Service Level

What is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)?

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is the engagement of services from a third-party provider. BPO uses various technology-enabled services to hasten the delivery of services. The business activities could be back-office such as, but not limited to, payroll, accounting, human resources, or front office jobs like customer service, sales, and marketing, etc. In the case of content providers, these business activities could mean hiring writers, remote editors, or virtual assistants.

BPO speeds up processes and enhances efficiency. Companies that outsource some of their business activities use their time on core services and competencies. With this shift in focus, companies improve their current processes that 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.

When a business engages an external specialist to manage and operate some of its internal processes, it's referred to as business process outsourcing. Such ‘processes’ include customer service, accounting and finance, or sales. It is different from hiring an agency to do specific tasks, as the outsourcing provider (BPO) is more concerned with the ongoing production of labour-intensive tasks, instead of the higher-level strategy and guidance.

Now, business process outsourcing has broadened and is more akin to staff augmentation, or staff leasing.

There are many benefits to outsourcing, as well as some downsides and risks. The common benefits include:

The business process outsourcing sector is a vast industry, generating over $200bn annually, and employing many millions of people worldwide. Some examples include:

Facebook and Uber outsource many of their operational functions, including content moderation for Facebook, and customer service for Uber

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

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

The type of business process outsourcing can be characterised by their specialisation, location, and size.

Business process outsourcing is in the human resources and professional services sector. However, their services extend across all industries. The majority of BPOs are generalist, in that they offer a full range of professional services, although some specialise in certain verticals (ie accounting, or animation).

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

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.

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

Outsource Accelerator is the most trusted source for independent information & advisory for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). We have over 4,000 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, business process outsourcing.

What is a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?

Service Level Agreements (SLA) are formal or informal documents that outline the expectations between a provider and end-user. Originating from internet service providers, it has become a standard tool, not only in business process outsourcing but even within corporate structures. The key benefit of an SLA is that it provides clear, measurable outcomes that are subject to periodic review by designated representatives.

The hallmarks of a good SLA are as follows:

Outsource Accelerator is the most trusted source for independent information & advisory for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). 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 and having effective service level agreements with companies or call centers.

What is Business to Business (B2B) Call Center?

A business-to-business or B2B call center helps secure existing customer connections with frequent check-ins and service inquiries. If any difficulties occur with the new buyer, they will be referred to the sales team of the company for timely handling. In this way, a communications partner serves as a buffer for a company.

The B2B call center can also provide an initial point of contact for all the customers. This strategy will improve their level of customer service and receive good impressions from the clients. 

Customer service and loyalty are factors that any company strives to achieve the highest degree. It is essential that programs are built to offer reliable support, and that they often cover a variety of ways for reaching a broader client base.

Here are some of the advantages of business-to-business in call centers:

Call center companies catering for B2B communications require powerful software to provide smooth contact between agents and clients.

What is Quarterly Business Review?

A Quarterly Business Review (QBR) is basically a client meeting on a quarterly basis where you discuss their business, and find ways on how to support them. It is also known as a Business Review or Executive Business Review.

A QBR is a great chance for you to talk about your client’s business in the big picture for you to gain a deeper understanding of their business, goals, and long-term plans. It gives you an opportunity to step up and be a “business advisor,” instead of being a vendor.