BUSINESS process outsourcing (BPO) firm Everise plans to permanently retain hybrid remote and office-based operations as it expands its Philippine workforce, a company official said.
The company shifted to work-from-home operations at the start of the strict lockdown in March 2020, and maintains remote work for 90% of its employees this year.
Everise in its United States headquarters had a work-from-home model before the pandemic, transferring processes and technologies to the Philippines when the lockdown started. Outsourcing companies were allowed by the government to continue at least some on-site work during the strictest lockdown last year.
“Part of the big plan is actually to bring more work here in the Philippines… we wanna at least try to be better than we did last year,” Everise Philippines Vice-President for Operations Kristine P. Bondoc said in an interview on Wednesday.
Everise hired 1,000 people in March and April 2020, and now has about 3,000 employees.
As the company retains hybrid remote work, Ms. Bondoc said that some of Everise client contracts are exclusively for work at home.
“There will be a balance between having both [remote and on-site work],” Everise Chief Marketing Officer Chris Greenough said.
Ms. Bondoc said that the company will look for the “right balance” between both modes, depending on client requirements. Because of the remote work measures, the company assesses its potential recruits’ internet connection while hiring.
Everise is banking on growth from investments in artificial intelligence and other technology-based solutions, she said, with the company expecting higher revenues in the next few years as it continues to focus on the health care and technology sectors.
“I would say that we would continue to expand in terms of revenue, but it might not be equal to the amount of bodies as well because we provide other services.”
Clients, she said, transitioned their own operations to digital during the pandemic.
“For example, servicing social media — we have that. We automated; we provided chatbots to some of our clients,” she said. — Jenina P. Ibañez
