BPO industry grows despite pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry continued to grow last year despite the economic contraction caused by the pandemic.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines president Rey Untal said the sector grew by around 1.8 percent in terms of head count and 1.4 percent in terms of revenue.

BPOs were able to continue with their businesses by having up to 70 percent of their employees work from home during strict quarantine periods.

Untal said that during the first and second quarter of this year, BPOs thrived with more companies expanding their operations and new ones investing in the country.

“We anticipate that the growth [rate] for the BPO sector for this year will be anywhere between 5 percent and maybe 6.5 percent,” he added.

Untal said a recent survey also showed that up to 87 percent of the BPO country heads predicted 5-percent to 15-percent growth this year.

—JEROME ANING
Read more...