Dedicated offshore teams vs traditional BPO
Two very different ways to get work done in the Philippines. What each model is, how they compare on control, pricing and knowledge, and how to tell which one fits the work you want to move offshore.
The two models in one paragraph each
Traditional (managed) BPO. You hand a process to the provider and buy an outcome. The provider hires, manages and schedules the people, often shares them across several clients, and is measured against service levels. Pricing is usually per seat, per hour or per transaction.
Dedicated offshore team. You get named, full-time staff who work only for you. You direct their day-to-day work inside your own systems, just like onshore staff, while the provider employs them and handles recruitment, HR, payroll, facilities and compliance. Pricing is typically the employee's salary plus a service fee. This model is also called staff augmentation or staff leasing.
How they compare
| Traditional BPO | Dedicated offshore team | |
|---|---|---|
| Who directs the work | The provider's managers | You |
| Who the staff work for | Often several clients | Only you |
| What you pay for | Seats, hours or transactions | Salary plus a service fee |
| Cost visibility | Bundled rate | You see what each person is paid |
| Knowledge of your business | Sits with the provider | Builds up in your own team |
| Systems | Often the provider's | Usually yours |
| Best for | High-volume, standardised work with clear outputs | Ongoing roles that need your tools, context and judgement |
When traditional BPO is the better fit
- The work is high-volume and standardised, such as overflow call handling or data entry against fixed rules.
- You want the provider to own the outcome, the management and the staffing plan.
- Volumes swing a lot and you'd rather pay per transaction than carry headcount.
When a dedicated team is the better fit
- The role needs your systems, your processes and knowledge that builds over time: bookkeeping, collections, customer support, procurement, IT.
- You want to manage the people day to day and see exactly what you're paying for.
- The team needs to work closely with your onshore staff, in your hours.
Questions to ask any provider
- Will my staff work only for me, or are seats shared across clients?
- What exactly is in the fee, and can I see each employee's salary?
- Is there a lock-in period, and what does it cost to scale down or leave?
- Which security certifications do you hold, and can I see the certificates?
- Will my data stay in my systems, and do any AI tools touch it?
- What is your staff retention rate, and how fast can you hire?
Where OutForce fits
OutForce is a dedicated-team provider, so we're not neutral, but the model is not right for every job. We build dedicated offshore teams in Manila, Cebu and Clark: your staff, on your systems, priced as salary plus a fixed service fee with no lock-in contract. OutForce is Australian-owned and managed, ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified, and typically has teams live in about two weeks. AI and automation, such as an AI receptionist or robotic process automation, are optional add-ons rather than a replacement for your team. More on security & compliance and how an engagement works.
Not sure which model fits?
Tell us about the work you want to move offshore and we'll help you work out which model fits.