Key Summary
As more companies face hiring freezes and restrictions on headcount, outsourcing is emerging as a flexible, scalable solution. Two of the most widely considered outsourcing destinations—Colombia and the Philippines—offer numerous advantages for building offshore teams. This blog explores key differences across communication, time zone differences, talent pool, infrastructure, culture, and cost—so you can make an informed decision about where to grow.
At Connext, we enable clients to bypass hiring constraints by forming remote teams under independent contractor agreements, helping them scale without the overhead of increasing internal headcount.
Why This Matters in Today’s Business Climate
In today’s economic environment, companies are increasingly seeking ways to remain agile. With widespread hiring freezes, budget constraints, and pressure to increase productivity without adding full-time employees, many organizations are re-evaluating their workforce strategies. Offshore teams are one of the most viable options, particularly when structured under independent contractor agreements that allow businesses to scale without increasing headcount.
Among the most popular destinations for business process outsourcing are Colombia and the Philippines. Both countries have made significant investments in BPO infrastructure and economic growth, but each offers distinct benefits depending on your organizational priorities. Instead of declaring a one-size-fits-all winner, this article presents key considerations for both locations, allowing you to assess what aligns best with your goals.
(Caption) Philippines—Daytime skyline of NCR under clear skies.
(Caption) Colombia—A clear afternoon in Bogotá.
1. Language and Communication Proficiency
The Philippines has long been recognized for its high English proficiency. English is one of its official languages and is widely used in government, education, and business. As a result, BPO professionals in the Philippines typically demonstrate effective communication skills, strong grammar, accent neutrality, and fluency, particularly in roles that involve customer service, contact center operations, healthcare support, and sales. This linguistic capability has helped the country become a global leader in voice-based services.
Colombia has made significant strides in English language education, especially in major urban areas such as Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali.
The country is cultivating a growing pool of bilingual professionals, particularly in fields like IT support, back-office processing, and knowledge-based services. For roles that rely more on written communication or specialized expertise, Colombia presents a strong option with a talent base that continues to expand.
When evaluating outsourcing locations, consider the nature of the roles you need to fill. For voice-intensive functions, linguistic fluency and accent neutrality may be a priority. For technical or back-office roles, written proficiency and specialized knowledge may weigh more heavily.
2. Time Zone Alignment and Operational Efficiency
Time zone differences can significantly impact collaboration, communication, and responsiveness. For North America-based companies, Colombia offers a clear nearshore strategic advantage. Located in the same or adjacent time zones as most of the U.S., Colombia enables real-time collaboration without requiring teams to work overnight shifts. This alignment is especially beneficial for roles that require frequent interaction, such as IT support, agile software development, or cross-functional project management.
In contrast, with a time difference of 12 to 15 hours ahead of most U.S. time zones, the Philippines excels at providing overnight and after-hours support. This makes it an exceptional fit for businesses requiring 24/7 customer service, global operations coverage, or “follow the sun” support models. Filipino teams are well-accustomed to night shifts, and the country’s BPO sector has long delivered high performance under this model.
Whether real-time collaboration or 24/7 support is more important depends on your team structure and workflow. Both Colombia and the Philippines provide distinct time zone advantages to support your outsourcing goals.
3. Talent Availability and Industry Specialization
The Philippines is renowned for its vast, experienced talent pool in the BPO workforce. In 2022, the Philippine outsourcing industry grew to 1.57 million FTEs and generated $32.5 billion in revenue—up 8.4% and 10.3% respectively from the previous year, according to IBPAP. They add that this rise in both headcount and revenue may be linked to strong growth in key sectors such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, retail, technology, and telecommunications.
Colombia, while newer to the BPO scene, is rapidly establishing itself as a knowledge and tech outsourcing hub. The country has made significant investments in STEM education, resulting in a growing pool of technical professionals. From 2019 to 2022, the number of postsecondary graduates in Colombia increased from 513,104 to 535,963, with a notable 22.5% increase in technical professional degrees between 2021 and 2022. Fields such as database management, information systems support, and telecommunications installation technology are among the most in-demand programs.
Companies prioritizing tech-forward roles or seeking to diversify their outsourcing footprint beyond traditional call centers may find Colombia a strong choice. Meanwhile, those needing high-volume voice or healthcare BPO roles may lean toward the Philippines.
The best option ultimately depends on the nature of the roles you’re outsourcing and how specialized your talent pool requirements are.
4. Infrastructure, Political Environment, and Risk Factors
Infrastructure and political stability play an important role in long-term outsourcing viability. The Philippines has a mature BPO ecosystem supported by government incentives (like PEZA zones), fiber-optic connectivity, and a large pool of multinational providers. While natural events and political shifts occasionally pose challenges, the country’s mature ecosystem continues to deliver reliable, scalable outsourcing solutions.
Colombia, while still developing its BPO infrastructure, benefits from improved urban broadband access, increasing international investment, and stable relationships with Western governments. Government-backed programs such as those from ProColombia support tech and outsourcing sectors, and special economic zones offer strong incentives for outsourcing companies.
For companies looking to balance immediate scalability with geographic diversity, the Philippines provides proven scale, while Colombia offers promising long-term potential. Together, these destinations support cost-effective, resilient outsourcing strategies—with Colombia adding the benefits of nearshore convenience and improved alignment in time zones and communication.
5. Cultural Compatibility and Team Integration
Cultural differences can impact how well offshore teams integrate with onshore counterparts. The Philippines shares many cultural similarities with Western countries, especially the U.S., due to its historical ties and Westernized education system. This makes Filipino professionals particularly adept at aligning with U.S. work norms, etiquette, and customer expectations.
Colombia also offers cultural proximity—both geographically and socially. Many Colombian professionals possess strong interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset, and a growing familiarity with U.S. business practices. Their ability to adapt and align with Western work styles continues to improve, especially in client-facing and managerial roles.
The choice between the two may come down to whether you value historical cultural familiarity (Philippines) or want closer geographic and operational proximity (Colombia) for better integration of your dedicated team. Understanding and bridging cultural nuances is essential for effective offshore success.
6. Cost Considerations: One Factor, Not the Only Factor
Both the Philippines and Colombia offer considerable labor cost reductions compared to the United States. Wages for BPO roles in both regions are typically 60%–80% lower than in the U.S., depending on the role and seniority. Generally, the Philippines offers slightly lower labor costs, especially for entry-level roles.
That said, operational costs are only one part of the equation.
At Connext, we offer outsourcing solutions to help organizations navigate hiring freezes, manage headcount limitations, and maintain operational continuity, all while ensuring flexibility, scalability, and quality support.
Explore how offshore teams can deliver cost stability and agility despite global trade uncertainty. Read more in our article Global Trade Uncertainty? Why Offshore Teams Still Offer Cost Stability.
How Connext Makes It Easier to Choose—and Scale
Whether you prefer Colombia’s nearshore edge or the Philippines’ strengths, Connext helps you build skilled, remote professionals without adding headcount.
With tailored hiring, real-time collaboration, dedicated support, and compliance-first processes, we deliver a cost-effective, strategic, comprehensive solution for your growth. Get in touch for an assessment of your needs, transparent pricing, and proposed action plan.
FAQs
It depends on your business priorities. The Philippines is excellent for voice and customer service roles, while Colombia offers stronger time zone alignment and technical skilled professionals for nearshore teams.
Yes. Connext enables you to hire remote teams under independent contractor agreements, offering full team functionality without HR overhead.
Both countries have strong privacy protocols, and Connext ensures compliance through HIPAA-ready infrastructure, rigorous security standards, and continuous oversight.
Colombia may be preferable due to time zone alignment, but Connext supports flexible schedules in the Philippines to accommodate this need.
If you’re looking to scale during hiring freezes or complex projects—while reducing costs—contact Connext for tailored offshore solutions. Whether it’s the Philippines or Colombia, we can be your strategic partner that can help you build the right team without increasing headcount. Contact us today.
