Guest: Perry Crescini
Presenter: Henry Acosta
Guest Bio: Perry Crescini is founder of a startup outsourcing company, Perisos Outsource Solutions, that has been providing superior BPO and KPO support and services to the US and Australia. He is also Events and Communications Manager at WeTeachMe, Australia’s largest go-to place for providing classes and workshops. He is driven by interacting and connecting with people who help shape the future of our cities and takes pride in allowing himself to be used as a channel in delivering the best learning experience for the local business community in Australia by engaging people of influence in the industry to share their hard-earned lessons at learning events designed for startup entrepreneurs. While currently carrying out this vigorous role, he also works side-by-side with Kym Huynh, WeTeachMe Co-Founder and CCO, as his Executive Assistant whom he learned how to prosper on challenges and do his best work in high-volume settings. He enjoys responsibility and believes that his experience, professionalism, and proactive demeanor are a perfect match for the “many hats” that his roles require.
Segment overview: Perisos Outsource Solutions is a Philippine-based Business Process Outsource (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsource (KPO) company that provides superior BPO and KPO support and services to North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. They offer support for Business Transcription, Market Research Transcription, Voicemail Transcription, Entertainment Transcription, Legal Transcription, Medical Encounter Data, Medical Transcription, Utilization Management, Data Encoding, Data Entry, Data Cleansing, Data Scraping, Proofreading, Research, Writing, Editing, Accounting Services, Translations, Web-Development, Software Development, Phone Call Answering Services, eMail Secretary, Text-Chat Support, Research Phone Calls, Secret/Mystery Shop Support and Services, Powerpoint Presentations, Audio-Visual Presentations, Captioning and Subtitling.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.perisos.zyro.com
To know more about Perisos Outsource Solutions, listen to the podcast below.
Our talk with Perry Crescini begins at the 18:55 mark of the podcast:
TRANSCRIPT
Henry Acosta: Hey, this is the Outsourcing and Offshoring Philippines podcast. I’m Henry Acosta, the host and the producer of the podcast. And joining us today is Perry Crescini, the Managing Director of Perisos Outsource Solutions. He is joining us today to talk a little bit about Perisos Outsource Solutions and more on his experience in the last decade with the outsourcing industry. Thank you for joining us today, Perry.
Perry Crescini: Thank you for having me.
Henry Acosta: To start things off, can you just tell us a little bit more about yourself and how you got involved with the BPO industry?
Perry Crescini: Well, to cut the long story short, currently, I’ve actually founded the startup outsourcing company Perisos Outsource Solutions during the mid part of 2016. And I’ve been in the BPO industry early for like more than 15 years already, so pretty much during the time that the BPO was at the trial period or something. Perisos Outsource Solutions has been providing superior BPO and KPO support and services to the U.S. and Australia since inception in 2016. Aside from that, I am also an Events and Communications Manager at WeTeachMe which is Australia’s largest budget place for providing classes and workshops. Pretty much that’s what I currently do.
Henry Acosta: Well, that sounds great actually. The WeTeachMe part, that’s very interesting to me. Since Perisos is just a startup, just give us a brief rundown on what you guys do and what you guys offer?
Perry Crescini: As I’ve mentioned, we are providing BPO and KPO support and services. Currently, we’re engaged with clients from the U.S. and Australia. Not much really that many at this point, pretty much we’re actually building up our name and the industry still. Perisos is actually based in the Philippines and we have people running the company then, at the same time, we have a group of freelancers who are part of the company as well. Perisos structure is kind of like an agency to freelancer kind of relationship. So, we get the best talents from the Philippines to be part of the members of the Perisos Outsource Solutions team. And then we have clients, or connecting with clients from the U.S. and Australia, and whenever we have like new projects coming in, we would actually endorse that to our pool of talents and these talents would primarily be engaged with the company directly throughout … from the client to Perisos and then to the company, but it’s more on the direct connection to the company. So, we parked a bridgeway for all the freelancers and clients from United States and Australia.
Henry Acosta: Where are your offices located in the Philippines?
Perry Crescini: In the Philippines, it’s in Cabuyao City in Laguna. Honestly, the Filipinos by the way, they haven’t really noticed yet.
Henry Acosta: Can you tell us about your experience with the BPO industry and how are things right now?
Perry Crescini: How things right now in the BPO industry? I think it has evolved in such a way that it has become a massive opportunity for everyone in the Philippines. I’d say, when we started in the BPO industry, it was just like you looking for a company, who would need your talent, and that’s just going to be primarily working in an office environment. But, eventually as years go by, it started evolving into something like people in the U.S. and in Australia, anywhere else in the world started looking for people and hiring them directly while offshore, which is the time when freelancers come about. And so, we now have Upwork which is one of the biggest company providing freelancers to clients all over the world, we also have remote staff. So, these two companies I would say, is the product of that evolution from just a basic, simple BPO industry to now, that involves freelancers and talents that work on their own.
Henry Acosta: Well, what do you think the BPO industry in the Philippines is going to look like in the future? I mean, the freelance jobs are becoming more and more common, but how do you think it will shift into the coming, next decade?
Perry Crescini: Right. Very good question actually. We’ve heard a lot of news about Donald Trump not being in favor of BPOs and outsourcing business processes from the U.S. to other countries, which is really understandable. But, I see that as a view that is really going nowhere. This is unstoppable. As a matter of fact, unstoppable that it is evolving into something better, something bigger. So, I see that in 10 years, the BPO industry, this entire industry is going to prosper and grow bigger and will be much be looking at different types of services being offered in the BPO industry. I think now we’re starting to see an avenue that actually connect people who can actually work from home and be able to work with a customer client that are offshore or in the U.S. or in Australia which is 10 years ago, we never thought that this is going to be really possible. And we are actually in the verge of something to happen, that is going to blow our minds probably in the next 10 years. With the advancement of technology as well, I see that there’s a lot really to look forward to and I see that there is no way of stopping it and BPO is still going to flourish in the next 10 or 20 years. And that’s going to be a big benefit for the Filipinos in the Philippines.
Henry Acosta: It’s really, I guess, it’s time right now since it hasn’t caught on yet, with a lot of people from West, but people who are successful with BPO they say, well I’ve heard it’s addicting to them. They say that is really good for their company.
Perry Crescini: Yes, absolutely. I wouldn’t see why, it wouldn’t be beneficial or advantageous to these companies in the U.S., or Australia or anywhere in the world to be hiring people from outsource or offshore. There’s just a lot, actually really that they could get from it.
Henry Acosta: Well, what do you think makes the Philippines, I mean, there’s a lot of different countries that offer outsourcing service (crosstalk), yes like India (crosstalk), so what makes us different compared to them?
Perry Crescini: First and foremost, I’d say that the primary barrier in having a working relationship or an offshore relationship with a company or in the U.S. or anywhere in Asia I would say, primary barrier there, would be cultural differences, right? And I think that Filipino have a greater advantage when it comes to cultural barriers or differences. Why? Because, first and foremost, the Philippines is not that very unfamiliar with the U.S. culture, way of communication and all that, which I’d say the Filipinos are also very easily adjustable and adaptable to any culture. That is why Filipinos are all over the world and flourish there and multiply there at same time and a lot of Filipino communities all over the world. Why? Because we simply adapt to culture and customs really very easily and that’s our nature, that’s our very good trait. And no matter, if we go offshore somewhere, anywhere in the world or staying here and be engaged with like a foreigner here in the Philippines, where companies coming over here in the Philippines, that the culture difference is not going to be that of a big issue, I would say. This is actually coming from decades, I guess, of history or centuries of history that we have had with the U.S. and with other culture as well, United Kingdom, as well. The Philippines have had this very long relationship I guess with the U.S. for a very long time since the beginning. I think … Up to now, the impact and their influence is very, very evident. And not only that, now that this industry is booming and really getting bigger, our opportunity to actually embrace different cultures does not only confine us anymore to Americans or the U.S. citizens, but it extends now to different, other cultures like Australia, United Kingdom, we have New Zealand or pretty much other countries as well. That’s a primary advantage I would say, our adaptability to culture and technically, I guess, that I could say that would be our second language is English and that’s an international or the universal language in the world. So, it’s very much easier for us to actually communicate compared to probably other countries. Other countries would actually have to go through English lessons really, hard core English lessons for them to actually learn communicate in English conversationally, I would say. They’re just beginning and starting to have that incorporated in the curriculum in their schools which is going to take them probably other generation to actually before effective, but we are already there. So those stuffs are definitely the best advantage that we have compared to other countries and other cultures.
Henry Acosta: Like you mentioned, Australia is actually becoming a really big player in the Philippines with regards to them taking advantage of the outsourcing services that we offer.
Perry Crescini: Absolutely. That’s right. Australians actually came to the Philippines probably more than 5 years ago, primarily, but we started out with the U.S. company is coming over to the Philippines to build up their businesses and outsourcing companies here. And then eventually, European countries followed on, like Australia which is in the Southeast and then Europe as well. We started involving there, involving Filipinos as well in their businesses and all that in outsourcing. As we can see now, it’s not receding at all, continuous to grow. And we’re in the path where in the government will definitely have to provide a larger benefits and incentives for companies, so actually bring their businesses in the Philippines, as against to other countries who are trying to stop it, like the U.S. The leadership there of course is very verbal about it.
Henry Acosta: Globalization is a real thing nowadays and as much as people are going to deny it, it’s happening at a very rapid pace, because of the evolution and technology making everything possible right now.
Perry Crescini: That is absolutely right.
Henry Acosta: Well, on the topic of clients and outsourcing, what are the most common mistakes the clients usually make, when they start outsourcing here and what should they watch out for and how can they deal with those?
Perry Crescini: First, I guess, what entice them to really enter in the Philippines and start the business is actually outsourcing their businesses here. It is the government incentives, because there’s really actually a lot that the government is offering to these companies, like these accounts and taxations or discounts on procuring their equipment – they’re selling here in the Philippines and all that, and even offering … presidency to the top executives of other companies who actually really start up and build up their business here. But going back to your question, what they should actually be looking out to, aside from considering these incentives is the culture itself, how will they adapt to the culture. Secondly, the labor law that is existing in the Philippines. This is something that foreign companies would not easily understand right away. They would normally rely on Filipino executives or hiring Filipino executives, so that they have people who understand the law in the Philippines when it comes to labor, which is I think for me, if you are going to bring a foreign company in the Philippines and you have it run by Filipino executives, and leaders and management which is becoming a Filipino company itself. Now, the culture is not going to be different, your company is just going to be overwhelmed with these habits, the Filipino habits at work and behaviors, and attitudes and all that. That’s not going to change anything and more likely, what happens, there’s a relationship or cultural gaps when it comes to work and running a company and that’s where the connection between foreigners and the Filipino management is evident. So, what I would want or wish that these foreign companies would actually consider is, really delving into the labor industry, the law and anything that concerns deployment here in the Philippines deeply and personally on their own, because otherwise, it would just be foreign company run the Filipinos which in effect is just going to run and operating, like Filipino company. And you know what it’s like, to be under Philippine management. There’s a lot actually opportunities as we can say when integrating foreign culture at work into the Philippine culture. And this is actually becoming evident now and we can actually see this happening and the integration of these two cultures are actually becoming a great change, so we can actually pursue. While when it comes to benefits, when it comes to management itself, the style of managing a company and people and other stuff going on in reference to, like employment and employee company relationship, it’s becoming a lot better because of the interjection of some foreign culture at work into the Filipino working environment, which is very good. So, that’s one thing that I would want foreign investors or companies who would want to outsource their business in the Philippines and look out to. Third, I guess, is really look for talents that excels in what they do and personality, as well, because it’s not just as easy as picking a person who think who knows what to do each job or how to do a job compared to like a person that you know who’s really capable of doing a particular job which is a big difference between these kinds of employees. And it’s not going to be really hard now here, I mean, finding one in the Philippines for any person or talent in the Philippines who are actually really capable. BPO industry has been like in the Philippines for more than 15 or 20 years, I guess now. So, there’s a lot of professionals there that are really high skilled and really knowledgeable as to what to do. At the same time, call center simulation are also being integrated now into college school curriculums, even from high school. I know that there are some schools already offering a little program to simulate call center environment to prepare people to actually be able to get into the industry.
Henry Acosta: That was great advice. For those interested in talking to you Perry and getting in touch with Perisos Outsource Solutions, either becoming a client or an employee for you guys out in Laguna, what’s the best way that they can get in touch with you guys?
Perry Crescini: Thank you for this opportunity again, Henry and for allowing me to tell you more about Perisos Outsource Solutions and my story behind, what I’ve gone through in the BPO industry. For those of you, for freelance professionals out there in the Philippines and for anyone who would be interested in having or doing something like this that we do and an environment and an industry that we take pride in, you can get in touch with me by emailing [email protected] or you can visit our Facebook page and just type in the search box, Perisos Outsource Solutions and you’ll find us there. The website is still being developed, so I won’t be able to give you that yet. But the email address that I gave you is going to work. So, we hope to hear from you, especially those highly skilled freelancers out there. We are in need of people like you, we have clients waiting for you and for other companies out there who hear this recording or this interview which is far out the U.S. or Europe or somewhere else will be interested in engaging with Perisos Outsource Solutions. Just contact us at the same details that I’ve just provided you and I look forward to be hearing from all of you.
Henry Acosta: It sound great and thank you so much for coming on the show. I really appreciate the time.
Perry Crescini: Always. I really appreciate you for having me in the show and I look forward to seeing, visiting posted online and I’d be very excited to see that online.
Henry Acosta: Yes. We look forward to talking to you again Perry. Hopefully, next time we talk, Perisos is a lot bigger and you’ll be telling us about your success with it.
Perry Crescini: I’d love to.
Henry Acosta: Well that’s all our questions for today. And that was Perry Crescini, the Managing Director of Perisos Outsource Solutions. We have just finished talking about his experience in the BPO industry which he’s been involved with for the last 15 to 20 years actually. And if you’re interested in finding them, you can find Perisos Outsource Solutions on Facebook. And if you’d like to know more about the BPO industry, you can find us on our website and listen to our podcast at www.offshoring.com.ph. Also, if you’d like to get some practical tips and tricks and advices for running your own outsourced staff, you can find all that on our Facebook and Twitter pages. I’m Henry Acosta and this is the Outsourcing and Offshoring Philippines podcast.
