Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) helps to alleviates poverty
While international aid for economic development often fails, business has the potential to bring millions of people out of poverty. For no enterprise is this truer than the anonymous $300 billion industry known as Business Process Outsourcing.
Business Process Outsourcing often referred to by the acronym BPO, means contracting business functions to third-party service providers. While call centers are the most visible part of this industry, BPO also includes many types of back office processing. This industry largely operates invisibly for consumers in North America and Europe. However, the sector employs several million people worldwide – primarily in India, the Philippines and China.
Today, more than two dozen BPO firms in countries as diverse as Bangladesh, Mauritius, Ghana, Haiti, Kenya and Pakistan deliver services to clients performed by individuals from very disadvantaged backgrounds. In countries where the BPO industry is thriving, including India, the Philippines , Mauritius and the U.S.A., social entrepreneurs are bringing this model to small towns and villages in rural and remote areas to create employment and opportunity.
Inevitably, the BPO industry will chase lower wages. However, the nature of BPO work means that these companies will only thrive if they are recruiting and developing talent. This is the potential – and the genius – of Impact Sourcing. It is an industry that requires knowledge workers and it will only be profitable if workers are sufficiently productive. This means establishing policies and programs to develop talent in some of the poorest countries of the world.
If the BPO industry is to become a force to take on global poverty, we all need to make this a reality. You can help by:
- Finding out what types of work are outsourced by the business or institution you work for. Which companies provide these services? Where and what are their employment practices?
- Consider the person answering the phone next time you call your bank, your insurer or tech support.
Contact Techmode Outsourcing if you want more information on BPO services