Virtual Assistants can be found anywhere around the world. But among all the locations to choose from, why choose the Philippines? Here are some key advantages Filipino VAs bring to the table:
- Low Cost?- One of the advantages of hiring VAs from the Philippines is the lower labor costs than the United States. The Philippines has a lower cost of living and can offer lower rates while still being competitive. In addition, health care costs and taxes are also much cheaper than in developed countries.
- Skilled Workforce?- According to an ASEAN Briefing report, more than 450,000 students graduate from universities and institutes every year. The Philippines also has a literacy rate of 95%. In addition, the Philippines government sponsors various state-run courses in the universities which facilitate BPO industry-relevant skillsets for interested students. As a result, many young people have access to top-level education, equipping them for the BPO sector, thereby speeding up their entry into the marketplace fitted with the right skillsets to succeed.
- English Proficiency?- English is an official language in the Philippines, and Filipinos are highly proficient and fluent in English. From the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), the Philippines ranks 27th out of 100 countries/regions and 2nd in Asia. Clients will have strong communicators who can easily understand their instructions, have discussions with them, and resolve any issues with ease and clarity.
- Cultural Compatibility?- Being a former colony of Spain and the US, the Philippines has a strong familiarity with western culture. As a result, topics of interest are similar between the US and the Philippines, and Filipinos have identical preferences to westerners. This makes Filipino VAs able to relate to western customers easier and to build rapport and hold conversations more effectively in business transactions.
- Government Support?- Outsourcing is a robust economic pillar in the Philippines, and the government strongly supports its growth through infrastructure and policy development. The IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (ITBPAP) is an organization solely dedicated to the enablement and improvement of the outsourcing industry. This allows the Philippines to continuously further and maintain global competitiveness by providing higher-value services.
BPO in the Philippines is a key developing industry, mainly because of the relatively low cost of living and a workforce composed of young and educated Filipinos with good spoken English language skills. The majority of international research and data companies have placed the Philippines as the number 1 trending country as the top outsourcing destination. As such, we recommend choosing the Philippines as your next outsourcing destination.
