent follow-up calls or interactions.

First call resolution is an essential element of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and is one of the crucial metrics of a contact center. It measures the way the customer service representative addresses issues, problems, and queries on the first point of contact.

This exhibits how the recipient of the call gives quality resolutions to customers being catered to firsthand.

Regardless of the level of difficulty, as long as it was appropriately handled on the initial call, it would still be tagged as First Call Resolution, improving the representatives' metric scorecard.

Benefits of first call resolution

Monitoring first-call resolution allows a company to identify issues in its customer support process and quickly resolve them.

Fewer client complaints mean better first-call resolution rates and customers.

If your business strives to deliver quality customer service, then you should be on your first call resolution. Improving it is crucial and gives your company benefits such as the following:

Customer satisfaction

Solving pain points at the first customer interaction can be the difference between whether customers stay or go. If a customer is satisfied with their experience, then they will stick to your brand leading to customer retention.

Can earn brand promoters

When customers experience prompt and effective solutions, they are not only satisfied but often become promoters of your brand.

Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool, and First Call Resolution puts it to work in your favor.

Maximizes your team's productivity

Figuring out an issue during the first interaction means that your team will deal with fewer repeat calls and could focus on more complex issues.

This not only boosts productivity but also creates a positive ripple effect on the overall performance of your support team.

Challenges of first call resolution

Implementing and achieving First Call Resolution (FCR) can pose various challenges for organizations. Some common challenges include:

Complex issues

Customer issues can vary widely in complexity and nature. Agents may encounter challenges in resolving intricate or technical problems within the limited timeframe of a single call. This lead to a lower FCR rate.

Lack of information

In some instances, customer support agents may not have access to sufficient information or documentation to address certain customer inquiries. This leads to the need for follow-up calls.

Insufficient training

Inadequate training programs can hinder agents' ability to understand and resolve customer issues efficiently. A lack of comprehensive training on product knowledge, communication skills, and problem-solving techniques may contribute to lower FCR rates.

Ineffective communication

Miscommunication between the customer and the support agent can result in misunderstandings. This potentially leads to unresolved issues and subsequent follow-up calls.

Technology challenges

While advanced technology can enhance customer service, its improper implementation or insufficient integration with existing systems can be a hindrance.

If agents struggle to navigate or utilize technology effectively, it may lead to longer resolution times and lower FCR rates.

Inadequate knowledge sharing

Poor knowledge sharing among support teams can lead to instances where agents lack awareness of successful resolution strategies, making it harder to achieve FCR consistently.

Volume and workload

High call volumes and heavy workloads can impact the efficiency of issue resolution. Agents may prioritize speed over thorough resolution to manage the workload, potentially affecting FCR performance.

Varied customer expectations

Customer expectations may vary, and some customers might have unrealistic expectations for immediate resolution. Managing and aligning these expectations is crucial for FCR's success.

Incomplete customer information

Insufficient or inaccurate customer information can complicate the resolution process. Agents may spend time gathering details instead of focusing on the actual problem during the initial call.

Continuous process improvement

Establishing a culture of continuous improvement is essential. Organizations may struggle to adapt and refine their processes to enhance FCR rates over time.

How to improve your first call resolution rate

Resolving customer issues efficiently on the first call not only enhances customer satisfaction but also contributes to the overall success of call center operations.

Here's a comprehensive guide on how to boost your first contact resolution rate and elevate your customer service game.

Comprehensive agent training

Invest in thorough training programs for your customer service team members.

Equip them with in-depth product knowledge, effective communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Well-trained agents are more likely to resolve issues on the first call.

Utilize advanced technology

Embrace technology that supports FCR efforts. Implement customer relationship management (CRM) systems, AI-driven chatbots, and other tools that streamline information retrieval and enhance issue resolution capabilities.

Encourage active listening

Train your agents to listen to customers' concerns actively. Understanding the issue completely on the first call is crucial for swift resolution.

Active listening builds rapport and ensures customers feel heard.

Empower agents with decision-making authority

Grant your agents the authority to make decisions and resolve certain issues without escalating to higher levels. This autonomy speeds up the resolution process, contributing to a higher FCR rate.

Implement knowledge base systems

Develop and maintain a robust knowledge base that agents can access during calls. A comprehensive knowledge base reduces resolution time by providing agents with quick and accurate information.

Regular performance feedback

Provide regular feedback to agents based on call monitoring. Highlight areas of improvement and recognize successful FCR instances. Continuous feedback motivates agents to enhance their performance.

Set realistic goals

Establish achievable first-contact resolution goals for your team. Unrealistic targets can lead to rushed interactions and lower customer satisfaction. Strive for continuous improvement rather than immediate perfection.

Customer feedback surveys

Implement post-call customer feedback surveys. Analyzing customer input provides valuable insights into areas that may need improvement and helps in refining FCR strategies.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing

Encourage collaboration among agents. Establish platforms for knowledge sharing where agents can discuss and learn from each other's experiences, contributing to collective problem-solving skills.

Customer service portal

To improve customer experience, develop a customer-centric self-service portal or hub that includes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Implement live chat, social media messaging, and diverse communication channels to engage with customers on their preferred platforms, aiming to diminish the necessity for phone calls.

Use FCR to improve your overall customer satisfaction

Leveraging First Call Resolution (FCR) is a key strategy for enhancing overall customer satisfaction. FCR plays a crucial role in shaping the customer experience and positively impacting satisfaction levels.

Here's how you can use FCR to improve your overall customer satisfaction:

Prompt issue resolution

Resolving customer issues during the initial contact demonstrates efficiency and responsiveness. Customers appreciate timely solutions, leading to increased satisfaction with the support provided.

Reduction in customer effort

FCR reduces the need for customers to make repeated contacts or engage in lengthy follow-ups to address the same issue. Minimizing customer effort in issue resolution contributes to a smoother and more satisfying experience.

Enhanced customer perception

Successful FCR contributes to a positive perception of your organization's competency and commitment to customer service. Customers are more likely to view your company favorably when their concerns are promptly and effectively addressed.

First call resolution call center

In Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, First Call Resolution (FCR) is a standard. With their in-house team players, it is easier for them to find immediate resolutions despite who or what the concern is all about.

They should be equipped with extensive training and more exceptional experience in BPO. It is essential to know that the blueprint of First Call Resolution is being alerted.

However, not all concerns can be resolved immediately with just one call; there are specific issues that need to be escalated.

Therefore, it is imperative to get professionals to improve their First Call Resolution by evaluating their calls with the help of a quality assurance team.

Outsource Accelerator has over 5,000 articles, 470+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 3800+ BPOs… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn more about managing an outsourcing team and ensuring that FCRs are consistently high.

What is Help Desk Support?

What is help desk support?

Help desk support is incorporated with Information Technology (IT). It is technical support provided for customers who have issues and problems such as hardware and software related. 

Organizations that have their help desk support usually track the technical issues until further resolutions have been provided. Help desk support typically uses software to deliver fast assistance, such as email support, chat support, and inbound calling.

One popular type of help desk support is in the form of a call center company. A call center has many call center agents or whom we usually refer to as call as customer service representatives

These call center agents ensure straightforward resolutions in any form of issues such as technical issues, shipment-tracking, placing an order, and such. These are considered as help desk support.

Help desk support duties

The typical workload of a help desk support team varies depending on the needs of the company and its clients. The majority of help desk representatives are the first point of contact when issues arise within a business’ products and services.

A ticketing system is common in everyday help desk operations so that each member of the team can address and close out each problem that is being raised by a client.

In general, a help desk support employee is responsible to do the following.

Respond to incoming IT issues  Maintain computer systems and act as support the system is down Perform configurations and upgrades in computers when needed Assist with the onboarding of new employees Track and list all equipment, software, and tech licenses

Outsourcing help desk

It is a must to provide exceptional help desk support coupled with excellent communication skills. A good command of the English language is a great advantage for a help desk support agent. 

The team should also be fully equipped with the product knowledge, and who are prompt to answer customers’ inquiries. An outsourced help desk support team has a hands-on team management system that ensures quality assurance and both non-voice and voice help desk support.

Outsource Accelerator is the most trusted source for independent information & advisory for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). We have over 5,000 articles, 350+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 2500 BPOs… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about, and engage with outsourcing help desk support.

What is What is business process outsourcing??

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is the delegation of business processes to an external service provider to a nearby or farther location. BPO uses various technology-enabled services to optimize the delivery of services.

Some of the usual outsourced business functions are the following:

Payroll Accounting Human resources Customer service Sales Marketing

In the case of content providers, these could mean hiring writers, remote editors, or virtual assistants.

BPO speeds up processes and enhances efficiency. Companies that outsource some of their business processes use their time on core services and competencies.

With this shift in focus, companies improve their current processes, which may result in improved customer satisfaction. BPO helps companies divert their resources to more critical business strategies.

Often, companies find it impractical to hire a full-time position in-house because of the cost associated with doing so. Outsourcing services can also help them save costs and resources in hiring suitable employees.

The definition of business process outsourcing (BPO)

In business process outsourcing, a company delegates its services to a service provider. It can be a local firm, nearshore, or offshore company.

Upon reaching an agreement, the service provider will then set up a team for their client. They will shoulder the costs and resources needed, including:

Office space Workplaces Connection Cloud storage IT infrastructure

The providers are responsible for tracking the staff's performance and progress. Meanwhile, the clients are responsible for providing the tasks, processes, and KPIs needed for their operation.

In some instances, they are also allowed to incorporate their culture and values into their team and absorb them as a part of their company.

What are the benefits of business process outsourcing (BPO)?

There are many benefits to outsourcing, as well as some downsides and risks.

Outsourcing powerhouses like the Philippines and India produce high-quality talent at a lower rate due to their low operational costs and full government support.

Since outsourcing companies hire and produce experts in the field, clients can ensure better results in their operations – whether in customer service, accounting, or marketing. Their staff are trained to ensure that their clients achieve the outcome they expect.

Companies are able to scale their staff depending on the demand and availability of their tasks. This also helps them improve their operations by letting their service providers contribute to streamlining their processes.

Outsourcing poses more growth opportunities for businesses of all shapes and sizes. While there are still drawbacks to this practice, it is safe to say that its advantages outweigh its risks.

To explain it further, below we have outlined the top benefits of outsourcing business processes:

Cost savings

Companies can enjoy savings of up to 70% by leveraging the salaries and costs in offshore countries.

In the Philippines, for instance, companies can hire offshore staff with a US$500/month salary for starting positions. A team of 10 employees would only cost them as much as a single worker in the US with an equal position.

Global market

Small and medium-sized businesses find it most difficult to hire local employees that suit their roles.

The widened skill gap in developed countries, paired with economic crises, affects their capacity to expand their teams as needed.

Businesses get to access a bigger pool of talent that can fit their requirements. They can have better options in hiring employees since they are not limited to what is available in their home countries.

Global presence

At the same time, outsourcing opens clients to global trade opportunities. They can establish their global presence and expand more easily to other locations since they already have operations in the area.

Flexible workforce

Outsourcing is a great way to establish a remote workforce, especially for companies looking to implement this setup for the first time.

BPO reduces internal local compliance obligations, including providing additional office spaces to employees. Instead, organizations can hold their business operations on a remote setup, most usually having their teams in an office provided by the BPO firm.

Leverage skill

Companies cannot always do everything on their own. Burnout within entrepreneurs and teams is more common than everyone thinks, especially with everyone filling up the tasks beyond their skill sets.

A BPO company enables them to leverage the skills of other specialist companies on more complex tasks such as accounting and IT.

Focus

Lastly, BPO enables organizations to focus on their core business functions. This is because most of their non-core business operations are done with the help of a reliable service provider.

Business process outsourcing examples

The BPO industry is vast, generating over $200bn annually and employing millions of people worldwide.

As stated in the Market Analysis Report, the global business process outsourcing market reached over USD 245.9 billion in 2021. Thus, it is foreseen that we will acquire a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% this year from 2022 to 2030.

The proliferation of the global BPO sector is utterly driven by several key factors that organizations take full advantage of:

Improved efficiency and agility Focus on core competencies Decreased operational costs Adapt to the ever-changing business dynamics

In general, when we speak of outsourcing, it always entails contracting out parts of business processes to an external provider, either domestically or offshore.

BPO can be seen in different forms and contexts, from hiring single staff to getting an offshore team.

Here we have listed some of the examples of business process outsourcing:

Big enterprise

Corporate outsourcing has been around since the industry started. The new breed of large companies are still taking advantage of its benefits and using it to expand their offerings further.

Some of the known enterprises that outsource their services today include the following:

Google. Google has been ramping up its outsourcing efforts since 2016 by delegating development and customer support. Facebook. Meta, particularly Facebook, outsources content moderation to the Philippines as a way to filter toxic content and keep the platform safe for its users. Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has been outsourcing their operations to the Philippines since 2011. It has recently pulled out its functions in the country, though the company retained its BPO center in Manila. Medium-size businesses

A medium business with 50-500 staff might outsource the labor-intensive accounting and finance functions to a team in the Philippines.

Small business and entrepreneur

The recent Clutch survey stated that around 90% of small businesses plan to outsource their services in 2022 due to the efficiency and flexibility that companies get.

It is common for small business owners to have a Virtual Assistant (VA) working for them full-time and remotely from the Philippines.

Aside from this, organizations can delegate other services such as development, IT, and digital marketing.

What are the different types of BPO?

Outsourcing can be executed in different forms, depending on the outsourcer's needs. The truth is that not everyone is fully aware and has an in-depth grasp of the BPO sector.

For most people, BPO can simply mean farming out business processes to third parties located in another country, but this is just one type of BPO.

As for businesses, it is always vital to be familiar with the various classifications and functions of BPOs. This way, they are able to opt for a business process outsourcing provider that is best suited for their type of requirements and industry.

More importantly, outsourcing is not a one size fits all strategic approach, this is why it is not enough just know what outsourcing is and how it works.

There are several types of BPOs that businesses can choose from. The type of business process outsourcing can be characterized by its specialization, location, and size.

Generalist or specialist BPOs

Business process outsourcing is in the human resources and professional services sector.

However, their services extend across all industries. The majority of BPOs are generalists in that they offer a full range of professional services.

Meanwhile, some specialize in certain verticals, such as the following:

Legal process outsourcing

Legal process outsourcing deals more with delegating legal processes and compliances to legal firms in another area.

Knowledge process outsourcing

Meanwhile, knowledge process outsourcing enables companies to outsource knowledge-related work, including research and development, innovation, and creativity.

Location

Business process outsourcing typically operates from developing nations such as the Philippines, India, and Colombia. They typically have cheaper cost of living and bigger populations. Different locations offer different advantages.

Size of BPO

The bigger BPOs employ more than 250,000 people. They are huge, global operations. Medium-sized BPOs range from 500-5,000 staff and offer a full range of services. The smaller BPOs might have 1-500 people.

Offshore

Offshore outsourcing refers to the process of delegating a part of operations or a department to an offshore country.

To maximize profitability and efficiency, companies choose to outsource to a different region or timezone. India, the Philippines, and South Africa are some of the popular countries known for offshore outsourcing services.

Onshore

Onshore outsourcing or onshoring, meanwhile, is preferred by firms looking to delegate their services within their country.

Onshoring does not offer as much savings as offshoring or nearshoring. However, clients prefer this as a way to maintain their branding and satisfy their local markets.

Nearshore

Lastly, nearshore outsourcing is preferred by companies that do not want the hassles of time zones and cultural differences in offshoring but still want to get the best out of their delegated services.

Through nearshoring, businesses can collaborate with their teams located in nearby countries. This gives them the opportunity to maintain their local compliance and save on costs since most nearshore locations are cheaper than their onshore counterparts.

Functions of business process outsourcing

Collectively, business process outsourcing provides any kind of staffing solution. Common functions of BPO include:

Finance and accounting

Outsourced finance and accounting services help businesses manage their books, monitor cash flow, and keep up with corporate income tax compliances without fuss.

Healthcare

Healthcare outsourcing, meanwhile, organizes various back- and front-end functions for the healthcare and insurance industries.

Creative and content

Creative services outsourcing covers everything from post-production of Hollywood movies to newspaper and website content.

Tech, IT and development

IT outsourcing involves delegating network management, web and app development, and cybersecurity protection to IT firms in different countries.

Sales & customer support

Some BPO providers specialize in sales and customer support for pre- and post-sales transactions. This helps companies meet the expectations and demands of their customers, keeping them satisfied even after their purchase.

Marketing

BPOs and marketing firms can help in ongoing marketing, communication and branding activities for their clients. This helps them attract more suitable leads in a cost-efficient way.

Talent and HR

Businesses can delegate HR, recruitment, and compliance to professional employer organizations to maximize recruitment and workforce management.

Administration

Generalist BPOs help organizations accomplish general business administration and operational activities. This includes data entry, appointment setting, and other related functions.

Supply chain management

Lastly, e-commerce stores benefit from outsourcing supply chain management to manage warehouse and delivery processes.

The future of BPO outsourcing

We have gathered five expert opinions from renowned global business leaders. They shared how they perceive the future of outsourcing will be, including the trends that will prevail in the coming years.

Meg Marrs, Safer Senior Care

Meg Marrs of Safer Senior Care strongly believes that entrepreneurs and business leaders should outsource their essential tasks.

“Outsourcing certain roles has freed up my time to focus more on big picture strategy, rather than being completely meshed in the day-to-day tasks.” 

One thing is certain, outsourcing to support businesses growth is something that will never go out of trend.

Sean Nguyen, Internet Advisor

As for Sean Nguyen, Director of the Internet Advisor, outsourcing to streamline processes is another essential trend that businesses will continue to apply.

He quotes, “Outsourcing can be really helpful, even at the most incipient levels, because it allows you to streamline operations. If it's not essential to have it taken care of in-house, there is no reason to do so.”

Elandas Miller, Kicking It Sports

Elandas Miller of Kicking It Sports, has been outsourcing back office and creatives since 2017. “I like to think of outsourcing as a tool to help me get to my goals faster and more efficient without burning myself out.” 

Outsourcing to support both organizations' short and long-term goals is another trend that companies will practice in the foreseeable future.

Tom Baker, Tom's Projects

The founder of Tom's Projects, Tom Baker, offshores his entire product and development. “Outsourcing means that we can scale the team up and down when need be.” Scaling the workforce through outsourcing is, yet again, among the trends that will remain prevalent.

Bobby Reid, Capitol Tech Solutions

For Bobby Reid, founder of Capitol Tech Solutions “Outsourcing has helped our business by being able to provide expertise for a service quickly. While these contracts are outsourced, they are incorporated into our company culture when possible, since they are working full time with our firm.” 

Lastly, outsourcing to fill in talent gaps and expertise is one of the key trends that more and more organizations will utilize in the coming years.

The future of work is digital, says Outsource Accelerator Founder and CEO Derek Gallimore.

The world has moved on from manufacturing and creating products to providing services. And as we enter the post-pandemic world, he says we are “moving towards a single global economy.”

The concept of work dramatically changed with COVID-19, and things have changed for good. These changes made us realize that technology is available for remote and digital work interfaces.

Once showed an unsteady growth, the global outsourcing market spiked to US$245.9 billion in 2021. The sudden surge of demand brought by the pandemic, along with the worsened talent shortage, has led companies to increase their outsourcing efforts.

In a podcast episode, Derek explained, “There are eight billion people on the planet, and they are now all increasingly connected digitally.

There are [also] four billion people who are highly qualified professionals sitting around the world, and they're not just virtual assistants and basic roles. You can find [people with] PhDs, architects, accountants, or whatever you need for your business.”

To conclude, Derek believes that the global economy and a globally-sourced workforce are the future, and it is not going away.

Leaders all over the world also know that outsourcing is here to stay. Former US President Barack Obama says that jobs that have been outsourced cannot be brought back to the country.

As a result, it is better to retrain and re-skill the workers who have lost their jobs on account of outsourcing.

Obama further suggests that community colleges could provide the necessary skills for a person to be gainfully re-employed in the workforce. He adds that this is a necessity that Americans look forward to in the future.

Looking back doesn't always make people feel good, so it is essential that they retrain for the ‘jobs of the future.'

How to choose a BPO provider

Over the years, outsourcing has been the go-to strategic practice for businesses looking to scale their operations effectively.

But just like any other venture, companies should be wary of the possible drawbacks of outsourcing before selecting bpo providers.

Risks of BPO outsourcing 

Despite its advantages, business process outsourcing done incorrectly leads to outsourcing risks that affect a company in one way or another.

Hidden charges

Some BPO vendors do not totally disclose the total fees they charge and their terms. Clients could experience “bill shock” upon seeing the hidden charges they get.

Compliance issues

Compliance is crucial, especially in handling financial information and dealing with intellectual property. BPOs that violate compliances could risk their clients' reputations and branding.

Problems with security

Lastly, BPO vendors with loose security compliance could risk getting their client's data exposed and used for malicious purposes.

Choosing the right business process outsourcing vendor

The key to successful outsourcing lies in choosing a suitable bpo company and working with them along the way. Here are some of the considerations to look for in a BPO vendor:

Expertise

A BPO vendor's expertise can be shown primarily through their approach to their clients. Even without getting too technical, they can comfortably discuss the initial solutions to provide according to their client's requirements.

Compliances

Especially when delegating functions involving sensitive information, a bpo company should be up-to-date and compliant with regulations relevant to their services.

Check for ISO, HIPAA, and PCI certifications as much as possible.

Employee satisfaction

A good BPO company also places employee satisfaction as its priority. Check on employee reviews online to see how the staff feels about their company.

Technology

The tools and equipment a BPO vendor uses largely affect their performance in general. Check to see if they use updated technology at work and how they train their employees to use them.

Top BPO companies in the world's top outsourcing hubs

A wide range of business process outsourcing companies in different parts of the world provide the utmost services to their Western and local clients.

Many of them even earned recognition by award-giving bodies due to their performance in both their roles and their level of care for the employees.

Check out the top BPO companies in several outsourcing destinations below.

Top BPO companies in the Philippines Top Indian BPO companies Top South African BPO companies Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services

With the rise of new offshore outsourcing locations, companies can have better options in terms of location and services they can delegate.

However, finding a suitable BPO company can be a daunting task to be done on their own.

It's a good thing advisory services such as Outsource Accelerator are there to help them.

Outsource Accelerator is the most trusted source for independent information & advisory for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). We have over 5,000 articles, 400+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 3,000+ BPOs from different locations.

Outsource Accelerator's offerings make it easier for clients to learn about and engage with business process outsourcing companies worldwide.

Want to learn more about outsourcing? Check out the Inside Outsourcing book as well as the Inside Outsourcing book review today!

What is Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?

What is a standard operating procedure?

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of instructions that explains how to do a critical process or workflow. Its purpose is to follow processes according to the standards of a company, organization, or industry.

This helps to protect the employees, processes, and customers from errors throughout a normal workflow and creates a safe work environment for the company.

SOPs are sometimes required to comply with the industry regulations while some institutions suggest them as a company’s best practice. This is mostly used to maintain safety and efficiency in different departments such as production, sales and marketing, customer support, finance, and legal.

Standard operating procedure template

For small teams and solopreneurs, SOPs are made by writing a checklist of routines that should be done. For bigger enterprises, thorough planning and taking note of processes are needed to ensure proper carrying of procedures.

The integral parts of an SOP are the roles that will do the task, the frequency or how often will they do it, and the expected outcome or the deliverables in finishing the task.

SOPs in BPO companies have different standards. Their SOPs need to include compliance with administrative policies, metrics on performance management, and training and coaching sessions.

Outsource Accelerator provides you with the best outsourcing companies in the Philippines, where you can save up to 70% on staffing costs. We have over 3,000 articles, 200+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 700+ BPOs… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about, and engage with, outsourcing.

Different forms of standard operating procedures

SOPs can be written in different formats, depending on compliance standards or specific functions that need them. Companies should choose the SOP formats that can work best with their team or the entire organization.

The most common SOP formats are the following.

Step-by-step instructions

As its name suggests, step-by-step SOPs are used to simply list down how to do a process according to its order. This format is used when the process is straightforward and can be completed easily.

A step-by-step SOP works best with processes such as:

Digital logins Routine tasks Safety guidelines

Hierarchical SOPs

A hierarchical SOP, meanwhile, contains more detailed instructions compared to step-by-step SOPs. It elaborates each step and includes all the necessary tasks in a process. For instance, instead of listing a process in 1, 2, 3..., hierarchical steps will include substeps listed as 1a, 1b, 1c...

Flowchart SOP

Flowchart SOP documents are best used when writing complex processes that have more than one desired outcome possible.

Flowchart SOPs give insights on what outcome a team can get should they take a certain step. This format helps in the decision-making process of a team or an organization in general, making them more careful in approaching a process.

Importance of standard operating procedures

Aside from proper documentation of processes, SOPs are crucial in the business processes of a company in different ways.

Knowledge preservation

By creating SOPs, the prior knowledge in a process can be easily stored and updated. Team leaders can also pass them to their members, use this to train new employees, and store them for reference.

Improved efficiency

At the same time, employees perform more efficiently with an SOP document. This can help streamline workflows better and save time in passing organizational knowledge long-term.

Consistent outcomes

Employees perform better and will produce consistent outcomes with the help of an SOP document. This is since they will have an idea of how to do a certain task according to company standards.

Ensuring compliance

SOP documentation is also crucial in following compliances for certifications such as ISO. It makes sure that employees comply with related laws, regulations, and standards imposed by an organization to avoid litigation risks.

Steps to create standard operating procedures

There's no single way to create SOPs for all business processes and organizations. However, firms can take note of the following steps on how they can create an effective SOP for their business.

Define objectives in SOP creation. Define the objectives in creating an SOP, whether it's for documenting a new process or improving an existing one. List down each business process. List every process and function that needs an SOP document and find which process will be prioritized. Choose a format for each SOP document. Choose which SOP formats will be most suitable for each process. Outline the entire process. Starting with the title page, outline the entire process according to how they are made.

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