BruntWork’s top predictions of what’s next in outsourcing over the next decade

There is no denying that there were plenty of disruptions for industries over the last couple of years. Winston Ong, CEO of the top outsourcing firm BruntWork, reveals that even the business process outsourcing sector was not spared from this.

Experts agree with Ong, but many also believe that forward-thinking outsourcing organisations have managed to turn this period of disruption into an opportunity to reinvent themselves, making them future-proof and resilient.

This shift in the industry has pushed some analysts to explore what types of changes the world can expect for the sector in the coming years.

What’s Next for the Outsourcing Industry

The uncertainties brought by the coronavirus pandemic have strongly sped up the urge for organisations to undergo total digital transformation. This only proved how the world has become increasingly reliant on technology and the internet.

While businesses are still learning to embrace the concept of remote work and virtual assistants, the world cannot disregard that most companies are not technologically equipped for this type of work model. And this is why many organisations have heavily relied on outsourcing over the last two years.

Prediction 1: Increased Demand for Remote Assistants

The Great Resignation has caused a workforce shortage for many businesses. Entrepreneurs turned to outsourcing companies to fill in the gap in the roles. These enabled enterprises to see the cost-effectiveness of delegating menial tasks to remote assistants and the added benefits of being able to reach out to contractors with particular skills.

Ong adds, “The demand for bilingual virtual assistants is expected to grow because businesses need affordable services. Furthermore, given that the world is now globalised, a remote assistant who can speak two or more languages is more profitable.”

Prediction 2: Co-sourcing Will Be More Common

Co-sourcing is one form of outsourcing where internal staff and a third-party provider perform the work. Unlike the traditional outsourcing method, co-sourcing focuses on long-term collaboration and partnership. One example of co-sourcing is when a human resource department hires a consultant for technical expertise.

“Co-sourcing helps promote diversity in companies. It gives businesses the advantage of acquiring external support and expertise without fully giving up internal control over their processes. For co-sourcing to succeed, businesses need to look for partners they can trust and those committed to meeting shared goals,” explains Ong.

Prediction 3: Increasing Importance of Value Networks to Outsourcing Providers

In the post-pandemic world, outsourcing providers will be seen working together to offer top-notch services to their clients. “Through value networks, outsourcing vendors like BruntWork will also be able to quickly adapt to the ever-changing tech innovations more efficiently,” says Ong.

Businesses can primarily benefit from these value networks by finding the right provider that is well suited for their needs. This way, companies can also widen their connections in the global market industry.

Ong further states, “The business process outsourcing sector can also be a good avenue for companies in different fields to widen their circles and explore business opportunities.”